Anyone use saunders / kaplan? Similar to the test?

I took the NCLEX in 2012. I had both the Saunders and Kaplan review books. I could not get through either without falling asleep. I practiced questions with the Kaplan program online now and then (Didn't have amazing scores or spend hours doing this). The Saunders questions were a lot easier than NCLEX and Kaplan, IMO. So, Kaplan therefore is more similar to what you will get on the NCLEX.

I passed the NCLEX with 75 questions in 45 minutes. Nothing I studied was really even on my exam to be honest. I just used critical thinking and chose the answer that seemed like the best choice so I was not sitting there overthinking (Do not overthink things on this exam!). Nursing school itself was the most helpful tool for this exam. It helps to familiarize you with the things you will see on the exam, and helps you to think critically. If you just graduated/are graduating soon, my advice is to take it ASAP after graduation.

Hello all, wondering if saunders / kaplan nclex review is similar to the nclex at all?

If you reply, please indicate when you took your nclex!

I have a kaplan and saunders book. They are completely different in my opinion.

I have seen one person say kaplan was similar.

Thanks!

Kaplan was very similar to the NCLEX..both format and question style. I did Kaplan's on demand review.

Took NCLEX Jan 31

I took Kaplan in the classroom and got through most of the Saunders book. I did 89% of the Kaplan QBank and all 7 QTs. Saunders is way too easy compared to NCLEX. Kaplan was challenging and helped me with critical thinking. Neither were really like my nclex but I would suggest Kaplan to help practice higher level questions. I also highly recommend PDA. PDA really helped me feel comfortable with prioritizing,delegation, and assignment. A HUGE part of my test was prioritization. I took NCLEX 1/25 and passed with 78 question. If you don't want to buy another resource, check out your library for PDA!

I used Kaplan and I was pleasantly surprised by how similar the format of both the questions and the actual user interface was. Taking the NCLEX-RN felt like taking a QTrainer. Having that similarity lessened so much anxiety and that's really what you want to strive to have for yourself when taking this exam. Anyway, I passed in 76 questions on 1/31/14. I would definitely recommend Kaplan to anyone preparing for the NCLEX. Someone also mentioned that Saunders was too easy - take that advice, it really is. With Kaplan you get concentrated content (+ lecture videos) and 1300 QBank questions that will test you at the highest level of bloom's taxonomy. So much more than Saunders will offer you.

Also, prepare for a lot of SATA questions. I think over half of my exam was SATA and then I had a fair amount of prioritization as well. Lacharity's PDA book helped me immensely in that area.

I recommend a brief prep with EKGs and knowing what meds would treat what dysrhythmia. The EKG strips weren't just simple recall - they more so involved analysis and intervention.

When looking at SATA questions, try to apply the "true or false" principle to the topic of the question being asked.

Bringing some attention back to this post haha. This really made me feel better! I enrolled in Kaplan, it was pricy but I want to do all I can. I too, feel that Saunders is great for content but the questions are way to easy. I have 2 weeks left of school and will take Kaplan the week after I graduate. I am doing it online. Any tips?? I just did my Diagnostic Pretest and got a 60%. I feel like that is a good start!! Although, I could not find the rationales. Does the pretest not let you see your rationales? We have to have that and the first 3 Q Trainers done before class starts.

saunders questions are too easy compared to the Nclex, i'm not sure about kaplan since i did not purchase it. Nclex 4000 and NCSBN were a little tougher than saunders but none of them were similar to the NCLEX imo. If i had not mastered content from the hurst review i would not have passed.