NCLEX Resources by @ShopBasicsbyBrooke
Thank you so much for ordering my notes. I personally studied using UWorld for less than 10
days before taking my NCLEX. Miraculously, I made it through the entire program in those 10
days, and below you will find my most helpful notes. Everything is organized by subject and
content – and I took notes on EVERYTHING!
Additionally, you will find many notes from ATI when I used it for my capstone class. Overall,
ATI isn’t that helpful except for tips and tricks that I have attached.
Recommendations:
• Create a study schedule! I recommend focusing on one to two content areas each day.
Go over all content, take notes, and do practice questions for that content area. You
can combine smaller content areas (I.e., immune + infectious disease), but leave at
least a whole day dedicated to larger sections like cardiovascular and respiratory.
• Print out my notes and write/highlight on them. The best way to remember content is
to write down the information. Rewrite content from my notes that you feel is
important.
• Look at the diseases/conditions cheat sheet which summarizes some of the most
popular conditions (example: DI vs SIADH, metabolic acidosis vs alkalosis, Cushing
disease vs Addison’s disease - all examples of common diseases you should know).
Once you have a basis of understanding of the knowledge, do practice questions.
• Make flashcards for lab values and drug endings
• Don’t overthink the details. You can’t memorize everything. Go with your gut.
• When I took my NCLEX, the majority of my questions were fundamentals and
prioritization. You just never know what you’re going to get.
• Download the Mastery NCLEX App. It’s free!
• Wear bright colors the day of your test à this is known to make you more optimistic
à more likely to pass
• Eat 1-2 bananas the morning of the test (+ a nut butter ideally). Bananas are proven to
increase brain function. It’s a superstition of mine that I’ve used since high school.
Good luck!
-B
*** If you haven’t already, check out my other two popular listings that pair amazingly
with this study guide. The first, is over 70+ mnemonics with photos, and the second, is great
cheat sheets with important things to remember. It includes many common symptoms and
positioning techniques not included in this study guide ***
Better yet, if you review my study guide, I’ll send you a 20% promo code to use on future
purchases!
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, Notes/Information from ATI
Prioritization
Prioritization includes clinical care coordination such as clinical decision making, priority
setting, organizational skills, use of resources, time management, and evaluation of care.
Clinical decisions are made by completing a thorough assessment which will help you make
good judgments later when you see a changing clinical condition. A poor initial assessment can
lead to missed findings later on.
Priority setting refers to addressing problems and prioritizing care. It is critical for efficient care.
The RN uses his/her knowledge of pathophysiology when prioritizing interventions with
multiple clients.
Orders of prioritization:
1. Treat first any immediate threats to a patient’s survival or safety.
Ex. obstructed airway, loss of consciousness, psychological episode or anxiety attack. ABC's.
2. Next, treat actual problems.
Ex. nausea, full bowel or bladder, comfort measures.
3. Then, treat relatively urgent actual or potential problems that the patient or family does not
recognize.
Ex. Monitoring for post-op complications, anticipating teaching needs of a patient that may be
unaware of side effects of meds.
4. Lastly, treat actual or potential problems where help may be needed in the future.
Ex Teaching for self-care in the home.
Here are some great principles to help you as you prioritize:
• Systemic before local
• Acute before chronic
• Actual before potential
• Listen don’t assume
• Recognize first then apply clinical knowledge
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Prioritize according to Maslow with physiological and safety
issues before psychological esteem issues.
Organizational skills: Make effective and efficient use of time by combining nursing activities
like physical assessment and bath.
Use of resources: Use other members of the healthcare team to help you when necessary when
turning and repositioning, lifting or inserting a catheter. Seeking help can make things safer and
easier for you and client.
Evaluation of care plan: Evaluate the care plan for multiple clients and revise care as need.
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,When prioritizing, remember the four orders:
1. Any immediate threats to safety (ABCs, Maslow)
2. Actual problems for which the client is requesting help
3. Actual or potential problems of which the client may not be aware
4. Actual or potential future problems
Scenario #1
You receive report in the morning and are assigned the following clients. Prioritize the order in
which you will assess these clients:
A client requesting discharge instructions because his ride home is waiting. A client requesting
pain medication.
A client who had an episode of urinary incontinence, resulting in urine on the floor next to the
bed. A client needing a dressing change for an infected wound.
Scenario #1 Key
The order of care should be as follows:
1. A client who had an episode of urinary incontinence, resulting in urine on the floor next to
the bed.
2. A client requesting pain medication.
3. A client needing a dressing change for an infected wound.
4. A client requesting discharge instructions because his ride home is waiting.
Think Safety first!! The urine spill needs to be cleaned first to prevent an injury from someone
slipping and falling. The pain medication should be given before completing the dressing change
because the pain is acute, but the wound is already established. Once client care needs are
addressed, then teaching can take place.
Scenario #2
You are the nurse on the day shift and the following events are occurring. Prioritize the order in
which you would address these issues:
The Emergency Department is full and wants to give you a report on a patient being transferred
to you unit.
A client is experiencing pallor, a heart rate of 42, and has a change in level of consciousness.
Lunch trays need to be passed out to your clients.
A family member of one of your client’s has a question to ask you.
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, Scenario #2 Key
The client experiencing pallor, a heart rate of 42, and has changes in level of consciousness
needs to be seen first à indicates an emergency situation
The remaining tasks can be managed by collaboration and delegation:
Ask another nurse to take report on the client being transferred from the Emergency
Department. This nurse can also speak with the family that has the question to see if she can be
of assistance while you deal with an emergency situation.
Delegated the passing of the lunch trays to an Assistive Personnel.
Scenario #3
A trash can in a client’s bathroom is smoldering from a lit cigarette being thrown away.
Prioritize the following nursing Actions:
Pull the fire alarm.
Get the fire extinguisher, pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire and spray in a sweeping motion
at the base of the fire. Remove the client and any visitors from the room.
Close the door to the client’s room.
Scenario #3 Key
1. Remove the client and any visitors from the room.
2. Pull the fire alarm.
3. Close the door to the client’s room.
4. Get the fire extinguisher, pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire and spray in a sweeping
motion at the base of the fire.
Remember RACE!
Rescue the client and any visitors
Activate alarm
Confine the fire
Extinguish the fire
Delegation Tips
• Nurses need to delegate fittingly and review that clients receive safe, quality care by the
assigned personnel.
• The delegating nurse reviews the following factors when assigning tasks and nursing
activities: Individual client needs, facility policies, job descriptions, the specific state
nurse practice act and professional standards.
• RNs are responsible for the supervision of client care tasks delegated to licensed
practical nurses (LPNs) and to assistive personnel s (APs).
• RN must be knowledgeable about the applicable state nurse practice act and regulations
• LPNs may delegate to other LPNs and AP.
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