Both the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN have sections concerning maintaining a safe and effective health care environment. Under that heading, the NCLEX-PN has subcategories on coordinated care and safety and infection control. The NCLEX-RN has subcategories on infection control and management of care and safety.
A question in this section on the NCLEX-RN might cover what to do when there is a conflict between a patient and a health care administrator, or what matters a registered nurse has to keep confidential. One example question the NCSBN provides in its detailed plan is, "The nurse is caring for a client in a long-term care facility. The client's spouse asks the nurse for information regarding the client's treatment plan. Which of the following responses would be most appropriate for the nurse to make?" Four possible answers follow the question, and you must choose the letter that corresponds with the right answer.
An example question from the NCSBN's detailed plan for NCLEX-PN takers is, "The nurse has contributed to a staff education program about client confidentiality. Which of the following statements by a staff member would indicate a correct understanding of the teaching?" The prospective PN must choose the correct answer from four choices.
The NCLEX-PN and the NCLEX-RN both have a section devoted to the promotion and maintenance of patient health. An example of a question from the NCLEX-PN section on health promotion and maintenance might be, "The nurse has reinforced teaching with a client about prevention of coronary artery disease. Which of the following statements by the client would indicate a correct understanding of the teaching?" The possible correct responses include: to stop drinking alcohol and lower HDL, to stop smoking cigarettes, to avoid exercise three times a week or to eat more foods with potassium.
In the health promotion and maintenance section of the NCLEX-RN, you might find a question like, "The nurse is teaching a client about contraception. Which of the following information should the nurse include?" Possible responses include that an IUD needs to be replaced once a year, people on Depo Provera can't smoke, a birth control patch will protect the user from STDs or an emergency contraceptive pill is most effective within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
Both the NCLEX-PN and the NCLEX-RN have questions on psychosocial integrity, usually having to do with a personal interaction as it relates to the outside world.
An example of a question on psychosocial integrity as it would appear on the NCLEX-RN would be, "The nurse is caring for a female client who was brought to the emergency department by the spouse. Based on the client's injuries, the nurse suspects the client may have been physically abused. Which of the following actions would be most appropriate for the nurse to take?" The correct answer would be to question the client when the spouse is not in the room.
On the NCLEX-PN, you might find the question, "The nurse is contributing to a staff education program about anorexia nervosa (AN). Which of the following information should the nurse recommend including?" The correct answer is "Amenorrhea is a common symptom associated with AN."
Under the physiological integrity section of the NCLEX-PN, there are subcategories on basic care and comfort, pharmacological therapies, reduction of risk potential and physiological adaptation. On the NCLEX-RN, under the physiological integrity section, there are subcategories on basic care and comfort, pharmacological and parenteral therapies, reduction of risk potential and physiological adaptation. The NCLEX-PN only deals with pharmacological therapies, while the NCLEX-RN focuses on pharmacological and parenteral therapies.
A question on the NCLEX-PN that falls under the subject of pharmacological therapies might be, "The nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg, p.o., every six hours, p.r.n. for pain. The nurse has Tylenol 325 mg tablets available. How many tablets should the nurse administer with each dose?" The correct answer would be two.
On the NCLEX-RN, under pharmacological and parenteral therapies, a question might ask, "The nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for gentamicin (Garamycin) 2 mg/kg, IV, every eight hours. The client weighs 143 lbs. The nurse has Garamycin 100 mg in 50 ml of solution available. How many ml should the nurse administer to the client with each dose?" You would have to answer 65 ml to get the question right.