ATI for each class

kbm318 · Dec 17, 2009

The program my bf just graduated from did this as well. He did every year he was there and he said it really seemed to help him in school and when preparing for his NCLEX. The only bad thing about them at his school was if you didn't pass it you couldn't move on until you did.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

we use ATI as well. How much it counts for....its really up to the individual professor. Its been worth 0% (and just a participation grade) up to 30% of our overall grade.

I have a love hate relationship with it. I do terrible on the practice exams, but end up doing really well on the actual proctored tests (I have three level 3s-Med/Surg, OB and Community Health, and one level 2-Pedi).

However, I am skeptical on how much ATI is actually like the NCLEX. After browsing the forums, some say that the NCLEX is entirely another beast of its own. But our professors say ATI is an excellent predictor of who will and will not pass NCLEX. No idea. It could just be another money making scheme for all I know.

I do like the practice though. And generally, I find NCLEX review books more comprehensive than the ATI and generally study out of those for my ATI exams.

TRR8021 · Dec 17, 2009

At my program, the ATI doesn't count for any percentage of your grade. We just have to pass within the 50th percentile or better in order to pass the class. So, theoretically, you could have an A in the class but still fail because you couldn't pass the ATI (probably unlikely to happen if you have an A!) This could be a problem for someone in the C range though.

I really don't have a problem with the ATI's and always do well on them, but a lot of my classmates really get worked up over it. We get two chances to pass it. I find the practice ATI's really helpful and that's how I prepare for them. At the end of the practice exam, you get a score and assessment report of your strong and weak points. I use that report to guide my studying for the real exam.

J.L.Harper3 · Dec 17, 2009

We use ATI at our university and because of it so many students have failed. It's a lovely addition as far as supplemental education goes but the way it is incorporated into our grade is ridiculous. It is scored by our school as a level 1,2, or 3. A level one means you get 0% of the total 10%. A level 2 is a 5%. A level 3 is 10 of 10%. Now, I have done decently well on the exams. I'll get an 83% when the national average is a 72%. However, if a level three requires an 84%, that means I will be dropped 5% of my total grade in the course. That makes a huge difference! What I don't understand is why I can't get a 8.3% of that 10%.

Well, I hope it's done differently where you are because it just doesn't seem fair. One plus I can tell is that while we have had ATI, the NCLEX pass rate has increased.. but that may be because students have had to stay an extra semester or year and had the information jammed into their heads!

Rednights · Dec 17, 2009

Every single page in each of your ATI books is fair game for questions. So when you reach that 1400 page Med/Surge book, either have a good week to read ALL OF IT or read every every bit at a time.

Considering the national average for the Med/Surge was around 62%, it's not "easy" at all.

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

I do not love ATI!!!

it is worth 20+ percent of our grade!!!

if you study your butt off, get an A in the class, and dont reach at least a level 2 on ATI... you are out!!!

they give us 2 proctored chances, but we need a level 2 OR ELSE!!!

that is in every semester!!!!

thank God I passed them all!!!

JUST TO FIND OUT that on my leadership/practicum they are making us retake all ATI and that will be 75% of our grade (not retake the same proctors, they have more of them!!!) ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

ATI you are a pain in the nut!

Hazel11 · Dec 17, 2009

We have ATI too. I have a love/hate relationship with it as well. Our university started using it, and it really has helped determine who will pass the NCLEX. I really like the books though; they are straight-forward and a good review!

chuckz, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2009

Seriously, they are more annoying than anything. I use the ATI books to look at new material that has to be learned in classes. It gives me a bullet point version of the material, than I look at the power points from the teacher, and they make more sense. I don't like taking the stupid tests, but I guess it's just another hoop to jump through.

barlowjb · Dec 18, 2009

2 yrs before i graduated from nursing school they implemented ATIs. at first it was mandatory but worth 0%. Then for other courses, it was worth 5% - in this case if you got say below a level 1 you were allowed to do remediation and another practice test to get as close to 5% as possible.

Then in our last nursing course it was worth 14% - again in this case if you failed it you were allowed to do the remediation process to increase your grade.

It was sort of stressful - because most of the times I was at below a level 1 - but it was not a case where you had to pass the ATI in order to pass the course - so hopefully its the same situation for you.

I didn't like taking them, but in retrospect after passing the NCLEX on my first attempt, I think they helped.

It helps if you do the practice ATIs a couple times before the actual test.

Best wishes

jrw03282009 · Dec 18, 2009

I hate the ATI styling. The first few times of taking it are GREAT! But, if yours are like mine... the questions on the tests NEVER change. Once I see the question once or twice, I remember it and tend to not even look at the questions anymore. I know it is a flaw on my part but it would be nice if they changed it up a bit. Cant be THAT hard can it???

BigMan314 · Dec 18, 2009

ATI is mandatory for most classes we take. they are not worth any of our overall grade, but if we meet the national mean, we can earn up to 2.5% of extra credit towards our overall grade, so it's not a bad thing. we also have the option to re-take it if we fail the first time to get the extra credit