WELCOME TO THIS GREAT EDUCATIONAL BLOG

Welcome to my Pre-Nursing Exam Prep blog. I hope it will help you prepare very well for the Pre-NLN entrance exam, popularly known as the PAX exam. This is one of the entrance exams required by some schools for those who want to pursue careers in the nursing field in the USA. I will attempt to break down the review materials into manageable parts so that you can systematically and efficiently prepare for the test with less stress. I will guide you to prepare for the entire content of the test. Hopefully, you will be able to pass after going through these series.


BEST OF LUCK!


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A 12-DAY APPROACH TO ACE THE EXAM

SCIENCE REVIEWThe topics that are generally covered in the test have been grouped into twelve instructional modules below. You will be tested only on the basic concepts of physics, chemistry and biology. Click on science topics and select any of the topics listed in the module to review.

Lesson 1:

Basic structure of atom

Types of tissues

Lesson 2:

Movement of substances across the cell membrane

Acids and bases, pH scale

Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids

Lesson 3:

Basic structure of the eye

Basic structure of the ear

Nervous system

Lesson 4:

Circulatory system

Introduction to mechanics (motion/forces)

Electrical circuits

Lesson 5:

Balancing chemical equations and writing formulas

Essentials of photosynthesis and respiration

Classifying organic compounds

Magnetism

Electromagnetism

Lesson 6:

Interpretation of graphs and pictograms

Analyzing and making conclusions from experiments

Data analysis

Lesson 7:

Endocrine system

Digestive system

Genitourinary system

Lesson 8:

Reproduction in mammals

Basic parts of a flower

Reproduction in plants (the process of pollination

Genetics

Lesson 9:

Modes of heat transfer

Calculating heat energies and phase diagrams

Temperature conversions (Kelvin, Celsius, Fahrenheit)

Lesson 10:

Gas laws (Boyle, Charles, Gay-Lussac)

Types of energy (Potential, kinetic, etc…..)

Chemical bonds, equilibrium and equilibrium constants

Mixtures, types of solutions, solubility

Lesson 11:

Concepts of the food pyramid, food web and food chain

Light (diffraction, refraction, reflection, dispersion)

Basic concepts on waves

Sound waves

Catalyst and enzymes

Lesson 12:

Symbiosis

Ecology

The Electroscope

Radioactivity and half-life Tropism

Tropism

Thursday, February 19, 2015

QUESTIONS ON CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS

You can review the cell structure and functions from the past lessons and then proceed to the multiple choice questions to test your skills.

Here is a link to practice on questions related to the cell structure and functions.

REVIEW AND QUESTIONS ON CELLULAR RESPIRATION

We have already discussed cell respiration but here is a recap. Cellular respiration is the process by which the chemical energy trapped in food molecules is released and partially captured in the form of ATP. All the different classes of food substances, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins can all be used as fuels in cellular respiration. They have to be converted to glucose before they can be used in the chemical pathway. The three stages of cellular respiration are:

1. Glycolysis: This occurs in the cytosol. In glycolysis, the 6-carbon sugar, glucose, is broken down into two molecules of a 3-carbon molecule called pyruvate. This change is accompanied by a net gain of 2 ATP molecules and 2 NADH molecules.


2. The Krebs cycle: This occurs in the matrix of the mitochondria. This takes place in the presence of oxygen.It 
generates a pool of chemical energy which includes ATP, NADH, and FADH2,  from the oxidation of pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis.


3. Oxidative phosphorylation: This occurs in the electron transport chain. The electron transport chain is located on the inner mitochondrial membrane and 
consists of a series of molecules, mostly proteins. The electron transport chain allows the release of large amount of chemical energy stored in reduced NAD+ (NADH) and reduced FAD (FADH2). This energy is captured in the form of ATP (3 ATP per NADH and 2 ATP per FADH2). 


In the absence of oxygen, fermentation occurs. Fermentation leads to lactic acid production.



  • Each molecule of glucose can generate 36-38 molecules of ATP in aerobic respiration.
  •  Only 2 ATP molecules are generated in respiration without oxygen (through glycolysis and fermentation).


Click on this link to try the quiz.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

MAKING INFERENCES AND CONCLUSIONS FROM SCIENTIFIC DATA

You will be tested on your understanding of scientific experiments and your ability to make inferences and conclusions from various data, graphs, and scenarios. The science passages below can help you practice on some of these questions.

1. Reading Comprehension 1
2. Reading Comprehension 2
3. Reading Comprehension 3
4. Reading Comprehension 4
5. Reading Comprehension 5
6. Reading Comprehension 6
7. Reading Comprehension 7

Monday, February 16, 2015

WHAT ARE CATHECOLAMINES?

The  nervous system consists of the central and the peripheral nervous systems. The central nervous system consist of the brain and spinal cord while the peripheral nervous system is made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for fight-and-flight responses whilst the parasympathetic is responsible for calming you down. 

Within the sympathetic nervous system, there are two neurotransmitters: 

  • Noradrenaline (also referred to as norepinephrine)
  • adrenaline (also referred to as epinephrine)
These are known as catecholamines. 

  • Noradrenaline is the main neurotransmitter of the sympathetic nerves in the cardiovascular system. It plays a major role in tonic and reflexive changes in cardiovascular tone. The sympathetic noradrenergic system is active even when the individual is at rest.
  •  Adrenaline is the main hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla. Adrenaline is a major determinant of responses to metabolic challenges to homeostasis.  
What are some of the fight-and-flight responses?
  • Increased alertness
  • Pupil dilatation
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased respiratory rate
  • Decrease intestinal motility
  • Decreased bladder contraction
  • Vasoconstriction (constriction of blood vessels)
  • Increased blood pressure

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

MULTIPLE TEST QUESTIONS ON MATTER

Here is a link to excellent multiple questions on matter (solids, liquids, and gases).

Click on this link to start the test.

MOST VIEWED TOPICS FOR THIS WEEK





REVIEW QUESTIONS ON MATTER

1. Which of the following matter has a fixed shape and volume.
       A. liquid
       B. solid
       C. gas

2. Which of the following matter has no fixed shape and volume.
       A. liquid
       B. solid
       C. gas

3.  Which of the following matter has no fixed shape but fixed volume.
       A. liquid
       B. solid
       C. gas

4. What can you say about the particles of a gas.
      A. Closely packed together
      B. Do not move from each other.
      C. Move freely away from each other.

5. The process by which water is changed to ice is referred to as ________
      A. sublimation
      B. condensation
      C. vaporization
      D. freezing

6. When the particles of a gas gain thermal energy, they tend to move _____
     A. slowly
     B. fast
     C. at the speed

7. The process by which water is changed to vapor is referred to as ________
      A. sublimation
      B. condensation
      C. vaporization
      D. freezing

8. The process by which dry ice is changed to gas is referred to as ________
      A. sublimation
      B. condensation
      C. vaporization
      D. freezing

9. What happens when you increase the pressure on a gas in a rigid container.
     A. The molecules hit harder and often on the sides of the container.
     B. The molecules hit gently and often on the sides of the container.
     C. The molecules hit strong but less often on the sides of the container.
     D. The molecules hit gently but often on the sides of the container.

10. According to Boyle's law, as the volume of a gas is decreased, the pressure of the gas
       A. stays the same.
       B. gets higher.
       C. gets lower.
       D. doubles.

11. As the temperature of a gas in a rigid container gets higher, what happens to its pressure?
       A. stays the same.
       B. gets higher.
       C. gets lower.
       D. doubles.
 

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOVE

1. Which of the following matter has a fixed shape and volume.
       A. liquid
       B. solid
       C. gas

2. Which of the following matter has no fixed shape and volume.
       A. liquid
       B. solid
       C. gas

3.  Which of the following matter has no fixed shape but fixed volume.
       A. liquid
       B. solid
       C. gas

4. What can you say about the particles of a gas.
      A. Closely packed together
      B. Do not move from each other.
      C. Move freely away from each other.

5. The process by which water is changed to ice is referred to as ________
      A. sublimation
      B. condensation
      C. vaporization
      D. freezing

6. When the particles of a gas gain thermal energy, they tend to move _____
     A. slowly
     B. fast
     C. at the speed

7. The process by which water is changed to vapor is referred to as ________
      A. sublimation
      B. condensation
      C. vaporization
      D. freezing

8. The process by which dry ice is changed to gas is referred to as ________
      A. sublimation
      B. condensation
      C. vaporization
      D. freezing

9. What happens when you increase the pressure on a gas in a rigid container.
     A. The molecules hit harder and often on the sides of the container.
     B. The molecules hit gently and often on the sides of the container.
     C. The molecules hit strong but less often on the sides of the container.
     D. The molecules hit gently but often on the sides of the container.

10. According to Boyle's law, as the volume of a gas is decreased, the pressure of the gas
       A. stays the same.
       B. gets higher.
       C. gets lower.
       D. doubles.

11. As the temperature of a gas in a rigid container gets higher, what happens to its pressure?
       A. stays the same.
       B. gets higher.
       C. gets lower.
       D. doubles.
 

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

STEM CELLS

Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into many different cell types during early developmental stages and growth. When the stem cell divides, it can remain a stem cell or develop into another cell such as muscle, bone, blood cells, etc. Stem cells are important in the repair of tissues.
Three characteristics of stem cells:

  •  They are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods.
  •  They are unspecialized.
  • They can give rise to specialized cell types.
When unspecialized stem cells give rise to specialized cells, the process is called differentiation.


There are two types of stem cells.

  • Embryonic stem cells
  • Non-embryonic stem cells (somatic or adult stem cells)
Adult stem cells typically generate the cell types of the tissue in which they reside. For example, a blood-forming adult stem cell in the bone marrow normally gives rise to the many types of blood cells. 

Some specialized adult cells can be reprogrammed to become stem cells under certain conditions. These cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells.

Stem cells offer new potentials for treating diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases. Using stem cells to treat diseases is known as cell-based therapy or regenerative or reparative medicine.

Check out this link: Glossary on stem cell information.