Kaplan Nursing - NCLEX-RN content review guide: preparation for the NCLEX-RN examination

NCLEX-RN is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, which neither sponsors nor endorses this book.

This book is solely intended for use as preparation for the Nursing Licensure Examination, NCLEX-RN exam. It is not a guide to the clinical treatment of clients. Neither the authors nor the publisher shall be responsible for any harm caused by the use of this book other than for its intended purpose. This book is just a small portion of the Kaplan materials available for you to prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam.

This publication is designed to provide accurate information in regard to the subject matter covered as of its publication date, with the understanding that knowledge and best practice constantly evolve. The publisher is not engaged in rendering medical, legal, accounting, or other professional service. If medical or legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. This publication is not intended for use in clinical practice or the delivery of medical care. To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the Editors assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property arising out of or related to any use of the material contained in this book.

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ISBN: 978-1-5062-3363-5

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Judy Hyland, MSN, RN

Executive Director of Nursing

Barbara Arnoldussen, MBA, RN

Judith A. Burckhardt, PhD, RN

Barbara Dobish, MSN, RN

Cindy Finesilver, MSN, RN

Pamela Gardner, MSN, RN

Barbara J. Irwin, MSN, RN

Ellen Mahoney, CS, DNS, RN

Marlene Redemske, MSN, MA, RN

Welcome! By using Kaplan Nursing resources, youve taken an important step toward passing theNational Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses ( NCLEX-RN * examination).

Our many years of experience indicate that your success on the NCLEX-RN examinationis keyed to two specific factors: your educational background and your preparationfor the exam. It is the amount and intensity of study you devote thatwill earn you the greatest benefit from the resources. The best results come to thosewho actively participate in exam preparation. We will show youhow the NCLEX-RN examination works, what you do and dont need to know, and the smartestway to take the NCLEX-RN examination. We provide you with data to help you analyze your practice performanceand determine where you need to make improvements. We will give you all the help, advice,and encouragement we can, but only you can do the work. Get to know all the benefitsthat Kaplan Nursing has to offer so you can makethe most of your study time.

After you complete your resources and take the NCLEX-RN examination, please tell ushow you did. Kaplans Research and Curriculum Development Team works hard to ensurethat our course materials employ the most effective and innovative teaching methods.In order to evolve and improve, we need your help. Please take a few moments to shareyour thoughts on how the materials helped you.Thank you in advance for choosing Kaplan for your studies.

KAPLAN
750 Third Avenue,
New York, NY 10017
Attn: NCLEX Curriculum

customer.care@kaplan.com (kaptest.com)
integrated.support@kaplan.com (nursing.kaplan.com)

Our best wishes for an interesting and satisfying nursing career.

*NCLEX is a trademark of N.C.S.B.N., Inc.

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Chapter 1

Have you talked to graduate nurses about their experiences taking the NCLEX-RN exam?They probably told you that the test wasnt like any nursing test they had ever taken.How can that be? The NCLEX-RN exam is primarily multiple-choice test questions, andas a nursing student you are used to taking multiple-choice tests. In fact, youvetaken so many tests by the time you graduate from nursing school that you probablybelieve there cant be any surprises on a nursing test. Yet there is one more surprisewaiting for you, and it is called the NCLEX-RN exam.

The NCLEX-RN exam is similar to other standardized exams in some ways, yet differentin others:

• The NCLEX-RN exam is written by nurse specialists who are experts in a content areaof nursing.
• All content is selected to allow the beginning practitioner to prove minimum competencyon all areas of the test plan.
• NCLEX-RN questions are written at 4 different levels based on Blooms Taxonomy forthe Cognitive Domain: knowledge, understanding, application, and analysis.
• Minimum competency questions are the passing level questions. They are asked at the application level, notthe knowledge level. All the responses to a question are similar in length and subjectmatter and are grammatically correct.
• All test items have been extensively tested. National Council knows that the questionsare valid; all correct responses are documented in two different sources.

What does this mean for you?

• National Council defines what is minimum-competency, entry-level nursing.
• Questions and answers are written in such a way that you will not be able to predictor recognize the correct answer.
• National Council is knowledgeable about the strategies regarding length of answers,grammar, etc. They make sure you cant use these strategies to select correct answers.English majors have no advantage!
• The answer choices have been extensively tested. The people who write the test questionsmake the incorrect answer choices look attractive to the unwary test-taker.