8 of the BEST NCLEX Prep Books

Are you completely confused when it comes to choosing the right NCLEX Prep book? Don’t worry, I was too. That is why I decided to do some serious research on your behalf. I have chosen 8 of the BEST NCLEX Prep books out there that will help prepare you to pass your NCLEX-RN Exam.

The following NCLEX Prep books are placed from highest to lowest ranking on a 5 star scale. I made sure to ONLY select the best of the best therefore all of these NCLEX prep books are 4.5 stars and above. They are amongst the top rated NCLEX prep books out there today. You can read the reviews yourself, but I’ve done so for you so you don’t have to worry about anything else but studying!

These NCLEX Prep books range from sole comprehensive reviews, sole questions and answers to a combination of both. Everyone studies and retains information differently. Maybe you like to review content prior to answering questions… maybe you just want to answer questions non-stop without having to review any more actual content… either way, the below list has a combination so that you can discover which best suits you.

Let’s jump right into it.

Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN

Rated at 4.8 stars, this NCLEX prep book is said to be one of the best review books to prepare for the NCLEX. It states it has been updated thoroughly to reflect the most current test plan information.

With over 5,200 practice questions provided in textbook and online format, this book includes detailed rationales and test taking strategy tips on how to properly answer the question. It also provides a comprehensive review of various topics. Saunders is well-known in the NCLEX world. You definitely can’t go wrong with this book.

Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 8e

Includes:

• Over 5,200 practice questions
• Variety of format questions (multiple choice, prioritizing, fill in the blank, figure/illustration hot spot, chart/exhibit and audio/video)
• 75 question comprehensive exam
• Introductory chapters on different topics (nonacademic preparation, the experience of the NCLEX-RN from a new grad’s POV, test taking strategies and more)
• Clinical Judgement situations
• Detailed question rationales and test taking tips

Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment: Practice Exercises for the NCLEX Examination

Rated 4.7 stars, this book claims to be the the original and most popular NCLEX prep book focused primarily on growing your skills in prioritization, delegation, and patient assignment. This prep book helps you establish a foundation on management of care and provides exercises (using a variety of level of difficulties) to help you transition what you know into practice.

This book also includes NCLEX style questions with detailed rationales including a breakdown of what the question focuses on. They have also recently updated the book to include up-to-date practices such as inclusion of LGBTQ-related scenarios, updated infection control measures, and a completely new pharmacology chapter.

A 5th edition of this NCLEX review book will be out soon but has not yet been released. Click here to check out the new edition and pre-order if you have time to wait for it.

Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment: Practice Exercises for the NCLEX Examination

Includes:

• 60 pages of additional practice questions
• Brand new pharmacology chapter INCLUDING questions
• Answer key offered with detailed rationale and breakdown of question
• Interactive quizzing on Evolve which can be on Study mode or Exam mode
• Focuses on prioritization, delegation and patient assignement as it relates to NCLEX management of care
• Colorful tabs to easily navigate book
• Practice questions at end of each chapter

Lippincott Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN Examination

With a 4.7 star ranking, Lippincott Q&A Review provides just what the name suggest… practice questions GALORE! With over 6,000 practice questions (yes! you read right- 6,000!) you will attain your critical and high level thinking skills in no time.

This NCLEX prep book reviews questions related to time management, handoff reports, code of ethics and ethical dilemmas, prescriptions, reporting unsafe practices, safe handling of biohazardous materials, evaluating intake and output, titrating intravenous medications, administering controlled substances and many, many more. Seriously… the list goes on and on.

It is also one of the best selling NCLEX prep books on Amazon and many nursing students have raved about this one. Just read the reviews for yourself.

Lippincott Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN (Lippincott's Review For NCLEX-RN)

Includes:

• Over 6,000 practice questions covering a wide array of categories
• 6 comprehensive exams with randomized subjects and difficulty to provide students with realistic experience of the NCLEX-RN
• 1 comprehensive exam based SOLELY on pharmacology to test students knowledge of medications
• Detailed rationale for both current and incorrect answer choices
• Information about the NCLEX-RN
• Study strategies and tips
• Content Mastery and Test Taking Self Analysis in which students can chart their progress
• Practice computerized questions to get comfortable with how the NCLEX exam is

HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination

With a whopping 4.7 out of 5 rating for the HESI Comprehensive Review, this NCLEX prep book is great to have during nursing school and after. Many might have had to take their HESI when entering and/or exiting nursing school. Well, this HESI Comprehensive Review is tailored for the NCLEX-RN Examination and states it can also serve to help you pass your HESI Exit exam!

It provides a complete, all in one review of all the must know information for the NCLEX. This prep book not only provides a comprehensive reviews but it also includes more than 900 NCLEX practice questions.

The Evolve companion website allows you to complete these questions in a computerized format under a study mode or exam mode to get a feel of the nursing school exit exam and NCLEX experience.

HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination

Includes:

• Over 900 NCLEX exam practice questions with an additional 300 questions on the Evolve online platform
• Textbook and companion online format to resemble computerized NCLEX + Exit exam experience
• HESI Hint boxes which hint important information to remember for the NCLEX
• Critical thinking questions including detailed rationales
• Alternate format type questions- i.e., fill in the blank + prioritization
• Organized by clinical areas making it easy to search for certain topics

Davis’s Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN

Davis’s Q&A Review rates at a 4.6/5. This book offers 12,500 NCLEX practice questions for review including brand new Clinical Judgment questions!

When you purchase a new copy of Davis’s Q&A Review for the NCLEX-RN, 3rd Edition you will receive FREE access to Davis Edge NCLEX-RN, which is an online Q&A program that creates quizzes for you based on your strengths and weaknesses. It also helps track your progress along the way so you know what to focus on. There are tons of valuable resources with this online access.

The 12,500 NCLEX Practice questions include tons of SATA (Select all that apply) questions and detailed rationales of all answer options. It is said this is the book with the most NCLEX Practice questions. Each question also follows with helpful tips on how to answer the particular question, which is helpful when getting ready to take the NCLEX.

Davis's Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN®

Includes:

• 12,500 NCLEX Practice questions- 10,000 online and 2,500 in book.
• Detailed rationale and helpful tips on how to answer particular questions
• 2 practice tests with comprehensive rationales
• Access to valuable online content

NCLEX-RN Content Review Guide

This Kaplan Nursing NCLEX prep book is rated 4.6 stars and is a great bang for your buck. The great thing about this book is it actually reviews and covers all the necessary content that is on the NCLEX- RN. In other words, it is a comprehensive review book. Kaplan is one of the main test prep platforms and has helped many students pass the NCLEX for over 80 years.

This comprehensive review goes over each disease process, symptoms, contraindications, skills, lab values and so much more. It is a good refresher for material learned early on and throughout your nursing program.

It’s not meant as a “question book”, but rather a complete review of content, which is very important to know for the NCLEX. I usually recommend an NCLEX prep book like this (content review) and one that just focuses on practice questions.

NCLEX-RN Content Review Guide (Preparation for the NCLEX-RN Examination)

Includes:

• All the MUST-KNOW content for NCLEX-RN
• Outline format makes it easy to study
• Organized tables allows for efficient review of material
• A Decision Tree and expert strategies to guide you and help you critically think
• Includes pictures to visualize material reviewed in book.

NCLEX-RN Prep Plus 2020 by Kaplan

Yet another 4.6 star book by Kaplan, The NCLEX-RN Prep Plus Book helps you shape the way you THINK about questions, not so much how much you know.

This is different from the book above as it is not a comprehensive book but more of a strategies on how to critically think book. It goes over how to read each question, approach it and answer using critical thinking skills.

NCLEX-RN Prep Plus (Practice Tests + Proven Strategies + Online + Video) (Kaplan Test Prep)

Includes:

• Breaks down exam questions by using 10 critical thinking pathways
• 8 end-of-chapter practice questions to help you put your critical thinking skills to the test
• Questions that help you apply knowledge you’ve gained in real-life situations
• 2 full-length practice tests (online and in book)
• Detailed rationales for all answers
• Techniques for mastering the NCLEX-RN and feeling comfortable taking a computer standardized test

NCLEX-RN Drug Guide: 300 Medications You Need to Know for the Exam

With 4.5 rating, the NCLEX-RN Drug guide book reviews over 300 most commonly prescribed medications that will show up on your NCLEX-RN. This NCLEX prep book focuses solely on the pharmacology you will see on the NCLEX-RN and it is organized as a flashcard style format. It goes over nursing considerations, side effects and purpose of medication.

Another plus is that it’s pocket size. You can use this prep book to study for your NCLEX but it can also be helpful for clinical or using once you are already a bedside RN. Definitely helpful in learning what meds to focus on for NCLEX.

Tip: Some reviews say it is helpful to organize this prep book with tabs as it is broken down by drug categories instead of alphabetically.

NCLEX-RN Drug Guide (300 Medications You Need to Know for the Exam)

Includes:

• Flash-card format going over 300 must know medications
• Includes generic and brand name, nursing considerations, side effects and purpose of medication
• Phonetic pronunciations included
• Medical abbreviation appendix included for quick find

Do you have any NCLEX Prep books you enjoyed & found helpful? Share them below in the comments for others to discover.

… and don’t forget, aside from having the best NCLEX prep books, you also want to make sure you know how to take proper notes and how to study for the NCLEX. This is an important part to learning and retaining information that will not only be on your NCLEX but real life.

’till next time,

The RN Educator