Best books for nclex please?

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Greetings everyone,

So after my third unsuccessful attempt at NCLEX, I realized that my issue was not core content as I have HURST down to a science but rather it was assessment and delegation. Therefore, I got the PDA book by Linda Lacharity. But my question goes a bit further as I'm torn. I retake NCLEX in 5 weeks. What is everyones thoughts on KAPLAN NCLEX RN 20012-2013 strageties book and also Saunders 5th edition. I'm becoming overwhelmed with resources and have wasted my time already on more and more ATI questions and NCLEX for dummies which I think was a total waste. Please give me some advice. :0

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Float Pool, MICU, CTICU.

I used Saunders 5th edition and read it cover to cover. I think the kaplan book I used was that book you mention. I did questions from the CD and just did the questions and exam from the book. I suggest reading that whole book as well and reviewing the rationle after answering each question. I have mobsy mini pharm book for pharm review. We did PDA during school, so I didn't have time to review it. It would be in your benefit to review it.

Since you are comfortable with content, doing kaplan questions shoud help you greatly. I didn't have money to spend on a review course, so I knew I had to buckle down! Hope this helps!

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Thank you! Too many resources to pick from.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Float Pool, MICU, CTICU.

I totally understand! Good luck!

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Too many Saunders recommendation which is good but i really like Pearson's NCLEX-RN by Mary Hogan. If you are looking for contents, this is book is a MUST!

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I test in 1 week and I have completely done the Kaplan strategies 2013-2014 book and loved it. It's making me feel confident in my ability to pass NCLEX. Very helpful with how to answer questions, not content based, which you said you're good with. I'd focus on doing the PDA book, Kaplan book, and some Saunders. I haven't used my Saunders book much, but am starting to now, I have no idea how the questions compare to the NCLEX, but they're definitely easier than the Kaplan questions to me. I also have the NCSBN course but am finding the questions to be weird, they're hard to understand what the question is asking you and it has a lot of typos.

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If you are strong in content, I would just keep doing Qs and look up what you don't understand. Don't bog yourself down with content or waste your time with things you already know. I just passed in 75 Qs after doing 5000 Kaplan and ATI questions.

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Btw Kaplan q bank is prob worth more than the strategies book.

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Btw Kaplan q bank is prob worth more than the strategies book.

What do you mean by that?

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I think the review books are so overwhelming. I too just drilled and drillled questions and passed. Maybe you need help in test taking strategy?

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What do you mean by that?

What I think they mean is what I mean-that drilling questions from the question.bank is going to do you a lot more good than reviewing content at this point.

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What do you mean by that?

As what others have posted, I found the best way to prepare is to drill Qs and google what you don't understand in order to make progress and not inundate yourself with strategies and content (ESP content that you already know). This was the advice from my mentors at the hosp I work at and I passed first shot in 75 Qs last week. However, I will state that according to Kaplan's disclaimer, one must be strong in content first to take on their q bank. If not, maybe a more content driven curriculum would work best. I myself completed up to 5000 Qs including all of Kaplan and all of ATI (and detests of all Qs I answered incorrectly).

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