How to Master NCLEX-RN® Med-Surg Topics

• Mastering NCLEX-RN® med-surg topics will lead you toward a passing score on the NCLEX. 
• Prioritize care using the ABC approach (airway, breathing, and circulation). 
• But also review the nine focus areas detailed by Slone NCLEX Professor Tanya Killian. 

The ability to master NCLEX-RN® med-surg topics will lead you toward a passing score on the NCLEX. 

It’s important to have a good grasp of essential medical-surgical nursing concepts. This means being familiar with client assessments, common illnesses, being able to choose the right interventions, and how to safely administer medications.  

You’ll want to prioritize care using the ABCs — airway, breathing, circulation — while also keeping an eye out for any complications. Don’t forget the value of client education and knowing some basic surgical procedures! Most importantly, use your critical thinking skills to adapt your care based on the situation at hand. You’ve got this! 

Key Focus Areas for NCLEX-RN® Med-Surg Topics

• Anatomy and Physiology: Get familiar with how the body’s systems normally work! This will help you spot when something’s off. You need to understand the location, function, and interactions of major body systems, organs, tissues, and cells. It is essential to focus on how abnormalities in these structures can present clinically and how to evaluate them. A quick review of the A&P basics:
  • Major Body Systems:
    • Cardiovascular System: Heart structure, blood flow, cardiac rhythms, and blood pressure regulation. 
    • Respiratory System: Lung anatomy, gas exchange, and breathing mechanics. 
    • Gastrointestinal System: Digestive tract organs, the digestion process, and absorption. 
    • Renal System: Kidney function, urine formation, and electrolyte balance. 
    • Musculoskeletal System: Bones, joints, muscles, and movement mechanics. 
    • Nervous System: Brain, spinal cord, neurotransmitters, and basic neurological functions. 
    • Endocrine System: Hormones, glands, and hormone regulation. 
    • Reproductive System: Male and female anatomy and the reproductive cycle. 
    • Integumentary System: Skin layers and wound healing. 
    • Immune System: Immune cell types and immune response mechanisms. 

• • Important Aspects to Understand: 
    • Cellular Level: Basic cell structure, cell division, and cell communication. 
    • Tissue Types: Different tissue types (epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous) and their functions. 
    • Pathophysiology: Common disease processes, their effects on the body, and related clinical manifestations. 
    • Assessment Techniques: How to evaluate the functioning of different body systems through physical exams, laboratory tests, and diagnostic imaging. 
    • Medical Terminology: Understanding key medical terms related to anatomy and physiology. 

• Pathophysiology: Dive into the disease processes! Understand the signs and symptoms, causes, and potential complications for common medical-surgical conditions. Familiarize yourself with the common diseases that affect various body systems, including cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and neurological. Understand their typical signs, symptoms, complications, and treatments. Recognize how diseases in one system can impact other systems, leading to systemic complications. Identify key risk factors associated with different diseases to aid in preventative care. Additionally, understand the purpose and interpretation of common diagnostic tests used to identify specific diseases. Be aware of the rationale behind standard treatments for various conditions, including medications, dietary modifications, and surgical interventions. 

• Pharmacology: Familiarize yourself with common medications used in medical-surgical nursing. Know their purposes, dosages, side effects, and any interactions to watch for. You should be able to list the following for the most common medications for your NCLEX-RN® exam. 
  • Drug Classifications: Learn the categories of drugs and their functions. 
  • Drug Names: Recognize common generic names and key prefixes/suffixes. 
  • Mechanisms of Action: Understand how drugs work in the body. 
  • Side Effects: Be aware of potential side effects. 
  • Nursing Considerations: Administer medications safely and monitor clients effectively. 
  • Therapeutic Drug Levels: Identify drugs that need regular serum monitoring. 

• Laboratory Values: Understand the implications of various lab results and how to apply that knowledge in client care. In 2023, the NCSBN updated the NCLEX-RN® exam to include all normal lab values. This means that if a question presents a hemoglobin level, the normal range for that value will be provided in parentheses. This is a significant change, as you no longer need to memorize every single lab value for your studies. Instead, focus on what actions to take based on those lab values.
  • For example, if a client has a low hemoglobin level, anticipate that their blood pressure may also be low, their heart rate may be elevated, and they might experience dizziness or lightheadedness. In such cases, the client may require a blood transfusion. Conversely, if the hemoglobin level is high, the client might have elevated blood pressure, and it’s important to identify and address the underlying cause.

• Surgical Procedures: Understand the care required before, during, and after common surgical procedures.  To understand surgical procedures, focus on the three key phases: preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care, emphasizing client assessment and the prioritization of airway, breathing, and circulation.
  • Preoperative Care: 
    • Obtain informed consent. 
    • Review client history and medications related to bleeding. 
    • Conduct assessments: vital signs, labs, and physical exams. 
    • Educate the client about the procedure and postoperative care. 
    • Implement NPO (nothing by mouth) instructions and perform skin preparation. 

• • Intraoperative Care: 
    • Maintain a sterile field. 
    • Assist the surgical team with instruments.
    • Monitor vital signs and report changes. 
    • Manage potential complications, like bleeding or anesthesia reactions. 
    • Handle specimens properly. 

• • Postoperative Care: 
    • Monitor vital signs and pain levels. 
    • Check the surgical site for infection. 
    • Manage drains and dressings. 
    • Administer pain medication as ordered. 
    • Encourage deep breathing and coughing to prevent pneumonia. 
    • Monitor for complications such as bleeding and delayed wound healing. 

• ALWAYS Keep in Mind: 
  • Prioritize airway, breathing, and circulation. 
  • Ensure client safety with sterile techniques and double-checking. 
  • Communicate effectively with the healthcare team. 
  • Have strong assessment skills to identify complications. 
• Priority Setting: Always remember to prioritize interventions based on the ABCs: airway, breathing, and circulation. 
  • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Utilize this to prioritize needs, focusing on physiological needs (such as food and water) before safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization needs. 
  • The Nursing Process: Assessment (gather information), diagnosis (analyze the collected data and identify what is going on), planning (develop a plan of care focusing on highest priority first), implementation (Carry out the planned interventions), and evaluation (assess the effectiveness of your interventions). 
  • Airway – Breathing – Circulation.
    • Assess the client’s condition to determine if they are stable or unstable, prioritizing interventions for unstable clients. 
    • When evaluating multiple clients, prioritize the one with an acute, emergent condition over a chronic, stable one.
  • Safety & Risk Reduction: Always assess potential risks and prioritize actions that reduce harm to the client. 
  • Least Restrictive/Least Invasive: When selecting interventions, prioritize the least invasive option first then progress. Always least invasive to most invasive. 
  • Acute vs. Chronic/Unstable vs. Stable/Urgent vs. Nonurgent: When comparing multiple clients, prioritize those with acute, emergent conditions over those with chronic, stable ones.
    
• Client Education: Think about the information your clients need! Be ready to guide them about their conditions, medications, and self-care tips.
  • When preparing for the NCLEX, it’s important to keep in mind the key principles of client education. This means customizing information to match your client’s understanding, figuring out what they need to learn, and giving them clear instructions on how to manage their health. It’s also crucial to check in to make sure they really grasp the information.
  • Don’t forget to be sensitive to cultural differences and any challenges they might face in learning. In the end, your goal is to help your clients understand their diagnosis, treatment plan, and how to take care of themselves so they can achieve the best health outcomes possible!
• Complications: Stay informed about potential complications that can arise from various medical conditions and surgical procedures. 
• Assessment Skills: Get comfortable performing thorough physical assessments, including checking vital signs, and learn how to interpret your findings. 

Helpful Tips for Studying NCLEX-RN® Med-Surg Topics: 

• Focus on Clinical Application: Instead of just memorizing, try to understand how your knowledge applies to real-life client situations. It makes learning more meaningful! 
• Practice with NCLEX-Style Questions: Use practice tests to get familiar with the exam format and question types. It’s a great way to boost your confidence! 
• Review Key Concepts Regularly: Since med-surg covers so many topics, regular review will help reinforce what you learn. 
• Ask for Help When Needed: If you find certain concepts tricky, don’t hesitate to reach out to your instructors or look for extra resources. You’re not alone in this! 

The Bottom Line 

Remember, you’ve got this — good luck with your studies! 

Start your exam prep journey with Slone NCLEX.