NR 537 Week 3 Test Construction

NR 537 Week 3 Test Construction

Name

Chamberlain University

NR-537: Assessment & Evaluation in Education

Prof. Name

Date

Effective Test Construction for Cardiovascular Disease Care for Adults

Creating tests for cardiovascular disease care for adults involves careful planning and consideration of various factors, including course outcomes, competencies, and the level of nursing students. It is essential to structure tests that address the complexity of the topic and ensure fair discrimination among students. A test blueprint, along with Bloom’s revised taxonomy, aids in this process by helping educators assess the understanding of nursing students at different levels.

Understanding the Content Area for Cardiovascular Disease Care

The cardiovascular disease care module is tailored for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students and those pursuing certification programs. The unit primarily focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and management of cardiovascular diseases in adults. Key topics covered include heart failure, hypertension, angina-coronary artery disease (CAD), Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), and Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). These conditions are closely interrelated, with the progression of one often leading to others.

Cardiovascular diseases are prevalent and chronic, making them a critical area of focus in nursing education. Nurses must be able to assess and treat these conditions using evidence-based practices and an understanding of laboratory results, dosage calculations, and drug administration. The ability to provide holistic, patient-centered care is also emphasized.

Course Outcomes for Cardiovascular Disease Care

The course outcomes outline the knowledge and skills that nursing students should develop upon completion of the module. These include:

• Identifying and Describing Cardiovascular Diseases: Understanding different types of cardiovascular diseases, their symptoms, and how they are diagnosed.
• Integrating Clinical Knowledge: Applying theoretical and clinical knowledge from biology, physical sciences, and behavioral sciences in the management of cardiovascular diseases.
• Assessing Risk Factors: Identifying and evaluating risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases.
• Analyzing Laboratory Results: Demonstrating the ability to interpret lab results and use them to develop effective treatment plans.
• Calculating Dosages and Interventions: Accurately calculating medication dosages and implementing interventions.
• Providing Evidence-Based Care: Applying evidence-based approaches to care, considering cultural factors and patient preferences.

Test Blueprint for Cardiovascular Disease Care Module

A well-structured test blueprint helps ensure the alignment of test questions with course outcomes and learning objectives. Below is a breakdown of the cardiovascular disease care module, including its total points and the distribution of questions across content areas.

NR 537 Week 3 Test Construction

Developing Multiple-Choice Questions for Cardiovascular Disease Care

Effective multiple-choice questions should be clear, concise, and aimed at testing students’ understanding of cardiovascular disease concepts. Here are examples of multiple-choice items:

1. Which modifiable risk factor should be prioritized for a patient with prehypertension?
   a. Lack of exercise
   b. BMI index of 20
   c. Drinking wine daily
   d. High sodium intake
   e. Smoking one pack of cigarettes daily

2. When monitoring for target organ damage as a result of hypertension, the nurse should be most concerned about which laboratory finding?
   a. ALT 42 u/L
   b. BUN 16 mg/dL
   c. Serum creatinine 1.75 mg/dL
   d. AST 37 u/L

3. Which condition causes chest pain?
   a. Increased preload
   b. Decreased contractility
   c. Decreased afterload
   d. Decreased oxygen supply to the myocardium

4. What sign of poor organ perfusion should the nurse monitor for a client who experienced a myocardial infarction and later develops left ventricular heart failure?
   a. Serum creatinine value of 1.7 mg/dL
   b. ALT at 122 u/L
   c. Urine output below 30mL/hour
   d. All of the above

5. The body’s initial compensatory mechanism, which maintains cardiac output during heart failure, is:
   a. Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
   b. Increased parasympathetic nervous system stimulation
   c. Decreased sympathetic nervous system stimulation
   d. Increased sympathetic nervous system stimulation

6. Peripheral arterial disease results in reduced oxygenated blood flow to the lower extremities, causing ischemia.
   a. True
   b. False

Developing Alternative Item Types for Cardiovascular Disease Care

To assess students’ deeper understanding, it is important to incorporate alternative item types, such as short answer, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which diagnosis should be prioritized when a client has left-sided heart failure?
   a. Activity Intolerance
   b. Anxiety
   c. Fatigue
   d. Impaired Gas Exchange

2. Which assessment finding(s) should indicate that a patient has biventricular heart failure?
   a. Crackles in the lungs bilaterally
   b. 2+ pitting edema in the lower extremities
   c. Labored respirations pattern
   d. All of the above

True/False Questions

1. Coronary heart disease is commonly referred to as ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease.
   a. True
   b. False

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. Hypertensive heart disease is caused by __.
   a. High blood pressure
   b. Low blood pressure
   c. High blood sugar
   d. Low blood sugar

NR 537 Week 3 Test Construction

Conclusion

Constructing tests for cardiovascular disease care in adults is an essential part of nursing education. By developing a comprehensive test blueprint, utilizing Bloom’s Taxonomy, and creating varied question types, educators can ensure that students are effectively assessed on their understanding of cardiovascular diseases. With careful planning, nursing students can demonstrate the necessary knowledge and skills to provide high-quality care to adult patients with cardiovascular conditions.