Mark Klimek Lectures 1-12: A Complete Breakdown of Every Lecture (2026)
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Ask around any NCLEX study group and one name comes up more than any other: Klimek. The lectures have a near-cult following, and for good reason. But if you are staring at a folder labeled "Lectures 1 to 12" with no idea where to start, this is your map.
Here is a complete breakdown of what each Mark Klimek lecture covers, the smartest order to study them, and how to make sure the material matches the 2026 Next Gen NCLEX.
Who is Mark Klimek?
Mark Klimek is a longtime nursing educator whose audio review series became a rite of passage for NCLEX candidates. The appeal is simple: instead of re-teaching all of nursing school, he gives you decision rules and memory hooks for the exact topics the NCLEX loves to test. Students pair the audio with a set of notes, usually called the Blue Book or Yellow Book.
Mark Klimek lectures 1 to 12, at a glance
| Lecture | Main topics |
|---|---|
| 1 | Acid-base balance and ventilators |
| 2 | Alcohol and substance abuse, overdose and withdrawal, Wernicke-Korsakoff, delirium tremens, aminoglycosides (peak and trough) |
| 3 | Cardiac medications, arrhythmias, chest tubes, and infection/isolation precautions |
| 4 | Crutches and gait, plus psychosis |
| 5 | Diabetes: DM, DKA, SIADH, and diabetes insipidus |
| 6 | Drug toxicities and electrolyte management |
| 7 | Thyroid and adrenal disorders, and laminectomy care |
| 8 | Lab values and neutropenic precautions |
| 9 | Psychiatric drugs |
| 10 | Maternity and newborn: due dates and weight gain |
| 11 | Fetal complications and the stages of labor |
| 12 | Prioritization, delegation, and assignment |
Look at that spread. It is basically a greatest-hits list of the topics that sink test-takers: acid-base, endocrine, psych, lab values, and prioritization. That is why the series works.
The best order to study them
You do not have to go strictly 1 through 12. A smart approach:
- Start with 1 and 12. Acid-base (1) and prioritization/delegation (12) show up everywhere and take the longest to click. Give them room early.
- Then the endocrine and pharm block (5, 6, 7, 9). Diabetes, electrolytes, thyroid/adrenal, and psych drugs are dense and high-yield.
- Then cardiac and respiratory (1 revisited, 3). Chest tubes and arrhythmias reward a second pass.
- Finish with maternity and the rest (10, 11, 4, 8). Important, but lighter lifts once the big rocks are handled.
Study your weak lectures twice and your strong ones once. Your time should follow your gaps.
How to actually study each lecture
The lectures are content. The NCLEX is application. Bridge the two:
- Listen to a lecture with the notes in front of you. Star the rules.
- Teach the main rules back out loud from memory.
- Do 15 to 20 practice questions on that exact topic and read every rationale.
- Move on, and re-listen only to the lectures whose questions you keep missing.
The one thing the classic lectures miss
The original series predates the Next Generation NCLEX, which launched April 1, 2023 and now tests clinical judgment through case studies, bow-tie, and matrix items with partial-credit scoring (NCSBN). The content still holds up beautifully. The format does not. If you only study old lectures and notes, the new question types can rattle you on test day even when you know the answer.
Get all 12 lectures, updated for 2026
If you would rather not chase broken PDFs and dead audio links, we packaged the whole thing, modernized. Our Mark's 2026 NCLEX Review Mega Bundle gives you the full high-yield lecture series and matching PDF study guides in one place, updated for the Next Gen exam, for $79. It is the review students love, without the scavenger hunt.
Get the 2026 Mega Bundle for $79 →
Not sure the lectures alone are enough? Read Is Mark Klimek Enough to Pass the NCLEX in 2026? next, and if you are new to the notes, start with the Blue Book guide. Everything is backed by our Pass Guarantee: do not pass, and we send you the next edition free.
Frequently asked questions
How many Mark Klimek lectures are there?
Twelve core lectures, running roughly 10 to 12 hours of audio total.
In what order should I do the Klimek lectures?
You can go 1 to 12, but many students front-load acid-base (1) and prioritization (12), then hit the endocrine and pharmacology lectures, since those are the highest-yield and hardest to master.
Are the Klimek lectures updated for the Next Gen NCLEX?
The classic series predates the 2023 NGN change. The content is still strong, but pair it with NGN-format practice, or use a 2026-updated version.
Do I need the notes and the audio?
Yes, they are designed together. The audio gives the reasoning, the notes give you the page to review.
You've got this. Follow the map, prove each lecture with questions, and those twelve files turn into a passing score.
Nurse June, BSN, RN
Founder, Your Nursing Space
