Showing posts with label test. Show all posts
Showing posts with label test. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
About USMLE Step 3 Test
The United States Medical Licensing Examination, or USMLE, is administered to assess the knowledge and ability of medical professionals. In order to receive a license to practice medicine, candidates must pass the USMLE.
The USMLE is a three-step test sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners. The test is used to determine a potential physicians ability to utilize their skills and knowledge when treating patients. The test is a means of ensuring that candidates pursuing a medical license will be capable of providing safe and effective patient care. Candidates must complete all three steps of the USMLE in order to be granted a medical license.
Step 3 of the USMLE ensures a candidates ability to properly apply medical knowledge in an unsupervised medical setting. The test focuses on the candidates understanding of biomedical and clinical science. The test requires the candidate to evaluate the severity of a patients condition, properly diagnose the patient and effectively treat the condition. The test will be composed of a combination of multiple-choice question and computer-based case studies. Candidates must demonstrate an ability to provide patient-centered care for inpatients as well as ambulatory patients.
The test can be divided into two areas: clinical encounters and physician tasks. Clinical encounter questions will be divided into three categories: initial care will constitute 20% to 30%, continued care 50% to 60%, and emergency care 15% to 25%. The physician task portion will be divided into six categories. Between 8% and 12% of the test will be dedicated to each of these areas: patient history and physical examination, laboratory and diagnostic studies, diagnosis, evaluation of severity, and application of scientific concepts and mechanisms of disease. The remaining 45% to 55% of the test will focus on managing patients.
In order to take Step 3 of the USMLE, candidates must acquire an MD degree, pass USMLE Steps 1 and 2, and meet all Step 3 requirements set by the candidates medical licensing authority. Candidates must complete all three steps of the USMLE within a seven-year period or less.
Candidates are allowed to retake a Step up to three times in a 12-month period. Candidates who must retake Step 3 are required to wait 60 days after their failed attempt to retake the test.
Additional testing information including dates, locations, fees and practice tests can be found at http://www.usmle.org/.
The USMLE is a three-step test sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners. The test is used to determine a potential physicians ability to utilize their skills and knowledge when treating patients. The test is a means of ensuring that candidates pursuing a medical license will be capable of providing safe and effective patient care. Candidates must complete all three steps of the USMLE in order to be granted a medical license.
Step 3 of the USMLE ensures a candidates ability to properly apply medical knowledge in an unsupervised medical setting. The test focuses on the candidates understanding of biomedical and clinical science. The test requires the candidate to evaluate the severity of a patients condition, properly diagnose the patient and effectively treat the condition. The test will be composed of a combination of multiple-choice question and computer-based case studies. Candidates must demonstrate an ability to provide patient-centered care for inpatients as well as ambulatory patients.
The test can be divided into two areas: clinical encounters and physician tasks. Clinical encounter questions will be divided into three categories: initial care will constitute 20% to 30%, continued care 50% to 60%, and emergency care 15% to 25%. The physician task portion will be divided into six categories. Between 8% and 12% of the test will be dedicated to each of these areas: patient history and physical examination, laboratory and diagnostic studies, diagnosis, evaluation of severity, and application of scientific concepts and mechanisms of disease. The remaining 45% to 55% of the test will focus on managing patients.
In order to take Step 3 of the USMLE, candidates must acquire an MD degree, pass USMLE Steps 1 and 2, and meet all Step 3 requirements set by the candidates medical licensing authority. Candidates must complete all three steps of the USMLE within a seven-year period or less.
Candidates are allowed to retake a Step up to three times in a 12-month period. Candidates who must retake Step 3 are required to wait 60 days after their failed attempt to retake the test.
Additional testing information including dates, locations, fees and practice tests can be found at http://www.usmle.org/.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Test Taking Tips
www.EmpoweRN.com
Hola my loves! This is Caroline with some Motivation for your Monday!
This week’s topic is focusing on some test taking strategies for those super difficult college & nursing exams!
General Test taking tips:
1. study up until the last second…. When the professor is telling you to put the books away…. Then, by all means put it away ;)
2. Cover up the answers
3. When ever you are reading a question… hopefully you can write
4. Read the question with the answers covered up and then take a deep breath in and think about what the answer could be.
5. Write down what you think the answer could be
6. Then you look at the selection of answers… hopefully you find a match.
7. If you do not know the answer… mark it and continue on with the test.
8. 2 things can happen… 1. A few questions down the line you will remember the answer. Or 2. More than often you can find the answer to this test question hidden in another question or questions possible answer.
9. If you absolutely do not know the answer than select what you belive could be an option and change this ONLY if you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that a different answer is the correct one.
10. Remember to take deep breaths throughout this process and every time you read a question. Many times people fail test due to anxiety… breathing deep is one of the most relaxing things you can do to help with the anxiety.
Specific nursing tips:
NCLEX style questions are started Day 1 in nursing school. These are usually multiple choice and select all that apply! It is best to start reviewing NCLEX questions related to the subject from day 1! I personally loved Mosby’s because I felt like they had the easiest to read & review. As well as a hard to find section related to Nursing Fundamentals!
1. you always have a “perfect scenario” ie. Perfect staffing, Doctors orders and all the time to focus on this situation.
2. RN buzz words: teaching, documenting, calling the Dr. or provider or assessing. These are task that cannot be delegated.
3. ABC’s or D – disability. Your first priorities are airway, breathing and circulation… unless your patient does not have a pulse in which this switches to Circulation, Airway and then breathing which is the focus for CPR.
4. In the NCLEX you never leave your patient.
Pay attention to every single word; if possible underline important words as you read! Look for absolute words, like: All, Always, Every, Just, only, never, none, no, not, must.
5. Select all that apply: you really need to know the disease process, but just keep in mind that on the NCLEX these are the most difficult type of questions, so if you are seeing them, most likely you are doing well on the exam.
Most important is to complete question after question non-stop until you are exhausted. At which time you take a nap then start it all over!!
Keep up the good work and I will see you next week!!
I love you!!
Xoxo
- Caroline Caroline@EmpoweRN.com
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