Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination (SNLE)
Examination Content Guideline

Table of Contents

• What is the SNLE?
• Exam Format at a Glance
• Blueprint Overview
• Content Domains and What To Study
• Cognitive Levels and How Questions are Built
• Question Styles and Sample Stem
• Scoring, Passing, and Retakes
• Study Plan Focused on the Blueprint
• Official Links and Free Resources
• FAQs

📘 What is the SNLE?

The Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination is a computer-based test that evaluates competence across the full nursing scope. It targets the skills you need on shift: assessment, planning, prioritization, communication, infection control, and safe medication delivery. Passing qualifies you for licensure through SCFHS, then employment in Saudi healthcare facilities.

You book through Prometric after SCFHS issues eligibility via Mumaris Plus. Seats run throughout the year in multiple testing windows.

📘 Exam Format at a Glance

• Delivery: Computer-based at Prometric test centers.
• Items: Multiple choice, single best answer, case-based vignettes included.
• Focus: Safe practice, applied decision making, patient safety, and professional conduct.
• Duration and item count: Set by SCFHS per testing period, check your exam confirmation for exact details.
• Language: English.
• Breaks and rules: Provided by Prometric site staff, carry a valid ID and your confirmation email.

Tip: Pace yourself. Mark tough items, move on, then circle back. Missing one hard question should not slow you down for five easy ones.

📘 Blueprint Overview

The blueprint maps what the SNLE measures. You will see questions across the lifespan and care settings, paired with professional practice and safety. Use the domains below to build your study plan and set weekly goals.

Weights can change with each official release. Verify the latest percentages in the SNLE Applicant Guide from SCFHS.

📘 Content Domains and What To Study

1) Fundamentals and Nursing Process

• Collect focused and comprehensive assessments, including pain, mental status, nutrition, and risk scores like Braden.
• Prioritize with ABCs, safety first, and Maslow when choices compete.
• Write measurable goals, select interventions that match the etiology, and evaluate outcomes.
• Document clearly and legally. If it is not documented, it did not happen.

2) Adult and Geriatric Health

• Cardiac: chest pain first actions, heart failure exacerbation, ECG basics, safe use of beta blockers and diuretics.
• Respiratory: hypoxia signs, oxygen delivery devices, COPD flare management, suctioning safety.
• Endocrine: DKA vs HHS, sick day rules, insulin timing, hypoglycemia rescue.
• Neuro: stroke recognition and timing, seizure precautions, increased ICP care.
• Renal and fluid: AKI red flags, electrolyte patterns, IV fluids selection.
• Perioperative: consent checks, NPO rules, pre op antibiotics, post op complications.
• Geriatrics: polypharmacy risks, delirium vs dementia, falls, pressure injury prevention.

3) Maternal and Newborn

• Antenatal: warning signs, Rh and GBS screening, preeclampsia monitoring, fetal movements.
• Intrapartum: stages of labor, FHR patterns, oxytocin safety, and shoulder dystocia steps.
• Postpartum: hemorrhage protocol, fundal checks, breastfeeding support, and infection signs.
• Newborn: APGAR, thermoregulation, hypoglycemia, jaundice, safe discharge teaching.

4) Pediatrics and Adolescents

• Developmental milestones, dehydration assessment, and febrile seizure counseling.
• Medication safety: weight-based dosing, maximum daily doses, double checks for high alert meds.
• Immunization schedules and catch-up basics, anaphylaxis first response.

5) Mental Health

• Therapeutic communication, boundaries, de-escalation, suicide risk screening, and safety plans.
• Legal use of restraints and seclusion, and continuous monitoring obligations.
• Medication teaching for SSRIs, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers, key adverse effects to watch.

6) Community and Public Health

• Screening programs, school health, vaccination drives, and chronic disease education.
• Outbreak basics, isolation, contact tracing, and reporting obligations in KSA.
• Home care safety checks and caregiver teaching.

7) Pharmacology and Medication Safety

• The five rights, allergy checks, look-alike sound-alike drugs, and high alert lists.
• Dose calculations, dilution, infusion rates, compatibility, and pump programming.
• Adverse reaction response, antidotes, and monitoring parameters.

8) Infection Prevention and Patient Safety

• Standard and transmission-based precautions, PPE order, and needle stick protocol.
• Device-associated infection prevention, central line, and urinary catheter care bundles.
• Fall risk and prevention, safe transfers, pressure injury staging, and care.

9) Professional, Legal, and Ethical Practice

• Scope of practice in Saudi Arabia, accountability, and delegation boundaries.
• Consent, confidentiality, documentation standards,and  incident reporting.
• Cultural and religious considerations that shape care and teaching.

10) Leadership, Quality, and Management

• Triage logic, handoffs, SBAR, conflict resolution, teamwork in high-pressure units.
• Quality improvement cycles, basic indicators, and risk mitigation.

11) Evidence-Based Practice and Research

• Read guidelines, weigh evidence levels, apply findings to patient scenarios, and simple stats like sensitivity and specificity.

📘 Cognitive Levels and How Questions are Built

• Recall: facts, normal ranges, definitions, steps.
• Application: apply a protocol to a case, pick the next best action, and do dose calculations.
• Analysis: interpret data, set priorities, choose the safest option when several look correct.

Most items lean on application and analysis. Train with case vignettes and force yourself to justify each choice.

📘 Question Styles and Sample Stem

Expect single best answer MCQs. Many start with a short case, vital signs, a lab, then ask for the safest action, priority, or teaching point.

Strategy: Read the last line first, note keywords, then skim the case for data that changes priority.

📘 Scoring, Passing, and Retakes

• The passing standard is set by SCFHS and may be adjusted between testing periods.
• Your score report highlights overall performance and relative strengths to guide a retake if needed.
• Retake rules and waiting periods are provided in your eligibility email and on Mumaris Plus.

Keep copies of all emails and receipts. They make rescheduling and support requests much faster.

📘 Study Plan Focused on the Blueprint

Aim for three to four months of consistent study. Keep it practical and case-focused.

• Weeks 1 to 4: Fundamentals refresh, safety, infection control, medication math. Do short case sets daily.
• Weeks 5 to 8: Adult systems, maternal and newborn, pediatrics. Build one-page cheat sheets per topic.
• Weeks 9 to 10: Mental health, community health, leadership, ethics. Practice prioritization, delegation, and triage items.
• Weeks 11 to 12: Full-length mocks, review errors by domain, redo weak topics, and polish calculation skills.

High yield habits: teach a concept to a friend, write out steps for emergencies, and keep a log of mistakes with the exact rule you missed.

📘 Official Links and Free Resources

• SCFHS Mumaris Plus: scfhs.org.sa
• Prometric scheduling: prometric.com
• SNLE Applicant Guide PDF: Open the latest guide

Always cross-check topic weights and rules in the official guide before you book.

📘 FAQs

1. Which topics appear most often?
   Adult medical surgical, patient safety, medication administration, maternal and newborn, pediatrics, and prioritization are frequent.
2. Are calculators allowed?
   Prometric provides an on-screen calculator when needed. Check your test day rules in the confirmation email.
3. How many attempts can I take?
   SCFHS defines attempt limits and waiting periods. See your eligibility letter in Mumaris Plus for the current policy.
4. Do I need hospital experience before the SNLE?
   You need valid credentials per SCFHS. Clinical exposure helps with case-based items, so practice scenarios even if you are a fresh graduate.
5. How often does the blueprint change?
   SCFHS updates periodically. Review the latest Applicant Guide before finalizing your study plan.

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