Running head: TEST BLUEPRINT
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Test Blueprint
N 548- Test Construction and Analysis
Ashley Jarrell, RN, BSN, BA
Duke University School of Nursing
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The fictional course for this test blueprint will be in an undergraduate baccalaureate
nursing program. Senior year nursing students will be enrolled in a 4 week elective course,
covering the body system of their choosing. The course for this blueprint will be the Renal
System.
Unit exams were weighted based on amount of content being covered and the importance
of the topic. Each exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions. The final exam is cumulative
and 100 multiple choice questions.
The difficulty of the multiple choice questions will be divided among 3 levels: easy,
moderate, and difficult. The exam will open with a few easy level questions (as a confidence
booster/tension breaker), and then progress in level of difficulty. Ideally, the exam would be
comprised of more moderate level items (roughly 50%) with the remaining 35% being difficult
and 15% easy.
I.
Renal Anatomy and Physiology- Describe and identify the anatomy and the
physiologic function of each renal unit. (30%)
A. Kidney Anatomy
a. Location
b. Renal Capsule
c. Renal Cortex
d. Renal Medulla
e. Nephrons
f. Glomerulus
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g. Bowman’s Capsule
h. Tubules
B. Function
a. Homeostasis of blood and acid/base balance
b. Excretes products of metabolism
c. Controls fluid and electrolyte balance
d. Renin and erythropoietin secretion
C. Urine Production
a. Homeostasis of water
b. Homeostasis of sodium
c. Homeostasis of potassium
d. Homeostasis of acidity
D. Adrenal Glands
E. Bladder
F. Prostate
II.
Diagnostic Tests- Identify and describe the indications for use for each
diagnostic test and what results may indicate (15%)
A. Serum blood tests
a. Creatinine
b. Blood Urea Nitrogen
B. Urinalysis
a. Specific gravity
b. Culture and sensitivity
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c. Creatinine clearance
d. Uric acid
e. 24 hour urine
C. Radiologic and Invasive Tests
a. KUB
b. Bladder scan
c. CT scan
d. MRI
e. Renal angiography
f. Cystoscopy
g. Renal biopsy
III.
Disorders of the renal system- Identify and describe disorders of the renal
system, including their etiology and assessment findings (35%)
A. Acute renal failure
a. Causes
b. Assessment findings
c. Interventions
B. Chronic renal failure
a. Causes
b. Assessment findings
c. Interventions
C. Uremic syndrome
a. Causes
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b. Assessment findings
c. Interventions
D. Cystitis
a. Causes
b. Assessment findings
c. Interventions
E. Urosepsis
a. Causes
b. Assessment findings
c. Interventions
F. Pyelonephritis
a. Causes
b. Assessment findings
c. Interventions
G. Glomerulonephritis
a. Causes
b. Assessment findings
c. Interventions
H. Urethritis
a. Causes
b. Assessment findings
c. Interventions
I. Nephrotic syndrome
5
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a. Causes
b. Assessment findings
c. Interventions
J. Renal Calculi
a. Causes
b. Assessment findings
c. Interventions
K. Hydronephrosis
a. Causes
b. Assessment findings
c. Interventions
IV. Dialysis- Describe the purpose of dialysis (hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, continuous
dialysis) indications for use, associated complications, and access sites (20%)
A. Description
a. Hemodialysis
b. Peritoneal dialysis
c. Continuous dialysis
B. Function
C. Principles
D. Dialysate
E. Nursing Procedures and Interventions
F. Hemodialysis Access
a. Subclavian
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b. Femoral
c. Fistula/AV Grafts
d. Temporary versus permanent
e. Advantages/Disadvantages
f. Interventions
g. Assessment
G. Complications
a. Embolus
b. Disequilibrium
c. Encephalopathy
d. Infection
A. Number of Unit Exam
B. Number of Items Per Unit Exam
C. Total Unit Exam Items (A x B)
D. Number of Final Exam Items
E. Total Number of Exam Items (C + D)
Total
Lecture
Hours
( 4 wks x 10hrs)
Content
Lecture
Hours
% of
Hours
Week I
Week II
Week III
Week IV
Total
11
6
15
8
40
27.5%
15%
37.5%
20%
100%
40
Number
of
Course
Items
80-84
43-47
110-114
58-62
300
4
50
200
100
300
Total
Exam
Items
300
Obj 1
30%
Obj 2
15%
Obj 3
35%
Obj 4
20%
80-84
Items
43-47
Items
110-114
Items
58-62
Items
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Content
area
Lecture
Hours
% of
total
Lecture
Hours
% of
Exam
Lecture
Hours
Week I
Exam I
Week II
Exam II
Week III
Exam III
Week IV
Exam IV
Total
11
27.5%
100%
6
15%
100%
15
37.5%
100%
8
20%
100%
40
100%
Questions
Range
Week I
Exam I
Week II
Exam II
38-42
Week III
Exam III
38-42
Week IV
Exam IV
Final
Total
58-62
Total
Exam I
Number Items
of
Items
for Unit
80-84
50
43-47
110114
58-62
300
50
Items
Items
Exam
II
Items
Exam
III
Items
Exam
IV
Items
Final
Exam
Items
20
5
2
6
30
10
2
4
35
20
55
50
Items
26
50
Items
35
100
Items
50
Items
OBJ 1
80-84
Items
OBJ 2
43-47
Items
OBJ 3
110-114
Items
OBJ 4
58-62
Items
Total
300
50
-
-
-
50
20
30
-
-
50
5
10
35
-
50
38-42
100
300
50
2
6
83
2
4
46
20
55
110
26
35
61
100
300
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References
Ignatavicius, D. & Workman, M. (2006). Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for
Collaborative Care (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier/Saunders.
McDonald, M.E. (2007). The nurse educator’s guide to assessing learning outcomes (2nd ed.).
Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett
Seidel, H.M. (2011). Mosby’s guide to physical examination (7th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.