Normal, Older, Easier: When faced with a growth and development question, use these principles to guide your answer.
Older Age: When in doubt, select the older age range as it allows more time for development.
Example: "At what age should a child be able to walk?" Possible answers: 12 months, 14 months, 3 years. Choose 14 months because it's the older, more generous timeframe.
Easier Task: When in doubt, pick the easier task, giving the child more time to master harder tasks.
Example: "A child is six months old. Which task have they most recently mastered?" Options: Rolling over, sitting up, five-word vocabulary. Rolling over is easier than sitting up at that age.
General Guessing Strategies
Use these strategies only when knowledge, common sense, and the previously mentioned rules fail.
Rule Out Absolutes
Avoid answers with absolute terms like "always," "never," and "every," as few things are absolute.
Exception: If your knowledge confirms an absolute statement, it may be correct.
Example: "Never push potassium IV" is an absolute statement, but it's correct and should be selected.
Same Answers
If two answers say the same thing, neither is likely to be correct.
Exception: In "select all that apply" questions, both identical answers may be chosen.
Example: If options include "slow the heart rate" and "cause bradycardia," both describing the effect of a beta blocker (Mexitol), neither is the answer.
Opposite Answers
If two answers are opposite, one of them is likely to be correct.
Example: If the question involves side effects, and "constipation" and "diarrhea" are options, the answer lies within those two.
Umbrella Strategy
Choose the broadest answer that encompasses all other options.
Use when you want to select "all of the above" but it is not available.
Example: "Which of the following is important to do with a suicidal client?" Options include removing sharp objects, instituting suicide precautions, and removing their belt. The correct answer is "institute suicide precautions" because it includes the other options.
Read the Question Again
When stuck between two answers, reread the question to find clues.
Do not reread the answers, as the mistake is probably in understanding the question.
Sesame Street Rule
Only use as a last resort.
Identify the answer that is different from the others.
The unique answer is likely the correct one because all incorrect answers share a commonality (being wrong).
Example: "What is the side effect of chole nutrabenacid?" Options: GI cramping, heartburn, joint pain, peptic ulcer disease. Joint pain is the odd one out as it's not GI-related and therefore is the answer.
Base Answer on Knowledge
Answer questions based on what you know, not what you don't know.
If you don't know something within a question, disregard it.
Example: "What is important to do when a patient's on amikacin IV piggyback?" Options: Cover the bag with foil to protect it from light, and Put it on an IV pump. If you don't know of Amikacin, ignore it and focus on "IV Piggybacks" which you know need to be put on a pump.
Gut Feeling
Trust your initial instinct unless you have a clear reason to change it.
Don't switch to another guess, change only if new evidence is compelling.
Common Sense
Use common sense to answer questions and avoid overcomplicating things.