SAUNDERS CLINICAL JUDGMENT AND
TEST TAKING STRATEGIES COMPLETE
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS
●● What is the key principle for answering NCLEX questions?
Answer: Focus ONLY on the data in the question and answer what is
actually being asked.
●● What are the Key Test-Taking Strategies for approaching the
question?
Answer: 1. Focus on the data. 2. Note the subject. 3. Visualize the event.
4. Determine who 'the client' is. 5. Look for strategic words. 6.
Determine positive or negative event. 7. Avoid 'What if' for traditional
items. 8. Use 'What if' for NGN items. 9. Apply NCJMM and cognitive
skills.
●● What are the Key Test-Taking Strategies for handling the options?
Answer: 1. Use the process of elimination. 2. Look for comparable
options. 3. Identify umbrella options. 4. Watch for closed-ended words.
5. Use ABCs and Maslow's for priority questions. 6. Use therapeutic
communication techniques. 7. Match client needs with provider scope. 8.
Use pharmacology guidelines.
,●● What is the 'What if...?' Syndrome?
Answer: It occurs when you add information to a question that is not
stated, leading you away from the correct answer.
●● Why is the 'What if...?' Syndrome dangerous on traditional NCLEX
questions?
Answer: It leads to incorrect assumptions and answers based on
imagined scenarios rather than the information provided.
●● What are the 3 Ingredients of a Question?
Answer: 1. The Event: client or clinical situation. 2. The Event Query:
specific question about the event. 3. The Answer Options: possible
answers to the event query.
●● What is the importance of the Event in an NCLEX question?
Answer: It provides the content about the client necessary for answering
the question.
●● What does the Event Query in an NCLEX question ask?
Answer: It asks something specific about the content of the event.
●● What should you do before selecting your final answer in NCLEX
questions?
Answer: Reread the question after eliminating options.
,●● What is the process of elimination in NCLEX questions?
Answer: It is a strategy to improve your odds by eliminating incorrect
answer choices.
●● What should you focus on for communication questions?
Answer: Use therapeutic communication techniques to address the
client's thoughts, feelings, and concerns.
●● What is the role of pharmacology guidelines in NCLEX questions?
Answer: They help select the correct option when a question addresses a
medication.
●● What is the significance of strategic words in NCLEX questions?
Answer: They can change the meaning of what the question is asking.
●● What should you avoid asking yourself for traditional NCLEX
items?
Answer: 'What if...?'
●● What must you consider for NGN items?
Answer: You must ask 'What if...?' to think about all existing and
potential concerns.
, ●● What is the ABCs acronym in NCLEX?
Answer: Airway, Breathing, Circulation.
●● What does the NCJMM stand for?
Answer: Nursing Clinical Judgment Measurement Model.
●● What is the first action to take for a client with heart failure
experiencing dyspnea?
Answer: Obtain vital signs and perform focused assessments.
●● What is the danger of adding assumptions to NCLEX questions?
Answer: It can lead to selecting incorrect answers based on unfounded
scenarios.
●● What is the purpose of using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in
NCLEX questions?
Answer: To prioritize client needs in decision-making.
●● What should you do if you encounter closed-ended words in answer
options?
Answer: Consider them likely incorrect.
TEST TAKING STRATEGIES COMPLETE
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS
●● What is the key principle for answering NCLEX questions?
Answer: Focus ONLY on the data in the question and answer what is
actually being asked.
●● What are the Key Test-Taking Strategies for approaching the
question?
Answer: 1. Focus on the data. 2. Note the subject. 3. Visualize the event.
4. Determine who 'the client' is. 5. Look for strategic words. 6.
Determine positive or negative event. 7. Avoid 'What if' for traditional
items. 8. Use 'What if' for NGN items. 9. Apply NCJMM and cognitive
skills.
●● What are the Key Test-Taking Strategies for handling the options?
Answer: 1. Use the process of elimination. 2. Look for comparable
options. 3. Identify umbrella options. 4. Watch for closed-ended words.
5. Use ABCs and Maslow's for priority questions. 6. Use therapeutic
communication techniques. 7. Match client needs with provider scope. 8.
Use pharmacology guidelines.
,●● What is the 'What if...?' Syndrome?
Answer: It occurs when you add information to a question that is not
stated, leading you away from the correct answer.
●● Why is the 'What if...?' Syndrome dangerous on traditional NCLEX
questions?
Answer: It leads to incorrect assumptions and answers based on
imagined scenarios rather than the information provided.
●● What are the 3 Ingredients of a Question?
Answer: 1. The Event: client or clinical situation. 2. The Event Query:
specific question about the event. 3. The Answer Options: possible
answers to the event query.
●● What is the importance of the Event in an NCLEX question?
Answer: It provides the content about the client necessary for answering
the question.
●● What does the Event Query in an NCLEX question ask?
Answer: It asks something specific about the content of the event.
●● What should you do before selecting your final answer in NCLEX
questions?
Answer: Reread the question after eliminating options.
,●● What is the process of elimination in NCLEX questions?
Answer: It is a strategy to improve your odds by eliminating incorrect
answer choices.
●● What should you focus on for communication questions?
Answer: Use therapeutic communication techniques to address the
client's thoughts, feelings, and concerns.
●● What is the role of pharmacology guidelines in NCLEX questions?
Answer: They help select the correct option when a question addresses a
medication.
●● What is the significance of strategic words in NCLEX questions?
Answer: They can change the meaning of what the question is asking.
●● What should you avoid asking yourself for traditional NCLEX
items?
Answer: 'What if...?'
●● What must you consider for NGN items?
Answer: You must ask 'What if...?' to think about all existing and
potential concerns.
, ●● What is the ABCs acronym in NCLEX?
Answer: Airway, Breathing, Circulation.
●● What does the NCJMM stand for?
Answer: Nursing Clinical Judgment Measurement Model.
●● What is the first action to take for a client with heart failure
experiencing dyspnea?
Answer: Obtain vital signs and perform focused assessments.
●● What is the danger of adding assumptions to NCLEX questions?
Answer: It can lead to selecting incorrect answers based on unfounded
scenarios.
●● What is the purpose of using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in
NCLEX questions?
Answer: To prioritize client needs in decision-making.
●● What should you do if you encounter closed-ended words in answer
options?
Answer: Consider them likely incorrect.
