13 Test-Taking Tips and Strategies for Travel Nurses

Have you ever found yourself extremely nervous right before a big test? Whether you’re just getting out of school or working on continuing education, there are always more tests to take. Here are 13 tips to help our travel nurses on test day.

Why 13? Because we like to go a few steps further!

• Go somewhere free of interruptions and distractions. Before you begin a test, find a quiet area and turn off your cell phone. If you’re taking on online test at home, check your internet connectivity before beginning the test. Have a calculator, any notes you are allowed to use, and a pencil and paper available so you don’t have to take a break to find them.
• Read the instructions carefully before beginning. Take the time to go back and study any areas you may need to review before taking the test.
• Pace yourself. Generally, you will have about a minute to answer a multiple choice question, so don’t spend too much time on questions you don’t know.
• Look over questions twice if necessary. Questions are often missed because they are not read carefully. Don’t read into the questions; use only the information that is given to you.
• Eliminate extra information the question includes. Read all the answer options before selecting your final answer, and focus on the main idea.
• Pay attention to key words in the question. Sometimes two answers will be correct, but one will be a better answer for some reason. Certain phrases in the question may help you distinguish between the two.
• Notice words such as “every,” “all,” “none,” “always” and “only.” These terms indicate that the correct answer must be an undisputed fact — and absolutes are rare.
• Be careful on “all of the above” questions. First, examine all alternatives. If even one alternative does not apply totally, then “all of the above” is not the correct answer.
• Use logic on questions asking what you should do first. Prioritize activities according to the nursing process: Assess, Plan, Implement, Evaluate.
• If you don’t know the answer, use critical thinking skills to make your best educated guess. Registered nurses routinely use critical thinking skills to assess situations, weigh choices and potential outcomes, and come up with the best possible plan for optimal outcomes. These same skills can help you answer a question correctly.
• Apply Maslow’s hierarchy of needs when answering questions about patient needs. Physiological and safety needs are the first and second levels. Apply the ABCs: Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Then prioritize the function of other vital organs.
• Do not choose “C” every time you guess. Try to narrow your options down to two and then go with your gut. You have a 50 percent chance of guessing the right answer.
• Change an answer if you can find a clear reason your first response was incorrect. Don’t change an answer based on a feeling; you may be experiencing test anxiety and second-guessing yourself.

Good luck with your next exam! What test-taking strategies work for you?