The document provides tips for passing the NCLEX exam, including creating a master study plan involving reviewing 5000 practice questions. It recommends studying in both learning and testing modes, increasing the number of practice questions over time. The NCLEX tests critical thinking skills rather than just knowledge. Different question types are used, including multiple choice, multiple response, fill in the blank, and hot spots involving charts, pictures, or audio/video. Generic drug names and "client" terminology will be used.

1. NCLEX
Tips for success
Spring 2016

2. Create a Master Plan
• Direct correlation between those exposed to
NCLEX style questions and failure/pass of
NCLEX.
• Most successful students have reviewed 5000
NCLEX style questions prior to the exam.

3. Master Plan
• Prepare for the marathon!
– Learning Mode- read NCLEX question. Review
answer and rationale
– Testing Mode- Designate a specific time for
testing. Set a timer. Take 75-100 NCLEX exam
questions. Do this multiple times, increasing
number of questions each time.
• Especially helpful for those with test anxiety or
difficulty with time management

4. NCLEX
• The NCLEX exam does not test
a student’s knowledge, it tests
a nurse’s thinking!

5. NCLEX
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing
(NCSBN)
• Rules for NCLEX…..Look it up!
• https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm
**April 1st 2016 the NCLEX plan changes**
**Addition of Culture and Spirituality**

6. NCLEX Questions
Blooms Taxonomy

7. NCLEX Questions
• Knowledge (Remembering)
• Recall of facts and specific information
• Memorization of specifics
• “What does diastole represent?”
**NOT used on NCELX**

8. NCLEX Questions
• Comprehension (Understanding)
– Ability to describe and explain material
– “Describe the blood flow through the heart.”
**NOT used on NCLEX**

9. NCLEX Questions
• Application (Applying)
– Allows student to demonstrate and understanding
of the information.
– Tests the ability to not only understand the
information, but also allows for demonstration of
how the information is used in a situation.
– “A nurse is caring for a client with suspected fluid
volume deficit. What would the nurse expect the
initial vital signs to be?”

10. NCLEX Questions
• Analysis (Analyzing)
– Requires a breakdown of the information.
– Requires analysis of the information to determine
a response.
– Often includes 4 correct options.
– “A nurse is teaching an older adult client with
diabetes mellitus type 2 about the importance of
drinking fluids. Which statement made by the
client requires immediate follow-up by the
nurse?”

11. NCLEX Tips
• The nurse is caring for a client in liver failure after a
percutaneous liver biopsy. The assessment findings
include tachycardia, tachypnea and hypotension. The
client is lethargic and difficult to arouse. Which
prescription would the nurse perform first?
a) Type and cross for 2 units of PRBCs
b) Apply oxygen at 2L/nasal cannula
c) Apply pressure to the biopsy site
d) Place the head of the bed flat
**Prescription refers to order**

12. NCLEX Tips
• The nurse is caring for an elderly client with advanced
emphysema with air hunger, a respiratory rate of 30,
pulse oximetry of 89% and an arterial pH of 7.30.
What is the priority action of the nurse?
a) Obtain a Do Not Resuscitate order
b) Prepare for intubation
c) Increase O2 to 50% simple mask
d) Deliver a nebulizer treatment with albuterol
(Ventolin)
**Only generic medication names will be used**
**If you have an answer option….you have the order**

13. NCLEX Tips
• No patient names/sex
• Ages, only if appropriate (children)
• No nursing diagnosis
• NCLEX uses “client”
• Health care provider (not MD)
• Prescription means order
• Generic medications only

14. NCLEX Tips
• The nursing process according to NCLEX.
• AAPIE
– A- assess
– A- analysis
– P- plan
– I- intervention
– E- evaluate

15. NCLEX Question Type
Answer Options
• Multiple choice
• Multiple response
• Fill in the blank
• Ordered response
• Hot spot
Media Options
• Chart exhibit
• Graphs
• Audio
• Video
• **media options are always
multiple choice questions**

16. NCLEX Question Type
(most difficult)
• Multiple choice
• Multiple response
• Fill in the blank
• Ordered response
• Hot spot
• Chart exhibit
• Tables
• Graphs
• Pictures
• Audio
• Video

17. NCLEX Question Type
(most time consuming)
• Multiple choice
• Multiple response
• Fill in the blank
• Ordered response
• Hot spot
• Chart exhibit
• Tables
• Graphs
• Pictures
• Audio
• Video

18. Fill in the blank
• Will only be math calculations.
• Auto rounds the answer unless stipulated
• Present with chart exhibit/graph
• NCLEX
– No preceding zero
– Only enter number, units of measure provided

19. Multiple response
(Select all that apply)
**Treat each response as True/False**
**Will contain 2 or more correct responses. May be…but probably will
not be all responses**
An older adult was hydrated with normal saline in the emergency
room over the last hour for hypovolemia. Assessment changes include
a rapid bounding pulse and shortness of breath. What additional
information would the nurse want to gather? Select all that apply.
a) Blood pressure
b) Changes in mentation
c) Urinary output
d) Hemoglobin and Hematocrit
e) Oxygen saturation

20. Ordered Response
• The nurse is performing a peripherally
inserted central catheter (PICC) dressing
change. The client moves quickly and the line
comes out 4 cm. What would be the nurses
next actions?
• The nurse receives hand-off report on these
clients. In what order should they be
assessed?

21. Tables
• A nurse is caring for a client with COPD
experiencing increasing shortness of breath.
After reviewing the trends in the arterial blood
gasses, what should the nurse’s next action
be? pH PaCO
2
PO2 O2
Sat
HCO3
0800 7.36 44 98 99 22
1000 7.32 49 86 92 24
1400 7.30 56 80 80 26

22. Tables
• A) Increase the oxygen from 2L/NC to 4L/NC
• B) Raise the head of bed and encourage
coughing
• C) Request a bonchodilator small volume
nebulizer treatment
• D) Ambulate the client in the hallway

23. Picture
• The nurse needs to administer 1.5mL of
morphine sulfate IM for a client experiencing
post-operative pain of 8 on a 1-10 scale.
Which syringe should the nurse select?
• A) B)
C
• C) D)

24. NCLEX…..now what
• Review NCSBN website and 2016 NCLEX test plan.
• Review your individualized comprehensive
predictor results for areas of strength and
opportunity.
• Create your “master plan” for reviewing NCLEX
test questions.
• Plan for time to practice taking NCLEX “tests”
with increasing numbers of questions.
• Read the first chapter or two of your NCLEX test
book….valuable information is contained here.

25. NCLEX

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