NCLEX-PN®: Different Practice Item Types

00:00 Now, I want to show you what the actual question types look like. Now, what you're looking at here is, again, straight from the NCLEX test plan just like we shared the other information for you. This is a 4-option multiple choice question. So in the multiple choice items, you'll see a question and you'll be asked to select the best answer from 4 options like we just did. Now, you'll notice that you'll see a small circle in front of each of the answer choices and you can use your mouse or the number in the keypad to select your answer. If you want to use the number keypad on your computer, just press the appropriate number on your keyboard; 1, 2, 3, or 4. Keep in mind on this type of question, you can only choose 1 option. Then when you're satisfied with your answer, you're going to click next to confirm your answer and move to the next item. Okay, here are some things I want to talk to you about. What I recommend to students what I found to be the most effective, use that write-on wipe-off board. Cross through those answer choices as you work through it. Please don't use your computer screen as your clickie, clickie, clickie, clickie, clickie, clickie, clickie, clickie. Because when you keep bouncing back and forth in between answers, it's so much easier to get confused. If you look at the answer choices, have yourself make a decision on your write-on wipe-off board, eliminate answers as you go, I promise you you're going to see an increase in your score because you can only choose one option on this one, don't select it on the screen until you're confident in your answer because once you click next in NCLEX format you can't go back and change your answer. It's one question at a time, you cannot back track on the questions. Now this question's a little different. When you take a look at it on the screen, what looks different to you when you look at the answer choices? This is a multiple response question. So that means 1, 2, 3, 4 or all of the answers could be correct in a multiple response. People used to think "Oh, it will never be just one" or "It will never be all of them." That's no longer true. NCBSN has come out with a clear statement that says the possibilities on a multiple response question could be 1 or all of the choices or any option in between is appropriate for a multiple response question.

02:23 So, taking a look at that question, you want to know that the multiple response question is different from the 4-option multiple choice in 2 ways. Look at those multiple response answer choices. They have small boxes in front of them. And the second difference, you can check more than 1 box if you think there is more than 1 correct answer.

02:44 Now once you've made your answer choices, same process. I recommend that you still use your write-on wipe-off board, just use multiple numbers this time. You treat everyone of these multiple response questions as a yes-no. You read the stem, you put it into your own words, you're aware of the context of the question, then what I want you to do is ask yourself that question 5 separate times, treat each one of those answer options as a yes-no or true-false question and that's how you identify your most correct answers. When you're sure of your answer, go back and read it one more time because what I've seen happen on multiple response questions is halfway through the student flips. Again, the first part they're looking for a positive answer and then for some reason their brain flips on them and the last half they answer they're looking for the negative answer. So, make sure that you repeat the question for each one of the 5 answer choices. I know it's annoying but I promise you it's going to save you a lot of grief. Once you're confident, click next to confirm your answer and you'll move on to the next item. Now this one is a calculator. Huh, clever name. Right? Since you can see the calculator right there. These types of questions are not that particularly special but I want you to understand it. When you're given these different formats, don't let that surprise you. That's why I want you to know what each one of these could possibly look like so you can anticipate. So it's not new or scary to you when you see it. Because in this type of question, you're going to see a question and you're going to be asked to calculate and type in your answer. Now, only type numbers as your answer. That's what goes in the box. You put a decimal point in. If it's appropriate or needed, but only put numbers in the box. Now, what if you put numbers and you entered them in the wrong way? No problem. If you want to change your answer, use the backspace key to delete the number and type in another number. Now, you'll only be able to type in numbers as your answer. If you try to type in any other characters, you'll see a message box that says "Hey, try again." which is actually kind of polite for an NCLEX exam. So know that only thing that's going in that box is numbers, don't try to enter units because you will not have to type in the unit of measurement. Now the next thing that really stresses students out with this type of questions, if you need to round.

05:10 If rounding is necessary, do it at the very end of the calculation and there will likely be some indication of that in the stem of the question. Now once you've got this all done, again, just click next, they will confirm your answer and advance you to the next question.

05:27 Now this item is a hotspot question. Now, you'll notice that when you look at the topics of these questions are not nursing questions, that was an intentional choice by the NCSBN. They want you to focus on the format of the question, not the content here. That's why I did some practice questions with you so you could see what the content could be like but this is just showing you what the format is, which is why we're talking about things like pumpkins and non-medical topics in these questions.

05:55 These are the exact question examples from the NCSBN test plan. Okay, so take a look at what you've got here. This looks very different than a multiple choice option.

06:06 Doesn't it? So, you're going to see a problem and some type of figure. Now you'll need to use the mouse to select an area of the figure. In order to select that area, you just put the cursor on the area you want to select and then you click on the left mouse button. Now, an X will appear to show your answer. So, you're going to see some type of figure or image, you're going to have to select in an area. So you put your cursor on that and where you want to select get it as close to where you think the answer is as possible. Students always ask me "What's the area of margin?" "How close do I have to get?" There's no specific answer for that. Now sometimes if they're asking you it depends on what you're looking at, if you're talking about a pregnant woman's body, if you're talking about between the rib cage, you can see there's going to be bigger and smaller areas, don't sweat it. Just do your best, put that cursor where you think most accurately reflects your answer, an X will appear and then you know what to do.

07:05 If you have a problem, you're like "Wait that's not where I want to put it." It's not an issue. Remember what you did to just deselect your answer, place the cursor on the X, click it again, your answer will be deselected. So you can change your answer, just point the cursor to another area and click. Now, you've picked your answer, you're confident in your answer, you've got it where you want it. You know the drill.

07:29 Click next to confirm and it will progress to the next question. This type of question is an exhibit item question. And you can see this has got a lot more going on than your basic 4-option multiple choice. So, you'll see a problem and some type of exhibit. Now if you want to look at the exhibit, just click on the exhibit button. See it there on the screen? Okay. Because each exhibit contains information behind 3 tabs. Now you'll click on each tab to read the information that's available to you there. Click next to confirm your answer and then move on to the next item. This type of question is called the dragon draw or ordered response question. Now, take a look at this one. I want you to be very careful when you're answering this question. So look specifically at the type of order they're asking you to place the questions in. So, are they asking you to go from highest to lowest or lowest to highest, most to least, least to most. So make sure you're really crystal clear. I have students introduced questions perfectly in the exact wrong order.

08:39 So, you don't want to make that mistake. How these questions work? As you see the problem and a list of options. Now you'll be asked to place the options in a specific order like we talked about. It might be a numerical order, alphabetical, chronological, highest to lowest. Those are examples. I've often seen questions about risk factors. They'll say they'll describe 4 or 5 different patients and ask you to place them in order of the highest risk to develop type 2 diabetes to the lowest risk to develop type 2 diabetes.

09:09 That's an example of some type of nursing content they might use. Now, the unordered answer options, you see them there, are in a box on the left side of the screen.

09:20 Now, to put these in the new order, your correct answer you want to click on an option and drag it to the box on the right side of the screen. Now, you can also highlight the option in the left hand box and then click on the right arrow key and it will move it.

09:34 So, 2 ways to move it from the left to the right. You can click and drag, or you can highlight and click the right arrow key. Now, to rearrange the order of options once you put them in the right handed box, just select the option you'd like to move and click the up or down arrow keys. Now, you can also click on an option and drag it to a new position within the right hand box. So, if you want to complete the item, you move all the options from the left hand box to the right hand box. Once you're satisfied with your answer, click next to confirm your answer and move to the next item. Okay now, don't let this type of question stress you out. This is the ones where my students dread the most. First of all, it's just presenting information to you in a little bit different format. You worked hard in nursing school, I know you can do this. But let me walk you through a little bit to know what to expect as far as kind of manipulating this question.

10:33 Now, you're going to justify them by clicking and moving the slider that you see there on the screen. Click the play button to repeat the audio clip and I would highly recommend you listen to the audio clip more than once. Because the first time you might be a little extra stressed even though you don't need to be so you want to make sure you clearly hear what the question is asking. Once you selected your answer, click next to confirm your answer and then you'll move on to the next question. Now, this question represents what we call a graphic item. Again, these don't have anything to do with nursing, I recognize that, but these are the actual examples, again from the NCSBN test plan.

11:15 So when you see this, you're going to see a question and options that are graphics instead of text. So where you normally would see words, you're going to see pictures.

11:24 Now the options will have circles in front of them and you'll only be able to select one option. Now you know the drill, walk yourself through eliminating the other 3 answers, you pick the best answer then click next to confirm your answer and move on to the next item. Well, thank you for joining us for this part of our video series on what it's like to become an LPN or an LVN. We've walked you through who the NCSBN is, their responsibility in creating and overseeing the test. We walked through the 8 categories, the main categories, and the subcategories that make up the test plan of the NCLEX. I gave you some actual test questions from a couple of the categories so you can learn some test taking strategies as you walk through this. And, we ended up with seeing each of the types of questions that will be on the exam. Hey, thank you for joining us. We believe in what you can accomplish in your career. So hang in there, stick with us, be part of the Lecturio Nursing Community, and I can't wait to have you as part of the official healthcare team.