Failed NCLEX with Kaplan..bummed

I was so confident going into this test today! I scored a 66 on readiness, my scores were all in the upper 50's to mid 60's and I felt ready. I walked in with a positive attitude and read to go...but that's not how it went. I got question after question of meds I have never seen before and had no idea what class they were in, a crap load of questions that i had no clue where to even go with them, and it seemed like the kaplan strategy didn't apply to any of them! I tried the decision tree, comma comma and, outcomes, do one thing and go home, and none of it helped!! I didn't get any questions that were similar to kaplan until i was shocked at a basic assessment question which triggered my knowledge of "oh my god..i have got to be sucking for them to ask me this!" I got all 265 ?'s and it took me 5.45 hours because i tried so hard to apply kaplans strategy. I loved Kaplan when I was studying it, I got the concepts and mastered the decision tree and felt really good about it. This was my second attempt and the same number of questions. Does anyone else have any good study tips that won't cost me $418, because I really can't afford to throw more money away

I signed up for Kaplan also when i was studying for NCLEX. I am a foreign grad. I think, i paid $400 for 3 months, and took my NCLEX last Dec. 22. I had 86 questions, and just like you i had a lot of meds that I've never seen or heard before, exhibit, SATA and a lot of delegation and prioritization questions. I scored 64% on my readiness test. In most of the questions that i got, decision tree was not applicable, like they said, in some questions you can't use them. Then using ABC strategy, you have to know what is the problem of your patient first (signs and symptoms) then decide if it is expected or unexpected.

I used Saunders (borrowed from the library), Kaplan book and the 3500 NCLEX review. I studied every rationale in every question i encountered, i printed lab value and taped them on the wall (easy to see and remember) and prayers....

hey luckymeson,

may i ask what kaplan book did you buy.....are u talking about the blue cover kaplan stradegies/review/practice qs ?

I have been there....I did the in class with Kaplan the first time....did questions...alot of questions and failed in July after 75 question...felt like a failure....but the second time around I approach studying different...I first went over the systems for the first week....to refresh myself on the foundation then....I watched the Kaplan videos online....all of them! Then Questions, Questions, Questions....from the QB....and I passed this past Dec with 75 questions....the strategy works.....Go back to basics is what I would do...pull out ur MED/SURG book....I hope this is helpful.

Don Anderson Review NClex Prep. I think his test prep has one of the highest success rates in the US. Almost all my class took the Anderson course and passed and the few that either didn't take it or took the Kaplan didn't.

That said it all.

Kaplan is supposed to give you a money back guarantee. At least they did when they pitched it to my school. I didn't personally use them, because they told me they didn't review content in the course I thought it was pointless.

I passed the NCLEX last month in 75 questions. I had all the usual books and access to the Kaplan QBank and trainers. I would look at the stack of prep books and the thousands of pages to read and just get too overwhelmed. So I decided to settle on Illustrated Study Guide for the NCLEX-RN® Exam, 7e by JoAnn Zerwekh MSN EdD RN. It is about half the thickness of Saunders and a very nice read. I honestly thought it was the best of all the books. The pediatric information is grouped within the chapters so it is easy to see how pediatrics relates to or differs from adult. The medications are at the end of each chapter which I thought was extremely helpful. I studied two chapters per day for about two weeks before my test date, and the last two days before the test I just quit worrying about it and enjoyed some down time. Best of luck.

I'm so sorry that you did not pass. I can't imagine the hurt you must be feeling. I just wanted to encourage you not to give up or feel like a failure( easier said then done). Give yourself time to mourn, and then get back in the game. You can do it! If you lived in MD I could give you a resource that really helps. If not, change your study plan and habits. Kaplan did not work for you, it is not for everyone. NCSBN worked for me ( did ten days ). Wishing you much success in the future.

I failed the first time I took the test last week. I was considering Kaplan review course but now I don't know. So discouraged and confused!