Saunders Question

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

I'm wondering what kind of scores one should receive on the Saunders practice test in the book and CD (I haven't had a chance to look at the CD yet so I don't know how it's set up) to feel good about passing NCLEX.

There are times I take a test and do well and then I feel like another doesn't go so well...but I sometimes wonder if a score that doesn't feel great is actually considered pretty decent.

Any ideas?

(I think my original post ended up in the wrong forum...oops)

Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.

I did Suzanne4's first tip and then did 3000Q on the CD (100 per day). I read all of the rationales. My grades were 68-86%. I passed with 75Q!:nurse:

Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
I did Suzanne4's first tip and then did 3000Q on the CD (100 per day). I read all of the rationales. My grades were 68-86%. I passed with 75Q!:nurse:

I need to get my CD working.

We planned a vacation at a bad time...soon. I will be back a couple of weeks before I test.

While I'm on vacation it will be extremely hard to study. I loaded a Saunders onto my PDA and I'm going to make flash cards with some basics on them. I'm going to keep them with me and use them in lines. The lines unfortunately might not be too long...I know odd thing to be bummed about. My daughter is disabled to so we end up going to the front or darn near close to the front of the line. I know the family would be mad if I told them I wanted to stand in the regular lines.

I should have a laptop in the car and with any luck it will have a cd drive....but since it's not my laptop I don't know what it really has.

i am almost done with saunders 4th edition and still feel like its not enough any advice.

Specializes in Psychiatry.

I would try to do as many Kaplan questions as possible. For me they are the closest in difficulty and wording to the NCLEX. I found out today that I passed with 75 questions. I used Saunders for the content and several other books for the questions. I didn't like the questions in the Saunders book, they were too centered on the book content and didn't really emphasized the critical thinking needed to pass the NCLEX (just my opinion here). There is a Kaplan book that offers 2 tests with 180 questions each. I scored 72% in each. They rationalized and analyze all your answers. There is another book I used to do the new question style (blank, drop in the box, asap, etc). The book is separated in different chapter with an average of 10 questions per chapter. It's a very easy book to use and carry along (on vacation:up:).

SAHStudent do you have the option of changing your testing date, even for a couple of days? Wouldn't you feel better if you knew you could enjoy this coming vacation to relax and have fun with your family? When you come back, you'll be able to focus on the NCLEX.

If I have one advise to give to anybody, it would be to NOT sit for the NCLEX if YOU don't feel ready for it. If you can't use your critical thinking to answer the questions, practice more.

Good luck to you and have fun on your vacation!

Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

SAHStudent do you have the option of changing your testing date, even for a couple of days? Wouldn't you feel better if you knew you could enjoy this coming vacation to relax and have fun with your family? When you come back, you'll be able to focus on the NCLEX.

If I have one advise to give to anybody, it would be to NOT sit for the NCLEX if YOU don't feel ready for it. If you can't use your critical thinking to answer the questions, practice more.

Good luck to you and have fun on your vacation!

I really can't change the date. I start working on September 22nd (that can't change...I was set to start in October and they moved it up) and I want to have it done before I start. If I fail I will no longer have any license because the temp expires the moment my results are posted. If I'm not going to have my RN I won't be able to work. Some floors they say you can work as an aid but it's not likely on my floor. I don't want to start and then have to stop. I would actually be more stressed taking it after I start working.

I have the Saunders book, I have a Lippincot book (school included that in our tuition so I had no choice but to buy it, I have NCLEX Made Easy (the husband bought it for me for Christmas, I have Hesi evolve reach NCLEX (highly recommended on Barnes & Nobles website) and Mosby's Comprehensive Review for NCLEX. The Saunders I need to keep because I started using it. I don't feel comfortable returning something that I opened and rolled back the cover. I think I want to return the Hesi or Mosby's...I'm thinking the Mosby's because of the reviews that were great on the Hesi. I also ordered Exam Cram yesterday and that will be here today.

There are just so many people recommending so many different books that you just don't know where to turn. The Kaplan book wasn't available at Barnes and Noble or I actually would have grabbed that then Mosby's.

Should I just order it...I can have it here by tomorrow with the shipping only being $3.99.

Would I be better off with Kaplan, Mosby or Hesi? Saunders is already here and on my PDA. Kaplan doesn't seem to be available for the PDA which would be great on vacation.

I hate there are so many options...I just don't know which way to go.

Specializes in Psychiatry.

Wow you have a lot of books... In my opinion, it's better to have 1 book for review (Saunders) and plenty of other books to practice questions. The Kaplan book I'm talking about is "NCLEX-RN Strategies for the registered nursing licensing exam" 2008-2009. You'll find 1 test with 180 questions in the book and the 2nd test is on a CD. The book is not too big to carry along with you on your trip. It also gives you some strategies to help you answer the NCLEX style questions.

I wish I could help you more. Saunders is a big book but for me it was well worth it going through it. Make sure you know your body systems and how they relate to each other. Know your labs. For the medication part, I didn't study each individual one (except important one like heparine, Coumadin, aspirin, Lasix, and the ones that have some dietary restriction like the ones contradicated with thyramine containing food or grapefruit juice, etc.). I studied the classes instead of individual meds.

Look at how many free time you'll have on your vacation. Think if you'll be more willing to read your Saunders book (and take some notes) or if you would rather do questions. Will you be able to find a quiet place with no distaction? I think if you can find 4 hours for yourself almost every day, you should be fine (2 hours in the morning, then 2 hours later in the day for example). Use the books you feel good about. Again, I loved Kaplan for the questions, not so much for the review part of the theory. You might not like Kaplan at all so you shouldn't use it. I can't help you with Hesi and Mosby, I didn't use them...

So I am really having a hard time!! I took the NCLEX twice and failed using kaplan review for both :( I scored 68% of question trainer 7 and it says that if you score 65% or above you should take the test with confidence but I am so confused now!! I basically have done all of kaplan and i am not sure if i should get my money back or continue using it. But I really don't know what else to use to review. i have a job set up and they have been very nice so far with being supportive but i really want to pass this time and i am not sure my job will be there if i fail again!! please help me with your suggestions!! Does Suzanne's Plan really work or should i do something else. Please HELP ME!! It seriously has been a tough road!!

Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
Wow you have a lot of books...

Look at how many free time you'll have on your vacation. Think if you'll be more willing to read your Saunders book (and take some notes) or if you would rather do questions. Will you be able to find a quiet place with no distaction? I think if you can find 4 hours for yourself almost every day, you should be fine (2 hours in the morning, then 2 hours later in the day for example). Use the books you feel good about. Again, I loved Kaplan for the questions, not so much for the review part of the theory. You might not like Kaplan at all so you shouldn't use it. I can't help you with Hesi and Mosby, I didn't use them...

I do have a lot and something has to go back. I was in the store, didn't know what I wanted, bought a bunch with the plan to return something.

I won't have any free time on my vacation. The free time will be standing in lines for rides. We've done this vacation in the past and we get up early and don't end until really late. There are a few nights at best we come back a little early but it's rare. I will never get time to myself because my husband will have a hard time with the 3 kids in the heat...one has a feeding tube and we had a major issue 2 years ago (very close to calling 911).

I am going to use the PDA in lines and make cards. We are driving and that will a day and a half to get there...so I have that time. The way home we are rushing it some so I will have 1 day to read. I will then have 15+ days before I take NCLEX. I did score well on my ATI predictors (98% chance and 94% chance of passing on my first try).

I think I'm going to return Mosby's. The Made Easy one I wish I could return but it was a present and I've had it for a while and so it has to stay. I've heard great things about the Hesi and it's slim so I may keep that. I also heard the Saunders and the Exam Cram. So I need to decide if I want to keep The Hesi and Exam Cram because those are the only ones I can return.

So what stays...

Saunders

Lippincot (I don't count this one...I used it a while back and didn't like it but can't return it)

Made Incredibly Easy (has to stay....not the best book)

So I have 1 I feel is really good.

Could be returned...

Hesi Conprehensive Review for NCLEX

Mosby (I'm feeling like that one needs to go back)

Exam Cram (can go back but I did hear good things.

I also am easy distracted so more then one book will help me make sure my mind doesn't wander off.

I hate that there are so many books.

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