HPS 103
FOUNDATION COMPETENCIES
IN HEALTH SCIENCE

T Determine the type of stem.

C Determine who the client is.

I Determine what the issue is.

K Identify the key words.

The scenario
The stem
The options

This scenario provides information about
 a clinical health problem, and
 the information to consider when
answering the question

The stem asks something about the
scenario.
Read carefully to identify specifically what
is being asked.

The options are the possible answers.
Read every option carefully.
Reread the stem to be sure you
understand what is being asked.

Read the stem.
RE-read the stem with each option as a
true-false statement.
Eliminate the distractors and select from
the remaining options.
Always “GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW.”

Read the stem.
Finish the statement in your mind, and
check to see if the answer is one of the
options.

Your answer may or may not be one of the
options, but you will be thinking along the
same channels.

Re-read as four true-false statements.

Read the statement with the first option.
If the statement is false, cross off the letter
of that option.
This is a distractor and will not be the
correct answer.

If the statement is true, it may be the
correct answer.
Place a “+” in front of this option
You won’t know if this is the correct answer
until you read all four options.

If you are uncertain about an option, place
a “?” in front of that option.

After reading all four options, eliminate the
distractors and select from the remaining
options.

If you placed an “X” in front of two options,
And a “+” in front of one option,
And a “?” in front of one option,
SELECT the option with the “+”.

DRILL: Practice questions.

T
Determine the type of stem.

There are two types of multiple choice
question stems:
A true-response stem.
A false-response stem.

In true-response stem , the answer is true
regarding the case scenario.

Key words in a true-response stem
include:
• Most or most appropriate
• Most likely
• Best judgment

Other key words include:
• Initial
• First
• Chief
• Immediate

False-response stem uses key words that
ask for an answer that is NOT true
regarding the case scenario.

Key words include:
• Least likely
• Need for further instructions or education
• Lowest priority

Other key words include:
• Incorrect
• Unsafe
• Except, not, or avoid

Determine who the client is.

The client is the person of focus.

The client may be:
• The person with the health problem
• A relative
• A friend
• A spouse or significant other
• A roommate
• A member of the health care team

DRILL: Practice Questions (Determine
who the client is)

Determine what the issue is.

The issue is the specific subject content
that the question is asking about.

The issue may include:
• A medication or intravenous (IV) therapy
• A side effect of a medication
• An adverse or toxic effect of a medication
• A treatment or a procedure
• A complication of a health care problem,
treatment, or procedure
• A specific nursing action

DRILL: Practice questions (Determine
who the client is).

Identify the key words.

Common key words:
• Early or late
• Best
• First
• Initial
• Immediately
• Most likely or least likely

Most appropriate or least appropriate
On the day of
After several days

Key words are important to identify
because they will assist in eliminating the
incorrect options.

Some of the key words may indicate that
all of the options are correct.
It will be necessary to prioritize in order to
select the correct option.

Drill: Practice Question (Identify the key
words).

Determine the type of stem.
Determine who the client is.
Determine what the issue is.
Identify key words.