PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
SUCCESS
NCLEX-STYLE Q&A REVIEW
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)CATHERINE MELFI
CURTIS; AUDRA BAKER FEGLEY
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: A nursing student is preparing for NGN-style items and
feels overwhelmed by unfamiliar formats (e.g., matrix, bowtie).
Which strategy best promotes clinical judgment and reduces
test anxiety?
A. Memorize answers from practice tests to increase speed.
B. Practice breaking clinical scenarios into recognition, analysis,
,and response steps.
C. Skip unfamiliar items and return later to avoid wasting time.
D. Focus only on recall-level facts because NGN is
unpredictable.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Practicing structured steps (recognize cues,
analyze, respond) builds clinical judgment and decreases
anxiety by giving a repeatable process.
• A: Memorization increases false confidence; NGN requires
reasoning, not rote recall.
• C: Habitually skipping unfamiliar formats prevents practice
with CJMM skills and reduces preparedness.
• D: Focusing only on recall neglects application and analysis
skills needed for NGN.
Teaching Point: Use a repeatable reasoning framework for
NGN-style questions.
Citation: Curtis, C. M., & Fegley, A. B. (2023). Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing Success: NCLEX-Style Q&A Review
(5th ed.).
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: During a test review, a student reflects on a missed
,question and asks, “Why did I choose that wrong option?”
Which reflective practice most improves future performance?
A. Dismissing the error as a careless mistake and moving on.
B. Reconstructing the thinking steps that led to the wrong
answer and identifying the faulty assumption.
C. Avoiding similar topics on future study sessions to reduce
errors.
D. Blaming time pressure instead of reviewing content or
strategy.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Reconstructing thought processes identifies
cognitive errors and builds metacognition to prevent
repeats.
• A: Dismissing errors eliminates learning opportunities;
reflection is necessary for improvement.
• C: Avoiding topics creates knowledge gaps and weakens
competence.
• D: Blaming external factors prevents analysis of correctable
internal strategies.
Teaching Point: Analyze thinking steps to convert mistakes
into learning opportunities.
Citation: Curtis & Fegley (2023).
3
, Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: A student practices the RACE model (Recognize, Analyze,
Choose, Execute) on NCLEX-style stems. Which example best
shows correct application of the model?
A. Skimming the stem and immediately selecting the most
familiar medication.
B. Identifying client cues, considering differential priorities,
choosing the safest action, then implementing.
C. Choosing the longest option because it's probably correct.
D. Randomly eliminating two options and guessing between the
remainder.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Systematically recognizing cues and prioritizing
leads to safe, justified nursing actions consistent with
RACE.
• A: Skimming misses cues and risks incorrect choices.
• C: Option length is a test-taking myth and unreliable.
• D: Guessing without analysis ignores clinical judgment and
could be unsafe.
Teaching Point: Use structured clinical reasoning steps for
safe answers.
Citation: Curtis & Fegley (2023).
SUCCESS
NCLEX-STYLE Q&A REVIEW
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)CATHERINE MELFI
CURTIS; AUDRA BAKER FEGLEY
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: A nursing student is preparing for NGN-style items and
feels overwhelmed by unfamiliar formats (e.g., matrix, bowtie).
Which strategy best promotes clinical judgment and reduces
test anxiety?
A. Memorize answers from practice tests to increase speed.
B. Practice breaking clinical scenarios into recognition, analysis,
,and response steps.
C. Skip unfamiliar items and return later to avoid wasting time.
D. Focus only on recall-level facts because NGN is
unpredictable.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Practicing structured steps (recognize cues,
analyze, respond) builds clinical judgment and decreases
anxiety by giving a repeatable process.
• A: Memorization increases false confidence; NGN requires
reasoning, not rote recall.
• C: Habitually skipping unfamiliar formats prevents practice
with CJMM skills and reduces preparedness.
• D: Focusing only on recall neglects application and analysis
skills needed for NGN.
Teaching Point: Use a repeatable reasoning framework for
NGN-style questions.
Citation: Curtis, C. M., & Fegley, A. B. (2023). Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing Success: NCLEX-Style Q&A Review
(5th ed.).
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: During a test review, a student reflects on a missed
,question and asks, “Why did I choose that wrong option?”
Which reflective practice most improves future performance?
A. Dismissing the error as a careless mistake and moving on.
B. Reconstructing the thinking steps that led to the wrong
answer and identifying the faulty assumption.
C. Avoiding similar topics on future study sessions to reduce
errors.
D. Blaming time pressure instead of reviewing content or
strategy.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Reconstructing thought processes identifies
cognitive errors and builds metacognition to prevent
repeats.
• A: Dismissing errors eliminates learning opportunities;
reflection is necessary for improvement.
• C: Avoiding topics creates knowledge gaps and weakens
competence.
• D: Blaming external factors prevents analysis of correctable
internal strategies.
Teaching Point: Analyze thinking steps to convert mistakes
into learning opportunities.
Citation: Curtis & Fegley (2023).
3
, Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: A student practices the RACE model (Recognize, Analyze,
Choose, Execute) on NCLEX-style stems. Which example best
shows correct application of the model?
A. Skimming the stem and immediately selecting the most
familiar medication.
B. Identifying client cues, considering differential priorities,
choosing the safest action, then implementing.
C. Choosing the longest option because it's probably correct.
D. Randomly eliminating two options and guessing between the
remainder.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Systematically recognizing cues and prioritizing
leads to safe, justified nursing actions consistent with
RACE.
• A: Skimming misses cues and risks incorrect choices.
• C: Option length is a test-taking myth and unreliable.
• D: Guessing without analysis ignores clinical judgment and
could be unsafe.
Teaching Point: Use structured clinical reasoning steps for
safe answers.
Citation: Curtis & Fegley (2023).
