SAUNDERS COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW FOR THE
NCLEX-PN® EXAMINATION
9TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)LINDA ANNE SILVESTRI; ANGELA
SILVESTRI
TEST BANK
Question 1
Reference: Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-PN® Examination; NGN
Test Design
A nursing student is reviewing the new test design for the Next Generation NCLEX-PN® (NGN).
The student correctly identifies that the NGN items are designed to primarily measure which of
the following?
A. The student's ability to memorize specific disease processes
B. The student's ability to recall pharmacological interventions
C. The student's ability to use clinical judgment to make safe care decisions
D. The student's ability to identify the steps of the nursing process in order
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Correct: The NGN test design focuses on measuring a candidate's clinical judgment. This is
,based on the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM) and is a shift from simply
recalling facts to applying knowledge in complex clinical scenarios to ensure safe patient care .
A: This is incorrect. While knowledge of disease processes is important, NGN questions are
not designed to simply test memorization. They require the application and analysis of that
knowledge in a clinical situation.
B: This is incorrect. Recall of pharmacological interventions is a lower-level cognitive skill.
The NGN emphasizes the application of this knowledge using clinical judgment .
D: This is incorrect. While the NGN aligns with the nursing process, the primary goal is to
evaluate the cognitive skills of clinical judgment (e.g., recognizing cues, prioritizing hypotheses)
rather than simply listing the steps of the nursing process.
Teaching Point: The NGN-PN exam tests clinical judgment, not just recall, by requiring you to
analyze complex client scenarios to make safe care decisions.
Citation: Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. (2026). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-
PN® Examination (9th ed.). Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-PN®
Examination.
Question 2
Reference: The Pyramid to Success; Clinical Judgment and Next Generation NCLEX® Items
A practical nursing student is using the "Pyramid to Success" from the Saunders Comprehensive
Review. What is the primary purpose of this "Pyramid" as it relates to NCLEX-PN® preparation?
A. To provide a visual representation of the percentage of questions for each Client Needs
category
B. To outline a step-by-step guide for registering for the NCLEX-PN® examination
C. To establish a structured framework for prioritizing client care using Maslow's Hierarchy
D. To help the student build a strong foundation of knowledge and test-taking skills for exam
success
,Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Correct: The "Pyramid to Success" is a foundational tool in the Saunders review that guides
students on how to build their knowledge base and develop critical test-taking strategies,
ultimately leading to success on the NCLEX-PN® exam.
A: This is incorrect. While the test plan outlines the percentage of questions per Client
Needs category, the "Pyramid to Success" is not a visual representation of that data.
B: This is incorrect. The registration process is described in the chapter but is not the
primary purpose of the "Pyramid to Success."
C: This is incorrect. Maslow's Hierarchy is a prioritization framework taught in the review,
but the "Pyramid to Success" is a broader study and success strategy.
Teaching Point: The Pyramid to Success integrates nursing content with critical thinking and
test-taking strategies to build confidence and competence for the NCLEX-PN®.
Citation: Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. (2026). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-
PN® Examination (9th ed.). The Pyramid to Success.
Question 3
Reference: Examination Process; Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT)
A candidate is taking the NCLEX-PN® examination and is notified by the computer that the test
will shut off after 85 questions. The candidate is concerned. The proctor should explain that the
exam can shut off for which reason?
A. The candidate has passed the examination.
B. The candidate has failed the examination.
C. The computer has determined with 95% confidence that the candidate's ability is either
, above or below the passing standard.
D. The computer has encountered an error and the candidate must reschedule.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Correct: Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) is designed to determine a candidate's ability
level. The exam will stop when the computer has a high degree of statistical confidence
(approximately 95%) that the candidate's performance is consistently either above or below the
passing standard.
A: This is incorrect. The exam stops when the computer can make a decision about the
candidate's ability relative to the passing standard, but the result (pass/fail) is not revealed by
the computer shutting off.
B: This is incorrect. The computer shuts off when it has made a definitive decision, but this
could be a pass or a fail.
D: This is incorrect. The minimum number of questions is 85, and the exam stopping does
not indicate a computer error.
Teaching Point: The NCLEX-PN uses Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) to determine with
statistical confidence if a candidate is above or below the passing standard, which is why it
shuts off at a variable number of questions.
Citation: Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. (2026). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-
PN® Examination (9th ed.). Computer Adaptive Testing.
Question 4
Reference: Test Plan; Client Needs
NCLEX-PN® EXAMINATION
9TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)LINDA ANNE SILVESTRI; ANGELA
SILVESTRI
TEST BANK
Question 1
Reference: Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-PN® Examination; NGN
Test Design
A nursing student is reviewing the new test design for the Next Generation NCLEX-PN® (NGN).
The student correctly identifies that the NGN items are designed to primarily measure which of
the following?
A. The student's ability to memorize specific disease processes
B. The student's ability to recall pharmacological interventions
C. The student's ability to use clinical judgment to make safe care decisions
D. The student's ability to identify the steps of the nursing process in order
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Correct: The NGN test design focuses on measuring a candidate's clinical judgment. This is
,based on the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM) and is a shift from simply
recalling facts to applying knowledge in complex clinical scenarios to ensure safe patient care .
A: This is incorrect. While knowledge of disease processes is important, NGN questions are
not designed to simply test memorization. They require the application and analysis of that
knowledge in a clinical situation.
B: This is incorrect. Recall of pharmacological interventions is a lower-level cognitive skill.
The NGN emphasizes the application of this knowledge using clinical judgment .
D: This is incorrect. While the NGN aligns with the nursing process, the primary goal is to
evaluate the cognitive skills of clinical judgment (e.g., recognizing cues, prioritizing hypotheses)
rather than simply listing the steps of the nursing process.
Teaching Point: The NGN-PN exam tests clinical judgment, not just recall, by requiring you to
analyze complex client scenarios to make safe care decisions.
Citation: Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. (2026). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-
PN® Examination (9th ed.). Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-PN®
Examination.
Question 2
Reference: The Pyramid to Success; Clinical Judgment and Next Generation NCLEX® Items
A practical nursing student is using the "Pyramid to Success" from the Saunders Comprehensive
Review. What is the primary purpose of this "Pyramid" as it relates to NCLEX-PN® preparation?
A. To provide a visual representation of the percentage of questions for each Client Needs
category
B. To outline a step-by-step guide for registering for the NCLEX-PN® examination
C. To establish a structured framework for prioritizing client care using Maslow's Hierarchy
D. To help the student build a strong foundation of knowledge and test-taking skills for exam
success
,Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Correct: The "Pyramid to Success" is a foundational tool in the Saunders review that guides
students on how to build their knowledge base and develop critical test-taking strategies,
ultimately leading to success on the NCLEX-PN® exam.
A: This is incorrect. While the test plan outlines the percentage of questions per Client
Needs category, the "Pyramid to Success" is not a visual representation of that data.
B: This is incorrect. The registration process is described in the chapter but is not the
primary purpose of the "Pyramid to Success."
C: This is incorrect. Maslow's Hierarchy is a prioritization framework taught in the review,
but the "Pyramid to Success" is a broader study and success strategy.
Teaching Point: The Pyramid to Success integrates nursing content with critical thinking and
test-taking strategies to build confidence and competence for the NCLEX-PN®.
Citation: Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. (2026). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-
PN® Examination (9th ed.). The Pyramid to Success.
Question 3
Reference: Examination Process; Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT)
A candidate is taking the NCLEX-PN® examination and is notified by the computer that the test
will shut off after 85 questions. The candidate is concerned. The proctor should explain that the
exam can shut off for which reason?
A. The candidate has passed the examination.
B. The candidate has failed the examination.
C. The computer has determined with 95% confidence that the candidate's ability is either
, above or below the passing standard.
D. The computer has encountered an error and the candidate must reschedule.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Correct: Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) is designed to determine a candidate's ability
level. The exam will stop when the computer has a high degree of statistical confidence
(approximately 95%) that the candidate's performance is consistently either above or below the
passing standard.
A: This is incorrect. The exam stops when the computer can make a decision about the
candidate's ability relative to the passing standard, but the result (pass/fail) is not revealed by
the computer shutting off.
B: This is incorrect. The computer shuts off when it has made a definitive decision, but this
could be a pass or a fail.
D: This is incorrect. The minimum number of questions is 85, and the exam stopping does
not indicate a computer error.
Teaching Point: The NCLEX-PN uses Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) to determine with
statistical confidence if a candidate is above or below the passing standard, which is why it
shuts off at a variable number of questions.
Citation: Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. (2026). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-
PN® Examination (9th ed.). Computer Adaptive Testing.
Question 4
Reference: Test Plan; Client Needs
