If you've been preparing for the NCLEX test and practice questions, you should know that multiple choice questions can be a killer, with confusing answers that appear to be all correct or all wrong. Even if you've scrolled through your NCLEX test study guide 1,000 times, sometimes the way the answers are presented is completely different from how they were presented in the guide.
I completely understand how frustrating this can be, as I have been an NCLEX tutor for many years. Many examinees complain that the multiple choice questions drive them crazy at times. This is totally the goal of the State Boards of Nursing when they set such difficult questions. They also change the types of questions and sometimes even the format of the exam every year.
But don't let that worry you, the multiple choice questions you will encounter on the NCLEX can be easily answered if you follow a certain formula.
Yes, you heard right. There is a specific formula that you can follow to answer MCQs on the NCLEX, but it is important to note that you will still have to work hard on your NCLEX exam preparation to actually follow that formula. If you have studied your study guide thoroughly and practiced using this formula when answering NCLEX practice tests, you will have no trouble with these questions on the day of the real test.
Just what you've been
waiting for: The formula
Once you understand this formula, you'll definitely be well on your way to earning your NCLEX title! Just take a look at the steps you need to take below:
1) First, you will need to identify two "distractors." What do distractors mean? These are responses that are usually common nursing practices and procedures. Although these are common practices, don't be fooled because they are not best practices. Always choose the best answer for each question and don't be fooled by false answers.
2) Look carefully at your MCQ questions and the answer choices given. What you need to do is pay attention to the "core" of the question, which is one of the incorrect answers. The "core" simply means that the question is repeated in one of the answers, but has been changed to sound slightly different. One glance at the core of the question will make it seem like the perfect answer, so be very careful when answering, especially if you are unsure of the answer, as many students get trapped by these types of answers.
3) After eliminating inaccurate answers, the last answer left is the correct one. So just choose it!
