Select All That Apply (SATA)
Select All That Apply questions require you to choose every correct option from a list, with partial credit scoring on the NCLEX-RN. These questions test your ability to apply comprehensive nursing knowledge rather than relying on test-taking tricks like eliminating one or two distractors. SATA questions appear frequently on the NCLEX and cover virtually every nursing topic.
Strategy
Treat each answer option as an independent true/false statement rather than comparing options against each other. Read the stem carefully, then evaluate every single option on its own merit. Ask yourself: 'Is this statement true in the context of the question?' Do not let the number of correct answers influence your choices. Some SATA questions have two correct answers while others may have five. Since April 2023, SATA items can earn partial credit, so judge every option on its own and select each one you believe is correct.
Key Tips
- Evaluate each option independently as a true or false statement rather than comparing options to each other
- Do not look for patterns in the number of correct answers because there is no set formula
- Read the stem carefully for qualifiers like 'immediately,' 'priority,' or 'most important' which narrow the correct responses
- If an option contains an absolute word like 'always' or 'never,' scrutinize it closely because absolutes are often incorrect in nursing
- Use partial credit to your advantage: select options you are confident about even if you are unsure about others
Example Question
A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with heart failure. Which assessments should the nurse perform? Select all that apply.
Rationale
Clients with heart failure experience fluid overload. Crackles indicate pulmonary congestion (A). Daily weights at the same time detect fluid retention (B). Jugular vein distention signals right-sided heart failure (C). Intake and output monitoring tracks fluid balance (E). A high-sodium diet (D) is incorrect because sodium causes fluid retention and worsens heart failure; clients should follow a sodium-restricted diet.
Common Mistakes
- Selecting too few options because you expect only one right answer like a traditional multiple-choice question
- Choosing an option because it sounds like good nursing care without checking whether it applies to the specific condition in the stem
- Overthinking and changing correct answers because the total number of selections 'seems like too many'
- Failing to read each option completely and missing key words that make an otherwise true statement incorrect
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FAQs
Common questions about select all that apply (sata)
Since the Next Generation NCLEX launched in April 2023, items with more than one correct answer, including SATA, can earn partial credit. NCSBN's candidate bulletin lists three scoring methods: plus/minus, zero/one, and rationale scoring. Under plus/minus scoring, wrong selections can cost points, so select only the options you judge to be correct rather than guessing.
There is no fixed minimum or maximum. A SATA question can have as few as one correct answer or as many as all options being correct. The key is to evaluate each option independently rather than trying to guess a target number of correct responses.