1 RN CERTIFICATION: HOW TO PREPARE Created By: The St. James Healthcare Education Collaborative Butte, Montana 2012

2 Objectives Identify three methods used to study for a certification exam Identify three methods used to study for a certification exam Determine a method most effective for yourself Determine a method most effective for yourself

3 Beginning the process Identify what works for you Identify what works for you Gain cooperation from family and friends Gain cooperation from family and friends Start well in advance, i.e. 3 – 4 months Start well in advance, i.e. 3 – 4 months Learn in small amounts Learn in small amounts Form a study group Form a study group Note: Prioritize your knowledge, i.e. what you need to know versus what you want to know for an exam. Background material is interesting but put it last on your learning agenda.

4 Study material & strategies Best guide is your professional nursing association core curriculum and prep guide of organized modules / chapters. Write brief notes and key words in your study guide. Best guide is your professional nursing association core curriculum and prep guide of organized modules / chapters. Write brief notes and key words in your study guide. Flash cards / tapes are flexible learning tools, i.e. play tapes while driving a car or doing tasks Flash cards / tapes are flexible learning tools, i.e. play tapes while driving a car or doing tasks Teach others what you are learning Teach others what you are learning Relate information to your experiences Relate information to your experiences Study when you are refreshed and not tired. Study when you are refreshed and not tired. Focus on what you don’t know first not on what you already know Focus on what you don’t know first not on what you already know

5 Study material & strategies Be an active participant and involve as many senses as possible when learning for an exam. Be an active participant and involve as many senses as possible when learning for an exam. What people remember: What people remember: - 10% of what they read - 20% of what they hear - 30% of what they see - 70% of what they say - 90% of what they say and do Identify hints that make test taking easier. Relate the skills involved in test taking to your situation Identify hints that make test taking easier. Relate the skills involved in test taking to your situation Be aware of the psychological and physical preparation for test taking Be aware of the psychological and physical preparation for test taking

6 Common pitfalls Depending on a study group Depending on a study group Taking on too much at a time Taking on too much at a time Wasting time on topics you already know Wasting time on topics you already know Adopting a negative attitude about yourself, i.e. “I don’t want to test because I may fail”. Adopting a negative attitude about yourself, i.e. “I don’t want to test because I may fail”. Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward...

7 General themes & topics Historical perspective – association origin / background Historical perspective – association origin / background Standards of practice – guidelines, regulations, professional conduct and performance Standards of practice – guidelines, regulations, professional conduct and performance Performance improvement - quality measures Performance improvement - quality measures Anatomy and physiology – related to normal and disease processes (pathophysiology) Anatomy and physiology – related to normal and disease processes (pathophysiology) Pharmacology – common drugs to treat conditions Pharmacology – common drugs to treat conditions Nursing process and physical examination – four phases of physical examination and nursing diagnosis Nursing process and physical examination – four phases of physical examination and nursing diagnosis Case studies – focus on case examples listed in your core curriculum and certification prep guide Case studies – focus on case examples listed in your core curriculum and certification prep guide Nursing research – terms and principles of best practice Nursing research – terms and principles of best practice Nursing leadership – role and principles of collaboration Nursing leadership – role and principles of collaboration

8 The certification exam You’ve studied and related learning to experience, now what’s left to know? Most certification tests comprise 150 multiple choice questions with four choices and one correct answer Most certification tests comprise 150 multiple choice questions with four choices and one correct answer Not all questions count. There are an additional 25 experimental questions to use for future exams Not all questions count. There are an additional 25 experimental questions to use for future exams Questions are written by a board of nursing educators or advanced practice nurses certified by the professional body sponsoring the exam Questions are written by a board of nursing educators or advanced practice nurses certified by the professional body sponsoring the exam

9 The certification exam Questions are tested for grammar, clarity and construction by a professional testing company Questions are tested for grammar, clarity and construction by a professional testing company Proportions of questions is based on frequency and importance based on a Role Delineation Survey Proportions of questions is based on frequency and importance based on a Role Delineation Survey Most exams take 3 hours to complete Most exams take 3 hours to complete Scoring is a raw score to pass, and the score is representative of the total exam. Similar to writing a nursing board exam. Scoring is a raw score to pass, and the score is representative of the total exam. Similar to writing a nursing board exam.

10 The certification exam Major content areas: Every professional certifying exam is different however all test according to specific content areas Every professional certifying exam is different however all test according to specific content areas All questions test directly on the specific professional nursing core curriculum topics All questions test directly on the specific professional nursing core curriculum topics A Case Example (Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates): A Case Example (Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates): - 18% test items on general nursing care - 47% test items on GI procedures - 22% test items on patient interventions - 13% test items on professional standards and responsibilities

11 How to prepare The best preparation for an exam is preparation and knowing that you are ready. Some are naturally good test takers but most of us need to learn and prepare. The best preparation for an exam is preparation and knowing that you are ready. Some are naturally good test takers but most of us need to learn and prepare. Preparing reduces test anxiety. Preparing reduces test anxiety. Take the exam when you feel comfortable in your knowledge base. Take the exam when you feel comfortable in your knowledge base. Start studying 3 – 4 months in advance. Start studying 3 – 4 months in advance. Study from a certification study guide (manual or online) to know the focus of the exam, i.e. factual multiple choice, case scenarios … Study from a certification study guide (manual or online) to know the focus of the exam, i.e. factual multiple choice, case scenarios … Repetition will help you to feel prepared and recognize questions and right answers during the exam. Repetition will help you to feel prepared and recognize questions and right answers during the exam.

12 How to prepare Prepare psychologically – remember this is only a test and not a life-threatening illness. Many excellent nurses wrote board and certifying exams multiple times before their first passing score. Congratulate yourself for preparing and arriving to the exam! Prepare psychologically – remember this is only a test and not a life-threatening illness. Many excellent nurses wrote board and certifying exams multiple times before their first passing score. Congratulate yourself for preparing and arriving to the exam! Allow yourself quiet, relaxing time the day before the exam. If you have prepared and not studying at the last minute, you deserve to treat yourself and relax before the exam. Allow yourself quiet, relaxing time the day before the exam. If you have prepared and not studying at the last minute, you deserve to treat yourself and relax before the exam. Wear your most comfortable clothing. Wear your most comfortable clothing. If you are travelling to a test site, give yourself time to familiarize yourself with the environment. Avoid arriving late and being confused about your environment for testing. If you are travelling to a test site, give yourself time to familiarize yourself with the environment. Avoid arriving late and being confused about your environment for testing. Its OK to look up something at the last minute but don’t try to master a topic the night before your exam. Its OK to look up something at the last minute but don’t try to master a topic the night before your exam. Review instructions in your testing site packet several days before taking the exam. Have your writing aids and any other needs prepared, i.e. water, snack, medication, etc… Review instructions in your testing site packet several days before taking the exam. Have your writing aids and any other needs prepared, i.e. water, snack, medication, etc…

13 How to write the exam Read questions carefully. Read questions carefully. If you find a question you can’t answer right away, don’t panic and move onto the next question and return to it later (don’t spend a lot of time on it) If you find a question you can’t answer right away, don’t panic and move onto the next question and return to it later (don’t spend a lot of time on it) Answer ALL questions. There is no penalty for guessing. Answer ALL questions. There is no penalty for guessing. HINT: in general, a multiple choice question with an option to answer of “all of the above” is usually the correct selection. Test this hint while practicing from your certification prep manual or online module. HINT: in general, a multiple choice question with an option to answer of “all of the above” is usually the correct selection. Test this hint while practicing from your certification prep manual or online module. In general, there is plenty of time to take a certification exam but don’t spend a lot of time on questions you aren’t sure of the answer. In general, there is plenty of time to take a certification exam but don’t spend a lot of time on questions you aren’t sure of the answer.

14 How to write the exam For multiple choice, think of the answer before you read the possible answers and choose the answer closest to yours (eliminate distracters). For multiple choice, think of the answer before you read the possible answers and choose the answer closest to yours (eliminate distracters). Answer what is being asked. Don’t read into the question. Answer what is being asked. Don’t read into the question. Avoid negative thoughts. Stay positive and tell yourself “I am going to pass” or at the least “I know that I studied appropriately and will do my best.” Avoid negative thoughts. Stay positive and tell yourself “I am going to pass” or at the least “I know that I studied appropriately and will do my best.” After the exam, reward yourself. After the exam, reward yourself. If you do need to retake the exam, retake as soon as possible while the information is still fresh. If you do need to retake the exam, retake as soon as possible while the information is still fresh.

15 Applause Whatever the outcome of your certification exam, you are to be commended for your commitment to your nursing specialty and effort. There are many exciting specialties in nursing with the potential for greater challenges in the future.