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NCLEX-RN · RN licensure examNCLEX-RN practice questions that explain why.
The NCLEX-RN is the licensure exam every registered nurse in the United States passes after nursing school. It is computer adaptive: 85 to 150 items in up to 5 hours, drawn from eight Client Needs categories set by NCSBN, with no penalty for wrong answers.
Our NCLEX-RN bank uses the classic four-option multiple-choice format only. Next Generation NCLEX case studies, select-all-that-apply and the other newer item types are not included yet.
What the NCLEX-RN looks like
| Client Needs category | Share of the exam | Items in our 85-item practice test | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management of Care | 15 to 21% | 15 | Prioritization, delegation, informed consent, advance directives, confidentiality, ethics |
| Safety and Infection Control | 10 to 16% | 11 | Precautions, fall prevention, restraints, error prevention, emergency response |
| Health Promotion and Maintenance | 6 to 12% | 8 | Antepartum to newborn care, growth and development, screening, immunizations |
| Psychosocial Integrity | 6 to 12% | 8 | Therapeutic communication, crisis, substance use, grief, abuse, coping |
| Basic Care and Comfort | 6 to 12% | 8 | Nutrition, elimination, mobility, hygiene, rest, non-drug comfort |
| Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies | 13 to 19% | 14 | Dosage calculation, insulin, anticoagulants, IV therapy, blood products, adverse effects |
| Reduction of Risk Potential | 9 to 15% | 10 | Laboratory values, diagnostic tests, vital signs, complications, procedures |
| Physiological Adaptation | 11 to 17% | 11 | Fluid and electrolytes, acid-base balance, hemodynamics, emergencies, pathophysiology |
| Total | 85 to 150 items · 5 hours, computer adaptive | No penalty for wrong answers; the exam ends when the algorithm is confident about your result | |
Prioritization and delegation decide Management of Care, the largest category: make the rules (airway first, unstable before stable, acute before chronic) automatic.
Pharmacology is the second largest category and the one candidates most often underprepare; drill dosage calculation and high-alert drugs such as insulin, heparin and potassium.
Read every option as a nursing action and ask what happens next; the best answer is usually the one that keeps the client safe first.
Blueprint numbers follow the publicly available test descriptions and may change; confirm current details with the test maker (NCSBN) and your board of nursing.
Two practice questions, with the explanation you get on every item
Show the explanation
Show the explanation
Practice by category, test on the clock, review what you missed
Pick any Client Needs category, get fresh items with a full explanation on every one.
Category tests and an 85-item full-length practice test on the clock; estimated percentage at the end.
Every miss is collected; re-solve until it sticks.
Ask why, get the steps, the rule and the trap, 24/7.
NCLEX and NCLEX-RN are registered trademarks of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN). AdmitNurse is not affiliated with or endorsed by the test maker. Items are original practice questions, not actual exam content.
Questions people ask about the NCLEX-RN
How many questions are on the NCLEX-RN?
Between 85 and 150. The exam is computer adaptive: it keeps presenting items until it is confident that you are above or below the passing standard, up to the 150 item maximum. Fifteen of the items are unscored pretest items and you are not told which ones they are.
How long is the NCLEX-RN?
Five hours in total, including the tutorial and any breaks you take. There are no separately timed sections; the clock runs on the whole exam.
What is on the NCLEX-RN?
Eight Client Needs categories set by NCSBN: Management of Care (15 to 21 percent of items), Safety and Infection Control (10 to 16), Health Promotion and Maintenance (6 to 12), Psychosocial Integrity (6 to 12), Basic Care and Comfort (6 to 12), Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies (13 to 19), Reduction of Risk Potential (9 to 15) and Physiological Adaptation (11 to 17).
What score do I need to pass the NCLEX-RN?
There is no percentage score. NCSBN sets a passing standard, which is an ability level rather than a number of correct answers, and the adaptive algorithm decides pass or fail from your pattern of answers. You receive a pass or fail result, not a score. NCSBN reviews the standard every three years.
What is the Next Generation NCLEX?
Since April 2023 the exam includes unfolding case studies and newer item types such as matrix, bow-tie, trend and extended drag and drop, alongside classic multiple choice and select-all-that-apply. Our NCLEX-RN bank currently covers the classic four-option format only; the case-study formats are not included yet.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers on the NCLEX-RN?
No points are subtracted. You cannot skip an item or return to it later, so choose the best option and move on; the algorithm adjusts the difficulty of the next item to your answers.
How soon can I retake the NCLEX-RN?
NCSBN allows a retake after 45 days and up to eight attempts in a year. Your state board of nursing may set stricter limits, so check its rules before you re-register.
When do I get my NCLEX-RN results?
Official results come from your board of nursing, in many states within a few weeks. Some boards take part in the Quick Results service, which shows an unofficial result about 48 business hours after the exam for a fee.
How do I register for the NCLEX-RN?
You apply to your state board of nursing for licensure and register with Pearson VUE for the exam. Once the board declares you eligible you receive an Authorization to Test, and you must schedule and sit the exam inside its validity window.
Can I use a calculator on the NCLEX-RN?
An on-screen calculator is provided for dosage calculations. Personal calculators are not allowed in the testing room.