Strategies for Student Success on the Next Generation NCLEX® (NGN) Test Items
- 2nd Edition - September 30, 2025
- Latest edition
- Authors: Linda Anne Silvestri, Angela Silvestri, Donna D. Ignatavicius
- Language: English
Master NGN test-taking skills and prepare for the Next Generation NCLEX® exam! Strategies for Student Success on the Next Generation NCLEX® (NGN) Test Items, Second Edition, incl… Read more
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Master NGN test-taking skills and prepare for the Next Generation NCLEX® exam! Strategies for Student Success on the Next Generation NCLEX® (NGN) Test Items, Second Edition, includes stand-alone and unfolding case studies and the new item types that appear on the NGN, helping you develop the clinical judgment skills emphasized on the exam. To enhance your learning, each practice test item includes a detailed test-taking strategy and rationales for both correct and incorrect answers. Case studies let you strengthen key cognitive skills, and additional questions are provided on the Evolve companion website. Written by NCLEX experts Linda Anne Silvestri, Angela E. Silvestri, and Donna D. Ignatavicius, this NCLEX preparation resource ensures that you are NGN exam-ready!
- NEW! Expanded topic areas reflect social determinants of health (SDOH), the veteran population, the unhoused population, and more to highlight clients seen in all walks of life.
- NEW! Questions are presented with reference ranges to authentically mirror practice and increase clinical judgment.
- NEW! Additional questions on the Evolve companion website and in the book offer ample practice opportunities for these complex item types.
- NEW! Thoroughly updated content incorporates clinical updates and reflects the latest NCLEX® test plan.
- Next Generation NCLEX®-style practice questions of all types are illustrated through stand-alone case studies and unfolding case studies directed toward each of the six cognitive skills specified in the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (NCJMM).
- Detailed test-taking strategy for each question provides clues for analyzing and uncovering the correct answer option.
- NGN Tip boxes highlight the most important nursing concepts needed for exam success.
- In-depth rationales address both correct and incorrect answers
Graduating RN students studying for the Next Generation NCLEX-RN® Examination exam
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to the Clinical Judgment Process
What Is the Purpose of Today’s NCLEX® and How Is It Designed?
Why Was There a Need for NCLEX® Change?
What is the NCSBN’S Definition and Model of Clinical Judgment?
What Are the Six NCSBN Clinical Judgment Cognitive Skills?
How Are the Six Clinical Judgment Skills Measured on Today’s NCLEX®?
How Can You Prepare for Today’s NCLEX®?
CHAPTER 2 Introduction to the NGN and the NGN Test Item Types
Test Item Types Used for Unfolding Case Studies
Test Item Types Used for Stand-Alone Test Items
CHAPTER 3 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Recognize Cues
What Are Cues?
How Are Client Findings (Cues) Presented in an NGN Clinical Scenario?
Which Client Findings Are Relevant?
Which Relevant Client Findings Require Immediate Follow-Up?
What Types of Clinical Scenarios May Be Included on the NGN?
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Recognize Cues?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 4 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Analyze Cues
How Do You Analyze Cues?
How Does Analyzing Cues Help You Guide Client Care?
How Do You Analyze Cues in an NGN Clinical Scenario?
What Will You Think About to Analyze Cues in This Clinical Scenario?
Which Client Findings Are Most Important When Analyzing Cues?
When Might You Need to Analyze Cues in a Clinical Situation?
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Analyze Cues?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 5 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Prioritize Hypotheses
What Do Hypotheses Mean?
What Does Prioritizing Mean?
What to Consider When Prioritizing Hypotheses
External Factors and Prioritizing Hypotheses
How Do You Know That You Need to Prioritize?
What Strategies Can You Use to Prioritize Hypotheses?
How Do You Prioritize Hypotheses in an NGN Clinical Situation?
What Will You Think About to Prioritize Hypotheses in This Clinical Scenario?
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Prioritize Hypotheses?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 6 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Generate Solutions
What to Consider When Generating Solutions
The Plan of Care and Generating Solutions
How Do You Know That You Need to Generate Solutions?
How Do You Generate Solutions in an NGN Clinical Situation?
What Will You Think About to Generate Solutions in This Clinical Scenario?
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Generate Solutions?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 7 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Take Actions
How Do You Know What Actions to Take?
How Will Nursing Actions Be Tested?
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Take Actions?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 8 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Evaluate Outcomes
How Do You Evaluate Outcomes?
How Will Evaluate Outcomes Be Tested?
NGN Question Stems Addressing Evaluate Outcomes
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Evaluate Outcomes?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 9 Stand-Alone Items and Unfolding Case Studies: The Role of Contextual Factors in Making Clinical Judgments
What Are Stand-Alone Items?
What Are Unfolding Case Studies?
How Are Stand-Alone Items and Unfolding Case Studies Different?
CHAPTER 10 NGN Practice Test: Putting It All Together
Unfolding Case Studies
Stand-Alone Items
What Is the Purpose of Today’s NCLEX® and How Is It Designed?
Why Was There a Need for NCLEX® Change?
What is the NCSBN’S Definition and Model of Clinical Judgment?
What Are the Six NCSBN Clinical Judgment Cognitive Skills?
How Are the Six Clinical Judgment Skills Measured on Today’s NCLEX®?
How Can You Prepare for Today’s NCLEX®?
CHAPTER 2 Introduction to the NGN and the NGN Test Item Types
Test Item Types Used for Unfolding Case Studies
Test Item Types Used for Stand-Alone Test Items
CHAPTER 3 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Recognize Cues
What Are Cues?
How Are Client Findings (Cues) Presented in an NGN Clinical Scenario?
Which Client Findings Are Relevant?
Which Relevant Client Findings Require Immediate Follow-Up?
What Types of Clinical Scenarios May Be Included on the NGN?
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Recognize Cues?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 4 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Analyze Cues
How Do You Analyze Cues?
How Does Analyzing Cues Help You Guide Client Care?
How Do You Analyze Cues in an NGN Clinical Scenario?
What Will You Think About to Analyze Cues in This Clinical Scenario?
Which Client Findings Are Most Important When Analyzing Cues?
When Might You Need to Analyze Cues in a Clinical Situation?
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Analyze Cues?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 5 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Prioritize Hypotheses
What Do Hypotheses Mean?
What Does Prioritizing Mean?
What to Consider When Prioritizing Hypotheses
External Factors and Prioritizing Hypotheses
How Do You Know That You Need to Prioritize?
What Strategies Can You Use to Prioritize Hypotheses?
How Do You Prioritize Hypotheses in an NGN Clinical Situation?
What Will You Think About to Prioritize Hypotheses in This Clinical Scenario?
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Prioritize Hypotheses?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 6 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Generate Solutions
What to Consider When Generating Solutions
The Plan of Care and Generating Solutions
How Do You Know That You Need to Generate Solutions?
How Do You Generate Solutions in an NGN Clinical Situation?
What Will You Think About to Generate Solutions in This Clinical Scenario?
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Generate Solutions?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 7 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Take Actions
How Do You Know What Actions to Take?
How Will Nursing Actions Be Tested?
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Take Actions?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 8 Strategies for Answering NGN Questions: Evaluate Outcomes
How Do You Evaluate Outcomes?
How Will Evaluate Outcomes Be Tested?
NGN Question Stems Addressing Evaluate Outcomes
Which NGN Item Types Optimally Measure Evaluate Outcomes?
Practice Questions
CHAPTER 9 Stand-Alone Items and Unfolding Case Studies: The Role of Contextual Factors in Making Clinical Judgments
What Are Stand-Alone Items?
What Are Unfolding Case Studies?
How Are Stand-Alone Items and Unfolding Case Studies Different?
CHAPTER 10 NGN Practice Test: Putting It All Together
Unfolding Case Studies
Stand-Alone Items
- Edition: 2
- Latest edition
- Published: September 30, 2025
- Language: English
LS
Linda Anne Silvestri
Linda Anne Silvestri has provided decades of nursing education and leadership that has directly impacted the growing and needed nursing workforce. Her research focused on a holistic investigation of predictors leading to success on the licensure examination. Her findings, published in the Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, led to significant contributions, filling a critical need in NCLEX® preparation. Linda’s vision was to provide a holistic educational approach to ensure overall well-being in test anxiety and self-efficacy, and success on the NCLEX®. As a leader in providing global NCLEX® preparation resources published by Elsevier, she strives for excellence in publication quality, based on the discovery of new knowledge in nursing, standards of care, and research-based studies. Her published resources ensure nursing graduates’ ability to make sound clinical judgments as they serve the public and the nursing profession. Linda is also a Next Generation NCLEX® Subject Matter Expert and Consultant for Elsevier.
Affiliations and expertise
Nursing Instructor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Las, Nevada; President, Nursing Reviews, Inc. and Professional Nursing Seminars, Inc. Henderson, Nevada; Elsevier Next Generation NCLEX® (NGN) Thought Leader, USAAS
Angela Silvestri
Assistant Professor Angela Silvestri at Touro University Nevada-School of Nursing.
Affiliations and expertise
Assistant Professor, Touro University Nevada-School of Nursing, USADI
Donna D. Ignatavicius
Donna Ignatavicius is nationally recognized as an expert in nursing education and medical-surgical/gerontological nursing and has a wealth of experiences as a nurse educator, clinical nurse specialist, and administrator for over 40 years. Currently, she provides curriculum consultation and presentations for nursing faculty on topics such as concept-based curriculum, assessment of learning methods, and active learning strategies through her consulting company, DI Associates, Inc. Additionally, she is the primary author of numerous articles and books, including Medical-Surgical Nursing: Concepts for Interprofessional Collaborative Care, 11th ed. (2024) and her new student workbooks, Developing Clinical Judgment for Professional Nursing Practice and NGN Readiness, 2nd ed. (2024) and Developing Clinical Judgment for Practical/Vocational Nursing and the Next-Generation NCLEX-PN® Examination (2021). In 2007 she was inducted as a fellow into the prestigious Academy of Nursing Education (ANEF) for her national contribution to the field of nursing education. In 2016 she obtained her Certified Nurse Educator® (CNE) credential; in 2020 she obtained her Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNEcl) credential.
Affiliations and expertise
Speaker and Curriculum Consultant for Academic Nursing Programs; Founder, Boot Camp for Nurse Educators; President, DI Associates, Inc. Littleton, Colorado, USA