Sometimes you just really want to know what is on the test, right? In other words, “just tell me what I need to know!” In this blog post, I will cover what nursing content is on the 2023 NCLEX test plan.
Basically, there are eight sections you need to pass in order to pass the NCLEX nursing exam. In addition, you get tested on clinical judgment in a case study type of question. If you’d like to see the different types of questions in a case study, check out this blog post or this bowtie blog post.
However, for today we will cover the content that you MUST review in order to be knowledgeable about what you might get asked on the NCLEX exam. The content I talk about will be for both the traditional types of questions and the NGN case study types of questions.
Now before I go through each topic, I GUARANTEE you will get overwhelmed and won’t know where to start to actually review the content. Should you google it? Should you open up your nursing books? Can you look it up on Tiktok? Yes, of course you can, but there’s got to be a better way. And yes, I got your back! I wrote a great 200-page book called the NCLEX Nursing Nugget Book and have included every page number of where to look in order to read over the material that you could get tested on. I literally have spent hundreds of hours on this book to make sure that the students I tutor have a resource that will actually work in order for them to PASS the NCLEX.
Let me give you an example. Basic care and comfort is a topic that students frequently don’t do well on. It should be “basic”, right? But as you can see from the list below, it’s a list of things that aren’t super technical, and so you may not think it’s all that important. It is though! Bowel elimination is a topic, but what exactly is that? It’s about having a bowel movement, either naturally or through a stoma, such as a colostomy. On page, 14 and 108 of my Nugget Book, I have included things you’d need to know about “bowel elimination”. Check it out below.
You can download the content list here (along with the page numbers in the Nugget Book) to see exactly what is on the TEST. I love learning, but let’s face it…JUST TELL WHAT I NEED TO KNOW TO PASS THIS TEST, right?! The Test Plan Index is also included when you buy the Nugget Book.
Here are the eight different topics of the NCLEX test plan, along with the content to review.
Basic Care and Comfort
Basic Care and Comfort is all about providing comfort to the patient and assistance with their activities of daily living.
- activities of daily living
- assistive devices
- bladder elimination
- bladder irrigation
- bowel elimination
- complementary and alternative medicine
- ear irrigation
- eye irrigation
- intake and output
- mobilization
- nutrition and diets
- orthopedic devices
- pain
- positioning
- postmortem care
- range of motion
- skin care
- sleep and rest
- tube feedings
Here’s an example of mobilization from the Nugget Book as shown with walkers and crutches.
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Health Promotion and Maintenance is all about growth and developmental principles, prevention and early detection of health problems, and achieving optimal health.
- adult health
- community health (communication barriers, health risks, home care, learning & barriers to learning, preventative care, screening schedule)
- growth and development
- health assessments
- labor and delivery
- milestones
- newborn
- older adult changes
- pediatric
- postpartum care
- prenatal care
Here’s an example of prenatal care from the Nugget Book.
Management of Care
Management of Care is all about protecting the client and healthcare personnel
- acuity/multi-patient priority
- admit/transfer/discharge
- advanced directives
- advocacy
- care plan
- client rights and responsibilities
- code of ethics
- collaborate/referrals
- confidentiality/privacy/HIPAA
- conflict resolution
- cost-effective care
- delegation
- documentation/terminology
- ethical dilemmas
- evidence based research
- handoff report
- information technology
- informed consent
- mandatory reporting
- orders
- policies and procedures
- quality improvement
- scope of practice/NPA
- time management
Here’s an example of acuity/multi-patient priority from the Nugget Book.
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies is all about administration of meds and parenteral therapies (anything through an IV).
- allergies
- blood administration
- central venous access devices
- contraindications
- controlled substances
- dispose of meds
- education of meds
- evaluation of med
- high risk meds
- intravenous therapy
- labs
- medication calculations
- medication interactions
- medication orders
- medication reconciliation
- medication rights
- pain medications
- parenteral nutrition
- safe med handling
- titration
Here’s an example of medication orders and routes from the Nugget Book.
Physiological Adaptation
Physiologic Adaptation is all about providing care for clients with an acute, chronic or life-threatening condition.
- arterial line
- blood pressure
- central venous access devices
- chest physiotherapy
- chest tubes
- colostomy
- conditions: acute and chronic (complications, education, emergency care, evaluation pathophysiology)
- endoscopy
- fluid and electrolytes
- hemodialysis
- ileostomy
- incentive spirometry
- negative pressure wound therapy
- nephrostomy
- oxygenation/ventilation
- pacemaker
- peritoneal dialysis
- phototherapy
- post-operative care
- suctioning
- telemetry
- temperature
- thoracentesis
- tracheostomy
- ventilator
- wound care/dressing changes
- wound drains
Here’s an example of telemetry from the Nugget Book.
Psychosocial Integrity
Psychosocial Integrity is all about supporting emotional, mental, social well-being; along with caring for clients with an acute or chronic mental illness.
- abuse/neglect
- alternations in cognition, eye, ear, hallucination, delusions
- behavior management
- coping
- cultural care
- end-of-life
- grief/loss
- psychosocial factors
- psychosocial health issues
- psychosocial stressors
- substance abuse
- support systems
- therapeutic communication
- therapeutic environment
- violence
Here’s an example of substance abuse and alcohol withdrawal from the Nugget Book.
Reduction of Risk Potential
Reduction of Risk Potential is all about reducing the likelihood of developing complications related to conditions, treatments, and procedures.
- anti-embolism stockings
- diagnostic tests
- electrocardiogram
- focused assessments
- glucose monitoring
- moderate sedation
- peri-op care and education
- procedures & treatments (precautions, education, treatment, evaluation)
- sequential compression devices
- specimen collection (blood, sputum, stool, urine, wound)
- tubes – insert, maintain, remove (IV therapy, nasogastric/percutaneous tube feeding urinary catheter
- vital signs
Here’s an example of diagnostic tests from the Nugget Book.
Safety and Infection Control
Safety and Infection Control is all about protection from health and environmental hazards.
- biohazardous/other waste
- client identification
- controlled substances
- emergency planning
- equipment
- ergonomics
- errors/incident report
- home safety
- infection control and prevention
- injuries/falls
- newborn security
- restraints
- safety
- staffing practices /unsafe practice
- substance abuse
- treatment orders
- violence
Here’s an example of ergonomics from the Nugget Book.
So there you go, the entire list! I know it can feel overwhelming, that’s why I simplified all the topics into the NCLEX Nursing Nugget Book, which I use with all my private students.
Good luck with your NCLEX prep!
