PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
SUCCESS
NCLEX-STYLE Q&A REVIEW
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)CATHERINE MELFI
CURTIS; AUDRA BAKER FEGLEY
TEST BANK
1. Critical thinking vs. clinical judgment
Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: A nursing student says, “Critical thinking is just
memorizing facts for the exam.” Which response by the
instructor is best?
Options:
A. “Critical thinking means recalling facts quickly under
pressure.”
,B. “Critical thinking involves analyzing information and using it
to make sound decisions.”
C. “Critical thinking is the same as clinical judgment.”
D. “Critical thinking is only needed for advanced practice
nurses.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
• B is correct: Critical thinking involves analysis,
interpretation, and evaluation of information to guide
decisions. It is broader than memorization and supports
safe nursing practice.
• A is incorrect: Memorization alone does not reflect critical
thinking.
• C is incorrect: Clinical judgment is the outcome of
reasoning in a specific clinical situation; it is related to but
not identical to critical thinking.
• D is incorrect: All nurses need critical thinking skills.
Teaching Point: Critical thinking uses analysis, not
memorization alone.
Citation: Curtis, C. M., & Fegley, A. B. (2023). Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing Success: NCLEX-Style Q&A Review
(5th ed.).
2. Clinical judgment purpose
,Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: A student asks why clinical judgment matters on NCLEX-
style exams. Which explanation is best?
Options:
A. It measures how well the student memorized textbook
definitions.
B. It measures the ability to select the longest answer choice.
C. It evaluates how the nurse recognizes cues and decides on
action.
D. It replaces the need for nursing knowledge.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
• C is correct: Clinical judgment involves recognizing cues,
analyzing them, and deciding on appropriate nursing
action.
• A is incorrect: Memorization alone is not the focus.
• B is incorrect: Answer length is not a decision rule.
• D is incorrect: Knowledge is necessary for sound judgment.
Teaching Point: Clinical judgment links assessment cues to
the best nursing action.
Citation: Curtis & Fegley, 2023.
3. CJMM first step
, Reference: Ch. 1 — National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Clinical Judgment Measurement Model
Stem: A student is preparing for NGN questions and asks what
happens first in the clinical judgment process. Which action
comes first?
Options:
A. Generate solutions
B. Analyze cues
C. Recognize cues
D. Evaluate outcomes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
• C is correct: The process begins with recognizing relevant
patient cues.
• A is incorrect: Generating solutions occurs later.
• B is incorrect: Cues must be recognized before they can be
analyzed.
• D is incorrect: Evaluation occurs after action.
Teaching Point: Recognize cues before deciding what they
mean.
Citation: Curtis & Fegley, 2023.
4. Applying the CJMM
Reference: Ch. 1 — National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Clinical Judgment Measurement Model
SUCCESS
NCLEX-STYLE Q&A REVIEW
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)CATHERINE MELFI
CURTIS; AUDRA BAKER FEGLEY
TEST BANK
1. Critical thinking vs. clinical judgment
Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: A nursing student says, “Critical thinking is just
memorizing facts for the exam.” Which response by the
instructor is best?
Options:
A. “Critical thinking means recalling facts quickly under
pressure.”
,B. “Critical thinking involves analyzing information and using it
to make sound decisions.”
C. “Critical thinking is the same as clinical judgment.”
D. “Critical thinking is only needed for advanced practice
nurses.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
• B is correct: Critical thinking involves analysis,
interpretation, and evaluation of information to guide
decisions. It is broader than memorization and supports
safe nursing practice.
• A is incorrect: Memorization alone does not reflect critical
thinking.
• C is incorrect: Clinical judgment is the outcome of
reasoning in a specific clinical situation; it is related to but
not identical to critical thinking.
• D is incorrect: All nurses need critical thinking skills.
Teaching Point: Critical thinking uses analysis, not
memorization alone.
Citation: Curtis, C. M., & Fegley, A. B. (2023). Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing Success: NCLEX-Style Q&A Review
(5th ed.).
2. Clinical judgment purpose
,Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: A student asks why clinical judgment matters on NCLEX-
style exams. Which explanation is best?
Options:
A. It measures how well the student memorized textbook
definitions.
B. It measures the ability to select the longest answer choice.
C. It evaluates how the nurse recognizes cues and decides on
action.
D. It replaces the need for nursing knowledge.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
• C is correct: Clinical judgment involves recognizing cues,
analyzing them, and deciding on appropriate nursing
action.
• A is incorrect: Memorization alone is not the focus.
• B is incorrect: Answer length is not a decision rule.
• D is incorrect: Knowledge is necessary for sound judgment.
Teaching Point: Clinical judgment links assessment cues to
the best nursing action.
Citation: Curtis & Fegley, 2023.
3. CJMM first step
, Reference: Ch. 1 — National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Clinical Judgment Measurement Model
Stem: A student is preparing for NGN questions and asks what
happens first in the clinical judgment process. Which action
comes first?
Options:
A. Generate solutions
B. Analyze cues
C. Recognize cues
D. Evaluate outcomes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
• C is correct: The process begins with recognizing relevant
patient cues.
• A is incorrect: Generating solutions occurs later.
• B is incorrect: Cues must be recognized before they can be
analyzed.
• D is incorrect: Evaluation occurs after action.
Teaching Point: Recognize cues before deciding what they
mean.
Citation: Curtis & Fegley, 2023.
4. Applying the CJMM
Reference: Ch. 1 — National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Clinical Judgment Measurement Model
