[CritterLover]

I think it depends on how confident you are in your test-taking skills.

I didn't take any review class, and I passed the NCLEX on my first try without any trouble.

However, I am also a very good test-taker. I don't have any problem figuring out what they are asking, and what they want.

My advice would be this: if you are good at taking tests, skip the expensive review. If you have trouble taking tests, then take the review, as they will give you valuable test-taking strategies.

[IampattyRN]

Originally Posted by kcalohagirl

I took the Kaplan class along with my two best friends from nursing school. They were both straight A students, I was an A/B student. Although we dedn't enjoy the class, and thought portions of it were not helpful, we learned some really valuable things in the class.

1. Things are not the same in "NCLEX-land" as in the real world. When you are taking the NCLEX, you will always have enough staff, the right orders, etc.

2. "Call the Doctor" is almost never (empahsize ALMOST) the right answer.

3. When doing prioritization questions, look at the answers and ask yourself, "What is the ONE thing I could do and then leave and go home?"

4. It also showed how to read the question to get to the point of what it is really asking about. Sometimes what at first looks to be a question on meds is really a question on prioritization.

I know there were others as well, however since I passed, I have conveniently forgotten most of the strategies. . . .

I didn't learn new knowledge, but the little "tricks" made it possible for me to deal with questions when I had a limited amount of knowledge about the condition, medication, procedure involved in the question.

75 Questions
40 minutes
$26.75/hr job after passing
=
$375 well spent

I would say take the class. Better to feel you have done everything you did in order to pass the test than to flunk it, not be able to work, and wish you had done something different.

Good luck!

I agree with you. I passed 75Q and felt the kaplan review amazing. I studied hard day and night, now I have a $28.50/hr job after passing. and believe that the money was totally well spent.

[GrumpyRN63]

I didn't find the review class helpful , the NCLEX questions were pretty straightforward, the review course was not, answers were multiples of multiples rather than a),b),C) or d). I studied on my own, the book I think was a Lippincott review, I do remember it was orange ( 20 yrs ago, ha!ha!), I just reviewed section by section, took the tests as I went along, and the cumulative at the end. I found this was an EXCELLENT review book, questions were set up just like the NCLEX. I had to sit through 2 days of testing-- no computers back then!!! I did fine, also you can learn how to pace yourself, I don't know if there is a time limit anymore, I had friends who ran out of time, left a lot blank, were hysterical messes (but still passed!) Lots of luck!! , Grumpy