NCLEX-RN Study Schedule — Study Scheduler

NCLEX-RN study schedule.

The NCLEX-RN is the licensing exam for registered nurses. The test plan has eight content areas, and Study Scheduler adds Clinical Judgment as a ninth topic so the case studies get their own study time. Management of Care (15–21%) and Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies (13–19%) are the two largest published shares, and pharmacology gets the highest difficulty weighting in Study Scheduler.

Where to put your time first.

Ranked by share of the exam weighted against Study Scheduler's difficulty rating, not share alone, since a smaller topic rated harder can be worth more study time than a bigger, easier one.

1Clinical Judgment (case studies)3 case studies · 18 items

Recognize cues · Analyze cues · Prioritize hypotheses · Generate solutions

2Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies13–19%

Adverse effects, contraindications, side effects and interactions · Blood and blood products · Central venous access devices · Dosage calculations

3Management of Care15–21%

Advance directives, self-determination and life planning · Advocacy · Assignment, delegation and supervision · Case management

Full NCLEX-RN topic breakdown.

Every topic in the official NCSBN test plan, with its share of the exam, plus Clinical Judgment, which has no published share and is sized as an estimate. Study Scheduler allocates your study hours in this same proportion automatically.

Management of Care15–21%

Advance directives, self-determination and life planning
Advocacy
Assignment, delegation and supervision
Case management
Client rights
Collaboration with the multidisciplinary team
Concepts of management
Confidentiality and information security
Continuity of care
Establishing priorities
Ethical practice
Informed consent
Information technology
Legal rights and responsibilities
Performance improvement (quality improvement)
Referrals

Safety and Infection Prevention and Control10–16%

Accident, error and injury prevention
Emergency response plan
Ergonomic principles
Handling hazardous and infectious materials
Home safety
Reporting of incident, event, irregular occurrence or variance
Safe use of equipment
Security plan
Standard precautions, transmission-based precautions and surgical asepsis
Use of restraints and safety devices

Health Promotion and Maintenance6–12%

Aging process
Ante-, intra- and postpartum and newborn care
Developmental stages and transitions
Health promotion and disease prevention
Health screening
High-risk behaviors
Lifestyle choices
Self-care
Techniques of physical assessment

Psychosocial Integrity6–12%

Abuse or neglect
Behavioral interventions
Chemical and other dependencies, substance use disorder
Coping mechanisms
Crisis intervention
Cultural awareness and cultural influences on health
End-of-life care
Family dynamics
Grief and loss
Mental health concepts
Religious and spiritual influences on health
Sensory and perceptual alterations
Stress management
Support systems
Therapeutic communication
Therapeutic environment

Basic Care and Comfort6–12%

Assistive devices
Elimination
Mobility and immobility
Nonpharmacological comfort interventions
Nutrition and oral hydration
Personal hygiene
Rest and sleep

Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies13–19%

Adverse effects, contraindications, side effects and interactions
Blood and blood products
Central venous access devices
Dosage calculations
Expected actions and outcomes
Medication administration
Parenteral and intravenous therapies
Pharmacological pain management
Total parenteral nutrition

Reduction of Risk Potential9–15%

Changes and abnormalities in vital signs
Diagnostic tests
Laboratory values
Potential for alterations in body systems
Potential for complications of diagnostic tests, treatments and procedures
Potential for complications from surgical procedures and health alterations
System-specific assessments
Therapeutic procedures

Physiological Adaptation11–17%

Alterations in body systems
Fluid and electrolyte imbalances
Hemodynamics
Illness management
Medical emergencies
Pathophysiology
Unexpected response to therapies

Clinical Judgment (case studies)3 case studies · 18 items

Recognize cues
Analyze cues
Prioritize hypotheses
Generate solutions
Take action
Evaluate outcomes

Frequently asked about NCLEX-RN.

What is tested on the NCLEX-RN?

Eight content areas from the NCSBN test plan: Management of Care, Safety and Infection Prevention and Control, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, Basic Care and Comfort, Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies, Reduction of Risk Potential and Physiological Adaptation. Study Scheduler adds Clinical Judgment as its own topic for the case studies.

Which NCLEX-RN content area has the biggest share?

Management of Care, at 15–21% of the exam. Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies is next at 13–19%, followed by Physiological Adaptation at 11–17%.

How does Study Scheduler handle clinical judgment?

NCSBN does not publish a percentage for it, because it is measured through three case studies of six items each and about 10% of the stand-alone items. Study Scheduler gives it a topic of its own, sized as an estimate, so case-study practice is scheduled on purpose.

For how many hours to budget, week-by-week study plans, and how Study Scheduler weights your plan — see the full NCLEX study guide.

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NCLEX-RN study schedule.

Where to put your time first.

Full NCLEX-RN topic breakdown.

Frequently asked about NCLEX-RN.

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NCLEX-RN study schedule.

Where to put your time first.

Full NCLEX-RN topic breakdown.

Frequently asked about NCLEX-RN.

See the week.Take the next step.

Find your rhythm.

Keep every week in view.

Two minutes to a full NCLEX-RN schedule.

See the week.
Take the next step.