ATI Testing...tell me about it

Hey I am not sure if this the proper place to post this but here goes...I am in my second to last nursing (PN). We are required to take an ATI test and our score counts for 25% of our total grade in the class. Now my class is the first class that has had to ATI and it count towards our grade in class. Has anyone else done this? The class before ours all failed the first ATI test that they took. I am only allowed one chance from what I understand and it counts for a chunk of my grade. So I could use whatever info you all have about ATI testing! Thanks!:wink2:

I would definitely recommend reading ALL of the ATI text that corresponds with the class you are taking the assessment in. If you're given practice assessments, do them and read all of the rationales to the answers, especially the wrong ones. I find that reading the rationales behind the wrong answers helps me to know exactly why they're wrong. Finally, read each question carefully, keep track of your timing, and RELAX! Good luck :)

Any more questions, message me :)

Our class consisted of both RN's and LPN's together in class the first year. We went over the material, and took tests in ATI newborn, children, and adolescents. I scored in the 99th percentile in the nation. Most of our students did really well. I believe the next years class used ATI testing more. We started with our graduating class using ERI testing. You had to pass the test to graduate. It was an excellent indicator of NCLEX preparation and passing. The ATI was a lot easier. I passed the ERI the first time. Good luck to you. Try not to worry too much about the testing. You'll do just fine.:heartbeat

We have a web site that we have unlimited access to practice ATI. I think we are piloting the program for future students at our school. Apparently there is a hefty fee involved that the school has to pay. It allows us to see what area we are weak in. We took our official ATI test about 2 weeks ago. I did well (99%), but I am already a LVN. Some in our class struggled with it and have to retake. I recommend using the web site or book (whatever resource you have) to practice. Go over the wrong answers and try to understand why you missed the ones you did.

We take one test midterm and another as part of our final exam. The testing online with rationales and the texts do help. I would love to know where I can go to school and have this paid for by the school! We forked out $365, though that will cover all 4 semesters of our program. I've also found the DVD's that came with the set to be very helpful for skills implementation. The only complaint I've heard from faculty is that there is no way to know what will be on the proctored tests so our midterm grades are always really low, thank goodness that is not part of our final grade!:nuke:

I took the ATI for my LPN and RN. Both of my classes did very well on both test. One girl didnt but re-took it and did very well the second time and passed the NCLEX first try. If I was you I would not study for it since there is so much content to cover. Perhaps I would say just go over your weakest area in school. For me that was OB and pharm. The test isnt really that bad at all. I found it to be pretty decent and a good tool for the real NCLEX

The instution where I teach counts the ATI exam as 10% of the final grade in all courses. We go over related ATI book content during classes and give the student the ATI DVD to use throughout the semester, and students all have access to the ATI website for the nonproctored exams until they graduate. We felt that 10% was enough "teeth" to get the students to study for the test and take it seriously. We didn't want to go much higher than that, as ATI is a standardized exam that we didn't develop.

As a result of implementing the ATI system across the curriculum about 4 years ago, our board scores are much higher and students are comfortable sitting in front of a computer to take the NCLEX. I think that they pay $75 a semester (for two courses a semester of ATI exams, books and DVD's and web access). I think that the investment has proven to be a good one for both students and the institution.

In my BSN program, there is an ATI exam at the end of every clinical semester. Those that do not pass (I'm not sure the exact cutoff number) have to take the clinical again.....even if they have an A in the course up until that point.

Scary!

Thank you all very much for your responses. I will TRY not to stress too much! We were told today that we are going to get the ATI material right away and have practice tests and classes along with plenty of study material before our "final" ATI test that counts for 25% of our grade...its still worries me because it is such a high percentage of our final grade...but I am an A student so I hope that I have retained enough to be able to do well on the ATI final test! Thanks again!!!:heartbeat

In my RN (ADN) program we used ATI test. They were also a part of our grade in fact at the end of the program the real "final" exam it didn't matter if we had passing grades in our classes if we didn't pass that final ATI test we did not graduate. I feel that it is a good program and gave me an even better knowlegde base. Good luck and prayers to you.