Last-Minute NCLEX Crash Course Review

Last-Minute NCLEX Crash Course Review xikhovhacollection Created 27/07/25 Save Share

• Introduction & Test-Taking Tips

Overview of NCLEX Focus Areas Effective Test-Taking Strategies Delegation in Nursing Understanding Delegation The NCLEX exam emphasizes safe nursing practices over rote memorization, focusing on critical thinking and prioritization.• Key areas include therapeutic communication, risk assessments, and management of various conditions, particularly mental health.• Understanding the rationale behind prioritization is crucial for effective test-taking.• Eliminate extreme answers (e.g., NEVER, ALWAYS) as they are often incorrect.• For Select All That Apply (SATA) questions, treat each option as a true/false statement to simplify decision-making.• Trust your first instinct; it is often correct.• Delegation is the process of assigning tasks to other healthcare team members while retaining accountability for patient care.• Registered Nurses (RNs) can delegate tasks to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) but must ensure that the tasks are appropriate for delegation.• Key factors in delegation include the complexity of the task, the stability of the patient, and the qualifications of the personnel involved.• Give it a go

Tasks Appropriate for Delegation Tasks Not Appropriate for Delegation Discharge Planning Safety and Infection Control Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidelines Isolation Precautions Overview RNs can delegate activities such as ambulating stable post-operative patients, performing hygiene tasks, and collecting routine vital signs.• UAPs can assist with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) but should not perform any task that requires nursing judgment or assessment.• Example: A UAP can help with positioning a patient but cannot assess the patient's condition before or after the task.• Monitoring patients after blood transfusions requires RN assessment due to the potential for complications.• RNs must perform tasks that involve critical thinking, such as patient assessments, diagnosis, and care planning.•

Example: An RN must assess a patient’s response to medication rather than

delegating this task to a UAP.• Prioritizing discharges involves assessing which patients are stable and ready for home care or rehabilitation.• Patients who are unstable or at risk for complications should not be discharged, such as those with new symptoms or post-operative patients within 24 hours.•

Example: A stable COPD patient on home oxygen can be safely discharged, while a

post-operative patient with hypotension should remain hospitalized.• Proper donning and doffing of PPE is crucial to prevent infection transmission in healthcare settings.• Mnemonic for donning: 'Googles Make Gowns Great' - Gown, Mask, Goggles, Gloves.• Mnemonic for doffing: 'Gloves, Goggles, Gown, Mask' - Gloves first, Mask last to minimize contamination risk.•

Airborne, Droplet, and Contact Precautions Standard Precautions Infection Control Precautions Types of Precautions Isolation precautions are categorized into Airborne, Droplet, and Contact precautions, each with specific guidelines.• Airborne precautions require an N95 respirator and a negative pressure room for diseases like TB and Measles.• Droplet precautions necessitate a surgical mask when within 3-6 feet of the patient, applicable for conditions like Influenza and Meningitis.•

Airborne Precautions: Used for diseases like TB; requires private room and N95

mask.• Droplet Precautions: Used for diseases like Meningitis; requires surgical mask and private room.• Contact Precautions: Used for MRSA and C. difficile; requires gown and gloves for all interactions.• Standard precautions should be applied to all patients, assuming they may carry infectious agents.• Core practices include hand hygiene, appropriate PPE usage, and safe handling of sharps.• Example: Always wash hands before and after patient contact to minimize infection risk.• Airborne Precautions: Required for infections like TB, Measles, and Varicella. Use N95 masks and ensure negative pressure rooms.•

Droplet Precautions: Necessary for Influenza and Meningitis. Surgical masks are

required, and maintain a distance of 3-6 feet.•

Contact Precautions: Used for infections like MRSA and C. difficile. Gowns and

gloves are mandatory, and handwashing with soap and water is essential for C.difficile.•

Standard Precautions: Assume all patients may carry infectious agents. Core

practices include hand hygiene, appropriate PPE, and safe handling of sharps.•

PPE Requirements for Common Infections Key NCLEX Tips for Infection Control Pharmacology and Toxic Drug Levels Toxic Drug Levels InfectionPrecaution Type PPE Needed TBAirborneN95 Mask, Negative Pressure Room Measles (Rubeola) AirborneN95 Mask Varicella (Chickenpox) Airborne & Contact N95, Gown, Gloves InfluenzaDropletSurgical Mask MeningitisDropletSurgical Mask

• difficileContactGown, Gloves, Handwashing with

SOAP

Airborne: N95 + Negative Pressure Room. •

Droplet: Surgical Mask & Keep 3-6 ft Distance. •

Contact: Gown & Gloves (MRSA, C. diff, RSV). •

C. diff: SOAP & WATER (No hand sanitizer!). •

Doffing PPE: Gloves first, Mask last.•

Lithium: Therapeutic range 0.6-1.2, toxic at 1.5+. Signs include extreme thirst and vomiting.• Digoxin: Therapeutic range 0.5-2, toxic at 2.0+. Symptoms include nausea and vision changes.•

Theophylline: Therapeutic range 10-20, toxic at 20+. Can cause seizures. •

Phenytoin: Therapeutic range 10-20, toxic at 20+. Signs include ataxia and slurred speech.•