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Nursing Entrance Exams Test Easy (2019)

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    About the Authors Maryanne Baudo is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, and full-time College Professor in the Nursing Department at Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey. She earned a Diploma in Nursing from St. Vincent’s Hospital, School of Nursing; a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nursing from William Paterson University; and a Doctoral degree in Nursing Practice also from William Paterson University. She has five children and six grandchildren and lives in southern New Jersey with her husband. Robin Kavanagh is a writer, marketing communications expert, and former professor of English and communication studies. She is the co-author of The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to the ASVAB ; The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the ASVAB ; and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Nursing Entrance Exams ; and the author of Vocabulous You! An Interactive Guide to Building Vocabulary for Standardized Tests, College, On the Job and Everyday Life . She is also a former test-prep instructor for the SAT, GRE, and GMAT exams. Robin has a BA in communications and an MA in English, both from William Paterson University. She lives in South Carolina.

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    A member of Penguin Random House LLC By Dr. Maryanne Baudo DNP, NP-C, MSN, RN, and Robin Kavanagh, MA Illustrated by Kara LaFrance NURSING Entrance Exams

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    Publisher: Mike Sanders Senior Acquisitions Editor: Janette Lynn Cover Designer: William Thomas Book Designer/Layout: Ayanna Lacey Copy Editor: Monica Stone Indexer: Celia McCoy Proofreader: Laura Caddell To my husband and my family for their constant support of my career and my every endeavor. —Maryanne Baudo To my loved ones who are nurses and share both their hearts and knowledge to help people heal daily. Also, to my family, who has always been behind me in this crazy journey of life. —Robin Kavanagh Published by Penguin Random House LLC 001-309803-MAR2019. Copyright © 2019 by Maryanne Baudo and Robin Kavanagh All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorized editions. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein. For information, address Alpha Books, 6081 E. 82nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46250. International Standard Book Number: 978-1-465647-349-3 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2018958034 21 20 19 5 4 3 2 1 Interpretation of the printing code: The rightmost number of the first series of numbers is the year of the book’s printing; the rightmost number of the second series of numbers is the num- ber of the book’s printing. For example, a printing code of 19-1 shows that the first printing occurred in 2019. Printed in the United States of America Note: This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its authors. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understand- ing that the authors and publisher are not engaged in rendering professional services in the book. If the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a competent professional should be consulted. The authors and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book. Most Alpha books are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, or educational use. Special books, or book excerpts, can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write: Special Markets, Alpha Books, 345 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014. Trademarks: All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be or are suspected of being trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Alpha Books and Penguin Random House LLC cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark. Reprinted from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Nursing Entrance Exams

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    Contents Part 1: Decision Diagnosis ...............................1 1 So, You Want to Be a Nurse? ...................................3 The Many Faces of Nursing ............................................ 3 Registered Nurse ..........................................4 Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse ........................................5 Advanced Practice Nurses ............................................. 5 Nurse Practitioners ......................................6 Clinical Nurse Specialists ............................6 Nurse-Midwives ............................................6 Nurse Anesthetists .......................................6 Pediatric Nurse Practitioners ......................7 Nurse Educator .............................................7 Education Options ........................................................... 7 BSN ................................................................7 ADN/AAS ......................................................8 Diploma .........................................................8 Admissions ...................................................................... 8 Licensure ........................................................................10 2 Tests You Need to Make the Grade ........................11 Many Paths to the Same Career ...................................11 National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Exam (NLN PAX) .......................................................12 Scoring.........................................................13 NLN PAX Vital Stats ..................................13 Health Education Systems Exam (HESI) A 2 ..................13 Scoring.........................................................15 HESI A 2 Vital Stats .....................................16 ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) ......16 Scoring.........................................................17 ATI TEAS Vital Stats ..................................18 Psychological Services Bureau Registered Nursing School Aptitude Exam ...............................18 Scoring.........................................................18 PSB Vital Stats ............................................19 Types of Administration ................................................19 Paper-Based Tests (PBTs) ..........................19 Computer-Based Tests (CBTs) .................. 20 How to Use This Info ..................................................... 22 3 Positive Test Results—Stat! ...................................23 Practice Tests and Planning Strategies ...................... 23 Aim High .................................................... 24 Play to Your Weaknesses .......................... 24 Rethink Your General Approach ................................... 24 Read Carefully ............................................25 Speak for Yourself ......................................25 Find the “Best” Answer ............................. 26 Use Process of Elimination—Every Time .......................................................... 26 The Guessing Game ...................................................... 26 Test-Specific Strategies ............................................... 28 Practice Makes Perfect ................................................ 29 Timing Is Everything ................................. 29 Study Strategically .................................... 30 Study Smart ............................................... 30 Final Preparations ......................................................... 31 The Week of the Test ...................................31 The Day of the Test .....................................31 After the Test ...............................................32

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    iv Nursing Entrance Exams Part 2: Say It Right: Verbal Review ...............33 4 Grammar: It’s How You Say It ................................35 What to Expect .............................................................. 35 Parts of Speech ............................................................. 37 Nouns ..........................................................37 Pronouns .................................................... 38 Verbs ........................................................... 38 Adjectives ....................................................39 Adverbs ....................................................... 40 Prepositions ............................................... 40 Common Errors.............................................................. 40 Subject/Verb Agreement ........................... 42 Ambiguous Pronoun ................................. 43 Misplaced Modifier .................................... 43 Commas in Compound Sentences ............ 44 Run-On Sentences ..................................... 44 Fragments .................................................. 44 Preposition Placement .............................. 45 Spelling .......................................................................... 45 Commonly Confused Words ......................................... 45 5 Mark Your Words ....................................................53 What to Expect .............................................................. 53 Synonym and Antonym Questions ............................... 54 Get to the Root of the Problem .................. 54 What’s the Connotation? ........................... 56 Determine Part of Speech ......................... 56 Words in Context and Sentence Completion .............. 57 Look for Clues .............................................57 Swap It Out ................................................ 58 Analogies ....................................................................... 59 Build Your Vocabulary .................................................. 59 Word of the Day ......................................... 60 Hit the Books .............................................. 60 Memorize in Clusters ................................ 60 Learn Your Roots ....................................... 60 Make Associations ..................................... 62 6 Read, Comprehend, Conquer .................................67 What to Expect .............................................................. 67 Main Idea ........................................................................ 69 Purpose .......................................................................... 69 Tone ................................................................................ 70 Specific Details ............................................................. 71 Vocab in Context ........................................................... 72 Inference Questions ...................................................... 73 Fact or Opinion ...............................................................74 Paragraph Breakdown ...................................................74 Part 3: Math Matters ......................................83 7 Basic Arithmetic ....................................................85 What to Expect .............................................................. 85 Arithmetic Review ......................................................... 87 Order of Operations....................................................... 88 Positive and Negative Integers .................................... 88 Multiples and Factors ................................................... 89 Prime Factorization................................... 89 Greatest Common Factor (GCF) ............... 90 Least Common Multiple (LCM) ................ 90 Fractions ........................................................................ 90 Simplification .............................................91 Addition .......................................................91 Subtraction..................................................92 Multiplication .............................................92 Division .......................................................92 Decimals ........................................................................ 92 Addition and Subtraction ..........................93 Multiplication .............................................93 Division .......................................................93 Converting Decimals to Fractions .............93 Rounding ........................................................................ 94 Percent ........................................................................... 94

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    Contents v Ecology ......................................................131 Evolution ...................................................133 Earth Science Review ................................................. 133 The Earth ................................................. 134 Rocks......................................................... 134 Atmosphere ...............................................135 The Moon and Stars .................................136 10 Bio Basics ..........................................................143 What to Expect .......................................................... 143 What’s in a Cell?........................................................ 145 Moving In and Out of a Cell ...................................... 147 Diffusion ...................................................147 Osmosis .....................................................147 Cellular Respiration .................................................. 148 Cellular Reproduction .............................................. 149 Mitosis: Asexual Reproduction ................149 Meiosis: Sexual Reproduction .................151 Genetics ..................................................................... 153 DNA ...........................................................153 Mendel ...................................................... 154 11 Anatomy and Physiology Check-Up ..................161 What to Expect ...........................................................161 Basic Terminology .................................................... 162 Circulatory System ................................................... 163 Blood ..........................................................163 Heart ......................................................... 164 Blood Vessels ............................................ 164 Path of Blood .............................................166 Respiratory System ...................................................167 Upper Respiratory System .......................167 Lower Respiratory System .......................167 Path of Air .................................................168 Nervous System ........................................................ 168 Central Nervous System ...........................169 Peripheral Nervous System .....................170 Ratios ............................................................................. 94 Proportions .................................................................... 95 Rates .............................................................................. 95 Averages, Median, and Mode ....................................... 95 U.S. and Metric Measurements .................................... 96 Graphs, Charts, and Tables .......................................... 97 Bar Graph ...................................................97 Line Graphs ................................................97 Pie Chart .................................................... 98 8 Algebra and Geometry .........................................103 What to Expect ............................................................ 103 Steps for Panic-Free Success .................. 104 Algebra Review............................................................ 105 Equations ................................................. 105 Inequalities .............................................. 106 Exponents ..................................................107 Roots ..........................................................107 Polynomials.............................................. 108 Simple Polynomial Factoring ................. 109 Quadratic Expressions .............................110 Geometry Review .........................................................111 Lines ..........................................................111 Angles ........................................................112 Triangles ...................................................112 Quadrilaterals ..........................................115 Circles ........................................................116 Solid Figures and Volume ........................117 Part 4: Scientific Method .............................123 9 Science of Life .....................................................125 What to Expect ............................................................ 125 Life Science Review .................................................... 126 Cells .......................................................... 126 Taxonomy ................................................. 128 Plants........................................................ 129

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    Endocrine System ..................................................... 171 Digestive System ...................................................... 173 Upper GI Tract ..........................................173 Lower GI Tract ..........................................174 Urinary System ......................................................... 175 Reproductive System.................................................176 Male ...........................................................176 Female .......................................................177 Muscular System ...................................................... 178 Skeletal System ........................................................ 179 12 The Right Chemistry ..........................................185 What to Expect .......................................................... 185 Matter ......................................................................... 187 Breakdown of Matter ...............................187 Conversion of Matter ............................... 188 Composition of Matter ............................ 189 Density ..................................................... 189 Atoms ......................................................................... 190 Subatomic Particles ................................. 190 Working with Subatomic Particles ..........191 Elements .................................................................... 192 The Periodic Table ....................................193 Compounds ................................................................ 196 Molecular Mass ........................................196 Moles .........................................................196 Bonds .........................................................197 Reactions ................................................................... 198 Reaction Rates ..........................................199 Balancing Equations ............................... 200 Stoichiometry ........................................... 201 Solutions .................................................................... 202 Determining Concentration .................... 202 Dilutions, Emulsifications, and Tinctures ................................................ 202 Acids and Bases ....................................... 202 Scientific Notation .................................................... 203 13 Let’s Get Physical ..............................................207 What to Expect .......................................................... 207 Weight and Mass ....................................................... 208 Energy and Work ....................................................... 209 Potential Energy ...................................... 209 Kinetic Energy ..........................................210 Work, Work, Work ....................................210 Motion .........................................................................211 Newton’s First Law ...................................211 Newton’s Second Law ...............................211 Newton’s Third Law .................................211 Speed .........................................................212 Acceleration ..............................................212 Thermodynamics .......................................................212 Pressure ....................................................213 Temperature..............................................213 It’s Electric! ............................................................... 214 Voltage and Ohm’s Law ...........................215 Circuits ......................................................215 Waves ........................................................216 Frequency ..................................................217 Types of Waves .........................................217 How Waves Move ......................................217 Nuclear Physics ........................................................ 218 Part 5: Strength Training: Test Your Skills ..223 Practice Test 1 .....................................................225 Practice Test 1: Answers and Explanations ........271 Practice Test 2 .....................................................297 Practice Test 2: Answers and Explanations ........345 Resources ............................................................371 Index ....................................................................381

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    Introduction “I want to be a nurse when I grow up!” This phrase is uttered by countless children every day and for good reason. Nursing is a noble profession that is not only personally fulfilling but is also one of the fastest-growing health-care specializations in the country. According to 2018 projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment opportunities for registered nurses is expected to increase 15 percent by 2026, particularly in long-term care facilities, outpatient care centers, and home-based care. This growth is estimated to be much faster than average, when compared with other professions. And with a current median salary of $70,000 a year, or $33.65 per hour, now is a great time to consider nursing school. But deciding to become a nurse is only the first step you need to take in the journey to reach your goal. Another step may be passing a standardized entrance examination. There are currently a handful of exams that most two-year and four-year schools require as part of a nursing program admission. These can vary from semester to semester, as well as from school to school. We offer this book as a general guide to help you decide which program is right for you and prepare you for the various exams that are used to determine eligibility for nursing school programs. Within the pages that follow, you’ll find reviews in the disciplines that are most frequently tested, tons of practice questions to help strengthen your knowledge, and test-taking tips that will help you get through any kind of standardized exam. You may not agree with all of our advice, and some of what we have to say may not work for you as an individual. That’s okay. No piece of advice is right for every person. We encourage you to make your test-prep experience your own and pursue whatever works best for you. When you’re using this book, keep in mind that we are giving advice based on our extensive research and personal experience with this subject. The information we provide is the most current that we can offer as of the date that this book was written, and we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided. When in doubt, though, communicate with the program or programs you’re applying to in order to get the best advice and information relevant to your goals. They are your first and best source for guidance. How to Use This Book Everyone has their own learning style and academic strengths. When you’re preparing for tests like those for nursing school entrance, you need to play to those strengths and focus on improving in the areas that are challenging you. Purchasing this book is a great way to start preparing for your exam. We’ve tried to make reading and using this book as easy for you as possible. We break down all of the informa- tion you need into five main sections, so you can pick and choose what you want to read and when.

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    Part 1, Decision Diagnosis, describes the many different types of nursing careers. It shows you how the path you choose affects which exams you’ll take, the most commonly used exams, what to expect, and how to prepare for and take your test. Part 2, Say It Right: Verbal Review, discusses reading, writing, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar—all skills that nursing school entrance exams want to assess in potential students. We walk you through the different skills that are tested and provide review and practice that will help you understand and apply these concepts. Part 3, Math Matters, shows you why mathematics is an extremely important skill for nurses to master and why all of the nursing school entrance exams include at least one math section. This part will help you brush up on your basic arithmetic, algebra, and geometry in preparation for any of these exams. Part 4, Scientific Method, provides a comprehensive review of earth and life sciences, biol- ogy, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and physics concepts to help you through the scientific sections of your test. Be sure to check out the practice questions at the end of each chapter to test yourself on what you learned. Part 5, Strength Training: Test Your Skills, gives you a chance to challenge yourself with two sample tests featuring the types of questions often seen on the different types of nursing school entrance exams. We also give you detailed answers and explanations to help you practice your skills and learn from your mistakes. If you’re still thirsty for more, check out the info-packed Resources appendix, which includes a listing of the Boards of Nursing for all 50 states and U.S. territories, a list of professional nursing associations, books, and websites. Extras Because we can all use a little extra help, we’ve also included some sidebars with useful information to help speed you through your studies: viii Nursing Entrance Exams NURSING NOTES These are interesting tidbits about the test, nursing, and other related areas to help you keep things in perspective and increase your understanding of the material. ] [ ] [ DEFINITION These are explanations of terms used throughout the book to help you gain a deeper understanding of ideas and concepts. ] [ ] [ CODE RED! Make sure to pay attention to these asides that will warn you about possible pitfalls and common mistakes that test-takers may encounter. ] [ ] [ TEST TIP These are quick and effective ways to boost your test score and make your path a little clearer. ] [ ] [

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    Acknowledgments Maryanne Baudo: What pleases me most about being an author is the acknowledgement from students who have used the book to gain entrance into the nursing program of their choice. I enjoy hear- ing from them and thank them for reading it. Robin Kavanagh is very knowledgeable about the process and a pleasure to work with. A thank you to my husband and children for their unending support throughout my career and all undertakings I engage in. Robin Kavanagh: Thank you so much Maryanne Baudo, for being the expert in nursing education; Kara LaFrance, for her inspired and always fabulous illustrations; Stephen Butkewitsch, our Technical Editor, for reviewing the math and science chapters for accuracy; my daughter, Jordan Matthews, for being patient as I completed my work on this book; and Marilyn Allen, the best agent in the world. And of course, thank you to our team of editors. Trademarks All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be or are suspected of being trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Alpha Books and Penguin Group (USA) Inc. cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark. Introduction ix

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    Deciding to become a nurse is not as easy a decision as many people think. There are many types of nurses and many ways to become a nurse. And for every career and program out there, you’ll find a different set of rules and require- ments, not the least of which is some kind of entrance exam. In this part, we introduce you to the different types of nurs- ing careers there are, what your educational options are, and how your certification and career path will affect which entrance exams you’ll take. Then we walk you through some of the most commonly used exams and break them down for you, in addition to providing some test-specific tips. Finally, we discuss general test-taking strategies that will help you get through just about any standardized exam. A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D PART 1 Decision Diagnosis

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    A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D CHAPTER So, You Want to Be a Nurse? 1 Some of us are born leaders. Others are born analysts or artists. These types of natural skill sets can make us perfect for some jobs and completely wrong for others. For example, someone who has difficulty understanding basic math con- cepts, such as percentages or fractions, is not likely to pursue a career as a math professor. Likewise, a person without a sense of tone or rhythm is not likely to become a musician. Working in the nursing profession requires certain skills, some that you can learn and others that come naturally. Aptitude in math and science are an important part of any job related to nursing, as are communication and analytical skills. This chapter introduces you to the different types of jobs that fall within the nursing profession and what kinds of education and certifications are needed for them. You’ll be able to use this information to decide which career is right for you, to set goals, and to choose which path you want to take to reach them. The Many Faces of Nursing The word nurse evokes lots of images, depending on your experience with the profession. For example, if you had some kind of surgery or ever needed to go to the emergency room, you may associate nursing with the people who took care of you in the hospital. If you’ve cared for an elderly relative, you may think of those nurses who work in adult care facilities or come directly to the house. Although these images of the work a nurse does are accurate, they describe very different types of nursing practices. There are several different career paths you can take within the In This Chapter B Finding entry-level and advanced- level nursing careers B Discovering options for education B Navigating admissions B Getting licensed

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