8 Topics You Should Study On If You Want To Ace The NCLEX

NCLEX is the acronym for the National Council Licensure Examination. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) issues it, and it’s the last exam every nursing graduate must complete becoming a licensed nurse.

The NCLEX is done through Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT). This means if you get an answer right, the next question will be slightly harder and vice versa. There are two variations of the exam: the NCLEX-RN (for entry-level Registered Nurses) and the NCLEX-PN (for Practical Nurses). A candidate must answer 75 of 256 questions correctly in the NCLEX-RN, while a candidate for the NCLEX-PN must answer 85 out of 205 questions correctly.

Both exam options have similar formats. A candidate’s understanding of the exam format and topical content contributes greatly to exam success. In this article, we’ll discuss eight important topics to study if you want to succeed in the NCLEX exams.

1. Physiological Adaptation

This topic accounts for 7–13% of the NCLEX. It deals with the proper care of patients living with acute and life-threatening physical health conditions. It falls under the physiological integrity section of the exam. One of the main studies under this topic is cardiac NCLEX. Other key areas to note in this study are:

• Recognition and reporting of basic abnormalities via a patient’s cardiac monitor strip.
• Patient education regarding personal care and their health condition.
• How to care for patients experiencing seizures, increased intracranial pressure, and pregnancy complications.
• Monitoring alterations in a patient’s body system with the knowledge of pathophysiology.
• Responses and interventions to a patient’s life-threatening situation.

2. Coordinated Care

This section accounts for 18–24% of the NCLEX. It falls under the safety and effective care environment section of the exam. It covers the nurse’s responsibility to collaborate with health care team members for effective patient care. Key areas to focus on include:

• Following up with a patient after discharge from the healthcare facility.
• Regulations and policies for reporting on complex issues.
• Knowledge of the individual roles and responsibilities of healthcare team members.
• How to identify staff actions that negatively impact patient confidentiality and intervention methods.
• How to organize care in order of priority of patients’ needs.

3. Safety And Infection Control

This topic accounts for 10–16% of the 2020 NCLEX. It falls under the safety and effective care environment section of the exam. It focuses on how to reduce workplace hazards and the spread of infections, while effectively responding to unique patient conditions. Some key areas to focus on:

• Identification methods for communicable diseases and modes of transmission.
• Safe use of all medical equipment that has an infectious and hazardous potential.
• When transfer assistive devices are required in healthcare.
• Safe patient handling techniques.
• Patient education on home safety precautions.

4. Pharmacological And Parenteral Therapies 

This topic accounts for 10–16% of the NCLEX. It falls under the physiological integrity section of the exam. In this section, nurses are tested on the administration of medications and the monitoring of patients receiving parental therapies. These are the key areas to focus on:

• How to make calculations for the proper administration of medications.
• Knowledge of medication safety practices.
• Resources to check for purposes and reactions of pharmacological agents.
• Necessary data collection before medication administration.
• Assessment of the side effects of medications and allergic reactions in patients.

5. Health Promotion And Maintenance

This section accounts for 6–12% of the NCLEX. Here, the focus is on growth and development processes across the life span, prevention and early detection of health issues, and how to help patients improve their overall health. Some key areas to pay attention to include:

• How to provide care to patients of different age groups.
• Data collection process of the patient’s health history.
• Identification of individual patient risk factors for diseases.
• Useful information for the prevention of high-risk behaviors.
• Identification of community health resources for patients.

6. Psychosocial Integrity

This topic covers 9–15% of the NCLEX. It focuses on the nurse’s role in the social, mental, and emotional development of patients. According to the NCSBN, this study area equips nurses with requisite knowledge of caring for patients undergoing stress and acute mental illnesses. Key areas to take note of include:

• Incorporation of behavioral management techniques in patient care.
• How to provide emotional support to patients.
• Signs and symptoms of psychological and physical abuse in patients.
• How to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for abused patients.
• Ways to encourage patient participation in therapy.

7. Basic Care And Comfort

This section accounts for 7–13% of the NCLEX. It falls under the physiological adaptation section of the exam. Applicants are tested on the processes of providing comfort and assistance in their daily performance of activities. Key study areas include:

• How to provide patients with bladder management protocol and mobility needs.
• Promotion of alternative/complementary therapy in patient care provision.
• Identification of signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency and intervention methods.
• Knowledge of special diets based on patient diagnosis and nutritional needs.
• Adaptation methods for promoting patient independence in daily activities.

8. Reduction Of Risk Potential

This section accounts for 9–15% of the NCLEX. It falls under the physiological integrity section of the exam. It tests applicants’ knowledge on the reduction of a patient’s potential of suffering health complications related to treatments, procedures, and existing conditions. Focus on these key areas:

• How to check and monitor a patient’s vital signs.
• How to perform focused data collection based on a patient’s condition.
• Identification of signs and symptoms of potential prenatal complications.
• How to perform an Electro-Cardiogram.
• Specimen collection for diagnostic testing.

Conclusion:

The four major topics of the NCLEX are a safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity.

There are two subtopics under a safe and effective care environment and four subtopics under physiological integrity. This brings the overall essential topics to study for the NCLEX to a total of eight.

The weighted percentages of each of these topics vary from 6–24%, depending on the exam year. The topic that carries the highest percentage is coordinated care, while the least is health promotion and maintenance. To succeed in the NCLEX exams, you have to pay attention to each of these topics.