Tuesday, June 22, 2010

TOP 10 WAYS TO PASS THE NURSING BOARD EXAM

10. Pay attention to your AUDIT/REVIEW subject.

This is one of the mistakes that I did back in college. I didn't cut classes (Okay, maybe once, but only for the afternoon lecture), I listened, I took notes, I aced the tests but I feel as if I didn't get everything that I could with the review because half the time, I was thinking that I'll enroll in a review center this summer anyways so all of this will be repeated. I'll get this topic later on. But our summer was hectic with case completion duties, Graduation and Pinning Ceremonies and with the bunch load of information pushing each other out of the way into my brain, things were pretty much chaotic and I found myself thinking far too many times while studying that I should have studied listened more and texted on my phone less.


9. Pick a Review Center that suits you. (non-compulsory)

It's true that enrolling in a review center is not needed to pass the boards. However, doing so really gives you direction in what, when and how you should review a certain topic, where to focus on, test taking strategies and green hilarious sex jokes you can only get from their discussions. Ha!


8. Throw away those books.

90% of reviewing population: Are you serious??
Me: Very. Okay, you don't have to throw them, just keep them in a dark desolate place where they belong. During the rigorous review sessions of two months before the board exam, I never cracked a book open, because I find them complicated, long and utterly boring. Instead, I concentrated on bullet type reviewers, outlines and summaries of those Valium induced texts. On the day of the exam, I knew I did the right thing. It was a waste of time reading the longer version with too many words than reading the gist of the entire thing. Less time and effort.


7. Give up the internet or whatever addictions you may have for 2 months.

It's only for two months people. I figured I'd rather sacrifice for 2 months than to live in regret and depression for the rest of my life. I can surf the net and play all the FB games I could until I get so sick of it after the boards. For me failing is not an option and if my life becomes ruined because, of all things, Facebook, then I'll never be able to live with myself. So, even though I just signed up for the world's most addicting site, I promptly clicked on that logout link and didn't visit it again until after the exam. And I was right, I grew so sick of the games after playing them everyday for two months that I made this site just to escape the sickening farm and pet madness.


6. Learn how to guess correctly.

Even if you have a nursing encyclopedia for a brain, there will be items (lots of it) where you will have to scratch your head in exasperation and guess. It's either you guess basing on related existing knowledge or you guess with nothing. Both you will experience during the exam. Learn to feel the page, use your intuition, channel Madam Auring and see invisible glowing letters of faith in taking the exam. And don't forget the ini-mini-mini-moe rule.


5. Take notes. Forget that you and that big guy called Xerox/Photocopier ever met.

It's a fact. Your brain will retain more if you listen, read, write and speak while reviewing. Without the physical act of writing, you'll end up getting all hazy visioned and end up falling asleep. In high school it may be cool to sneak a nap while the teacher's droning away, but in reviews it falls into the "WTH are you thinking??" box.


4. Know how to shade.

At the day of the board exam when we were asked by the examiners to fill the personal information page, the examinee in front of me turned around and asked me how to shade the little rectangular boxes filling the sacred oslo papers that holds our future a.k.a the PRC scantron board paper things. I was shocked. I couldn't formulate a verbal answer so, with a dumbstruck face, I just did an up and down motion with my hand while holding my pencil. I mean what on earth was she thinking taking the Mother of All Tests without even practicing how to shade at least a single tricky box. She could have perfected the test but if shaded all wrong then those correct answers won't be translated to points and those points won't be translated to a name in the passer's list.


3. Look, write and listen everyday. Read every night.

Now, I've never been the kind of A Type Personality person who would study everyday, prepare for every quiz and recites until my arm go all cyanotic. But for the board exam, I turned my back on every studying principle I believed in. (Ex. Listen to class but studying at home is for nerds. Homework is best done the night before. Studying for an exam is best done...never. Etc. etc.) It's hard studying again after going home after you've been studying for a day already, but it did pay off in the end. All your sacrifices will pay off in the end... Hopefully.


2. Answer bunch loads of practice test questions.

Review center will attest to this one. Answering tons of practice questions not only makes you remember things better but improve your guessing skills, which is very very important as I've mentioned. It's like hitting all the birds with one stone. Ain't that grand?


1. Relax and believe in a Higher Being.

No matter how much you don't believe in God, Allah or the Virgin Mary manifesting in a taco, the sudden burst of spirituality and religious fervor among board exam takers are a common, if not inevitable, occurrence. You will visit the every church that you can as if they're the 7 wonders of the world, light numerous candles (1 candle for each test point) and will go and kneel with bowed heads in front of St. Jude Thaddeus's altar. You'll do everything that you can to bathe in holy water together with all your test paraphernalia especially the week/day before the exam because you feel unholy and idiotic without it and your pencil, eraser and sharpener is infested with Satan, Lucifer and various bad spirits and will eventually fail you. Don't worry, all of this is normal, and amusing to reminisce after passing the exam. :)

Monday, June 21, 2010

10 warning signs of Alzheimer's

Memory loss that disrupts daily life
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.
What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
Challenges in planning or solving problems
Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.
What's a typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.
Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
What's a typical age-related change? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.

Confusion with time or place
People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.
What's a typical age-related change? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not realize they are the person in the mirror.
What's a typical age-related change? Vision changes related to cataracts.

New problems with words in speaking or writing
People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock").
What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.
What's a typical age-related change? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control.

Decreased or poor judgment
People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.
What's a typical age-related change? Making a bad decision once in a while.
Withdrawal from work or social activities
A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.
What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.
Changes in mood and personality
The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.
What's a typical age-related change? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
Posted: 12 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT
The Professional Regulation Commission announced that the 2010 nursing board exam has been rescheduled.

As per Commission Resolution No. 2009-537 dated November 13, 2009, the board examination has been moved from June and November to July and December.

The schedule of PRC Nursing Board Exam for 2010 would be as follows:

July 3 – 4, 2010
Deadline of Application
Repeaters: April 14, 2010
First Timers: May 14, 2010
December 12 – 13, 2010
Deadline of Application
Repeaters: September 8, 2010
First Timers: November 8, 2010

Planning Your Canadian Immigration

           An immigration plan is similar to a good business plan, You need to know your goal, what the requirements are to reach your goal, have a plan that anticipates each step, and execute your plan. The more detailed your plan, the easier to implement.

Know your goal: Your general goal is immigration to Canada. A specific goal would be under what class of immigration you intend to apply. The classes of immigration under which you can presently apply are:



1. Federal Skilled Worker Class: This is the class most frequently used by new applicants for Canadian immigration. There is more flexibility here because not only are there Federal needs for certain vocations, but a number of Provinces likewise have their own specific needs. If you qualify for one of these, the provincial government will aid you in your application and in some cases it pushes you closer to the top of the waiting list for application processing.

2. Canadian Experience Class: an immigration category for Canada's temporary foreign workers and international graduate students who wish to become Permanent Residents. This class was first implemented in 2007.

3. Business Class: This class is for Investors, Entrepreneurs, and the Self-Employed. Applications in this class generally take less time than the Federal Skilled Worker Class. 

4. Family Class: This class of immigrant must be sponsored to come to Canada by a relative such as a parent, fiancé(e), spouse, or common-law partner. A common-law partner is defined as a person of the opposite or same sex with whom you are in a conjugal relationship and who is currently cohabiting with you and has done so for at least one year.

5. Quebec Selected Immigration: Skilled Worker / Professional applicants intending to reside in Montreal or another city in the Province of Quebec are selected based upon a different set of criteria than applicants who wish to settle elsewhere in Canada. The Quebec Immigration selection system is designed to indicate the likelihood of succeeding in settling in Quebec.

6. Provincial Nominees Class: In this classification a prospective immigrant applies to a Province which has certain established needs. If you fit their immigration criteria, then the province(s) then aid(s) in the application process. Provinces and territories share authority with the federal government and can fast track applications.

7. Refugees Class: Applicants in this class are admitted under special rules.

8. Others: (visitor visa, temporary employment authorization,) and so on...

Requirements and steps to reach your goal: What are the specific requirements for entering Canada under your proposed class of immigration. This can be accomplished by studying the CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada office) requirements.

Have a plan that anticipates each step: Make a checklist of all requirements for your selected class of immigration. Put in as much detail as possible. You may need to modify the list by including additional steps as the process continues.

Execute your plan: This includes all immigration steps needed before you can be considered for immigration to Canada, and before the CIC can approve or disapprove your application for immigration. This may be done through an attorney or Immigration Consultant OR you may take the initiative and do all the paperwork yourself. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods. 
With an Immigration Attorney or Immigration Consultant, you are paying for their knowledge of the process and at the same time you are going to pay several thousand dollars more in fees. If you do it yourself it will require more research and personal work on your part, but you will be able to complete the process in a much less expensive manner. Like a business plan, going through all the steps will not necessarily mean success. However, by organizing yourself and systematizing the process on your end, there is a greater likelihood that you will be successful. This assumes of course that you meet the prerequisites for immigration in your selected class.

Nursing Board Review: Community Health Nursing Practice Test

1. He defined public health as the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, promoting health and efficiency through organized community effort.




2. The different clients of the community health nurse include the following:
  1. Individual
  2. Family
  3. Population group
  4. Community




3. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, developing one’s potential is included in which of the following:




4. Pandemic occurrence of a disease means:




5. Mrs. Panganiban’s 6 year old son is entering school for the first time. Mrs. Panganiban has a:




6. Operation Timbang is in which level of prevention of health problem?




7. A 3 year old boy was classified to have severe pneumonia or very severe disease. The following symptoms are present, except:




8. Severe dehydration is classified when TWO of the following signs are present, except:




9. Which of the following is an advantage of a home visit?




10. Newborn Screening act is:




11. In the conduct of a census, the method of population assignment based on the usual place of residence of the people is termed:




12. A 5 year old child has given Retinol capsule every 6 months to prevent xerophthalmia. What is the dose given to preschoolers?




13. In the Philippines, which condition is the most frequent cause of death associated with schistosomiasis?




14. Core business of public health will include the following except:




15. Which element of FOURmula one aims to ensure quality and affordability of health services?




16. When is Rabies awareness month celebrated?




17. Pillars of primary health care include all of the following, except:




18. A very important part of the community health nursing planning process includes:




19. Mrs. Larazabal brought her 2 month old baby to the health center for immunization. On assessment, the infant’s temperature registered 38 degrees C. Which is the best action that you will take?




20. Which herbal plant is given for fever, headache and cough?




21. Dependency ratio is best described as:




22. Type of water supply facility composed of a system with a piped distribution network and household taps.




23. Which of the following is not a principle of community organizing?




24. Which method of family panning cannot be immediately used by a breastfeeding mother?




25. If there were 250 deaths and 36,114 live births registered in Region III, with a total population of 200,000, the fetal death rate would be?