NCLEX Last-
Minute Review
Pack | High-
Yield Content |
Latest
2025/2026
,Table of Contents
NCLEX Last-Minute Review Pack | High-Yield Content | Latest 2025/2026 .............................. 1
HOW TO USE THIS PACK .................................................................................................................. 5
SECTION 1: Priority & Delegation ...................................................................................................... 5
The ABCs (Always First)................................................................................................................... 5
Maslow's Hierarchy .......................................................................................................................... 5
Nursing Process Order ..................................................................................................................... 5
Delegation (RN → LPN → UAP) ........................................................................................................ 6
SECTION 2: Lab Values (Must Memorize) ......................................................................................... 7
Complete Blood Count (CBC) .......................................................................................................... 7
Electrolytes (AEIOU - Potassium)................................................................................................... 7
Coagulation......................................................................................................................................... 8
Other Key Labs ................................................................................................................................... 8
SECTION 3: Medication Must-Knows ................................................................................................. 9
High-Alert Medications .................................................................................................................... 9
Antidotes ............................................................................................................................................. 9
Medication Classes (Quick Review) ............................................................................................. 10
SECTION 4: Cardiac ............................................................................................................................. 11
ECG Rhythms (Must Recognize) ................................................................................................... 11
Myocardial Infarction (MI) ............................................................................................................ 13
Heart Failure .................................................................................................................................... 13
SECTION 5: Respiratory ..................................................................................................................... 13
ABG Interpretation (ROME) .......................................................................................................... 14
Mechanical Ventilation Settings ................................................................................................... 14
Respiratory Medications ............................................................................................................... 15
SECTION 6: Renal................................................................................................................................. 15
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) ............................................................................................................. 15
Dialysis .............................................................................................................................................. 15
SECTION 7: Endocrine ........................................................................................................................ 16
Diabetes (Type 1 vs Type 2) .......................................................................................................... 16
DKA vs HHS ....................................................................................................................................... 16
Hypoglycemia (Blood glucose <70 mg/dL) ................................................................................ 17
, Thyroid Disorders........................................................................................................................... 17
Adrenal Disorders ........................................................................................................................... 17
SECTION 8: Neurology ........................................................................................................................ 18
Stroke (CVA) ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP) ........................................................................................ 18
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ............................................................................................................. 19
Seizures ............................................................................................................................................. 19
SECTION 9: Maternal-Newborn ........................................................................................................ 19
Pregnancy Trimesters .................................................................................................................... 20
Naegele's Rule .................................................................................................................................. 20
GTPAL (Obstetric History)............................................................................................................. 20
Preeclampsia.................................................................................................................................... 20
Magnesium Toxicity........................................................................................................................ 21
Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) Patterns .................................................................................................. 21
APGAR Scoring (1 and 5 minutes)................................................................................................ 22
Newborn Reflexes ........................................................................................................................... 22
Postpartum Hemorrhage Causes (The 4 T's)............................................................................. 23
SECTION 10: Pediatrics ...................................................................................................................... 23
Developmental Milestones (Quick Reference) .......................................................................... 23
Vaccine Schedule (CDC 2025) ....................................................................................................... 24
Pediatric Vital Signs (Normal ranges) ......................................................................................... 25
Pediatric Respiratory Distress Signs........................................................................................... 26
Common Pediatric Conditions ...................................................................................................... 26
SECTION 11: Mental Health ............................................................................................................... 27
Therapeutic Communication Do's & Don'ts ............................................................................... 27
Defense Mechanisms (Most Tested) ............................................................................................ 28
Psychiatric Medications (Quick Review) .................................................................................... 28
Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) from Antipsychotics ........................................................... 29
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) .................................................................................... 30
Serotonin Syndrome ....................................................................................................................... 30
Suicide Risk Assessment ................................................................................................................ 30
SECTION 12: Legal & Ethical .............................................................................................................. 31
, Client Rights ..................................................................................................................................... 31
Involuntary Commitment Criteria ............................................................................................... 31
Duty to Warn (Tarasoff)................................................................................................................. 31
Restraints & Seclusion ................................................................................................................... 31
Negligence vs Malpractice ............................................................................................................. 32
SECTION 13: Infection Control .......................................................................................................... 32
Transmission-Based Precautions (Quick Reference) .............................................................. 32
Standard Precautions (ALL patients) .......................................................................................... 33
Hand Hygiene ................................................................................................................................... 33
Needlestick Protocol....................................................................................................................... 33
SECTION 14: Emergency & Disaster ................................................................................................ 33
Code Blue (Pulseless Arrest)......................................................................................................... 34
Anaphylaxis ...................................................................................................................................... 34
Malignant Hyperthermia (post-anesthesia) .............................................................................. 34
Disaster Triage (START) ................................................................................................................ 34
SECTION 15: Pain Management ........................................................................................................ 35
Pain Scales ........................................................................................................................................ 35
WHO Analgesic Ladder ................................................................................................................... 35
Opioid Side Effects & Management .............................................................................................. 35
FINAL NCLEX TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES ...................................................................................... 36
Priority Questions (Who do you see FIRST?)............................................................................. 36
"Select All That Apply" (SATA) ..................................................................................................... 36
"First Action" Questions................................................................................................................. 36
Delegation Questions ..................................................................................................................... 37
Therapeutic Communication Questions ..................................................................................... 37
Minute Review
Pack | High-
Yield Content |
Latest
2025/2026
,Table of Contents
NCLEX Last-Minute Review Pack | High-Yield Content | Latest 2025/2026 .............................. 1
HOW TO USE THIS PACK .................................................................................................................. 5
SECTION 1: Priority & Delegation ...................................................................................................... 5
The ABCs (Always First)................................................................................................................... 5
Maslow's Hierarchy .......................................................................................................................... 5
Nursing Process Order ..................................................................................................................... 5
Delegation (RN → LPN → UAP) ........................................................................................................ 6
SECTION 2: Lab Values (Must Memorize) ......................................................................................... 7
Complete Blood Count (CBC) .......................................................................................................... 7
Electrolytes (AEIOU - Potassium)................................................................................................... 7
Coagulation......................................................................................................................................... 8
Other Key Labs ................................................................................................................................... 8
SECTION 3: Medication Must-Knows ................................................................................................. 9
High-Alert Medications .................................................................................................................... 9
Antidotes ............................................................................................................................................. 9
Medication Classes (Quick Review) ............................................................................................. 10
SECTION 4: Cardiac ............................................................................................................................. 11
ECG Rhythms (Must Recognize) ................................................................................................... 11
Myocardial Infarction (MI) ............................................................................................................ 13
Heart Failure .................................................................................................................................... 13
SECTION 5: Respiratory ..................................................................................................................... 13
ABG Interpretation (ROME) .......................................................................................................... 14
Mechanical Ventilation Settings ................................................................................................... 14
Respiratory Medications ............................................................................................................... 15
SECTION 6: Renal................................................................................................................................. 15
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) ............................................................................................................. 15
Dialysis .............................................................................................................................................. 15
SECTION 7: Endocrine ........................................................................................................................ 16
Diabetes (Type 1 vs Type 2) .......................................................................................................... 16
DKA vs HHS ....................................................................................................................................... 16
Hypoglycemia (Blood glucose <70 mg/dL) ................................................................................ 17
, Thyroid Disorders........................................................................................................................... 17
Adrenal Disorders ........................................................................................................................... 17
SECTION 8: Neurology ........................................................................................................................ 18
Stroke (CVA) ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP) ........................................................................................ 18
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ............................................................................................................. 19
Seizures ............................................................................................................................................. 19
SECTION 9: Maternal-Newborn ........................................................................................................ 19
Pregnancy Trimesters .................................................................................................................... 20
Naegele's Rule .................................................................................................................................. 20
GTPAL (Obstetric History)............................................................................................................. 20
Preeclampsia.................................................................................................................................... 20
Magnesium Toxicity........................................................................................................................ 21
Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) Patterns .................................................................................................. 21
APGAR Scoring (1 and 5 minutes)................................................................................................ 22
Newborn Reflexes ........................................................................................................................... 22
Postpartum Hemorrhage Causes (The 4 T's)............................................................................. 23
SECTION 10: Pediatrics ...................................................................................................................... 23
Developmental Milestones (Quick Reference) .......................................................................... 23
Vaccine Schedule (CDC 2025) ....................................................................................................... 24
Pediatric Vital Signs (Normal ranges) ......................................................................................... 25
Pediatric Respiratory Distress Signs........................................................................................... 26
Common Pediatric Conditions ...................................................................................................... 26
SECTION 11: Mental Health ............................................................................................................... 27
Therapeutic Communication Do's & Don'ts ............................................................................... 27
Defense Mechanisms (Most Tested) ............................................................................................ 28
Psychiatric Medications (Quick Review) .................................................................................... 28
Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) from Antipsychotics ........................................................... 29
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) .................................................................................... 30
Serotonin Syndrome ....................................................................................................................... 30
Suicide Risk Assessment ................................................................................................................ 30
SECTION 12: Legal & Ethical .............................................................................................................. 31
, Client Rights ..................................................................................................................................... 31
Involuntary Commitment Criteria ............................................................................................... 31
Duty to Warn (Tarasoff)................................................................................................................. 31
Restraints & Seclusion ................................................................................................................... 31
Negligence vs Malpractice ............................................................................................................. 32
SECTION 13: Infection Control .......................................................................................................... 32
Transmission-Based Precautions (Quick Reference) .............................................................. 32
Standard Precautions (ALL patients) .......................................................................................... 33
Hand Hygiene ................................................................................................................................... 33
Needlestick Protocol....................................................................................................................... 33
SECTION 14: Emergency & Disaster ................................................................................................ 33
Code Blue (Pulseless Arrest)......................................................................................................... 34
Anaphylaxis ...................................................................................................................................... 34
Malignant Hyperthermia (post-anesthesia) .............................................................................. 34
Disaster Triage (START) ................................................................................................................ 34
SECTION 15: Pain Management ........................................................................................................ 35
Pain Scales ........................................................................................................................................ 35
WHO Analgesic Ladder ................................................................................................................... 35
Opioid Side Effects & Management .............................................................................................. 35
FINAL NCLEX TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES ...................................................................................... 36
Priority Questions (Who do you see FIRST?)............................................................................. 36
"Select All That Apply" (SATA) ..................................................................................................... 36
"First Action" Questions................................................................................................................. 36
Delegation Questions ..................................................................................................................... 37
Therapeutic Communication Questions ..................................................................................... 37
