Next-Gen NCLEX-RN Question Leveling: Recognition, Comprehension, Application, and Analysis

NCLEX questions are categorized into four difficulty levels: recognition, comprehension, application, and analysis. Each level challenges candidates' knowledge and critical thinking skills. While knowing the difficulty level of a question may not directly help answer it correctly, understanding the level can prompt candidates to slow down and apply critical thinking effectively.

This article is part of a more extensive study guide for the Next-Gen NCLEX-RN:

• Best Free Online Next-Gen NCLEX-RN Study Guide
• The Nursing Process: Everything Next-Gen NCLEX-RN Test-Takers Need to Know
• Next-Gen NCLEX-RN: Identifying Prioritization, Delegation, and Scope of Practice Questions
• Next-Gen NCLEX-RN Expert Test-Taking Strategies

Recognition

Recognition questions are created to challenge the candidate's ability to identify basic nursing content. If the candidate does not know the information in the question, it will be difficult to answer it correctly.

Here is an example of a recognition-level question:

Which of the following is a complication of surgery?

1. Constipation
2. Nausea
3. Lethargy
4. Hemorrhage

The correct answer is 4.

If you did not know that bleeding can lead to hemorrhage is a complication of surgery, then it would be difficult to answer this question. Recognition-level questions are considered the most basic level. If you do not answer them correctly, you will not advance to the more difficult questions necessary to pass the NCLEX.

Comprehension

Comprehension questions are created to challenge a candidate's ability to know the why behind the nursing content. This typically involves understanding how the body works and how it responds to certain treatments, medications, procedures, etc. This is an area where knowing expected outcomes helps answer these questions correctly.

Here is an example of a comprehension-level question:

The nurse knows that hemorrhage is a complication of surgery because...

1. Blood vessels are often disturbed, broken, severed, or cut during surgical procedures.
2. Surgery causes clotting factors to decrease in effectiveness
3. All patients who have surgery are placed on blood thinners
4. Patients who need surgery are ill and may have problems with their livers

The correct answer is 1.

If you did not know that hemorrhage is directly related to the integrity of blood vessels being compromised because of the surgery, then it would be difficult to answer this question correctly. Comprehension-level questions are considered to be one level up from the recognition level. If you do not answer them correctly, you will not advance to the more difficult questions necessary to pass the NCLEX.

Application

Application questions are created to challenge the candidates' ability to use the information they've learned in nursing school to make decisions about the information or situation presented in the question.

Here is an example of an application-level question:

Which of the following would indicate to the nurse that the patient is experiencing a complication from surgery?

1. Patient is experiencing pain at the surgical site
2. The patient's surgical incision is red around the edges
3. The patient has a pulse of 112, Blood Pressure 102/62, and Respirations 20
4. Patient does not have much of an appetite

The correct answer is 3.

If you do not know that an increased heart rate, a decreasing blood pressure, and an increased respiratory rate are all indicators that the patient's body is starting to compensate, then it would be difficult to answer this question. Application-level questions are difficult because they really challenge test-takers to know their nursing content. These questions are considered to be passing-level questions.

Analysis

Analysis questions are written to challenge the candidates' ability to use critical thinking skills. Often these questions are written in a way that is hard to determine the topic of the question. Therefore, candidates have to carefully consider all options and decide what the question is asking.

Here is an example of an analysis-level question:

The nurse is caring for a 67-year-old patient taking lithium carbonate 300 mg PO daily. The nurse assists the patient in selecting which of the following menus?

1. Fried crab cake, roasted potatoes, green beans, apple pie, and chocolate milk
2. Cheeseburger on a sesame seed bun, tater tots, chocolate chip cookie, and milk
3. Grilled chicken salad with balsamic vinegar, tomatoes and croutons, banana, and milk
4. BBQ ribs, mashed potatoes with gravy, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, and milk

The correct answer is 3.

If you do not know that lithium carbonate does not have any specific dietary restrictions, as well as know how to identify healthy food options, then you may not have been able to answer this question correctly. Since there is no direct dietary connection with lithium, the candidate can only go based on the information provided. Nurses have the knowledge and ability to identify healthy menus. Low in fat, sodium, cholesterol, and sugar options are best.

Although the content within this analysis question is not difficult, it provides an example of how one must carefully consider all options and make sense of what is being presented when the topic is not easily identifiable.