ii 2023 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan
NCLEX-RN® Test Plan
Effective April 2023
,iii 2023 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan
Mission Statement
NCSBN empowers and supports nursing regulators in their mandate to protect the public.
Purpose and Functions
The purpose of NCSBN is to provide an organization through which nursing regulatory bodies act and counsel together on matters
of common interest and concern affecting the public health, safety and welfare, including the development of licensing
examinations in nursing.
The major functions of NCSBN include developing the NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® Examinations, performing policy analysis and
promoting uniformity in relationship to the regulation of nursing practice, disseminating data related to NCSBN’s purpose and
serving as a forum for information exchange for NCSBN members.
© 2023 National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN)
All rights reserved. NCSBN®, NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN®, NCLEX-PN®, NNAAP®, ORBS®, MACE®, REx-PN®, TERCAP®, Nursys®, Nursys e-
Notify®, Safe Student Reports® and Transition to Practice® are registered trademarks of NCSBN and may not be used or
reproduced without written permission from NCSBN.
Permission is granted to boards of nursing to use or reproduce all or parts of this document for licensure-related purposes only.
Nonprofit education programs have permission to use or reproduce all or parts of this document for educational purposes only.
Use or reproduction of this document for commercial or for-profit use is strictly prohibited. Any authorized reproduction of this
document shall display the notice: “Copyright by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. All rights reserved.” Or, if a
portion of the document is reproduced or incorporated in other materials, such written materials shall include the following credit:
“Portions copyrighted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. All rights reserved.”
Address inquiries in writing to NCSBN Permissions, 111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60601-4277. Suggested
Citation: National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2023). 2023 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan. Chicago: Author.
,iv 2023 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan
Table of Contents
I. Background .................................................................................................................. 1
II. 2023 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan........................................................................................... 2
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 2
Beliefs ...................................................................................................................... 2
Classification of Cognitive Levels ........................................................................................ 3
Test Plan Structure ................................................................................................... 3
Client Needs ................................................................................................... 3
Integrated Processes..................................................................................... 4
Clinical Judgment .......................................................................................... 4
Distribution of Content............................................................................................. 5
Overview of Content................................................................................................. 6
Safe and Effective Care Environment ..................................................................... 7
Management of Care...................................................................................... 7
Safety and Infection Control .......................................................................... 8
Health Promotion and Maintenance ....................................................................... 9
Psychosocial Integrity ........................................................................................... 10
Physiological Integrity........................................................................................... 11
Basic Care and Comfort ................................................................................ 11
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies ................................................ 12
Reduction of Risk Potential .........................................................................13
Physiological Adaptation .............................................................................. 14
III. Administration of the NCLEX-RN®............................................................................. 15
Examination Length ............................................................................................... 15
The Passing Standard............................................................................................. 15
Similar Items .......................................................................................................... 16
Reviewing Answers and Guessing......................................................................... 16
Scoring the NCLEX®............................................................................................... 16
Computerized Adaptive Testing .................................................................. 16
Pretest Items ................................................................................................ 17
Passing and Failing ....................................................................................... 17
Scoring Items ............................................................................................... 17
Types of Items on the NCLEX-RN®.............................................................. 18
NCLEX® Terminology .................................................................................... 18
Examination Security and Confidentiality .............................................................. 18
Tutorial .......................................................................................................... 18
, v 2023 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan
Appendix A
Sample Content ....................................................................................................... 19
Safe and Effective Care Environment ................................................................... 19
Management of Care .................................................................................... 19
Safety and Infection Control ....................................................................... 24
Health Promotion and Maintenance ..................................................................... 28
Psychosocial Integrity ......................................................................................... 32
Physiological Integrity ......................................................................................... 37
Basic Care and Comfort................................................................................ 37
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies ............................................... 41
Reduction of Risk Potential ......................................................................... 45
Physiological Adaptation ............................................................................ 49
Appendix B
Item Writing Tips ...................................................................................................... 53
Appendix C
References ............................................................................................................. 54
NCLEX-RN® Test Plan
Effective April 2023
,iii 2023 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan
Mission Statement
NCSBN empowers and supports nursing regulators in their mandate to protect the public.
Purpose and Functions
The purpose of NCSBN is to provide an organization through which nursing regulatory bodies act and counsel together on matters
of common interest and concern affecting the public health, safety and welfare, including the development of licensing
examinations in nursing.
The major functions of NCSBN include developing the NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® Examinations, performing policy analysis and
promoting uniformity in relationship to the regulation of nursing practice, disseminating data related to NCSBN’s purpose and
serving as a forum for information exchange for NCSBN members.
© 2023 National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN)
All rights reserved. NCSBN®, NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN®, NCLEX-PN®, NNAAP®, ORBS®, MACE®, REx-PN®, TERCAP®, Nursys®, Nursys e-
Notify®, Safe Student Reports® and Transition to Practice® are registered trademarks of NCSBN and may not be used or
reproduced without written permission from NCSBN.
Permission is granted to boards of nursing to use or reproduce all or parts of this document for licensure-related purposes only.
Nonprofit education programs have permission to use or reproduce all or parts of this document for educational purposes only.
Use or reproduction of this document for commercial or for-profit use is strictly prohibited. Any authorized reproduction of this
document shall display the notice: “Copyright by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. All rights reserved.” Or, if a
portion of the document is reproduced or incorporated in other materials, such written materials shall include the following credit:
“Portions copyrighted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. All rights reserved.”
Address inquiries in writing to NCSBN Permissions, 111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60601-4277. Suggested
Citation: National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2023). 2023 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan. Chicago: Author.
,iv 2023 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan
Table of Contents
I. Background .................................................................................................................. 1
II. 2023 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan........................................................................................... 2
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 2
Beliefs ...................................................................................................................... 2
Classification of Cognitive Levels ........................................................................................ 3
Test Plan Structure ................................................................................................... 3
Client Needs ................................................................................................... 3
Integrated Processes..................................................................................... 4
Clinical Judgment .......................................................................................... 4
Distribution of Content............................................................................................. 5
Overview of Content................................................................................................. 6
Safe and Effective Care Environment ..................................................................... 7
Management of Care...................................................................................... 7
Safety and Infection Control .......................................................................... 8
Health Promotion and Maintenance ....................................................................... 9
Psychosocial Integrity ........................................................................................... 10
Physiological Integrity........................................................................................... 11
Basic Care and Comfort ................................................................................ 11
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies ................................................ 12
Reduction of Risk Potential .........................................................................13
Physiological Adaptation .............................................................................. 14
III. Administration of the NCLEX-RN®............................................................................. 15
Examination Length ............................................................................................... 15
The Passing Standard............................................................................................. 15
Similar Items .......................................................................................................... 16
Reviewing Answers and Guessing......................................................................... 16
Scoring the NCLEX®............................................................................................... 16
Computerized Adaptive Testing .................................................................. 16
Pretest Items ................................................................................................ 17
Passing and Failing ....................................................................................... 17
Scoring Items ............................................................................................... 17
Types of Items on the NCLEX-RN®.............................................................. 18
NCLEX® Terminology .................................................................................... 18
Examination Security and Confidentiality .............................................................. 18
Tutorial .......................................................................................................... 18
, v 2023 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan
Appendix A
Sample Content ....................................................................................................... 19
Safe and Effective Care Environment ................................................................... 19
Management of Care .................................................................................... 19
Safety and Infection Control ....................................................................... 24
Health Promotion and Maintenance ..................................................................... 28
Psychosocial Integrity ......................................................................................... 32
Physiological Integrity ......................................................................................... 37
Basic Care and Comfort................................................................................ 37
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies ............................................... 41
Reduction of Risk Potential ......................................................................... 45
Physiological Adaptation ............................................................................ 49
Appendix B
Item Writing Tips ...................................................................................................... 53
Appendix C
References ............................................................................................................. 54
