NCLEX-RN Content Review Guide

1. NCLEX Tests Your Judgment, Not Just Facts.

The NCLEX-RN® exam primarily tests your nursing judgment and discretion.

Beyond basic knowledge. Unlike typical nursing school exams that often focus on recalling facts or understanding concepts, the NCLEX-RN assesses your ability to apply that knowledge in realistic client care scenarios. It assumes you have the foundational understanding from your education and challenges you to make safe, competent decisions as a beginning practitioner. This requires moving beyond simple recognition to complex problem-solving.

Critical thinking is key. The core skill evaluated is critical thinking, which involves creative problem-solving in a clinical context. This includes:

• Observing situations and identifying what is important.
• Looking for patterns and relationships in client data.
• Identifying the central problem or issue.
• Applying knowledge learned in one situation to a new, different one.
• Discriminating between multiple possible choices or courses of action.

Safe judgment matters. The ultimate goal of the exam is to ensure public safety by determining if you possess the minimum competency to practice nursing safely. This competency is demonstrated through your ability to exercise sound nursing judgment and make appropriate decisions when managing care, often as the leader of a nursing team overseeing LPNs/LVNs and nursing assistants.

2. Forget Old Study Habits; NCLEX Needs New Thinking.

Minimum competency questions on the NCLEX-RN® exam are written at the application and/or analysis level.

Old strategies fail. Many study habits effective for knowledge- or comprehension-level tests in nursing school are counterproductive for the NCLEX-RN. These include simply cramming facts, relying on recognition/recall, trying to predict answers based on question writer tendencies, or using test-taking tricks like answer length or grammar clues. The NCLEX writers are aware of these strategies and design questions to prevent them from working.

Focus on application. The exam demands that you take the facts you know and actively use them to make a nursing judgment. This application level requires a deeper engagement with the material than simple memorization. You must be able to analyze a scenario, identify the core issue, and determine the safest and most appropriate nursing action based on your understanding of principles.

Think critically, don't just recall. Success hinges on your ability to think critically about each question. This means correctly identifying what the question is truly asking, focusing only on the necessary information provided, and thoughtfully considering each answer choice in light of the clinical scenario and nursing principles. It's about problem-solving in the testing environment, not just recalling stored information.

3. Master the CAT: It Adapts to Your Ability & Client Needs.

The CAT (Computer Adaptive Test) is adapted to your knowledge, skills, and ability level.

Personalized testing experience. The NCLEX-RN is administered as a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT), meaning the questions you receive are selected interactively based on your performance on previous questions. The computer estimates your ability level and chooses subsequent questions that are appropriate to challenge you, aiming to confirm whether you consistently perform at or above the minimum competency standard.

Question selection logic. If you answer a question correctly, the computer will likely present a more difficult question next. If you answer incorrectly, the next question will likely be easier. This adaptive process efficiently determines your competency level. The questions are also selected to ensure coverage across the required areas of the test plan, based on Client Needs categories.

What this means for you. You will answer a minimum of 75 and a maximum of 265 questions within a maximum of 6 hours. You must answer each question to proceed, and you cannot go back to change answers or review previous questions. Understanding that the test is adapting to you means that receiving a mix of easy and hard questions is normal; focus on selecting the best answer for each question presented.

4. Kaplan's System: Diagnose, Practice, Master Questions.

These resources are designed to give you plenty of realistic practice for success on test day.

A structured preparation. Kaplan offers a comprehensive system of resources designed to guide your NCLEX-RN preparation through distinct phases. This system moves you from assessing your baseline knowledge to mastering the critical thinking required for the exam. It provides the tools and structure needed for focused and effective study.

Key phases and tools:

• Phase One (Content Review): Use the Diagnostic Exam to identify strengths/weaknesses, review essential nursing content via the Content Review Guide and videos, and learn critical thinking basics with Pathway to Success videos.
• Phase Two (High-Level Questions): Learn and apply the RN Decision Tree framework in class lessons and question reviews to tackle application/analysis questions, and take a practice test to gauge progress.
• Phase Three (Practice): Engage in extensive practice with thousands of exam-style questions through Question Trainers and the Qbank, and take the Readiness Test shortly before your exam date to confirm preparedness.

Active participation is vital. Simply having access to these materials is not enough; your success depends on actively engaging with each resource, following the recommended study plan, and using the tools provided to analyze and improve your performance.

5. Unlock High-Level Questions with the RN Decision Tree.

The RN Decision Tree is Kaplan Nursing’s critical thinking framework to answer application/analysis nursing test questions.

A systematic approach. The NCLEX-RN's focus on application and analysis questions means you need a structured way to approach complex scenarios. Kaplan's RN Decision Tree provides this framework, guiding you through the process of breaking down questions and evaluating answer choices based on clinical nursing judgment. It's designed specifically to help you think like a safe, entry-level nurse on the exam.

Applying the framework. The Decision Tree helps you:

• Correctly identify the core topic or problem the question is addressing.
• Filter out unnecessary background information.
• Systematically evaluate each answer choice.
• Prioritize nursing actions based on safety, Maslow's hierarchy, or ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation).
• Discriminate between plausible options to select the single best answer.

Mastering critical thinking. Consistent use of the Decision Tree during practice is crucial. It helps you develop the critical thinking skills needed to navigate questions where multiple answers might seem correct. By applying this framework, you learn to identify the patterns in answer choices and make thoughtful decisions rather than relying on hunches or simple recall.

6. Study Smart: Analyze Mistakes, Don't Just Practice.

Thoughtful review is the key to your NCLEX-RN® success.

Beyond just answering questions. Simply completing practice tests is not sufficient preparation. The real learning happens during the review process. You must take the time to analyze your performance, understand why you answered questions correctly or incorrectly, and use this information to target your study efforts.

Deep dive into rationales. For every question, review the detailed explanations for both the correct and incorrect answers. Ask yourself:

• Did I miss this because I lacked content knowledge? (If so, immediately review that topic).
• Did I misinterpret what the question was asking? (Focus on the question stem and using the Decision Tree).
• Did I fail to consider all the answer choices carefully? (Slow down and evaluate each option).
• Did I rely on "real-world" experience instead of nursing theory ("ivory-tower nursing")?

Identify patterns. Use performance analysis tools and reflection worksheets to identify patterns in your mistakes. Are you consistently missing questions in a specific Client Needs category? Are you struggling with priority questions? Understanding these patterns allows you to focus your review on areas of greatest weakness, working from weakest to strongest content areas.

7. Retaking? Evaluate Why & Change Your Approach.

After determining why you failed, the next step is to establish a plan of action for your next test.

Failure is a setback, not an end. If you did not pass the NCLEX-RN on a previous attempt, it is crucial not to despair but to develop a new, different preparation strategy. You are not alone, and many successful nurses have retaken the exam. The Candidate Performance Report provides valuable insight into your strengths and weaknesses on that specific test administration.

Analyze your performance report. The number of questions you answered indicates how close you were to passing. More questions suggest you were near the passing standard but may have struggled with critical thinking or standardized testing. Fewer questions may indicate significant content gaps or major test-taking difficulties. Use the report, along with results from diagnostic tests, to pinpoint the Client Needs areas where you were "below passing."

Prepare differently this time. Your new plan must address the identified reasons for failure. This means:

• Studying both content and test questions, focusing on understanding principles, not just memorizing facts.
• Mastering the Decision Tree for application/analysis questions.
• Practicing extensively with exam-style questions at the appropriate difficulty level.
• Evaluating your CAT experience and planning strategies for test day (breaks, managing anxiety).
• Committing to a concentrated study schedule (recommended 4-6 weeks).

8. Know the Blueprint: Client Needs Drive Exam Content.

Based on integrated nursing content—not on the medical model of medical, surgical, obstetrics, pediatrics, and psychiatric nursing.

Integrated nursing care. The NCLEX-RN organizes content around Client Needs categories, reflecting the integrated nature of nursing practice rather than traditional medical specialties. Questions will combine knowledge from various areas (e.g., pharmacology, basic care, risk reduction) within the context of a client's overall needs. Understanding these categories and their approximate weighting is essential for targeted review.

The Client Needs categories:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment (Management of Care, Safety and Infection Control)
• Health Promotion and Maintenance
• Psychosocial Integrity
• Physiological Integrity (Basic Care and Comfort, Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies, Reduction of Risk Potential, Physiological Adaptation)

Focus your study. While you need a comprehensive understanding of nursing content, knowing the Client Needs framework helps you understand how information will be tested. Kaplan's resources, including the Content Review Guide and practice questions, are organized according to this blueprint, allowing you to focus your study on the areas where you need the most improvement, as identified by diagnostic assessments.

I confirm that I have written detailed
[ERROR: Incomplete response]

Last updated: May 31, 2025