Alternate Item Formats

Chapter 5


Alternate Item Formats



Introduction


An important strategy for success during your nursing program and for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®) is to become as familiar as possible with the types of questions that may appear in these examinations. Facing the challenge of NCLEX may cause a significant amount of anxiety. Knowing what the examination is all about will help alleviate your fear and anxiety. This chapter describes the various types of alternate item format questions that you may encounter on the NCLEX examination and nursing school examinations and provides you with test-taking strategies to answer them correctly.



NCLEX® EXAM TIP


Practice answering questions on the computer as often as you can in order to become familiar with this testing method. When your test day arrives, your anxiety will be lessened if you are used to taking tests on the computer!



imageWhat Is an Alternate Item Format?


Alternate item format questions are presented in a format other than a 4-option multiple choice. You will encounter these types of questions on your nursing school examinations and on the NCLEX exam. Therefore, it is critical to be familiar with these types of questions and the test-taking strategies for answering them correctly.



Alternate Item Format Questions





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A fill-in-the-blank question requires that you use the computer keyboard to type in a numerical answer. In a multiple response question you will need to use the computer mouse to click in a small box in front of the option(s) to select the correct answer(s). In a prioritizing (ordered response), you will be asked to use the computer mouse to “drag and drop” the options from the left side of the screen (unordered responses) to the right side of the screen in order of priority (ordered responses). In a figure or illustration question, you may be asked to “point and click” (using the mouse) on a specific area (represented by a circle and also known as the “hot spot”). In a chart/exhibit question, you will need to use the computer mouse to click on designated exhibit buttons and tab buttons to read the information in order to answer the question. In a graphic item option question, images will be presented as options and you will need to select an image as an answer. The audio or video questions may require you to use a set of headphones. You will click on an icon to play the sound and/or video and then answer the question based on the content presented. You will be able to listen to the audio or watch the video as many times as you need to.



STUDY TIP



The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) provides specific directions for you to follow with alternate item format questions to guide you in your process of testing, and it is very important to read these directions as they appear on the computer screen. The NCSBN also provides a tutorial at the start of the examination to assist you in answering these types of questions. However, by using this resource you will already be familiar with these question types, which will save you time during testing, and of course, relieve some anxiety. We also encourage you to access the NCSBN Web site at www.ncsbn.org and Pearson Professional Centers Web site at www.pearsonvue.com/nclex to obtain additional information about the NCLEX-RN examination and alternate item formats and to review the tutorial that the NCSBN provides for you.



imageWhat Test-Taking Strategies Are Helpful for Answering Fill-in-the-Blank Questions?


Fill-in-the-blank questions will ask you to perform a medication calculation, calculate a flow rate or infusion time for a specific intravenous solution, or calculate an intake or output record on a client. You will need to type in your answer and the answer will be in a numerical format.



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Test-Taking Strategies


Fill-in-the-Blank




In a medication calculation question, you need to record only the numerical component of the answer. In other words, if the answer to a question is 1.4 mL, type only 1.4. Additionally, a medication calculation question may ask you to record your answer using 1 decimal place. If it so indicates, you must record the answer using 1 decimal place in order to answer correctly. For example, if the answer to a medication calculation is 2.33 and you are asked to record the answer to 1 decimal place, then you must type in the answer as 2.3.


In an intravenous flow rate or intravenous infusion time question, the directions may indicate to round the answer to the nearest whole number. If this is indicated then you must type in the answer as a whole number. For example, if the answer is 21.4 drops per minute, type the answer as 21. Remember that it is not possible to infuse 4⁄10 of a drop.


In an intake and output calculation question, be sure to read the data carefully. These types of questions may require that you convert ounces (oz) to milliliters (mL). If you read the data carefully you will note specifically what the question requires and will answer correctly.



SAMPLE QUESTION: Fill-in-the-Blank


A client drank 6 oz of juice and 8 oz of tea for breakfast; 4 oz of water to swallow medications at 0900 and 1300; and 8 oz of milk and 8 oz of coffee for lunch. The nurse determines that the client consumed how many mL of fluid?







STUDY TIP




imageWhat Test-Taking Strategies Are Helpful for Answering Multiple Response Questions?


In a multiple response question, you will be asked to select or check all of the correct options that pertain to the question. These questions require you to use the computer mouse and click in a small box placed in front of the options that you select. Multiple response questions are used for various nursing content areas such as, but not limited to, nursing interventions, expected assessment findings, intended medication effects, medication side effects or adverse effects, or expected responses to treatment. You need to do exactly as the question asks, selecting ALL of the options that apply. No partial credit is given for some correct selections. Remember ALL correct options must be selected in order for the answer to be correct. If you do not select all of the correct options or you include an incorrect option in your selections, then the answer to the question is incorrect.



Test-Taking Strategies


Multiple Response





SAMPLE QUESTION: Multiple Response


The nurse is caring for a client receiving intravenous (IV) therapy who is exhibiting manifestations of circulatory overload. What interventions should the nurse take? Select all that apply.


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Related posts:

  1. Delegating/Prioritizing Questions
  2. Positive and Negative Event Queries
  3. How to Avoid “Reading into the Question”
  4. Additional Pyramid Strategies

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Jul 24, 2016 | Posted by in NURSING | Comments Off on Alternate Item Formats

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