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
Clinical Scenario: A practical nursing student is reviewing the NCSBN Clinical Judgment
Measurement Model (CJMM) while preparing for the NCLEX-PN®. The student asks the
instructor about the fundamental purpose of clinical judgment in nursing practice.
What is the primary purpose of clinical judgment in practical nursing?
A. To enable the PN to independently diagnose medical conditions
B. To guide critical thinking and decision-making to ensure safe client care
C. To replace the traditional nursing process in clinical practice
D. To prioritize the PN's personal opinions in client care decisions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
• Correct (B): Clinical judgment is defined as the observed outcome of critical thinking
and decision-making—an iterative process that uses nursing knowledge to observe and
, assess presenting situations, identify a prioritized client concern, and generate the best
possible evidence-based solutions to deliver safe client care .
• A: Diagnosing medical conditions is outside the PN scope of practice; clinical
judgment focuses on nursing decisions within the PN role.
• C: The nursing process remains fundamental; the CJMM complements rather than
replaces it.
• D: Clinical judgment must be evidence-based and objective, not based on personal
opinion.
Teaching Point: Clinical judgment is the observable outcome of critical thinking used to make
safe, client-centered nursing decisions.
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: Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-PN® Examination
Clinical Scenario: A PN student is learning about the cognitive skills required for clinical
judgment. The student is presented with assessment data for a client and must identify which
information is most relevant to the client's current condition.
Which NGN cognitive skill involves identifying relevant and important information from
different sources such as medical history and vital signs?
A. Analyze Cues
B. Prioritize Hypotheses
C. Recognize Cues
D. Generate Solutions
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
• Correct (C): Recognize Cues involves identifying relevant and important information
from multiple sources, including the medical history and vital signs .
• A: Analyze Cues is the skill of interpreting the recognized cues to determine what
they could mean for the client .
• B: Prioritize Hypotheses involves determining which client concern is the highest
priority .
• D: Generate Solutions involves identifying potential interventions to address the
client concern .
Teaching Point: Recognize Cues is the foundational NGN skill—identify what matters most from
the client data.
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: Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-PN® Examination
Clinical Scenario: A nursing instructor is discussing the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement
Model (CJMM) with PN students. The instructor explains the six cognitive skills that form the
basis for NGN test items.
A PN student is working through an NGN case study and has analyzed the cues and prioritized
hypotheses. Which action represents the next cognitive skill the student should apply?
, A. Recognize Cues
B. Generate Solutions
C. Take Action
D. Evaluate Outcomes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
• Correct (B): The sequence of the six cognitive skills is: Recognize Cues → Analyze
Cues → Prioritize Hypotheses → Generate Solutions → Take Action → Evaluate
Outcomes .
• A: Recognize Cues occurs at the beginning of the process, before analysis and
prioritization.
• C: Take Action occurs after generating solutions, not before.
• D: Evaluate Outcomes is the final step in the process.
Teaching Point: NGN questions follow a specific cognitive sequence: Recognize, Analyze,
Prioritize, Generate, Take Action, and Evaluate.
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 4
Reference: Computer Adaptive Testing
Clinical Scenario: A PN candidate is preparing for the NCLEX-PN® and asks the instructor to
explain the computer adaptive testing (CAT) format. The candidate wants to understand how
the computer selects questions during the exam.
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
Clinical Scenario: A practical nursing student is reviewing the NCSBN Clinical Judgment
Measurement Model (CJMM) while preparing for the NCLEX-PN®. The student asks the
instructor about the fundamental purpose of clinical judgment in nursing practice.
What is the primary purpose of clinical judgment in practical nursing?
A. To enable the PN to independently diagnose medical conditions
B. To guide critical thinking and decision-making to ensure safe client care
C. To replace the traditional nursing process in clinical practice
D. To prioritize the PN's personal opinions in client care decisions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
• Correct (B): Clinical judgment is defined as the observed outcome of critical thinking
and decision-making—an iterative process that uses nursing knowledge to observe and
, assess presenting situations, identify a prioritized client concern, and generate the best
possible evidence-based solutions to deliver safe client care .
• A: Diagnosing medical conditions is outside the PN scope of practice; clinical
judgment focuses on nursing decisions within the PN role.
• C: The nursing process remains fundamental; the CJMM complements rather than
replaces it.
• D: Clinical judgment must be evidence-based and objective, not based on personal
opinion.
Teaching Point: Clinical judgment is the observable outcome of critical thinking used to make
safe, client-centered nursing decisions.
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: Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-PN® Examination
Clinical Scenario: A PN student is learning about the cognitive skills required for clinical
judgment. The student is presented with assessment data for a client and must identify which
information is most relevant to the client's current condition.
Which NGN cognitive skill involves identifying relevant and important information from
different sources such as medical history and vital signs?
A. Analyze Cues
B. Prioritize Hypotheses
C. Recognize Cues
D. Generate Solutions
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
• Correct (C): Recognize Cues involves identifying relevant and important information
from multiple sources, including the medical history and vital signs .
• A: Analyze Cues is the skill of interpreting the recognized cues to determine what
they could mean for the client .
• B: Prioritize Hypotheses involves determining which client concern is the highest
priority .
• D: Generate Solutions involves identifying potential interventions to address the
client concern .
Teaching Point: Recognize Cues is the foundational NGN skill—identify what matters most from
the client data.
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: Clinical Judgment and the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-PN® Examination
Clinical Scenario: A nursing instructor is discussing the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement
Model (CJMM) with PN students. The instructor explains the six cognitive skills that form the
basis for NGN test items.
A PN student is working through an NGN case study and has analyzed the cues and prioritized
hypotheses. Which action represents the next cognitive skill the student should apply?
, A. Recognize Cues
B. Generate Solutions
C. Take Action
D. Evaluate Outcomes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
• Correct (B): The sequence of the six cognitive skills is: Recognize Cues → Analyze
Cues → Prioritize Hypotheses → Generate Solutions → Take Action → Evaluate
Outcomes .
• A: Recognize Cues occurs at the beginning of the process, before analysis and
prioritization.
• C: Take Action occurs after generating solutions, not before.
• D: Evaluate Outcomes is the final step in the process.
Teaching Point: NGN questions follow a specific cognitive sequence: Recognize, Analyze,
Prioritize, Generate, Take Action, and Evaluate.
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 4
Reference: Computer Adaptive Testing
Clinical Scenario: A PN candidate is preparing for the NCLEX-PN® and asks the instructor to
explain the computer adaptive testing (CAT) format. The candidate wants to understand how
the computer selects questions during the exam.
