dr.

zeeshan's
QUICK TIPS
FOR THE
NCLEX
 @nclexhighyield

@nclexhighyieldofficial

@nclexhighyield

NHY PODCAST
anchor.fm/nclexhighyield

NCLEXHIGHYIELD.COM
PRIORITIZATION
NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Dr. Zeeshan's 8 Key NCLEX
Prioritization Topics
What Are We "Freaking Out About"

ASK GRAPH

Airway
Sepsis
K+ (change in Potassium)

Glucose (hypoglycemia)
LethaRgy / gRunting
Altered mental status
Peritonitis
Hemorrhage

TEST TAKING TIPS

DR. ZEESHAN'S METHOD

An Overview of the
Famous "Method"
STEP 1

READ THE LAST

PART OF THE
QUESTION FIRST STEP 2
This will help you identify which PUT IT IN YOUR
of the 5 types of questions it is OWN WORDS
Take control of the question

STEP 3

FIGURE OUT THE

SITUATION STEP 4
The situation is just the START WITH NUMBER
remainder of the 4
question
Compare it to Number 3. By
comparing the bottom two,
we are able to eliminate one
answer
STEP 4A (SATA)

START WITH NUMBER 5

OR 6 AND MAKE A
DECISION
Remember each one of the SATA is
a an answer choice of its own
PRIORITIZATION NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
DR. ZEESHAN'S WAY TO LOOK AT
PRIORITIZATION PATIENTS POST-OP/POST
PROCEDURE

Make sure you look for AASH of ASK GRAPH

when a client is Post-Op/Post Procedure

Airway
Altered Mental Status
Sepsis
Hemorrhage

You don’t want your patient

to turn into AASHes
Post-Op

PRIORITIZATION NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
POST - OP

TWO THINGS YOU MUST ENCOURAGE

1. AMBULATE - the faster we get patients

up and walking, the less likely they will
develop a DVT

2. INCENTIVE SPIROMETRY - get

patients to use their lungs to
prevent Atelectasis and further
respiratory complications
PRIORITIZATION NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
DR. ZEESHAN'S WAY TO:

Educate ALL patients on their NEEDS

Nutrition
Exercise
ETOH (decrease or avoid)
Don’t Smoke

When do you say the

opposite!

PRIORITIZATION NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
If you see the words: "Drooling,"
"Accessory Muscles," or "Stridor"
used to describe a patient's status, you
are FREAKING OUT about this patient!

This person is in respiratory distress

and your priority!

Remember to apply ASK

GRAPH to all of your prioritization
questions and never deviate
from it!

 em be r
"Rem ted"
w hy you sta r

@nclexhighyield
TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Do not let the number of SATAs
throughout your exam determine whether
you passed or failed!

Remember, everyone gets different

questions and each question
you get is another chance
to PASS. Stick to Dr.
Zeeshan's Method!

TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Do practice questions at the same
time that you plan on taking your
boards.

Wear a mask.

Make sure you have no distractions!

You should now have a daily

routine and the day of the test
should feel no different than
you doing questions at
home.
TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Do 4 sets of 40 questions, untimed and
off of tutor mode taking a 5-7 min break
between each one

Why?
Simulate the actual exam every day as a
part of your routine to build
stamina and avoid mental
fatigue

TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
When approaching Select All That Apply (SATA)

You can have anywhere from 1 - 6 correct

answers.

SATA’s are usually one of the following:

Signs / Symptoms
Risk Factors
Education
Concepts

Look for these to be

your SATA’s
TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Passive Learning
After all your studying, it is important to
unwind and retain all the information you
just took in.

If you are working out or cooking,

watch a lecture recording or
listen to the podcasts
These activities allow you to
comprehend and make
connections while doing
the simplest tasks

TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
The day before the exam:
DO NOT DO ANY QUESTIONS!
ONLY REVIEW YOUR PERSONAL NOTES

A board exam is not a test you cram for, but an

exam that you work hard towards. Nothing last
minute will help you, it can only hurt you!

If you have stayed true to a routine that

works for YOU and listened to Doctor
Zeeshan, you should be relaxing!

TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Dr. Zeeshan on how to "COPE" with
anxiety when you are studying for the
NCLEX exam

Consistent Practice
Organize Your Routine
Pace Yourself
Educate Your Mind

TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
When taking the exam
Critically think about your options with the information provided

without adding to it. If you have to say “yeah but” or “what if”

then you’re probably adding to it.

"Best." If You can do or say one thing, and one thing only what

can I do or say that will get me the most information, maintain

safety and/or be therapeutic.

"First." If I don’t go see this person right now,

the client is going to die. Who am I freaking

out about?

Most appropriate action equals “best”

TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
How to handle "Select All That Apply"
Questions

Ask yourself if each option is true or

false. You can easily get rid of incorrect
options using this mindset, remember
they are just concepts!

On test day, write down 1-5 on

your board to make sure you
choose and eliminate the
correct ones.

TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
When you see a question ending
with "...what is the nurse's best
response?"

Look for:
"Tell Me More"

It's right more times than not!

TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
If you are given an age, gender,
ethnicity, religion, anatomical
location you are given that for a
reason!

Ask yourself
"why is this in the question?

TEST TAKING TIPS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
For Select All That Apply
Questions
First of all, stay confident with these questions (your attitude is at

least half of your success)!

They are usually (Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms, Education, or

Concepts)

Stick to THE METHOD (Never deviate from the method)!!!

Treat each option as a True or False

When you tell yourself “True” or “False” as your initial instinct for these

questions, do not go back (Remember, your first instinct is always

going to be more likely correct than that “second-guessing

instinct”).

Do not let the number of SATAS throughout your exam

determine whether you passed or failed (Remember, everyone

gets different questions and each question you get is

another chance to PASS)!

 Today is a new day.

You can do this.

@nclexhighyield
CARDIO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
SuPraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) vs
Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)

suPraventricular tachycardia - there is

some sort of a P wave
SVT is Skinny - it has a NARROW QRS
Complex

VT has no P wave
VT has a WIDE QRS Complex

CARDIO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
HEART FAILURE education: DR. BEEDSS

Diet (no sodium or fluids)

Risk for falls (orthostatic hypotension)

BP + BNP shouldn’t be elevated

Elevate with pillows in high Fowler’s
Exercise
Daily weights
Sex (2 flights of stairs with no SOB)
Smoking cessation

CARDIO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
How to Remember Normal
Cholesterol Values
They are in alphabetical order and
increase by 50!

HDL: 50

LDL: 100

Triglycerides: 150

Total Cholesterol: 200

CARDIO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Cardiology: Loop Diuretics
Furosemide, Bumetanide, Torsemide
Think "OOHH DANG!"

Orthostatic Hypotension
Ototoxicity
Hypokalemia
Hypomagnesemia

Dehydration
Allergy (Sulfa's)
Nephrotoxic (check BUN and Creatinine)
Gout

CARDIO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Treatment of Angina

“MONA”

Morphine (Make sure to check BP and

HR first)
Oxygen (helps lower the demand
on the heart)
Nitroglycerin (for vasodilation)
Aspirin (125-325 mg)

CARDIO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Blood Pressure Medication Safe in
Pregnancy

“Hypertensive Mothers Love Nifedipine”

Hydralazine
Methyldopa
Labetalol
Nifedipine

Never give a hypertensive mother

ARB's or ACE-I's, these are
teratogens and will harm the baby!

CARDIO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip

Remember that heparin and

warfarin prevent blood clots, by
anti-coagulating.

They don't actually break them

down.

CARDIO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
PAD
-
P - Pale, cool skin - ulcer, intermittent pain
A - Absent/decreased pulse, Activity causes
pain (intermittent claudication)
D - Dry, scaly skin

Patients with PAD should

dangle their legs
NEVER ELEVATE

CARDIO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
The Double "A"
You look at a telemetry strip and
see Asystole; what do you do first?
Think “Double-A”- Asystole,
Assess!

Because you always need to

assess the patient and the
leads first before you take
the situation any
further

CARDIO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
ACE Inhibitor Acronym
“ACE-I”

Angioedema - ASK GRAPH (Instead use

ARBs)
Cough - not worried (Instead use ARBs)
Excess Potassium - ASK GRAPH
Instead use ARBs

Both ARBs and ACE-I cause

Excess Potassium and are
Teratogens
CARDIO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip

Popular foods with

Vitamin K for the
Boards

Kale, Spinach,
Cabbage, Broccoli,
and Liver

Only I can change

my life.
No one can do it
for me.
@NCLEXHIGHYIELD
MENTAL HEALTH NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
To remember SSRI'S side effects

Suicide risk increased

Slow onset and slow taper
Sweaty, hot, fever*
Rigid muscles, restless, agitated*
Increased HR tachycardia*

* = Symptoms of Serotonin
Syndrome

MENTAL HEALTH NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
To remember MAOIs

Massive headache
Avoid tyramine
OTC drugs will cause hypertensive
crisis
Other antidepressants cannot
be mixed with this!
Increased risk of suicide

MENTAL HEALTH NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
"SAD PERSONS" are at risk for completing
suicide

Sex - Males kill themselves more often than

women, women attempt more
Age - Young adults and elderly
Depression

Prior attempt
ETOH / Substance abuse
Rational thought loss (psychosis)
Sickness (terminal illness)
Organized Plan
No spouse/family
Stated future intent

MENTAL HEALTH NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Extrapyramidal Symptoms
A movement disorder

Causes: Anti-psychotics and Anti-emetics

Remember "ADAPT"

Acute Dystonia - muscle spasm, stiffness

Akathisia - restlessness
Parkinsonism - shuffling gait, pill-rolling,
facial grimacing
Tardive Dyskinesia - slow writhing
movements

MENTAL HEALTH NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
DR. ZEESHAN'S WAY TO
Remember with Malignant
Hyperthermia and Neuroleptic
Malignant Syndrome, patients get
Cooked like a HAM:

High temperatures (104-105)

Altered Mental Status
Muscle Rigidity
MENTAL HEALTH NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Antidotes - Substance Abuse

Benzodiazepines Overdose -
Flumazenil

OpiOid Overdose - NalOxOne /

Naltrexone

Methanol / Ethylene
Glycol (antifreeze) -
Fomepizole

MENTAL HEALTH NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
To remember side effects 4/for SSRI: (4 S’s)

SSSSRI

Suicide risk can increase - high energy +

persistent depression
Slow onset and slow taper - 4-6 wks
St. John’s Wort is contraindicated
Serotonin Syndrome
Reduced Libido
Increased Appetite

Stay Positive
Stay Focused
Stay Strong

- Dr. Zeeshan
GI / NUTRITION NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
B Vitamins

B1 (thiamine) - Used in ETOH Intoxication

B3 (niacin) - Used for high cholesterol, can cause
flushing which can be treated by NSAID's
B6 (pyridoxine) - Given in conjunction with
Isoniazid to prevent peripheral neuropathy
B9 (folate) - Supplement for at least 1
month prior to pregnancy to avoid
Neural Tube Defects
B12 (cobalamin) - Found in animal
products, deficiency leads to
anemia and nerve damage

GI NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
If you have an inflammatory process of
the GI tract (diverticulitis, appendicitis,
colitis, etc) select all of these:

NPO - rest the GI tract and also is

useful in case we need to perform
an emergency surgery
IVF - FLUIDS FLUIDS FLUIDS
Pain Control - help make
the patient comfortable (PRN)
(except in appendicitis)
PPI - Proton Pump Inhibitor (PRN)

GI NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip

With Celiac Disease, Be Sure to Avoid

BROW

Barley
Rye
Oats
Wheat

GI NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Pancreatitis Risk Factors
The GATE might lead you to have
Pancreatitis

Gall Stones
Alcohol
Trauma (accidents, bike handle
hit the pancreas)
ERCP

GI NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Remember in Cirrhosis to Know Your
AABBC's and what they do!

Albumin
Ammonia
Bilirubin
Bile Salts
Clotting Factors

GI NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Risk Factors for Cholelithiasis
The 6 F’s

Family History
Fair (skin tone)
Fat (BMI >30)
Female
Fertile
Forty (>40 y/o)

GI NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
When Recovering from Surgery
progression of oral intake is:

1. Ice Chips
2. Clear Liquids
3. Full Liquids
4. Soft Diet
5. Regular Diet

 BELIEVE
in yourself

@nclexhighyield
 MATERNITY NCLEX HIGH YIELD
TEST TAKING TIP
Quick Tip
If you see the following in the answer choices:

Check HCG Levels

Do a Urine Pregnancy Test
Ask the patient when their last menstrual
cycle was
Ask the patient if they are sexually active

Ask yourself why is this an option?

The boards rarely put this as an option for

an answer, so carefully analyze the
situation to make sure you do not miss
imaging or medication that could be
harmful!

MATERNITY NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
To remember presumptive pregnancy signs
"PRESUME"

Period absent
Really tired (fatigue)
Enlarged breast
Sore breast
Urination increased
Movement of fetus in the uterus,
fluttering (quickening) sensation in the
lower abdomen. Occurs at 16-20 weeks
Emesis + Nausea

MATERNITY NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Variable Deceleration
Early Deceleration
Acceleration
Late Deceleration

Cord Compression - change mom's position

to knees to chest /stop oxytocin/ C-section
Head compression- baby is ready for
delivery
Okay!
Placental Insufficiency - change
mom's position / stop oxytocin / o2/ NS

MATERNITY NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip

More than 5 contractions in a

fetal EKG strip is BAD.

This is Uterine Tachysystole!

We need to decrease/stop
oxytocin.

 REMEMBER WHY
YOU STARTED AND
DON'T GIVE UP

@nclexhighyield
ENDOCRINE NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Remember to look for the following
in Metabolic Syndrome:

“We Better Think High Glucose”

Waist circumference
Blood pressure
Triglycerides
HDL
Glucose

ENDOCRINE NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Causes of DKA- 4 S's
-

Sepsis
Sickness
Stress
Skipping insulin

NEURO/ENDO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
The NCLEX will try to trick you when it
comes to the following signs and
symptoms

Glaucoma: halo vision, loss of peripheral vision

(closed-angle Glaucoma is an emergency)!!
Retinal Detachment: floaters, "curtains
falling" flashes but NO PAIN.
Cataracts: blurry eyes - worse at night
Macular Degeneration: loss of
central vision (PAIN)

ENDO NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip

Hypoglycemia Treatment

"Cold and Clammy, Give them

Candy"
"Warm and Dry, Sugar is High"

 you were made

to do this

@nclexhighyield
INFECTIOUS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

DISEASES
Quick Tip
Use "RIPE" to remember
Tuberculosis Treatment

Rifampin: Red/orange secretions expected

Isoniazid (INH): it's severely hepatotoxic
(check AST, ALT, LFTs) causes peripheral
neuropathy (give B6 = pyridoxine)
Pyrazinamide
Ethambutol: can cause visual
changes (E for Eye)

INFECTIOUS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

DISEASES
Quick Tip
Remember for Hepatitis B
Transmission:

B for Body Fluids

Blood
Semen
Vaginal secretions

INFECTIOUS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

DISEASES
Quick Tip
Remember physical signs of Meningitis
include the Brudzinski sign and Kernig's
sign

Brudzinski sign - Flexing the patient's neck

causes pain and flexion of hips and knees

Kernig's sign - Flexing the patient's

hip 90 degrees & resistance
knee causes pain

INFECTIOUS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

DISEASES
Quick Tip
Use the mnemonic PIMP to help
remember some illnesses that
require droplet precautions

Pertussis
Influenza B
Meningitis
Pneumonia

LIVE
YOUR
DREAMS
It's never too late
-Dr. Zeeshan

@nclexhighyield
MED MATH NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip

Math Questions

With math questions, you almost always

have to convert pounds to kgs!

2.2 LB = 1 KG

MED MATH NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Math Problems

Do your math problems 3 times! It

sounds excessive/tedious BUT it
ensures you get the questions
correct. What if you had a
calculator error?!

Don’t be missing out on

these points!

MED MATH NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
The Parkland Formula Protocol
Used to estimate the amount of replacement fluid
required for the first 24 hours in a burn patient to
ensure he remains hemodynamically stable.

24-hour fluid requirement calculation: 4mL x body

weight (kg) x total body surface
area burned (%)

First 8 hour fluid administration:

50% of total fluid requirement

Remaining 16-hour fluid

administration: 50% of total fluid
requirement

 EVERY DAY
IS A GOOD
DAY TO
LEARN.

@nclexhighyield
FLUIDS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
The Different Types of Fluids

Hypotonic: 0.45% Saline, 2.5% Dextrose

Isotonic: Lactated Ringers, 09% Normal

Saline

Hypertonic: 3% Saline, 5% Dextrose

+ 0.9% NS, 10% Dextrose, Albumin,
Dextran

FLUIDS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
The Purpose of Fluids

Move between intravascular and

extravascular space
Ex: Ascites, Pleural Effusions, Increased
ICP
Replenish volume loss (hypovolemia)
Ex: Dehydration, Hemorrhage,
DKA, Vomiting, Diarrhea
Correct Electrolyte/Sugar
Imbalances
Ex: Hypo/Hypernatremia,
Hypoglycemia

FLUIDS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Fluids!
Isotonic: think about the "I" - fluid stays
"IN" the vascular space

Hypotonic: think about the "O" - fluid

moves "OUT" of the vascular
space

Hypertonic: think about

the "E" - fluid will
"ENTER" the vascular
space

 YOU ARE
GOING TO BE
AN AMAZING
NURSE

@nclexhighyield
FUNDAMENTALS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Delegation: RN doesn’t delegate
what you can’t EAT…

Educate
Assessment
Teach

Also, don’t delegate to an LPN

what a UAP is capable of doing
(Ex. Stable vital signs, ADL’s)

FUNDAMENTALS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip

DelegaTion SATAs
-
Think of the T in delegaTion as “Team”
because when determining how to delegate on
these SATAS, you must understand who is on
your Team!

FUNDAMENTALS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
When using a cane and stairs remember:
“Up with the Good, Down with the Bad.”

Going upstairs, start with the Good leg, move

the cane next while bearing weight on the
stronger leg, THEN move the weaker leg.

Going downstairs, start with the

cane, bring the Bad leg down,
and THEN step
down with the stronger leg.

 Reminder
keep going
keep growing!

@nclexhighyield
PROCEDURES NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Understanding Intravenous
Catheters

Think “opposite” when determining what size to use

The bigger the gauge, the smaller the catheter is!
The smaller the gauge, the bigger the catheter is!
For example: an 18 gauge
intravenous catheter involves
a larger catheter than a
22 gauge intravenous
catheter.

PROCEDURES NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
"Intub8"

When applying the Glasgow Coma

Scale, think 8, intub8! Because with
a score of 8 or less, the patient will
need to be intub8ed and you are
FREAKING OUT!!!

PROCEDURES NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip

Remember!
Chest tube drainage should be
reported if it is greater than
100 ml/hr for adults.

PROCEDURES NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Blood transfusions need to
be checked by 2 RN’s.

Vitals need to be done

15 min after initiation
by an RN.

 You've come this far.

Don't stop now.

@nclexhighyield
 GOOD
THINGS
ARE
COMING
YOUR
WAY

@nclexhighyield
PHARM NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
How to remember NSAIDS
(The boards love asking about ulcers
and the kidney function)

Naproxen
Salicylate acid (aspirin)
Acetylsalicylic Acid (aspirin)
Ibuprofen and indomethacin
Ketorolac

PHARM NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
The Boards love drugs with a
Narrow Therapeutic Index

Warning, These Drugs are Pretty Lethal!

Warfarin: INR 2-3

Theophylline: 10-20 mcg/mL
Digoxin: 0.5-2.0 ng/mL
Phenytoin: 10-20 mcg/mL
Lithium: 0.6-1.2 mEq/L

PEDS NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Dr. Zeeshan's
4 S's for Soothing Infant in Pain

Sucrose
Sucking (pacifier)
Skin to Skin
Swaddle

ONCOLOGY NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
The warning signs of cancer can be
remembered with "CAUTION"

Change in bowel or bladder habits

A sore that does not heal
Unusual bleeding or discharge from a body
orifice
Thickening or a lump in the breast or
elsewhere
Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
Obvious change in wart or mole
Nagging cough or hoarseness

RESPIRATORY NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Different ways we can develop a
Pulmonary Embolism

Fat embolism. This is obtained through

fractured long bones
Amniotic fluid
Thrombus

Bacteria
Air emboli. Commonly
acquired through central lines
Tumor

 GROWTH NCLEX HIGH YIELD

AND
DEVELOPMENT Quick Tip
Growth and Development
Age Groups

IN (Infant) 0-1
TIME (Toddler) 1-3
PEOPLE (Pre-School) 3-5
SHALL (School-Age) 5 -12
AGE (Adolescent) 12 - older

RENAL NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
Indications for dialysis in Acute Kidney Injury

AEIOU

A - Acidemia (metabolic)
E - Electrolyte Imbalances (K+ ASK
GRAPH)
I - Intoxication (overdose)
O - Overload of fluid
U - Uremia
ETHICS/LEGAL NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip

Remember!
In Ethics and Legal:
ALWAYS use a
Translator

SKILLS & PROCEDURES

NCLEX HIGH YIELD

Quick Tip
NEEDLE GAUGES FOR
INJECTIONS CHART SIZE
 I've seen the
future

& you're killing it

@nclexhighyield