Principle of Prioritization

The Nurses’ Licensure Examination may contain questions in which may require you to use the prioritization of the nursing actions. In the Principle of Prioritization, one must look for the key words found in the question that indicate the need to prioritize.

Always remember, that when a question requires prioritization, all options can be correct and you must determine the correct order of actions. However, if you find an offending cause, eliminate the offending cause first.

In prioritization, one must use several processes in deducing the correct answer. Examples are:

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Principle of Umbrella Effect

If a choice is more relevant or is more inclusive to the other choices then it may be the most probable answer.

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“Tell Me More” Principle

The Principle of “Tell me more” usually occurs in Test practice no. 5 in the Philippine Nurses’ Licensure Exam that pertains to psychiatric nursing, but can also appear in other test practices. The focus should be on the client’s feeling, concerns, anxieties and fears. The nurse asks the client to express his feeling more. This is summarized by a response that encourages the client to verbalize his feelings.

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Principle of Commonality and Difference

The Principle of Commonality and Difference are two or more options that has the same thought and configuration is likely to be the incorrect choice.

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Principle of Improbable Extremes

Extreme modifiers are often found in false statements. This makes it more likely that the other choice be correct. Examples of extreme modifiers are all, none, everybody, only, nobody, always, never, everyone, no one, invariably, at no time, certainly, absolutely not, best, worst, absolutely, certainly not.

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Principle of Reappearing Visage

Reappearing visage is when a word or phrase that appears in the question and then reappears at one of the 4 choices is the most probable answer.

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