SAUNDERS COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW FOR THE
NCLEX-RN® EXAMINATION
8TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)LINDA SILVESTRI
Unit I: NCLEX-RN® Exam Preparation
Chapter 1: The NCLEX-RN® Examination
Question 1: The Pyramid to Success
A nursing student begins preparing for the NCLEX-RN® examination six
weeks before graduation. The student plans to study only during the final
two days before the scheduled examination. Which recommendation
would best support a more effective preparation strategy?
A. Concentrate on memorizing as many practice-question answers as
possible during the final two days.
B. Develop a structured study plan that includes regular review, practice
questions, and evaluation of weak areas.
C. Avoid taking practice examinations until all nursing content has been
memorized.
D. Focus exclusively on the subjects in which the student already performs
well.
Correct Answer: B. Develop a structured study plan that includes regular
review, practice questions, and evaluation of weak areas.
1
,Rationale: A structured preparation plan promotes consistent learning,
active retrieval, and identification of knowledge gaps. Regular practice with
review of rationales helps the student understand why answers are correct
or incorrect and apply nursing knowledge to unfamiliar situations.
Distractor Rationales:
• A. Incorrect: Last-minute memorization encourages superficial
learning and does not adequately develop clinical reasoning.
• C. Incorrect: Practice questions can identify learning needs and
strengthen understanding before all content has been reviewed.
• D. Incorrect: Avoiding weaker subjects leaves important learning
gaps unaddressed.
Key Teaching Point: Effective examination preparation combines
consistent study, practice questions, rationales, and targeted remediation.
Cognitive Level: Application NCLEX-RN® Client Needs Category:
Management of Care Nursing Process: Planning Clinical Judgment Focus:
Generate Solutions
Question 2: Examination Process
A graduate nurse receives confirmation that the nursing regulatory body
has authorized the graduate to proceed with NCLEX-RN® examination
scheduling. The graduate is uncertain about the next step. Which action is
most appropriate?
A. Request a permanent nursing license before scheduling the
examination.
B. Arrive at the testing center and request an unscheduled examination.
C. Submit another nursing school application to verify eligibility.
D. Follow the examination provider's instructions to obtain an appointment
and confirm the required testing arrangements.
2
,Correct Answer: D. Follow the examination provider's instructions to
obtain an appointment and confirm the required testing arrangements.
Rationale: The NCLEX-RN® process involves distinct administrative stages,
including applying through the relevant nursing regulatory body, registering
for the examination, obtaining authorization to test, and scheduling an
appointment according to the applicable instructions. Authorization does
not itself establish an examination appointment.
Distractor Rationales:
• A. Incorrect: The examination is generally a prerequisite for initial RN
licensure rather than something scheduled only after receiving a
permanent license.
• B. Incorrect: Candidates should not assume that an unscheduled
examination will be accepted.
• C. Incorrect: Reapplying to nursing school does not address the
scheduling question.
Key Teaching Point: Understand the distinction between examination
registration, regulatory eligibility, authorization to test, scheduling, and
final licensure.
Cognitive Level: Application NCLEX-RN® Client Needs Category:
Management of Care Nursing Process: Implementation Clinical Judgment
Focus: Generate Solutions
Question 3: Computer Adaptive Testing
Which statement best describes computer adaptive testing (CAT) as used
in the NCLEX-RN® examination?
A. The examination system selects subsequent items based partly on the
candidate's performance on previous items.
B. Every candidate receives exactly the same questions in the same order.
3
, C. Candidates may select their preferred difficulty level before each
question appears.
D. The system determines the final result solely by counting the number of
correct responses.
Correct Answer: A. The examination system selects subsequent items
based partly on the candidate's performance on previous items.
Rationale: CAT uses information from a candidate's responses to help
select subsequent items that provide useful information about the
candidate's nursing ability. The examination evaluates ability relative to the
passing standard using its applicable scoring and stopping rules; it is not
simply a raw count of correct answers.
Distractor Rationales:
• B. Incorrect: Adaptive testing does not require every candidate to
receive an identical sequence of questions.
• C. Incorrect: Candidates do not ordinarily choose the difficulty of
each item.
• D. Incorrect: The CAT decision process is more sophisticated than
counting correct responses alone.
Key Teaching Point: CAT adapts item selection to the candidate's
estimated ability; candidates should answer each question carefully
without trying to manipulate the algorithm.
Cognitive Level: Recall NCLEX-RN® Client Needs Category: Management of
Care Nursing Process: Not primarily applicable Clinical Judgment Focus:
Not primarily CJMM-focused
Question 4: Development of the Test Plan
A nursing faculty member explains why the NCLEX-RN® examination
includes content from multiple areas of nursing practice. Which
4
NCLEX-RN® EXAMINATION
8TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)LINDA SILVESTRI
Unit I: NCLEX-RN® Exam Preparation
Chapter 1: The NCLEX-RN® Examination
Question 1: The Pyramid to Success
A nursing student begins preparing for the NCLEX-RN® examination six
weeks before graduation. The student plans to study only during the final
two days before the scheduled examination. Which recommendation
would best support a more effective preparation strategy?
A. Concentrate on memorizing as many practice-question answers as
possible during the final two days.
B. Develop a structured study plan that includes regular review, practice
questions, and evaluation of weak areas.
C. Avoid taking practice examinations until all nursing content has been
memorized.
D. Focus exclusively on the subjects in which the student already performs
well.
Correct Answer: B. Develop a structured study plan that includes regular
review, practice questions, and evaluation of weak areas.
1
,Rationale: A structured preparation plan promotes consistent learning,
active retrieval, and identification of knowledge gaps. Regular practice with
review of rationales helps the student understand why answers are correct
or incorrect and apply nursing knowledge to unfamiliar situations.
Distractor Rationales:
• A. Incorrect: Last-minute memorization encourages superficial
learning and does not adequately develop clinical reasoning.
• C. Incorrect: Practice questions can identify learning needs and
strengthen understanding before all content has been reviewed.
• D. Incorrect: Avoiding weaker subjects leaves important learning
gaps unaddressed.
Key Teaching Point: Effective examination preparation combines
consistent study, practice questions, rationales, and targeted remediation.
Cognitive Level: Application NCLEX-RN® Client Needs Category:
Management of Care Nursing Process: Planning Clinical Judgment Focus:
Generate Solutions
Question 2: Examination Process
A graduate nurse receives confirmation that the nursing regulatory body
has authorized the graduate to proceed with NCLEX-RN® examination
scheduling. The graduate is uncertain about the next step. Which action is
most appropriate?
A. Request a permanent nursing license before scheduling the
examination.
B. Arrive at the testing center and request an unscheduled examination.
C. Submit another nursing school application to verify eligibility.
D. Follow the examination provider's instructions to obtain an appointment
and confirm the required testing arrangements.
2
,Correct Answer: D. Follow the examination provider's instructions to
obtain an appointment and confirm the required testing arrangements.
Rationale: The NCLEX-RN® process involves distinct administrative stages,
including applying through the relevant nursing regulatory body, registering
for the examination, obtaining authorization to test, and scheduling an
appointment according to the applicable instructions. Authorization does
not itself establish an examination appointment.
Distractor Rationales:
• A. Incorrect: The examination is generally a prerequisite for initial RN
licensure rather than something scheduled only after receiving a
permanent license.
• B. Incorrect: Candidates should not assume that an unscheduled
examination will be accepted.
• C. Incorrect: Reapplying to nursing school does not address the
scheduling question.
Key Teaching Point: Understand the distinction between examination
registration, regulatory eligibility, authorization to test, scheduling, and
final licensure.
Cognitive Level: Application NCLEX-RN® Client Needs Category:
Management of Care Nursing Process: Implementation Clinical Judgment
Focus: Generate Solutions
Question 3: Computer Adaptive Testing
Which statement best describes computer adaptive testing (CAT) as used
in the NCLEX-RN® examination?
A. The examination system selects subsequent items based partly on the
candidate's performance on previous items.
B. Every candidate receives exactly the same questions in the same order.
3
, C. Candidates may select their preferred difficulty level before each
question appears.
D. The system determines the final result solely by counting the number of
correct responses.
Correct Answer: A. The examination system selects subsequent items
based partly on the candidate's performance on previous items.
Rationale: CAT uses information from a candidate's responses to help
select subsequent items that provide useful information about the
candidate's nursing ability. The examination evaluates ability relative to the
passing standard using its applicable scoring and stopping rules; it is not
simply a raw count of correct answers.
Distractor Rationales:
• B. Incorrect: Adaptive testing does not require every candidate to
receive an identical sequence of questions.
• C. Incorrect: Candidates do not ordinarily choose the difficulty of
each item.
• D. Incorrect: The CAT decision process is more sophisticated than
counting correct responses alone.
Key Teaching Point: CAT adapts item selection to the candidate's
estimated ability; candidates should answer each question carefully
without trying to manipulate the algorithm.
Cognitive Level: Recall NCLEX-RN® Client Needs Category: Management of
Care Nursing Process: Not primarily applicable Clinical Judgment Focus:
Not primarily CJMM-focused
Question 4: Development of the Test Plan
A nursing faculty member explains why the NCLEX-RN® examination
includes content from multiple areas of nursing practice. Which
4
