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**
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.
26. This workforce solution is funded by the IHUM Consortium which is 100%
financed through a $15,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of
Labor’s Employment & Training Administration. The product was created
by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the
U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no
guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied,
with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites
and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its
completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or
ownership. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution
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Editor's Notes
Upper left is old version. Bottom right is new version. NCLEX only tests at higher question levels. Evaluation and Create are generally evaluated in the clinical or simulation setting, not exams.
Answer is B. This is an analysis level question and requires students understand the pathophysiology of liver failure and the process of percutaneous liver biopsy as well as recognize s/s of hypovolemia and possible side effect of bleeding.. All four responses are potentially correct but what is priority? Think about ABCs.
Answer is D. This requires student understands pathophysiology related to emphysema and are able to prioritize.
Answers: A, C, E
Requires students understand pathophysiology related to fluid overload and pulmonary edema. Utilize ABC and prioritzation.
The first question is an ordered response that assess skill knowledge. The second question is ordered response that assess prioritization of care.
Answer is C
Answer is A.
This quote, attributed to Roman philosopher Seneca, reminds us that we make our own luck. The difference between lucky and unlucky people, we've seen before, is all in our perspective.