SAUNDERS COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW FOR THE
NCLEX-PN® EXAMINATION
9TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)LINDA ANNE SILVESTRI; ANGELA
SILVESTRI
TEST BANK
Question 1
Reference: The Pyramid to Success; Clinical Judgment and Next Generation NCLEX® Items
Clinical Scenario: A practical nursing student is reviewing the NCLEX-PN® test plan to better
understand how to prepare for the examination. The student notes that the examination
measures the nursing process and client needs. The student asks the instructor which cognitive
level is most essential for successfully answering questions that require the highest level of
thinking on the exam.
Which cognitive level should the nursing instructor identify as the highest level tested on the
NCLEX-PN® examination?
A. Recall
B. Application
C. Analysis
D. Synthesis
,Correct Answer: C. Analysis
Rationale for Correct Answer: The NCLEX-PN® examination tests the nursing process at
increasing levels of cognitive ability, from simple recall to more complex levels such as
application and analysis. Analysis is considered a higher-level cognitive skill that requires the
nurse to examine and interpret data, identify relationships, and make inferences, which are
essential for safe clinical judgment and is the highest level commonly tested on this exam.
Rationale for Incorrect Answers:
• A. Recall: Recall is a lower level of cognitive ability that involves memorization and
simple recognition of facts. The NCLEX-PN® is designed to move beyond simple recall.
• B. Application: While application is a higher-level cognitive skill than recall, it is not the
highest level tested. Application involves using knowledge in a clinical situation, but
analysis requires a deeper level of interpretation.
• D. Synthesis: Synthesis is not a category used on the NCLEX-PN® test plan for cognitive
levels. The test plan categorizes questions into recall, application, and analysis levels.
Teaching Point: The NCLEX-PN® tests at the application and analysis levels to ensure you can
think critically and make safe clinical decisions, not just memorize facts.
Citation: Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. (2026). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-
PN® Examination (9th ed.). Chapter 1: Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-
PN® Examination.
Question 2
Reference: Level of Cognitive Ability
Clinical Scenario: A nursing student is practicing NCLEX-PN®-style questions and encounters an
item that requires the student to determine the priority nursing action for a client with a new
,diagnosis. The stem requires the student to interpret assessment data and choose the most
appropriate intervention.
Which level of cognitive ability is this question most likely testing?
A. Knowledge
B. Comprehension
C. Application
D. Analysis
Correct Answer: D. Analysis
Rationale for Correct Answer: Analysis is the cognitive level that involves breaking down
information, examining relationships, and interpreting data to make clinical decisions. A
question that asks a student to interpret assessment data to choose an intervention requires
this higher level of thinking.
Rationale for Incorrect Answers:
• A. Knowledge: Knowledge is simple recall of facts, which does not require interpretation
or decision-making.
• B. Comprehension: Comprehension involves understanding the meaning of information,
but it does not necessarily involve applying it to a clinical scenario to make a judgment.
• C. Application: Application involves using knowledge in a clinical situation, but it may
not require the deep interpretation of multiple pieces of data that analysis does.
Teaching Point: High-level NCLEX-PN® questions test analysis by requiring you to "put it all
together" and interpret clinical data to determine the best action.
Citation: Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. (2026). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-
PN® Examination (9th ed.). Chapter 1: Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-
PN® Examination.
, Question 3
Reference: Client Needs
Clinical Scenario: A practical nurse is preparing a care plan for a client who is at risk for falls.
The nurse identifies the need to implement safety measures, such as placing the bed in the
lowest position and ensuring the call light is within reach.
This nursing action addresses which major category of Client Needs on the NCLEX-PN® test
plan?
A. Safe and Effective Care Environment
B. Health Promotion and Maintenance
C. Psychosocial Integrity
D. Physiological Integrity
Correct Answer: A. Safe and Effective Care Environment
Rationale for Correct Answer: The Client Needs category of "Safe and Effective Care
Environment" encompasses nursing actions that protect the client from harm and promote
safety. Implementing fall prevention measures is a direct action to ensure the client's physical
safety, which falls under this category.
Rationale for Incorrect Answers:
• B. Health Promotion and Maintenance: This category focuses on activities that promote
wellness and prevent illness, but it does not specifically address immediate safety
interventions like fall prevention.
• C. Psychosocial Integrity: This category focuses on the client's emotional, mental, and
social well-being, which is not the primary focus of fall prevention.
NCLEX-PN® EXAMINATION
9TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)LINDA ANNE SILVESTRI; ANGELA
SILVESTRI
TEST BANK
Question 1
Reference: The Pyramid to Success; Clinical Judgment and Next Generation NCLEX® Items
Clinical Scenario: A practical nursing student is reviewing the NCLEX-PN® test plan to better
understand how to prepare for the examination. The student notes that the examination
measures the nursing process and client needs. The student asks the instructor which cognitive
level is most essential for successfully answering questions that require the highest level of
thinking on the exam.
Which cognitive level should the nursing instructor identify as the highest level tested on the
NCLEX-PN® examination?
A. Recall
B. Application
C. Analysis
D. Synthesis
,Correct Answer: C. Analysis
Rationale for Correct Answer: The NCLEX-PN® examination tests the nursing process at
increasing levels of cognitive ability, from simple recall to more complex levels such as
application and analysis. Analysis is considered a higher-level cognitive skill that requires the
nurse to examine and interpret data, identify relationships, and make inferences, which are
essential for safe clinical judgment and is the highest level commonly tested on this exam.
Rationale for Incorrect Answers:
• A. Recall: Recall is a lower level of cognitive ability that involves memorization and
simple recognition of facts. The NCLEX-PN® is designed to move beyond simple recall.
• B. Application: While application is a higher-level cognitive skill than recall, it is not the
highest level tested. Application involves using knowledge in a clinical situation, but
analysis requires a deeper level of interpretation.
• D. Synthesis: Synthesis is not a category used on the NCLEX-PN® test plan for cognitive
levels. The test plan categorizes questions into recall, application, and analysis levels.
Teaching Point: The NCLEX-PN® tests at the application and analysis levels to ensure you can
think critically and make safe clinical decisions, not just memorize facts.
Citation: Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. (2026). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-
PN® Examination (9th ed.). Chapter 1: Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-
PN® Examination.
Question 2
Reference: Level of Cognitive Ability
Clinical Scenario: A nursing student is practicing NCLEX-PN®-style questions and encounters an
item that requires the student to determine the priority nursing action for a client with a new
,diagnosis. The stem requires the student to interpret assessment data and choose the most
appropriate intervention.
Which level of cognitive ability is this question most likely testing?
A. Knowledge
B. Comprehension
C. Application
D. Analysis
Correct Answer: D. Analysis
Rationale for Correct Answer: Analysis is the cognitive level that involves breaking down
information, examining relationships, and interpreting data to make clinical decisions. A
question that asks a student to interpret assessment data to choose an intervention requires
this higher level of thinking.
Rationale for Incorrect Answers:
• A. Knowledge: Knowledge is simple recall of facts, which does not require interpretation
or decision-making.
• B. Comprehension: Comprehension involves understanding the meaning of information,
but it does not necessarily involve applying it to a clinical scenario to make a judgment.
• C. Application: Application involves using knowledge in a clinical situation, but it may
not require the deep interpretation of multiple pieces of data that analysis does.
Teaching Point: High-level NCLEX-PN® questions test analysis by requiring you to "put it all
together" and interpret clinical data to determine the best action.
Citation: Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. (2026). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-
PN® Examination (9th ed.). Chapter 1: Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-
PN® Examination.
, Question 3
Reference: Client Needs
Clinical Scenario: A practical nurse is preparing a care plan for a client who is at risk for falls.
The nurse identifies the need to implement safety measures, such as placing the bed in the
lowest position and ensuring the call light is within reach.
This nursing action addresses which major category of Client Needs on the NCLEX-PN® test
plan?
A. Safe and Effective Care Environment
B. Health Promotion and Maintenance
C. Psychosocial Integrity
D. Physiological Integrity
Correct Answer: A. Safe and Effective Care Environment
Rationale for Correct Answer: The Client Needs category of "Safe and Effective Care
Environment" encompasses nursing actions that protect the client from harm and promote
safety. Implementing fall prevention measures is a direct action to ensure the client's physical
safety, which falls under this category.
Rationale for Incorrect Answers:
• B. Health Promotion and Maintenance: This category focuses on activities that promote
wellness and prevent illness, but it does not specifically address immediate safety
interventions like fall prevention.
• C. Psychosocial Integrity: This category focuses on the client's emotional, mental, and
social well-being, which is not the primary focus of fall prevention.
