Kaplan confuses the HEEZY outta me!!!!

yes but just practice practice practice doing questions and you will get it...most important thing is read the rationales...really puts it all together! you will get it! make sure you practice alternate questions bc TONS on nclex....i means tons (select all that apply, priority, etc.)

This is my thinking. I know that they taught us the decision tree, but no one in my class had EVER heard about a decision tree until our final semester. I did fairly well in nursing school, mostly B's. That being said, when they taught us the decision tree and the tricks to help answer the question, it was confusing to me and I didn't want to memorize one more thing. I was bombarded with enough information and I was trying to absorb it all. If you've done well in school and you test well, then just answer your questions as you've always had. For the most part you probably already do steps to the decision tree, but not in that sequence and you don't have a trademarked name for your tactics. A few of my friends who don't test well, memorized the decision tree and felt like it helped them. I didn't use it and a few of my classmates who do well on exams already didn't use it either and passed without using it. I hope that helps you in making a decision as to whether you should use it or not.

Kaplan is actually a GREAT program and using it as designed, meaning doing most or all of the questions, remediating when necessary and doing the Kaplan Trainers pretty much guarantee success on the NCLEX-RN. Of course, don't just answer the questions, makes sure you understand the rationale for the questions that you answered incorrectly, as well as correctly.

Oh, and I must add that your classmates are right. It does take time to learn the decision tree and tactics, but if you're scoring well without it, then you're doing some form of it already. Don't bother trying to remember steps unless you're not scoring well and you need to learn the steps. Hope that helps!

I am in the same boat as you. I am using the kaplan stragegies 2011-2012 and i must say IT SO CONFUSING! however hang in there. Like everyone has been saying practice! practice! practice! and i think we will get it :)

Good Luck to us :)

The only strategy I took from Kaplan was always assume the worst...which now that I think about it, I cant remember if that was Kaplan or HURST. And always assess first...I KNOW that one is a Kaplan strategy. When I went to sit for the test, the only thing I was trying to do was hold back my tears because I was so nervous. SO my advice to you is choose three strategies that you can apply. Good luck!

Find which strategies work for you the best and which ones don't. I didn't use every strategy they taught, but I did find some things they taught very useful. as everyone else has said: practice a lot. That's what helps the most. Good luck!