Did any of you NOT take a NCLEX prep course??

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Specializes in Psych.

I graduate in three weeks and have not signed up for a prep course. I have explored various sources of information as to whether I should or not, and I am not convinced it will be worth my time or money.

I would like to hear from people who did not take a prep course and are now RNs, whether or not they'd recommend the same route to another graduating nurse or whether they would have done things differently if they had to do it over again.

FWIW...I have made very high grades in all the nursing courses and have always tested at level 1 in ATI, and I also do well in clinical.

Thanks for any input.

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I did not take a course, passed on my first try but if I had to do over again, would have taken the Kaplan review course. You can't be too prepared for this and if you take the course you will be guaranteed to pass. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

No I did not take one. I just got a practice test book and did some of that. Honestly, I did not study much, passed in 75 questions. I really believe the test is more about knowing how to take it than real knowledge of anything. Shame, really. Sounds like you will be fine.

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Specializes in CICU.

I would not have, if I didn't have to. My school required two review courses before they would send our authorization to the state.

I am sure they helped, but I studied so much on my own that I do not think I needed it.

If nothing else, a review may provide some confidence because waiting to take the NCLEX can be extremely nerve-wracking.

Good luck.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

It all depends on you, but I'm a recent Canadian educated RN, and we have the same deal. I didn't take a prep course, and neither did any of my friends. We all passed on the first attempt. I feel those prep courses are a waste of time and money. If you study well in advance, and use the guides, you should be fine. Also, what many people forget is that you already need to have a strong knowledge base well before studying for, or writing the exam. If you do, you should be fine GL :)

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I can proudly said that I did not pay $500 for a Kaplan NCLEX course, I walk in and walk out and passed. Just study hard! I know people pay for the course and still fail. It's all up to your study habit and critical thinking skill

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It all depends on you, but I'm a recent Canadian educated RN, and we have the same deal. I didn't take a prep course, and neither did any of my friends. We all passed on the first attempt. I feel those prep courses are a waste of time and money. If you study well in advance, and use the guides, you should be fine. Also, what many people forget is that you already need to have a strong knowledge base well before studying for, or writing the exam. If you do, you should be fine GL :)

I pretty much agree with this post. I didn't take one either and passed on the first try. Maybe prep courses are helpful for some, I dunno, but the best they can do is show you what to study and how to study; they can't force the information into your brain. You still have to do the work, so you might as well save your money.

I used Kaplan and Saunders books to study from. Kaplan was really good for test-taking strategies, which I found to be quite useful. Saunders had so many practice questions that I didn't get through all of them, but I gave it a good shot and found it to be very helpful as well.

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I graduate in three weeks and have not signed up for a prep course. I have explored various sources of information as to whether I should or not, and I am not convinced it will be worth my time or money.

I would like to hear from people who did not take a prep course and are now RNs, whether or not they'd recommend the same route to another graduating nurse or whether they would have done things differently if they had to do it over again.

FWIW...I have made very high grades in all the nursing courses and have always tested at level 1 in ATI, and I also do well in clinical.

Thanks for any input.

I didn't do a prep course, but my program used HESI exams in every clinical course plus an exit exam that we had to score well above HESI's own "acceptable" standard in order to graduate.

How you did in clinical doesn't matter in terms of the NCLEX- it's all about your testing skills.

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Specializes in Family NP, OB Nursing.

Didn't take a prep course and passed with 75 questions first time. I didn't think the exam was difficult. Took the test 16 yrs ago though.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

No prep course here! Self studied with Saunders comprehensive and Kaplan strategy books. Passed first time, 75 questions. Good luck :)

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Specializes in ER.

Another one here that didn't take a prep course :)

Studied for a week with only Kaplan, and passed first attempt in 75 questions.

I was also a Canadian trained nurse, so I second the opinion that it is knowing "how" to take it more than being an expert on specific facts.

I wrote a year ago :)

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Specializes in Surgery/Acute Care/Management/Psych.
No prep course here! Self studied with Saunders comprehensive and Kaplan strategy books. Passed first time, 75 questions. Good luck :)

Same here. I found those two texts to be great for helping me pass without taking one of those (expensive!) courses.

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