ATI vs Kaplan vs NCLEX

katherine100, LPN · Aug 20, 2009

Having just graduated, obviously I am faced with the same feat as the rest of graduate nurses...
Anyway... I have been reading peoples posts about ATI and it's true predictive value, and it seems to me that the comprehensive tests are relatively accurate.
I took 2 ATI predictors a my university (University of Missouri - St. Louis)
On 2007 form B, I got a 76.7%, 96% probability of passing at the beginning of my last semester
On 2007 form A, I got an 81.3%, 98% probability of passing at the end of my last semester
I have been reading others posts about ATI compared to NCLEX, and it seems that it is pretty accurate. I like how ATI doesn't give anyone 100% predicted probability of passing NCLEX on the first attempt ... because it is never a guarantee!
I found it really strange though... many students in my class actually did worse on the second predictor, which was easier I thought, since I did better on it, and despite the national average being higher for form A...
One student I know got a 98 (predicted probability of passing) on the first one, and dropped to a 96 on the second, others got in the 91-96 range on the first, and then dropped into mid low 80s on the second... I really felt sorry for them, as they were forced to take a review course (either kaplan or ati or our school's). However, another student went from 91 on the first to 99 on the second...
This makes me a little weary of ATI, although their predictor tests are 180 questions, on the other focused content exams, I seemed to do pretty variably on....
Medical surgical - 76
Community health - 86
Fundamentals - 71
Leadership - 63 (guess I am not a good leader)
Maternal/newborn - 73
Pediatrics - 73
Mental health - 66 (I don't like psych anyway)
Pharm - 78
(These are all percent correct)
I have asked many RNs about the NCLEX, and I hear a lot of the sames stuff... some people say it's the hardest test they have ever taken, others say it's easy... many people I know had good predictor scores and passed... many say kaplans questions are just like the NCLEX, or maybe it's Saunders??? I have also met some nurses that are so dumb... I will probably kill myself if I don't pass it...
Eh, I signed up for Kaplan, just for the extra practice questions and because a lot of people have recommended it, but a lot of the questions are just like what the ****....
Like this one:
An 18-year-old boy had surgery yesterday for repair of a torn rotator cuff in the right shoulder. Although Demerol 75 mg IM is ordered q 3 hrs PRN, the patient has refused the medication since surgery. During morning rounds, the nurse notes that the patient's teeth are clenched, and he is diaphoretic. The nurse should
A. administer the Demerol 75 mg IM as ordered.
B. explain that taking medication will not lead to drug addiction.
C. ask the patient if he is experiencing any pain.
D. ask the patient why he has refused the medication.
The answer is C... why the hell would you assess pain if the patient has been refusing pain medication and their teeth are clenched and sweating? Is that not good enough indication that the person is in pain?
Anyway, I took the diagnostic test, got a 66.11 percent... and from what I have read on this forum that is solid. There is so much damn content to review, it's pretty much pointless it seems at this point. 2 people who passed in 75 question I know said they are only sure of like 3 questions on the NCLEX... This tells me no matter how much content you review, it is pretty much pointless... that's why I am sticking to taking questions...
Sometimes it feels like you have to be slightly retarded to pass the NCLEX. Any comments/suggestions are welcome here.

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That question was nothing. I have seen harder on Kaplan . Their strategy was so different to ATI. They teach you to look at the question and decide..'Do i need to assess or implement" . The style is so different to ATI. Hope you did alrite.

RNindmaking · Aug 20, 2009

You need to validate that's why you ask the patient.

kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN · Aug 20, 2009

i honestly don't like ati. my school takes them each semester and usually the students who are failing do better than those who are passing. and some may say, oh it's the critical thinking..i disagree, and i disagree because half the students laugh after the test and say "oh i just clicked the longest answer or closed my eyes and went". ati isn't my favorite, well not with semester exams at least. a comprehensive one may be better, i'll let you know this fall. most on here like kaplan, search for ati in the other forums and you'll see very mixed reviews.

that's actually a pretty easy kaplan question, sometimes i question their reasoning, but not in this case. here's my thought.

an 18-year-old boy had surgery yesterday for repair of a torn rotator cuff in the right shoulder. although demerol 75 mg im is ordered q 3 hrs prn, the patient has refused the medication since surgery. during morning rounds, the nurse notes that the patient's teeth are clenched, and he is diaphoretic. the nurse should

a. administer the demerol 75 mg im as ordered. don't give something a patient refused.

b. explain that taking medication will not lead to drug addiction. nothing was ever said about addiction

c. ask the patient if he is experiencing any pain. just because his teeth are clenched and sweating doesn't mean he's in pain. seizure maybe, extremely angry, allergic reaction to a med, who knows...so you assess. if he says yes, go from there.

d. ask the patient why he has refused the medication. never ask a patient why(although i would in real life..but never on the nclex would i ask a "why" question. plus asking them why they didn't do something does not help the pain or situation.)

and just my advice, i'd be careful about calling anyone dumb or stupid. just because someone may not "act smart", does not mean they aren't.

KAYBDT6, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2009

the question is asking for your nursing process. assessment should be the first thing in other to determine reason the pt is refusing pain medication.

a. administer the demerol 75 mg im as ordered. .can't give w/o assessing the pt and finding out what is the reason.

b. explain that taking medication will not lead to drug addiction. -jumping to conclusion

c. ask the patient if he is experiencing any pain. - assessment

d. ask the patient why he has refused the medication. -inappropriate to ask a pt why, because pt has the right to refuse medication.

i have try tons of review books but ati and kaplan really helped. they both have same concept and format of nclex question. unlike all other review, there mode of question is direct compare. if you know your content, am 100% sure sucess possible. :up:

annfaith, DNP, NP · Aug 20, 2009

Having taken the NCLEX-RN and passed the first time with 75 questions I know for a fact that ATI is harder. I scored a 98% on my predictability test. I didn't think it was hard but you had to think a lot differently. You have to go in order. Assessment first and so on. Never skip a step. Hope this helps.

cspink · Aug 20, 2009

I never had to take the ATI test, but you do have a good score, so why take kaplan and spend your money, i used saunders comprehensive and the kaplan strategies book (about $75 total) and passed!

Coliee08 · Oct 14, 2010

I took the exam twice before passing. I first only used Kaplan took all the QT and Qbank got above 60% and failed. I dont blame Kaplan though cause i didnt think i studied enough Content the first time. Kaplan is great at giving tips on how to look at the questions but not for content. I thought i could get away with just using Kaplan but was wrong. The second time I used ATI and briefly looked over Saunders and Kaplan and passed. I do not think it is any one program that helps you pass but the good aspects of all of them together. ATI is a great review although time consuming gives you questions that are hard but help you when ur taking the NCLEX. Saunders helps with review while using ATI. I didnt use ATI books when doing virtual ATI i used SAunders when reviewing certain topics i missed on VIrtual ATI. Anyways to sum up my suggestions if your looking for something use ATI and saunders there the best most comprehensive way. With content review and questions. :) YOU CAN DO IT!! GOOD LUCK

caliotter3 · Oct 14, 2010

Sometimes a person can pass NCLEX simply by reviewing their material from school. Whatever resources one uses to study from, it is the amount of study effort they put forth that deterimines their success along with a degree of luck and favorable circumstances.

jpeters84 · Oct 14, 2010

I didn't find ATI helpful at all. I found Kaplan really helpful. I passed in under an hour with 75 questions. I found the NCLEX to be not easy, not hard, just bizarre. But when I walked away from it I felt over prepared like I spent a lot of time stressing for no reason. Kaplan prepares you well for the higher level thinking questions but I felt like there were very few higher level questions. I'd go with kaplan, do the tests and Qbank and not stress too much about it. Good luck!