The NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) is a nursing certification awarded by NCSBN.
NCSBN publishes the official exam outline, eligibility rules and fees — see NCSBN's official page before you book.
In our 1030-card NCLEX-RN deck the heaviest topics are Pathology (20%), Pharmacology (12%), Procedures (12%) — that is how this deck is weighted, not the official blueprint, so use it to plan practice and check NCSBN's exam outline for the real weighting. This guide shows where the material gets hardest, which topics to practise first, and a 5-step plan built on active recall.
Start with the free NCLEX-RN practice test
20 mixed questions with answers — find your weak topics before you plan around them →
Based on the 1030 flashcards in our NCLEX-RN deck. Use it to budget study time, then confirm the official blueprint with the certifying body below.
| Topic | Cards | Share of deck | Practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pathology | 210 | 20% | Free questions → |
| Pharmacology | 120 | 12% | Free questions → |
| Procedures | 120 | 12% | Free questions → |
| Management | 90 | 9% | Free questions → |
| Psychology | 90 | 9% | Free questions → |
| Obstetrics | 70 | 7% | Free questions → |
| Pediatrics | 70 | 7% | Free questions → |
| Safety | 60 | 6% | in the full deck |
| Diagnostics | 40 | 4% | in the full deck |
| Basics | 30 | 3% | in the full deck |
| Legal | 20 | 2% | in the full deck |
| NGN Strategy | 20 | 2% | in the full deck |
| Assessment | 10 | 1% | in the full deck |
| Emergency | 10 | 1% | in the full deck |
| Math | 10 | 1% | in the full deck |
Our NCLEX-RN cards carry difficulty ratings. The spread tells you how much of the deck is quick recall versus genuinely demanding:
0
Easy cards
0% of deck
515
Medium cards
50% of deck
515
Hard cards
50% of deck
These are genuine cards from the heaviest-weighted topics above. Answer each one before you reveal it — that is what active recall means in practice.
A client has a Do Not Intubate (DNI) order but is not a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR). The client develops life-threatening ventricular tachycardia. What is the nurse's correct action?
Show answer →The nurse should initiate the ACLS protocol, including chest compressions and defibrillation, but omit endotracheal intubation. Rationale: DNR and DNI are distinct orders. A DNI only prohibits the insertion of an artificial airway. It does not prohibit other resuscitative efforts like CPR, cardioversion, or vasopressors. NCLEX Tip: Read the specific order carefully. DNI is not DNR. If the heart stops, you do CPR; if they stop breathing, you use a bag-valve-mask but do not intubate.
A nurse uses a personal smartphone to take a photo of a patient's unique Stage 4 pressure injury for educational purposes, ensuring the patient's face is not visible. Is this a HIPAA violation?
Show answer →Yes, this is a major HIPAA violation. Using a personal device to capture or store Patient Health Information (PHI), including photos of wounds or anatomy, is strictly prohibited. Even without a face, unique clinical features can be identifiers. PHI should only be documented using facility-approved equipment and stored in the secure Electronic Health Record (EHR). NCLEX Strategy: HIPAA violations on the exam often involve social media or personal technology. If the device isn't hospital-issued and the purpose isn't direct clinical care, it's almost always a violation.
An elderly client is being discharged after surgery but expresses concern about being unable to afford the prescribed home physical therapy. What is the nurse's priority advocacy action?
Show answer →Initiate a referral to a social worker or case manager to evaluate for community resources and financial assistance. Rational: Advocacy extends to ensuring the client has the resources for a safe transition of care (Social Determinants of Health). The nurse identifies the barrier and collaborates with the interprofessional team to protect the client's right to equitable care and recovery. NCLEX Tip: Case management/social work referrals are the standard next step for financial or discharge barriers in advocacy questions.
Eligibility, fees, question counts and the current blueprint live on the official NCSBN site (linked below). Print the outline — it is the map for everything that follows.
These 3 topics alone account for roughly 44% of our 1030-card NCLEX-RN deck. Time spent here pays off more than anywhere else.
Answer questions before flipping to the answer — that struggle is what builds retention. Start with the 30 free NCLEX-RN cards, then work through the full deck one category at a time.
After a full pass, re-drill only the cards you missed. Small categories are quick wins — closing a weak topic can be an afternoon's work.
Our deck rates 515 cards as hard. If those feel comfortable in your final two weeks, you are studying above test level.
Put the plan into practice
Every topic in the table above, with progress tracking across devices.
One-time payment · less than 1¢ per card · 30-day money-back guarantee
Try 30 free NCLEX-RN cards firstWeight your time toward the biggest topics: in our 1030-card NCLEX-RN deck, Pathology has 210 cards (20%), Pharmacology has 120 cards (12%), Procedures has 120 cards (12%). Always cross-check against the official NCSBN exam outline.
Question counts, time limits and fees change — always confirm them in the official NCSBN handbook (linked on this page). For practice, our NCLEX-RN deck has 1030 question-and-answer flashcards covering the listed topics.
Difficulty is personal, but our deck's ratings give a sense of the spread: 0 easy, 515 medium and 515 hard cards. If the hard cards feel manageable, you are in good shape.
Try the 30 free NCLEX-RN flashcards — no sign-up needed. If the format works for you, the full 1030-card deck is a one-time $7.
Eligibility rules, fees, question counts and passing standards are set by the certifying body and change over time. Always confirm them at the source before you apply or schedule your exam — our flashcards are practice material, not the official handbook.