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Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

  • 1.  Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-10-2023 05:00
    Welcome to Week #6 - Let's start putting it all together!

    Hopefully, this feels familiar to the members of this group.  Successfully passing the exam is experience, preparation, and test-taking strategies. Our online study group is moving ahead to Chapter 6 in the Selekman/Cogan School Nursing Certification Review book.  This chapter focuses on Special Health Issues and is approximately 14% of the possible NCSN exam questions. These weeks have flown by! We have one more week to go.

    Chapter 6 – Special Health Issues

    • Chronic Conditions
    • Legal Considerations: Laws Relating to Special Education
    • Educational/Health Management
    • Sensory Deficits
    • Psychiatric/Mental Health Needs and Conditions
    • Reproductive Issues

    The corresponding chapters in Selekman, Shannon, and Yonkaitis School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text 3rd Edition are Chapters 7, 8 – 10, 21 – 30, 31 – 35.


    If you are just joining this group, follow the week-by-week progression of the suggested review, including posted links to multiple-choice questions.  There are three test windows for the NCSN exam, so pace yourself accordingly.  Please feel free to share your questions, comments, and suggestions in this forum.  Best of luck to those who are sitting for the exam during this Summer testing window!
    ____________________________________________________________________
    Test-Taking Strategies continued.....Nurselabs 11 Test-taking strategies

    1. Be Alert to Relevant Information From Earlier Questions

    Occasionally, remembering information from one question may provide you with a clue for answering a later question. For example:

    A client has an intestinal tube inserted for the treatment of intestinal obstruction. Intestinal suction can result in excessive loss of:

    1. Protein enzymes
      2. Energy carbohydrates
      3. Water and electrolytes
      4. Vitamins and minerals

    You determined that the correct answer to this question was option 3, it may help you to answer a later question. For example:

    Critical assessment of a client with intestinal suction should include observation for:

    1. Edema
      2. Nausea
      3. Belching
      4. Dehydration

    The correct answer is option 4. If you knew that excessive loss of water and electrolytes may lead to dehydration, you could have used the clue provided in the earlier question to assist you in answering the latter question.

    1. Make Educated Guesses

    When you are unsure about the correct answer to a question, it is better to make an educated guess than not to answer the question. You generally can eliminate one or more of the distractors by using partial knowledge and the methods just listed. The elimination process increases your chances of selecting the correct option from those remaining. Elimination of two distractors on a four-option multiple-choice item increases your probability of selecting the correct answer from 25% to 50%.

    _____________________________________________________________________

    Here are 10 clear multiple-choice test-taking strategies including a link to the full document to download if you would like to read further:

    A basic 10-step test-taking strategy
    1. Know the rules and follow instructions.
    2. Read each question carefully and thoroughly. Don't rush and assume you "get it" before you read the whole thing; you could miss a keyword or important detail.
    3. For particularly long questions first read the last sentence of the stem (i.e., the actual question) so you know where the question is going and can more effectively evaluate the information provided.
    4. Try to predict the correct answer before looking at the options.
    5. Match your predicted answer to the options provided.
    6. If your response is there, read each of the other options before making your final selection to make sure there isn't a better response, then mark your answer and move to the next question.
    7. If your response is not there, re-read the question and proceed to ruling-out incorrect options (distractors).
    8. If you're stuck, re-read the question; don't just keep reading the options. The correct answer follows from the information in the question stem, so always go back to the question.
    9. If you're still stuck, take your best guess, mark the question, and move on.
    10. Double-check your answer selections.

    Click the link below for A Guide to Testing Smart on Computer-Based Multiple Choice Exams:
    Michigan State University Guide for Academic Success
    ____________________________________________________________________________________


    Have a great week! Thank you for the great engagement and for sharing your experiences



    ------------------------------
    Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN, FNASN, FAAN
    New Jersey NASN Director
    School Nurse & Faculty
    Rutgers-Camden School of Nursing
    Camden City School District
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-13-2023 06:00

    Hi,

    Checking in to be sure you are doing well and keeping up with the study group messages! Happy Monday, have a great week! Let us know if you have any questions or need additional support.



    ------------------------------
    Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN, FNASN, FAAN
    New Jersey NASN Director
    School Nurse & Faculty
    Rutgers-Camden School of Nursing
    Camden City School District
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-13-2023 08:59

    Whew life is busy!

    But I have a nice binder of all the weeks' plans printed out for reviewing and am slowly working my way through. I plan to take the certification exam this summer, so I am thankful to get to go through a few rounds of this review group. Happy studying everyone!



    ------------------------------
    Meagan Lozano
    CLARK ELEM.
    Saint Louis, MO United States
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-14-2023 08:29

    I am doing the same thing!!! Printing and placing in a 3 ring binder for later use. I really want to get my certification, but wow am I having to decide what is important and it is REALLY a hard trait to have: To make sure your well-being and happiness is able to come out to it's fullest potential. I hope someone reading this finds their selves thinking about that statement so that they optimize their life like I am going to do with mine.

    Hope you all do amazing with the upcoming exam, and have a great rest of the day!! Smile, you are all very intelligent, strong and amazing on more levels than your nursing abilities. XOXOX

    Matti <3



    ------------------------------
    Mattie Rood RN, BSN
    Marysville, MI United States
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-13-2023 13:44

    Thank you for checking in. After the session, I've been taking the chapter test-simple mistakes, overthinking some of the questions, and getting answers wrong. Just signed up for the test-taking techniques for National Certification Exam.  Thank you, Ms. Pat.



    ------------------------------
    Tina Allison-Bobino MSN-PH
    Klein Independent School District
    Houston, TX United States
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-13-2023 14:17

    Overthinking is a very common mistake. Make sure you only use the information given in the question. Let me know what you thought of the Test Taking Techniques program.

     

    Regards,

     

    Pat

     

    Pat Krin, MSN, MSCP, RN, FNP-BC, Ret. NCSN-E, FNASN

    Executive Director

    National Board for Certification of School Nurses

    mailto:nbcsnexec@nbcsn.org

     






  • 7.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-13-2023 14:44

    This refresher early helped me to prioritize my thinking using the 10 Test-Taking Techniques. They are very simple to understand. I need to practice/memorize six of these techniques to identify keywords during the exam. I will practice this week to see if there are any changes in my scores on the practice test. Thanks again for your support.



    ------------------------------
    Tina Allison-Bobino MSN-PH
    Klein Independent School District
    Houston, TX United States
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-14-2023 08:20

    The weeks are going by fast. My approach is to take the chapter test first without reading that chapter. I then review what I got wrong. Next I read the chapter, paying close attention to the information that I got wrong on my first test attempt. Once done, I retake the test. Have been gaining confidence with this technique. I have also taken the Top 10 Test Taking Techniques course and found it helpful. My test is end of March so lots of time to keep studying!!



    ------------------------------
    Tina Cirillo BSN
    Sudbury
    Hudson, MA United States
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-13-2023 11:07

    Definitely feeling the exhaustion of studying and nerves building as exam date approaches in March! I also wanted to share my discovery that from Section 5 onward of the Study Cards (if you're using this resource from NBCSN) do not match/align with the Review Book. I have been using the Study Cards to review after each chapter of the review book and up until Section 5 they aligned really well; however, from Section 5 forward they do not line up and you may have to skip around a bit to figure out which ones go with which Review Book Chapter.

    Diving into Chapter 6 of the Reveiw Book this week!



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Tomczek, BSN, RN, MACS, ESA
    Tolt Middle School Nurse
    Carnation, WA United States
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-13-2023 11:57

    Thanks for that information Rachel. Take some deep breaths, you can do this.  You might want to take a look at https://ecourses.nursebuilders.net/courses/test-taking-techniques-a-guide-for-nursing-certification-exams and/or https://ecourses.nursebuilders.net/courses/Nursing-Certification-Exam-Preparation-Studying-Anxiety-Management-Test-Taking-Techniques

     

    The first one is free and only deals with Test Taking Techniques, the second costs $10 and deals with Test Taking Techniques as well as Certification Exam Prep, Studying, and Anxiety Management. It is only 50 Minutes long.

     

    Regards,

     

    Pat

     

    Pat Krin, MSN, MSCP, RN, FNP-BC, Ret. NCSN-E, FNASN

    Executive Director

    National Board for Certification of School Nurses

    mailto:nbcsnexec@nbcsn.org

     






  • 11.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-14-2023 08:57

    Hi,

    I am planning on taking the certification exam this summer.

    Will I be able to have access to the study help this discussion provides?

    Thanks,

    Charlene



    ------------------------------
    Charlene McCarron
    Goffstown, NH United States
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-14-2023 09:00
    Yes, this study group starts about 7weeks prior to the beginning of the exam window.

    Sent from my iPhone
    Pat Krin




  • 13.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-14-2023 09:26
    Thanks!

    On Tue, Feb 14, 2023 at 9:02 AM Pat Krin, MSN, M.S., RN, NCSN-E, FNP-BC-Retired, FNASN via National Association of School Nurses <Mail@connectedcommunity.org> wrote:
    Yes, this study group starts about 7weeks prior to the beginning of the exam window. Sent from my iPhone Pat Krin -posted to the "National Certification Exam Candidates" community

    National Certification Exam Candidates

    Post New Message
    Re: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group
    Reply to Group Reply to Sender
    Feb 14, 2023 9:00 AM
    Pat Krin, MSN, M.S., RN, NCSN-E, FNP-BC-Retired, FNASN
    Yes, this study group starts about 7weeks prior to the beginning of the exam window.

    Sent from my iPhone
    Pat Krin

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    Original Message:
    Sent: 2/14/2023 9:00:00 AM
    From: Pat Krin, MSN, M.S., RN, NCSN-E, FNP-BC-Retired, FNASN
    Subject: RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Yes, this study group starts about 7weeks prior to the beginning of the exam window.

    Sent from my iPhone
    Pat Krin


    Original Message:
    Sent: 2/14/2023 8:23:00 AM
    From: Charlene McCarron
    Subject: RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Hi,

    I am planning on taking the certification exam this summer.

    Will I be able to have access to the study help this discussion provides?

    Thanks,

    Charlene



    ------------------------------
    Charlene McCarron
    Goffstown, NH United States
    ------------------------------

    Original Message:
    Sent: 02-13-2023 11:57
    From: Pat Krin
    Subject: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Thanks for that information Rachel. Take some deep breaths, you can do this.  You might want to take a look at https://ecourses.nursebuilders.net/courses/test-taking-techniques-a-guide-for-nursing-certification-exams and/or https://ecourses.nursebuilders.net/courses/Nursing-Certification-Exam-Preparation-Studying-Anxiety-Management-Test-Taking-Techniques

     

    The first one is free and only deals with Test Taking Techniques, the second costs $10 and deals with Test Taking Techniques as well as Certification Exam Prep, Studying, and Anxiety Management. It is only 50 Minutes long.

     

    Regards,

     

    Pat

     

    Pat Krin, MSN, MSCP, RN, FNP-BC, Ret. NCSN-E, FNASN

    Executive Director

    National Board for Certification of School Nurses

    mailto:nbcsnexec@nbcsn.org

     




    Original Message:
    Sent: 2/13/2023 11:07:00 AM
    From: Rachel Tomczek
    Subject: RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Definitely feeling the exhaustion of studying and nerves building as exam date approaches in March! I also wanted to share my discovery that from Section 5 onward of the Study Cards (if you're using this resource from NBCSN) do not match/align with the Review Book. I have been using the Study Cards to review after each chapter of the review book and up until Section 5 they aligned really well; however, from Section 5 forward they do not line up and you may have to skip around a bit to figure out which ones go with which Review Book Chapter.

    Diving into Chapter 6 of the Reveiw Book this week!



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Tomczek, BSN, RN, MACS, ESA
    Tolt Middle School Nurse
    Carnation, WA United States

    Original Message:
    Sent: 02-10-2023 05:00
    From: Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN, FNASN, FAAN
    Subject: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Welcome to Week #6 - Let's start putting it all together!

    Hopefully, this feels familiar to the members of this group.  Successfully passing the exam is experience, preparation, and test-taking strategies. Our online study group is moving ahead to Chapter 6 in the Selekman/Cogan School Nursing Certification Review book.  This chapter focuses on Special Health Issues and is approximately 14% of the possible NCSN exam questions. These weeks have flown by! We have one more week to go.

    Chapter 6 – Special Health Issues

    • Chronic Conditions
    • Legal Considerations: Laws Relating to Special Education
    • Educational/Health Management
    • Sensory Deficits
    • Psychiatric/Mental Health Needs and Conditions
    • Reproductive Issues

    The corresponding chapters in Selekman, Shannon, and Yonkaitis School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text 3rd Edition are Chapters 7, 8 – 10, 21 – 30, 31 – 35.


    If you are just joining this group, follow the week-by-week progression of the suggested review, including posted links to multiple-choice questions.  There are three test windows for the NCSN exam, so pace yourself accordingly.  Please feel free to share your questions, comments, and suggestions in this forum.  Best of luck to those who are sitting for the exam during this Summer testing window!
    ____________________________________________________________________
    Test-Taking Strategies continued.....Nurselabs 11 Test-taking strategies

    1. Be Alert to Relevant Information From Earlier Questions

    Occasionally, remembering information from one question may provide you with a clue for answering a later question. For example:

    A client has an intestinal tube inserted for the treatment of intestinal obstruction. Intestinal suction can result in excessive loss of:

    1. Protein enzymes
      2. Energy carbohydrates
      3. Water and electrolytes
      4. Vitamins and minerals

    You determined that the correct answer to this question was option 3, it may help you to answer a later question. For example:

    Critical assessment of a client with intestinal suction should include observation for:

    1. Edema
      2. Nausea
      3. Belching
      4. Dehydration

    The correct answer is option 4. If you knew that excessive loss of water and electrolytes may lead to dehydration, you could have used the clue provided in the earlier question to assist you in answering the latter question.

    1. Make Educated Guesses

    When you are unsure about the correct answer to a question, it is better to make an educated guess than not to answer the question. You generally can eliminate one or more of the distractors by using partial knowledge and the methods just listed. The elimination process increases your chances of selecting the correct option from those remaining. Elimination of two distractors on a four-option multiple-choice item increases your probability of selecting the correct answer from 25% to 50%.

    _____________________________________________________________________

    Here are 10 clear multiple-choice test-taking strategies including a link to the full document to download if you would like to read further:

    A basic 10-step test-taking strategy
    1. Know the rules and follow instructions.
    2. Read each question carefully and thoroughly. Don't rush and assume you "get it" before you read the whole thing; you could miss a keyword or important detail.
    3. For particularly long questions first read the last sentence of the stem (i.e., the actual question) so you know where the question is going and can more effectively evaluate the information provided.
    4. Try to predict the correct answer before looking at the options.
    5. Match your predicted answer to the options provided.
    6. If your response is there, read each of the other options before making your final selection to make sure there isn't a better response, then mark your answer and move to the next question.
    7. If your response is not there, re-read the question and proceed to ruling-out incorrect options (distractors).
    8. If you're stuck, re-read the question; don't just keep reading the options. The correct answer follows from the information in the question stem, so always go back to the question.
    9. If you're still stuck, take your best guess, mark the question, and move on.
    10. Double-check your answer selections.

    Click the link below for A Guide to Testing Smart on Computer-Based Multiple Choice Exams:
    Michigan State University Guide for Academic Success
    ____________________________________________________________________________________


    Have a great week! Thank you for the great engagement and for sharing your experiences



    ------------------------------
    Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN, FNASN, FAAN
    New Jersey NASN Director
    School Nurse & Faculty
    Rutgers-Camden School of Nursing
    Camden City School District
    ------------------------------


  • 14.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-14-2023 08:17

    Thanks Rachel. I will let Louise Jakubik know. She owns NurseBuilders and put the cards together.



    ------------------------------
    Janice Selekman DNSc, RN, NCSN, FNASN
    Professor Emeritus
    University of Delaware
    Wilmington, DE [USA]
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-15-2023 15:52

    Good morning! I am planning on taking the exam in March. Are there any other recommended resources for practice questions to help prepare for the exam? I plan on purchasing the 2 exams from the website, and have done the questions in the review book. Thank you for your help! 



    ------------------------------
    robbye anne reynolds Public Health Nurse
    Lake, MS United States
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-15-2023 16:04
    If you look on the exam prep page, scroll to the bottom and you will see Challenge the School Nurse questions.

    Sent from my iPhone
    Pat Krin





  • 17.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-16-2023 12:18
    The Michigan State study guide is super helpful. I am planning on taking the cert exam in the fall and will continue to watch everyone's progress and the "what worked, what didn't".   The authors of this blog are amazing and how supportive they are. Thank you and I can't wait to hear how everyone does on the March exam. Best wishes and be well!

    --
    Teri Williams, BSN, RN, CNOR
    She|Her|Hers (why pronouns matter)
    Norwood Public Schools
    District School Nurse
    W: 970-327-4336 x 129
          


       






  • 18.  RE: Welcome to Week #6 of our online study group

    Posted 02-18-2023 13:44

    What is the Michigan study guide and where can I get one?