Preparing for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a crucial step for nursing graduates aiming to become licensed nurses. To enhance your exam readiness and assess your knowledge, we have compiled a collection of free Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) practice questions at Smart’n.
Our comprehensive test bank, consisting of over 2,500 questions, will not only help you evaluate your understanding but also familiarize you with the changes introduced by the NGN.
In this article, we provide you with some of Smart’n’s free NGN practice questions to help you test your understanding of key nursing concepts and identify areas that may require further review.
Whether you're a nursing student or a practicing nurse aiming to enhance your skills, these practice questions are a valuable resource to evaluate your readiness for this nursing license exam.
NCLEX: An overview
The NCLEX, or National Council Licensure Examination, is a standardized exam that nursing graduates must pass to obtain their nursing license. The exam consists of two versions: NCLEX-PN for Practical Nurse graduates and NCLEX-RN for Registered Nurse graduates.
It evaluates the competency of aspiring nurses, ensuring they possess the necessary skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective patient care.
Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)
The Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) is an updated format of the exam, introduced by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The NGN aims to assess the critical thinking abilities, clinical judgment, and decision-making skills of test takers.
One of the notable changes in NGN is the inclusion of nursing case studies, also known as scenarios, which simulate real-world nursing situations. These case studies present detailed patient information and require test takers to apply critical thinking to select the appropriate nursing actions. Smart’n has 22 hours of NGN case study practice.
NCLEX practice questions
To help you familiarize yourself with the NCLEX format and assess your readiness for the exam, our free practice questions cover various nursing topics. These questions have been carefully crafted to reflect the changes introduced in NGN and challenge your critical thinking abilities. You can access the complete nursing test bank of 2500+ NGN NCLEX practice questions on our website.
Prioritization and delegation
To excel in the NCLEX exam, you must have a strong foundation in prioritization/ delegation. Below are three NCLEX practice questions to test your knowledge in this area:
Question 1: The nurse is working with a large client load and has many tasks to complete. Which tasks can be delegated to the nursing assistant?
A. Get vitals on an unstable client
B. Dressing change on a post-surgical client
C. Walk a client 20 yards
D. Swallow screening on a post stroke client
Answer: C
Question 2: The nursing assistant in the busy emergency room is helping with tasks. Which of the following tasks is appropriate?
A. Bring a client their meal tray and help with feeding
B. Update the family on how the surgery went
C. Teach a client to use crutches
D. Insert a nasogastric tube on an intubated client
Answer: A
Question 3: A nurse has arrived at the healthcare center to work the day shift and is getting ready for report. In order to best organize the day, which of the following is most important to consider while planning tasks?
A. Whether the client has any prn medications ordered
B. How many nurses are working on the unit that day
C. If the client’s family is in the room yet
D. Whether a client has a timed test or procedure
Answer: D
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is a crucial component of nursing practice. Let’s check some NCLEX practice questions to test your understanding of pharmacological principles:
Question 1: It is 1000 and the nurse is preparing to provide a dressing change for a client. The provider has ordered morphine 2-4 mg for moderate to severe pain q 2 hours. The client is awake and oriented and reports a pain of 1 on a sale of 0-10. Which of the following would be the most appropriate action for the nurse at this time?
A. Ask the provider for a new order
B. Perform the dressing change now
C. Administer 4 mg morphine IV at 1100
D. Administer 2 mg morphine IV now
Answer: B
Question 2: A client is being prescribed an antifungal medication and the nurse knows that a contradiction for this drug includes which of the following?
A. Psoriasis
B. Liver failure
C. Headache
D. Back pain
Answer: B
Question 3: A client taking sulfonamides is experiencing side effects. The nurse recognizes that which of the following is not a side effect caused by sulfonamide use?
A. Constipation
B. Nausea
C. Vomiting
D. Diarrhea
Answer: A
Medical-surgical nursing
Medical-surgical nursing encompasses a wide range of nursing care for patients with various medical conditions. Here are a few practice questions related to medical-surgical nursing:
Question 1: What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient experiencing chest pain?
A. Administer pain medication
B. Perform an electrocardiogram (ECG)
C. Assess vital signs
D. Notify the healthcare provider
Answer: C
Question 2: What is a common complication following abdominal surgery?
A. Pneumonia
B. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
C. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
D. Anemia
Answer: B
Question 3: What is a potential nursing diagnosis for a patient with diabetes?
A. Impaired physical mobility
B. Risk for infection
C. Ineffective coping
D. Risk for unstable blood glucose levels
Answer: D
Pediatric nursing
Pediatric nursing focuses on providing specialized care for infants, children, and adolescents. Here are a few NCLEX practice tests related to pediatric nursing:
Question 1: What is the normal respiratory rate for a newborn?
A. 10-20 breaths per minute
B. 20-30 breaths per minute
C. 30-40 breaths per minute
D. 40-50 breaths per minute
Answer: C
Question 2: The infant is sitting alone using her arms for support. At what age is this child at this stage of motor development?
A. 4 months
B. 3 months
C. 7 months
D. 12 months
Answer: C
Question 3: What is a common developmental milestone for a 6-month-old infant?
A. Rolling over
B. Sitting independently
C. Crawling
D. Walking
Answer: A
Maternal health nursing
Maternal healthnursing focuses on providing care for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Below are some sample NCLEX questions related to this specialty:
Question 1: Which hormone is responsible for initiating labor contractions?
A. Estrogen
B. Progesterone
C. Oxytocin
D. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Answer: C
Question 2: What is the average length of a full-term pregnancy?
A. 28 weeks
B. 36 weeks
C. 40 weeks
D. 48 weeks
Answer: C
Question 3: What is a potential complication during pregnancy that requires immediate medical attention?
A. Morning sickness
B. Round ligament pain
C. Gestational diabetes
D. Vaginal bleeding
Answer: D
Mental health nursing
Mental health nursing involves caring for individuals with mental health disorders. Let’s check three nursing questions and answers related to psychiatric nursing:
Question 1: What is a common symptom of major depressive disorder?
A. Hallucinations
B. Delusions
C. Manic episodes
D. Persistent sadness
Answer: D
Question 2: What is the primary goal of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?
A. Increase self-awareness
B. Modify maladaptive behaviors
C. Promote relaxation
D. Enhance interpersonal relationships
Answer: B
Question 3: Which medication is commonly prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia?
A. Lithium
B. Fluoxetine
C. Haloperidol
D. Diazepam
Answer: C
Community health nursing
Community health nursing focuses on promoting and preserving the health of individuals, families, and communities. Here are some NCLEX practice questions related to this field:
Question 1: What is the primary goal of primary prevention?
A. Promote early detection of diseases
B. Manage chronic diseases
C. Prevent the onset of diseases
D. Provide rehabilitative care
Answer: C
Question 2: What is the role of a community health nurse in disaster management?
A. Perform triage and emergency medical care
B. Conduct health education programs
C. Coordinate relief efforts
D. Provide long-term care to disaster survivors
Answer: C
Question 3: What is a common health promotion activity for older adults?
A. Regular exercise
B. Smoking cessation
C. Immunization
D. Weight loss
Answer: A
Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) Case Study Question Example from Smart’n
The nurse is caring for a 29-year-old male female client in the emergency department (ED).
1800: The client was brought to the ED by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) via ambulance after being rescued by firefighters from the kitchen of the client’s burning home. The client was found unresponsive and stabilized on the scene by EMTs. The client arrived with an 18-gauge intravenous (IV) in the left antecubital fossa and oxygen delivery via a non-rebreather mask at 15L/min. The client appears lethargic and short of breath. The client has a hoarse voice when speaking. Vital signs: T 97.8° F (36.5°C), P 114, RR 30, BP 90/56, pulse oximetry reading 91% on 15L/min. The client weighs 85 kg (187 lbs) with a body surface area of 2.01m2. Second and third-degree burns were located on the anterior chest and abdomen, and the top portion of the left arm. Crackles are noted in the bilateral lung bases. Extremity pulses 4+ and regular. The client was unable to hold the right arm up for > 2 seconds and a cervical spine collar was applied. The physician and respiratory therapy were notified regarding the client's condition.
Question 1: Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse be most concerned about?
a. Level of consciousness
b. Pulse of 114
c. Extent of burns
d. Hoarse voice
Answer: D
Benefits of using practice questions
Using practice questions is a proven method to prepare for the NCLEX exam. Here are some benefits of incorporating practice questions into your study routine:
Assess your knowledge: Practice NCLEX questions allow you to gauge your understanding of different nursing concepts and identify areas where you need improvement.
Familiarize yourself with the exam format: By practicing with NCLEX-style questions and NCLEX practice exams, you become accustomed to the exam's structure and gain confidence in navigating through the various question types.
Improve time management: The NCLEX exam has a 5-hour time limit, and practicing with timed practice questions helps you develop effective time management strategies to complete the exam within the allocated time.
Identify weak areas: Practicing NCLEX-style questions highlights your weak areas, enabling you to focus your study efforts on those specific topics.
Enhance critical thinking skills: NCLEX-style questions require critical thinking and clinical reasoning. Regular practice with challenging questions improves your ability to analyze situations and make sound nursing judgments.
Test-taking strategies for the NCLEX
To succeed in the NCLEX exam, it's essential to develop effective test-taking strategies. Here are a few tips to enhance your performance on the exam:
Manage your time: The NCLEX exam has a 5-hour time limit, so practice answering questions within the allocated time to develop good time management skills.
Read the question carefully: Pay close attention to the question stem and identify the key information provided. Analyze the question before selecting an answer.
Use the process of elimination: If you're unsure about an answer, eliminate the options that are clearly incorrect to increase your chances of selecting the correct answer.
Prioritize safety: Safety is a priority in nursing practice. Choose answers that prioritize patient safety and adhere to established protocols.
Practice, practice, practice: Regularly practice with NCLEX-style questions to familiarize yourself with the exam format, improve your knowledge, and boost your confidence.
Review the NCLEX test plan: Familiarize yourself with the NCLEX test plan, which outlines the content areas and the percentage of questions allocated to each category.
Conclusion
Preparing for the NCLEX exam requires dedication, comprehensive study, and ample practice. By incorporating free NGN NCLEX practice questions into your study routine, you can assess your knowledge, identify weak areas, and enhance your test-taking skills. Remember to utilize effective test-taking strategies and seek additional resources as needed to ensure success on the NCLEX exam.
Good luck on your journey to becoming a licensed nurse!
FAQs
1. Are the practice questions provided in this article similar to the actual NCLEX exam questions?
Yes, the practice questions in this article are designed to simulate the format and difficulty level of the NCLEX exam questions. However, it's important to note that the actual exam may contain different questions.
2. Can I solely rely on practice questions to prepare for the NCLEX exam?
While practice questions are a valuable study resource, it's recommended to use them in conjunction with other study materials, such as textbooks, review guides, and online resources, such as Smart’n. This comprehensive approach will ensure a well-rounded preparation for the exam.
3. Can I access additional free NCLEX practice questions?
Yes, Smart’n offers more than 2,500 NCLEX practice questions and 22 hours of NGN case studies. Sign up for free and test yourself today! You can also upgrade your free account to access different types of case studies.
