Free NCLEX Study Guides & Exam Prep Resources
PassCord RN's free blog covers every high-yield topic on the NCLEX PN and RN exams — from pharmacology and cardiac nursing to delegation, NGN questions, and free practice question sets. Bookmark this page and work through each guide as you prep.
NCLEX Maternal-Newborn Nursing Questions: High-Yield Topics to Know
Master NCLEX maternal-newborn nursing questions with high-yield labor and delivery topics, fetal heart rate patterns, preeclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, newborn care, breastfeeding, and first-priority actions.
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NCLEX Test-Taking Strategies That Actually Work (2024 Guide)
Learn the 8 proven NCLEX test-taking strategies that help students eliminate wrong answers and pass the first time. Includes clinical judgment tips for NGN format.
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NCLEX Dosage Calculations: Complete Medication Math Guide
Master the D/H×Q formula, IV drip rates, weight-based dosing, safe dose ranges, heparin drips, and more — with worked examples and practice problems.
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50 Free NCLEX Practice Questions with Rationales (RN & PN)
Practice with 50 free NCLEX-style questions covering priority, pharmacology, safety, and clinical judgment — each with a full rationale. RN and PN covered.
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NCLEX Cardiovascular Assessment: Heart Sounds, Peripheral Vascular & Hemodynamic Monitoring
Master NCLEX cardiovascular assessment: heart sounds (S1–S4), peripheral vascular findings, arterial vs. venous insufficiency, hemodynamic monitoring, and a post-CABG NGN walkthrough.
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How to Pass the NCLEX on Your First Try (7 Strategies That Work)
7 proven strategies to pass your NCLEX PN or RN exam on the first attempt — study schedules, question practice, and what most students get wrong.
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NCLEX PN vs RN: What's the Difference? (And Which One Do You Need?)
Not sure whether you're taking the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN? Here's exactly how they differ — and how PassCord RN prepares you for both.
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NCLEX Study Schedule: Your 8-Week Plan to Pass
Week-by-week breakdown to build your clinical reasoning and hit exam day ready.
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NCLEX Pharmacology Tips: How to Stop Guessing and Start Passing
Pharmacology is one of the hardest parts of the NCLEX — but it's also one of the most learnable. Here's the framework that changes everything.
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NCLEX Next Generation (NGN) Questions: What They Are and How to Pass Them
NGN questions test clinical judgment, not memorization. Here's what each of the 6 question types looks like — and how to approach them so you stop guessing.
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NCLEX Mental Health Nursing Questions: How to Think Like a Psych Nurse
Psych questions aren't hard — they're just different. Learn the therapeutic communication rules, priority frameworks, and psych meds NCLEX tests most often.
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NCLEX Delegation and Management of Care: What Every Nursing Student Gets Wrong
Delegation is the #1 most-tested management of care concept on the NCLEX — and the most misunderstood. Here's how to answer delegation questions correctly every time.
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NCLEX Priority Questions: ABC vs. Maslow (and When to Use Each)
Most correct, not just correct — NCLEX priority questions require a decision framework, not just content knowledge. Here's exactly when to use ABC vs. Maslow, with worked scenarios.
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NCLEX Fluid and Electrolytes: The Cheat Sheet Every Nursing Student Needs
Fluid and electrolytes is one of the most feared NCLEX topics — and one of the most heavily tested. Here's the cheat sheet that actually works.
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NCLEX Cardiac Nursing: Heart Failure, MI, and Dysrhythmias Explained
Cardiac is the highest-volume content area on NCLEX. Master left vs. right heart failure, STEMI priorities, the 4 dysrhythmias every student must know, and the medication rules that trip up even prepared students.
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NCLEX Respiratory Nursing: Oxygenation, ABGs, and Lung Conditions Explained
Respiratory questions show up on nearly every NCLEX. Master oxygenation priority, ABG interpretation, and the top lung conditions — and you'll stop second-guessing these.
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NCLEX Infection Control: Isolation Precautions and What Every Question is Really Testing
NCLEX loves infection control questions — not because they're tricky, but because students mix up which precaution goes with which disease. Here's the complete breakdown.
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NCLEX Maternal-Newborn Nursing: OB, Labor & Delivery, and Postpartum Questions Explained
Three patients, one room — learn the frameworks for OB priority questions, FHR patterns, BUBBLE-LE postpartum assessment, and newborn APGAR scoring that appear on every NCLEX exam.
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NCLEX Pediatric Nursing: Growth & Development, Common Conditions, and Priority Questions Explained
Kids are NOT small adults — NCLEX pediatric questions test age-specific vitals, developmental milestones, and family-centered care. Master epiglottitis vs. croup, febrile seizures, sickle cell crisis, and Erikson's stages with this complete peds guide.
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NCLEX Endocrine Nursing: Diabetes, Thyroid, and Adrenal Disorders Explained
Diabetes, thyroid disorders, Cushing's vs. Addison's, and DI vs. SIADH — the NCLEX endocrine breakdown every student needs.
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NCLEX Neurological Nursing: Stroke, Increased ICP, and Seizures Explained
Master NCLEX neurological nursing. Learn stroke assessment (BE-FAST), increased ICP priority actions, seizure nursing, and how to answer neuro questions with confidence.
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NCLEX Musculoskeletal Nursing: Orthopedic Care, Cast Care, and Traction Explained
Master NCLEX musculoskeletal nursing questions. Cast care, traction, compartment syndrome, fat embolism, hip fractures, and priority NCLEX questions explained.
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NCLEX Genitourinary Nursing: Renal Failure, UTI, and Dialysis Explained
Master NCLEX GU nursing — AKI vs. CKD, dialysis safety rules, UTI priorities, hyperkalemia interventions, and a full NGN clinical judgment walkthrough.
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NCLEX Hematology Nursing: Sickle Cell, Anemia, and DIC Explained
Master NCLEX hematology nursing — sickle cell anemia, types of anemia, and DIC. Includes comparison tables, priority rules, and an NGN clinical judgment walkthrough.
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NCLEX Wound Care Nursing: Pressure Ulcers, Wound Assessment, and Burns Explained
Master pressure ulcer staging, wound assessment priorities, burn nursing Rule of Nines, and evisceration emergencies with a full NGN scenario.
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NCLEX Perioperative Nursing: Pre-Op, Intra-Op, and Post-Op Care Explained
Master NCLEX perioperative nursing: preoperative assessment, surgical consent, NPO guidelines, intraoperative roles, and postoperative complications like respiratory depression, hemorrhage, and wound dehiscence.
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NCLEX Oncology Nursing: Chemotherapy, Immunosuppression, and Cancer Care Explained
Master NCLEX oncology nursing — chemotherapy side effects by drug class, bone marrow suppression precautions, tumor lysis syndrome labs, immunosuppression nursing, and a full NGN oncologic emergency walkthrough.
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NCLEX Patient Safety: Fall Prevention, Restraints, and Error Reduction Explained
Master NCLEX patient safety questions — fall risk assessment, restraint protocols, medication error prevention, and The Joint Commission safety goals. Includes tables, callouts, and an NGN walkthrough.
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NCLEX Lab Values You Must Know: The Complete Reference Guide
Master NCLEX lab values with complete normal reference ranges, critical value thresholds, drug-specific monitoring (warfarin, digoxin, lithium, heparin), and NGN clinical judgment tips.
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NCLEX Fluid and Electrolytes: Complete Study Guide
Master NCLEX fluid and electrolytes with this complete study guide — the Big 5 electrolytes, IV fluid types, clinical scenarios for burns, renal failure, SIADH, DI, and priority nursing interventions.
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NCLEX Mental Health Nursing Questions: What You Need to Know
Master NCLEX mental health nursing questions. Learn high-yield psych topics: therapeutic communication, psychiatric medications, safety priorities, legal/ethical issues, and NGN clinical judgment tips.
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How Long to Study for NCLEX: A Realistic Timeline for RN and PN Students
Wondering how long to study for NCLEX? Get a realistic prep timeline based on your situation — recent grad, working nurse, or retaker — plus a phase-by-phase study plan.
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NCLEX Cardiovascular Nursing Questions: High-Yield Topics to Know
Master NCLEX cardiovascular nursing questions. Learn high-yield topics: heart failure, MI, hypertension, dysrhythmias, cardiac medications (digoxin, beta-blockers, anticoagulants), and clinical judgment tips.
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