Re: Kaplan Vs Ncsbn Nclex-rn Review

Originally Posted by marcos9999

My word of caution here is: don't rely solely on any given method or book. Each book brings a piece of the puzzle. Kaplan strategies are good and they will help you with some of the questions. There are other type questions where the Kaplan tree does not work at all, and if you don't know the answer you get it wrong (every time). I like the NCSBN course but it also does not offer any guarantees. I think that the only guarantee you have is to score 75% in any and all questions you answer being them from kaplan, Hurst review, Lippincott or any other. The reason is that when you get to the test day the questions will be challenging, difficult and strange and nothing you ever seen. The second time I took the test the questions didn't look too much like the Kaplan at all, the pharmacology review from Kaplan is a far cry to what you will see in the test, I think their question bank is getting a little old. I think you should be prepared to answer any question, knowledge base, analysis, planning, priority, infection control, drug calculation and all the other categories.

80% of test takers pass the first time and will never have to deal with this but for the rest of us there is no magical solution but to know the whole story inside out.

Thank you so much for your advice.
I just have a question, did u pass when u took ncsbn?
what i steh difference between hurst , kaplan and NCSBN?
please let me know so that i can go for it this time.

Re: Kaplan Vs Ncsbn Nclex-rn Review

I took the nclex 4 times. The first time I was flooded in my town/area and was unable to attend my testing time in Indianapolis. The flooding was all over CNN and people were being evacuated, yet pearson vue didn't allow me to retest without paying the full amount so they considered my absence a failure.

2nd time I failed at 75 questions about 90 days post nursing school graduation after prepping with ATI testing books and the Kaplan self study book.

The 3rd time 6 months after post graduation, I failed after answering 265 questions and studying "Nclex made incredibly easy."

So after 10 months post graduation I bit the bullet and paid the $500 to take the kaplan on site course for my 4th and last Nclex attempt. The material in class was identical to the stuff online. The only difference was the opportunity to ask questions. The strategies they mention about what the questions were looking for helped quite a bite and it is true the longer you wait after graduating, the more difficult the nclex test becomes.

Long story short, it is very likely that any prep course if any will help, but none will be the magic bullet. Taking the nclex right after graduation is the best chance of success you will have. I took the LPN nclex right after graduating, only answered 80 questions in 45 minutes and got my LPN license.

Re: Kaplan Vs Ncsbn Nclex-rn Review

Thank u for sharing your story. i am so inspired and also learnt that being confident is important.
As i said earlier i am a foriegn trained nure and graduate d 2 years ago!!!
I ma taking nclex for 2nd time now

Re: Kaplan Vs Ncsbn Nclex-rn Review

Kevin- so what advice do you have for someone who has waited over 2 years- I did take it this past March and failed, I signed up for Kaplan and loved it! I passed the diagnostics and end of course review above 75% and did 700 Qbanks, I took the nclex again in June and again failed ( I actually walked out of there thinking I passed, unlike most others) I have not been able to get myself into the mental realm of studying again until now. Any suggestions?? Should I try the Saunders book and signe up for Kaplan again (I don't qualify for the re-take course but I can pay $200 to get the online and qbank) HELP please!

Re: Kaplan Vs Ncsbn Nclex-rn Review

I used saunders and NCLEX 3500 for my review. It does help and result to minimum question. All the best!