NCLEX-RN Cram Sheet for Nursing Exams

This NCLEX-RN cram sheet or cheat sheet can help you prepare as it contains condensed facts about the nurse licensure exam itself and key nursing information. When your time to take the NCLEX comes, you can write or transfer these vital information from your head to a blank sheet of paper provided by the testing center.

We all know that the final mountain that nursing students must summit before becoming a registered nurse is passing the NCLEX. Reviewing and preparing for the NCLEX can be stressful as taking in colossal amounts of information has never been easy.

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NCLEX-RN Cram Sheet

Test Information

• Six hours – the maximum time allotted for the NCLEX is 6 hours.
• Take breaks – Take breaks if you need a time out or need to move around. First optional break is offered after 2 hours of testing, next is offered after 3.5 hours of testing. All breaks count to your allotted six hours.
• 75/265 – the minimum number of question you can answer is 75 and a maximum of 265. Of the 75 questions, 60 will be scored question and the remaining 15 are pretest or unscored questions.
• Read the question and answers carefully – do not jump into conclusions or make wild guesses. Read the entirety of the question including its choices before selecting your final answer.
• Look for keywords – avoid answers with absolutes like always, never, all, every, only, must, except, none, or no.
• Don’t read into the question – Never assume anything that has not been specifically mentioned and don’t add extra meaning to the question.
• Eliminate answers that are clearly wrong or incorrect – to increase your probability of selecting the correct answer!
• Watch for grammatical inconsistencies – Subjects and verbs should agree. If the question is an incomplete sentence, the correct answer should complete the question in a grammatically correct manner.
• Rephrase the question – putting the question into your own words can pluck the unneeded info and reveal the core of the stem.
• Make an educated guess – if you can’t make the best answer for a question after carefully reading it, choose the answer with the most information.
• New question types – New question types are added on the test. These questions are found on the Special Research Section of the test, which pops up after the candidate finishes the exam. These do not count toward your score and are testing out the feasibility of the test question, not the test-taker.

NCLEX Question Types

The following are the question types for the NCLEX-RN, all are included in the NCLEX-RN cram sheet.

• Multiple-Choice –These questions provide you with data about client situation and given four options to choose from. Most common question type.
• Fill-in-the-Blank – This format is usually used for medication calculation or computing an IV flow rate. Type only a number for your answer in the box. Rounding an answer should be done at the end of the calculation or as what the question specifies. Type in the decimal point if necessary.
• Multiple-Response – You’ll be asked to select all the option that relate to the information asked by the question. There may be two or more correct answers and no partial credit is given for correct selection.
• Ordered-Response – In this format, you’ll be asked to use the computer mouse to drag and drop your nursing actions in order or priority. Based on the information presented, determine what you’ll do first, second, third, and so forth. Directions are provided with the question.
• Figure or Hotspot – A picture or graphic will be presented along with a question. This could contain a chart, a table, or an illustration where you’ll be asked to point or click on a specific area. Figures may also appear along with a multiple-choice question.
• Chart/Exhibit –A chart or exhibit is presented along with a problem. You’ll be provided with three tabs or buttons that you need to click to obtain the information needed to answer the question.
• Graphic Option – In this format, options are pictures rather than text. Each option is preceded by a circle that you need to click to represent your answer.
• Audio – In this format, you’ll be required to listen to a sound to answer the question. You’ll need to use the headset provided and click on the sound icon for it to play. You’ll be able to listen to the sound as many times as necessary.
• Video – This will require viewing of an animation or video clip to answer the accompanying question.

Vital Signs

• Heart rate: 80—100 bpm
• Respiratory rate: 12-20 rpm
• Blood pressure: 110-120/60 mmHg
• Temperature: 37 °C (98.6 °F)

Hematology values

We’ve included in this NCLEX-RN cram sheet are the common laboratory and diagnostic values you need to memorize for the exam.

Serum electrolytes

Acid-Base Balance

Use the ABG Tic-Tac-Toe Method for interpreting. Learn about the technique at: (https://bit.ly/abgtictactoe).

Chemistry Values

Urine Test Normal Values

Normal Glucose Values

Therapeutic Drug Levels

Cardiac Markers

Anticoagulant therapy

Unit Conversions

Maternity Normal Values

• Fetal Heart Rate: 120—160 bpm
• Variability: 6—10 bpm
• Amniotic fluid: 500—1200 ml
• Contractions: 2—5 minutes apart with duration of < 90 seconds and intensity of
• APGAR Scoring: Appearance, Pulses, Grimace, Activity, Reflex Irritability. Done at 1 and 5 minutes with a score of 0 for absent, 1 for decreased, and 2 for strongly positive. Scores 7 and above are generally normal, 4 to 6 fairly low, and 3 and below are generally regarded as critically low.
• AVA: The umbilical cord has two arteries and one vein.

STOP

Treatment for maternal hypotension after an epidural anesthesia:

• Stop infusion of Pitocin.
• Turn the client on her left side.
• Administer oxygen.
• If hypovolemia is present, push IV fluids.

Pregnancy Category of Drugs

• Category A—No risk in controlled human studies
• Category B—No risk in other studies. Examples: Amoxicillin, Cefotaxime.
• Category C—Risk not ruled out. Examples: Rifampicin (Rifampin), Theophylline (Theolair).
• Category D—Positive evidence of risk. Examples: Phenytoin, Tetracycline.
• Category X—Contraindicated in Pregnancy. Examples: Isotretinoin (Accutane), Thalidomide (Immunoprin), etc.
• Pregnancy Category N—Not yet classified

Drug Schedules

• Schedule I—no currently accepted medical use and for research use only (e.g., heroin, LSD, MDMA).
• Schedule II—drugs with high potential for abuse and requires written prescription (e.g., Ritalin, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), and fentanyl).
• Schedule III—requires new prescription after six months or five refills (e.g., codeine, testosterone, ketamine).
• Schedule IV—requires new prescription after six months (e.g., Darvon, Xanax, Soma, and Valium).
• Schedule V—dispensed as any other prescription or without prescription (e.g., cough preparations, Lomotil, Motofen).

Medication Classifications

• Antacids—reduces hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
• Antianemics—increases blood cell production.
• Anticholinergics—decreases oral secretions.
• Anticoagulants—prevents clot formation,
• Anticonvulsants—used for management of seizures and/or bipolar disorders.
• Antidiarrheals—decreases gastric motility and reduce water in bowel.
• Antihistamines—block the release of histamine.
• Antihypertensives—lower blood pressure and increases blood flow.
• Anti-infectives—used for the treatment of infections,
• Bronchodilators—dilates large air passages in asthma or lung diseases (e.g., COPD).
• Diuretics—decreases water/sodium from the Loop of Henle.
• Laxatives—promotes the passage of stool.
• Miotics—constricts the pupils.
• Mydriatics—dilates the pupils.
• Narcotics/analgesics—relieves moderate to severe pain.

Rules of nines for Burns

Calculating Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) for burns

• Head and neck: 9%
• Upper limbs: 18% (9% each)
• Trunk: 36%
• Legs: 36% (18% each)
• Genitalia: 1%

Medications

• Digoxin (Lanoxin)—Assess pulses for a full minute, if less than 60 bpm hold dose. Check digitalis and potassium levels.
• Aluminum Hydroxide (Amphojel)—Treatment of GERD and kidney stones. WOF constipation.
• Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)—Treatment of anxiety and itching. WOF dry mouth.
• Midazolam (Versed)—given for conscious sedation. Watch out for (WOF) respiratory depression and hypotension.
• Amiodarone (Cordarone)—WOF diaphoresis, dyspnea, lethargy. Take missed dose any time in the day or to skip it entirely. Do not take double dose.
• Warfarin (Coumadin)—WOF for signs of bleeding, diarrhea, fever, or rash. Stress importance of complying with prescribed dosage and follow-up appointments.
• Methylphenidate (Ritalin)—Treatment of ADHD. Assess for heart related side-effects and reported immediately. Child may need a drug holiday because the drug stunts growth.
• Dopamine—Treatment of hypotension, shock, and low cardiac output. Monitor ECG for arrhythmias and blood pressure.
• Rifampicin—causes red-orange tears and urine.
• Ethambutol—causes problems with vision, liver problem.
• Isoniazid—can cause peripheral neuritis, take vitamin B6 to counter.

Developmental Milestones

• 2—3 months: able to turn head up, and can turn side to side. Makes cooing or gurgling noises and can turn head to sound.
• 4—5 months: grasps, switch and roll over tummy to back. Can babble and can mimic sounds.
• 6—7 months: sits at 6 and waves bye-bye. Can recognize familiar faces and knows if someone is a stranger. Passes things back and forth between hands.
• 8—9 months: stands straight at eight, has favorite toy, plays peek-a-boo.
• 10—11 months: belly to butt.
• 12—13 months: twelve and up, drinks from a cup. Cries when parents leave, uses furniture to cruise.

Cultural Considerations

The NCLEX-RN Cram Sheet also includes cultural considerations for different patients:

• African Americans—May believe that illness is caused by supernatural causes and seek advice and remedies from faith healers; they are family-oriented; have higher incidence of high blood pressure and obesity; high incidence of lactose intolerance with difficulty digesting milk and milk products.
• Arab Americans—May remain silent about health problems such as STIs, substance abuse, and mental illness; a devout Muslim may interpret illness as the will of Allah, a test of faith; may rely on ritual cures or alternative therapies before seeking help from health care provider; after death, the family may want to prepare the body by washing and wrapping the body in unsewn white cloth; postmortem examinations are discouraged unless required by law. May avoid pork and alcohol if Muslim. Islamic patients observe monthlong fast of Ramadan (begins approximately mid-October); people suffering from chronic illnesses, pregnant women, breastfeeding, or menstruating don’t fast. Females avoid eye contact with males; use same-sex family members as interpreters.
• Asian Americans—May value ability to endure pain and grief with silent stoicism; typically family oriented; extended family should be involved in care of dying patient; believes in “hot-cold” yin/yang often involved; sodium intake is generally high because of salted and dried foods; may believe prolonged eye contact is rude and an invasion of privacy; may not without necessarily understanding; may prefer to maintain a comfortable physical distance between the patient and the health care provider.
• Latino Americans—May view illness as a sign of weakness, punishment for evil doing; may consult with a curandero or voodoo priest; family members are typically involved in all aspects of decision making such as terminal illness; may see no reason to submit to mammograms or vaccinations.
• Native Americans—May turn to a medicine man to determine the true cause of an illness; may value the ability to endure pain or grief with silent stoicism; diet may be deficient in vitamin D and calcium because many suffer from lactose intolerance or don’t drink milk; obesity and diabetes are major health concerns; may divert eyes to the floor when they are praying or paying attention.
• Western Culture—May value technology almost exclusively in the struggle to conquer diseases; health is understood to be the absence, minimization, or control of disease process; eating utensils usually consists of knife, fork, and spoon; three daily meals is typical.

Common Diets

Included in the NCLEX-RN cram sheet are the common diets for patients in different conditions:

• Acute Renal Disease—protein-restricted, high-calorie, fluid-controlled, sodium and potassium controlled.
• Addison’s disease—increased sodium, low potassium diet.
• ADHD and Bipolar—high-calorie and provide finger foods.
• Burns—high protein, high caloric, increase in Vitamin C.
• Cancer—high-calorie, high-protein.
• CeliacDisease—gluten-free diet (no BROW: barley, rye, oat, and wheat).
• Chronic Renal Disease—protein-restricted, low-sodium, fluid-restricted, potassium-restricted, phosphorus-restricted.
• Cirrhosis (stable)—normal protein
• Cirrhosis with hepatic insufficiency—restrict protein, fluids, and sodium.
• Constipation—high-fiber, increased fluids
• COPD—soft, high-calorie, low-carbohydrate, high-fat, small frequent feedings
• CysticFibrosis—increase in fluids.
• Diarrhea—liquid, low-fiber, regular, fluid and electrolyte replacement
• Gallbladder diseases—low-fat, calorie-restricted, regular
• Gastritis—low-fiber, bland diet
• Hepatitis—regular, high-calorie, high-protein
• Hyperlipidemias—fat-controlled, calorie-restricted
• Hypertension, heart failure, CAD—low-sodium, calorie-restricted, fat-controlled
• Kidney Stones—increased fluid intake, calcium-controlled, low-oxalate
• Nephrotic Syndrome—sodium-restricted, high-calorie, high-protein, potassium-restricted.
• Obesity, overweight—calorie-restricted, high-fiver
• Pancreatitis—low-fat, regular, small frequent feedings; tube feeding or total parenteral nutrition.
• Peptic ulcer—bland diet
• Pernicious Anemia—increase Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), found in high amounts on shellfish, beef liver, and fish.
• Sickle Cell Anemia—increase fluids to maintain hydration since sickling increases when patients become dehydrated.
• Stroke—mechanical soft, regular, or tube-feeding.
• Underweight—high-calorie, high protein
• Vomiting—fluid and electrolyte replacement

Positioning Clients

Included in this NCLEX-RN cram sheet are the recommended position for different disease conditions.

• Asthma—orthopneic position where patient is sitting up and bent forward with arms supported on a table or chair arms.
• PostBronchoscopy—flat on bed with head hyperextended.
• Cerebral Aneurysm—high Fowler’s.
• Hemorrhagic Stroke: HOV elevated 30 degrees to reduce ICP and facilitate venous drainage.
• Ischemic Stroke: HOB flat.
• Cardiac Catheterization—keep site extended.
• Epistaxis—lean forward.
• Above Knee Amputation—elevate for first 24 hours on pillow, position on prone daily for hip extension.
• Below Knee Amputation—foot of bed elevated for first 24 hours, position prone daily for hip extension.
• Tube feeding for patients with decreased LOC—position patient on right side to promote emptying of the stomach with HOB elevated to prevent aspiration.
• Air/Pulmonary embolism—turn patient to left side and lower HOB.
• Postural Drainage—Lung segment to be drained should be in the uppermost position to allow gravity to work.
• Post Lumbar puncture—patient should lie flat in supine to prevent headache and leaking of CSF.
• Continuous Bladder Irrigation (CBI)—catheter should be taped to thigh so legs should be kept straight.
• After myringotomy—position on the side of affected ear after surgery (allows drainage of secretion).
• Post cataractsurgery—patient will sleep on unaffected side with a night shield for 1-4 weeks.
• Detached retina—area of detachment should be in the dependent position.
• Post thyroidectomy—low or semi-Fowlers, support head, neck and shoulders.
• Thoracentesis—sitting on the side of the bed and leaning over the table (during procedure); affected side up (after procedure).
• Spina Bifida— position infant on prone so that sac does not rupture.
• Buck’s Traction—elevate foot of bed for counter-traction.
• Post Total Hip Replacement—don’t sleep on operated side, don’t flex hip more than 45-60 degrees, don’t elevate HOB more than 45 degrees. Maintain hip abduction by separating thighs with pillows.
• Prolapsed cord—knee-chest position or Trendelenburg.
• Cleft-lip—position on back or in infant seat to prevent trauma to the suture line. While feeding, hold in upright position.
• Cleft-palate—prone.
• Hemorrhoidectomy—assist to lateral position.
• Hiatal Hernia—upright position.
• Preventing Dumping Syndrome—eat in reclining position, lie down after meals for 20-30 minutes (also restrict fluids during meals, low fiber diet, and small frequent meals).
• Enema Administration—position patient in left-side lying (Sim’s position) with knees flexed.
• Post supratentorial surgery (incision behind hairline)—elevate HOB 30-45 degrees.
• Post infratentorial surgery (incision at nape of neck)—position patient flat and lateral on either side.
• Increased ICP—high Fowler’s.
• Laminectomy—back as straight as possible; log roll to move and sand bag on sides.
• Spinal Cord Injury—immobilize on spine board, with head in neutral position. Immobilize head with padded C-collar, maintain traction and alignment of head manually. Log roll client and do not allow client to twist or bend.
• Liver Biopsy—right side lying with pillow or small towel under puncture site for at least 3 hours.
• Paracentesis—flat on bed or sitting.
• Intestinal Tubes—place patient on right side to facilitate passage into duodenum.
• Nasogastric Tubes—elevate HOB 30 degrees to prevent aspiration. Maintain elevation for continuous feeding or 1hour after intermittent feedings.
• Pelvic Exam—lithotomy position.
• Rectal Exam—knee-chest position, Sim’s, or dorsal recumbent.
• During internal radiation—patient should be on bed rest while implant is in place.
• Autonomic Dysreflexia—place client in sitting position (elevate HOB) first before any other implementation.
• Shock—bed rest with extremities elevated 20 degrees, knees straight, head slightly elevated (modified Trendelenburg).
• Head Injury—elevate HOB 30 degrees to decrease intracranial pressure.
• Peritoneal Dialysis when outflow is inadequate—turn patient side to side before checking for kinks in the tubing.
• Myelogram
  • Water-based dye—semi Fowler’s for at least 8 hours.
  • Oil-based dye—flat on bed for at least 6-8 hours to prevent leakage of CSF.
  • Air dye—Trendelenburg.

  Common Signs and Symptoms

  The NCLEX cram sheet will also help you review the common signs and symptoms for various diseases.

  • Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB)—low-grade afternoon fever.
  • Pneumonia—rust-colored sputum.
  • Asthma—wheezing on expiration.
  • Emphysema—barrel chest.
  • Kawasaki Syndrome—strawberry tongue.
  • Pernicious Anemia—red beefy tongue.
  • Down syndrome—protruding tongue.
  • Cholera—rice-watery stool and washer woman’s hands (wrinkled hands from dehydration).
  • Malaria—stepladder like fever with chills.
  • Typhoid—rose spots in the abdomen.
  • Dengue—fever, rash, and headache. Positive Herman’s sign.
  • Diphtheria—pseudomembrane formation.
  • Measles—Koplik’s spots (clustered white lesions on buccal mucosa).
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus—butterfly rash.
  • Leprosy—leonine facies (thickened folded facial skin).
  • Bulimia—chipmunk facies (parotid gland swelling).
  • Appendicitis—rebound tenderness at McBurney’s point. Rovsing’s sign (palpation of LLQ elicits pain in RLQ). Psoas sign (pain from flexing the thigh to the hip).
  • Meningitis—Kernig’s sign (stiffness of hamstrings causing inability to straighten the leg when the hip is flexed to 90 degrees), Brudzinski’s sign (forced flexion of the neck elicits a reflex flexion of the hips).
  • Tetany—hypocalcemia, [+] Trousseau’s sign; Chvostek sign.
  • Tetanus— Risus sardonicus or rictus grin.
  • Pancreatitis—Cullen’s sign (ecchymosis of the umbilicus), Grey Turner’s sign (bruising of the flank).
  • Pyloric Stenosis—olive like mass.
  • Patent Ductus Arteriosus—washing machine-like murmur.
  • Addison’s disease—bronzelike skin pigmentation.
  • Cushing’s syndrome—moon face appearance and buffalo hump.
  • Grave’s Disease (Hyperthyroidism)—Exophthalmos (bulging of the eye out of the orbit).
  • Intussusception—Sausage-shaped mass.
  • Multiple Sclerosis—Charcot’s Triad: nystagmus, intention tremor, and dysarthria.
  • Myasthenia Gravis—descending muscle weakness, ptosis (drooping of eyelids).
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome—ascending muscles weakness.
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—Homan’s Sign.
  • Angina—crushing, stabbing pain relieved by NTG.
  • Myocardial Infarction (MI)—crushing, stabbing pain radiating to left shoulder, neck, and arms. Unrelieved by NTG.
  • Parkinson’s disease—pill-rolling tremors.
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection—Owl’s eye appearance of cells (huge nucleus in cells).
  • Glaucoma—tunnel vision.
  • Retinal Detachment—flashes of light, shadow with curtain across vision.
  • Basilar Skull Fracture—Raccoon eyes (periorbital ecchymosis) and Battle’s sign (mastoid ecchymosis).
  • Buerger’s Disease—intermittent claudication (pain at buttocks or legs from poor circulation resulting in impaired walking).
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis—acetone breathe.
  • Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)—proteinuria, hypertension, edema.
  • Diabetes Mellitus—polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria.
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)—heartburn.
  • Hirschsprung’s Disease (Toxic Megacolon)—ribbon-like stool.
  • Sexual Transmitted Infections:
    • Herpes Simplex Type II—painful vesicles on genitalia
    • Genital Warts—warts 1-2 mm in diameter.
    • Syphilis—painless chancres.
    • Chancroid—painful chancres.
    • Gonorrhea—green, creamy discharges and painful urination.
    • Chlamydia—milky discharge and painful urination.
    • Candidiasis—white cheesy odorless vaginal discharges.
    • Trichomoniasis—yellow, itchy, frothy, and foul-smelling vaginal discharges.

    Miscellaneous Tips

    Other nursing tips and skills you need to know that are included in the NCLEX-RN cram sheet.

    • Delegate sterile skills (e.g., dressing change) to the RN or LPN.
    • Where non-skilled care is required, delegate the stable client to the nursing assistant.
    • Assign the most critical client to the RN.
    • Clients who are being discharged should have final assessments done by the RN.
    • The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can monitor clients with IV therapy, insert urinary catheters, feeding tubes, and apply restraints.
    • Assessment, teaching, medication administration, evaluation, unstable patients cannot be delegated to an unlicensed assistive personnel.
    • Weight is the best indicator of dehydration.
    • When patient is in distress, the administration of medication is rarely the best choice.
    • Always check for allergies before administering antibiotics.
    • Neutropenic patients should not receive vaccines, fresh fruits, or flowers.
    • Nitroglycerine sublingual is administered up to three times with intervals of five minutes.
    • Morphine is contraindicated in pancreatitis because it causes spasms of the Sphincter of Oddi. Demerol should be given.
    • Never give potassium (K+) in IV push.
    • Infants born to an HIV-positive mother should receive all immunizations of schedule.
    • Gravida is the number of pregnancies a woman has had, regardless of outcome.
    • Para is the number of pregnancies that reached viability, regardless of whether the fetus was delivered alive or stillborn. A fetus is considered viable at 20 weeks’ gestation.
    • Lochia rubra is the vaginal discharge of almost pure blood that occurs during the first few days after childbirth.
    • Lochia serosa is the serous vaginal discharge that occurs 4 to 7 days after childbirth.
    • Lochia alba is the vaginal discharge of decreased blood and increased leukocytes that’s the final stage of lochia. It occurs 7 to 10 days after childbirth.
    • In the event of fire, the acronym most often used is RACE. (R) Remove the patient. (A) Activate the alarm. (C) Attempt to contain the fire by closing the door. (E) Extinguish the fire if it can be done safely.
    • Before signing an informed consent form, the patient should know whether other treatment options are available and should understand what will occur during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases; the risks involved; and the possible complications. The patient should also have a general idea of the time required from surgery to recovery. In addition, he should have an opportunity to ask questions.
    • The first nursing intervention in a quadriplegic client who is experiencing autonomic dysreflexia is to elevate his head as high as possible.
    • Usually, patients who have the same infection and are in strict isolation can share a room.
    • Veracity is truth and is an essential component of a therapeutic relationship between a health care provider and his patient.
    • Beneficence is the duty to do no harm and the duty to do good. There’s an obligation in patient care to do no harm and an equal obligation to assist the patient.
    • Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm.
    • Tyramine-rich food, such as aged cheese, chicken liver, avocados, bananas, meat tenderizer, salami, bologna, Chianti wine, and beer may cause severe hypertension in a patient who takes a monoamine oxidase inhibitor.
    • Projection is the unconscious assigning of a thought, feeling, or action to someone or something else.
    • Sublimation is the channeling of unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behavior.
    • Repression is an unconscious defense mechanism whereby unacceptable or painful thoughts, impulses, memories, or feelings are pushed from the consciousness or forgotten.
    • People with obsessive-compulsive disorder realize that their behavior is unreasonable, but are powerless to control it.
    • A significant toxic risk associated with clozapine (Clozaril) administration is blood dyscrasia.
    • Adverse effects of haloperidol (Haldol) administration include drowsiness; insomnia; weakness; headache; and extrapyramidal symptoms, such as akathisia, tardive dyskinesia, and dystonia.
    • Hypervigilance and déjà vu are signs of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

    NCLEX-RN Cram Sheet Online Resources

    • NCLEX-RN Official Website (https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.htm)
    • Registration for the NCLEX (https://portal.ncsbn.org/)
    • NCLEX-RN Practice Questions—Over 2,100 free sample questions (https://nurseslabs.com/nclex-practice-questions/)
    • 20 NCLEX Tips and Strategies Every Nursing Students Should Know (https://nurseslabs.com/20-nclex-tips-strategies-every-nursing-students-know/)
    • 12 Tips to Answer NCLEX Select All That Apply (SATA) Questions (https://nurseslabs.com/tips-answer-select-apply-questions-nclex/)
    • 5 Principles in Answering Therapeutic Communication Questions—great tips on how to answer TheraCom questions (https://nurseslabs.com/5-principles-answering-therapeutic-communication-questions/)
    • 11 Test Taking Tips & Strategies For Nurses (https://nurseslabs.com/11-test-taking-tips-strategies/)
    • Nursing Bullets—collection of bite-sized nursing information, great for reviews! (https://nurseslabs.com/tag/nursing-bullets-2/)
    • Kevin’s Ultimate Guide: 28 Free NCLEX Resources (https://www.kevinsreview.com/nclexblog/ultimate-guide-28-free-nclex-reviews-questions-and-resources/)
    • NCLEX Daily—Facebook page that posts daily questions for NCLEX (https://www.facebook.com/nclexdaily)

    NCLEX Review Books

    This NCLEX-RN cram sheet is best paired with these review books:

    • Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN by Silvestri, 6th edition (https://amzn.to/1MhSw3C)
    • Saunders Q & A Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination by Silvestri, 6th edition (https://amzn.to/1J6gOhO)
    • Saunders 2014-2015 Strategies for Test Success – Passing Nursing School and the NCLEX Exam by Silvestri, 3rd edition (https://amzn.to/1F45gJ8)
    • Saunders Q&A Review Cards for the NCLEX-RN Examination by Silvestri and Silvestri, 2nd edition (https://amzn.to/1Ahi5yB)
    • Davis’s NCLEX-RN Success by Lagerquist, 3rd edition (https://amzn.to/1zbKboZ)
    • Mosby’s Comprehensive Review of Nursing for the NCLEX-RN Exam by Nugent et al., 20th edition (https://amzn.to/1ytMYIR)
    • Kaplan NCLEX RN 2013-2014 Edition: Strategies, Practice, and Review (https://amzn.to/171hdQR)
    • Lippincott’s NCLEX-RN Questions and Answers Made Incredibly Easy, 5th edition (https://amzn.to/1vpd6Et)
    • Lippincott’s NCLEX-RN Alternate-Format Questions, 5th edition (https://amzn.to/19dEEIz)

    See Also

    • NCLEX Practice Questions
    • 20 NCLEX Tips and Strategies Every Nursing Students Should Know
    • 12 Tips to Answer NCLEX Select All That Apply (SATA) Questions
    • 10 Brilliant Tips to Overcome Test Anxiety
    • 10 Quick Tips Before Taking the Nursing Licensure Exam (NLE)
    • 11 Test Taking Tips & Strategies For Nurses
    • 5 Must-Read Communication Principles Before You Take the Board Exams

    Post was originally published in February 2015.

    Matt Vera, a registered nurse since 2009, leverages his experiences as a former student struggling with complex nursing topics to help aspiring nurses as a full-time writer and editor for Nurseslabs, simplifying the learning process, breaking down complicated subjects, and finding innovative ways to assist students in reaching their full potential as future healthcare providers.

    30 thoughts on “NCLEX-RN Cram Sheet for Nursing Exams”

    Carlo_Soriano

    Great resource. It’s just that some information is different from what I have been taught, as it seems to be consistently with lab normals. Is it possible to send over a file that is modifiable so that I can better match it to my own material? Reply

    Hello. You said “Nitroglycerine patch is administered up to three times with intervals of five minutes.”
    Is it supposed to be NTG SL? Reply

    You said “Nitroglycerine patch is administered up to three times with intervals of five minutes.”
    Is it supposed to be NTG SL? Reply