Do I really need to spend money?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Feb 22, 2015

Check your textbooks from school. Many have free online NCLEX prep resources. You just need the code from your text. Many paid services such as Hurst offer a free trial. You can get NCLEX prep books on loan from your school or local library. Share NCLEX prep texts with classmates.

I did not take a prep class. Many do not. I used my resources from school (all of my texts had NCLEX style questions in the text, in the accompanying workbook/study guide, and online resources. ). I passed first try (like nearly 90% of US educated nurses)

Lilianne · Feb 22, 2015

Your public library will have free books and resources

kalycat, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2015

Is it really necessary that i spend money on a NCLEX prep? Is there a "free" alternative that will work?

Khan Academy now has an NCLEX prep program...it was put together by nurse educators nationwide, including some from my school. The videos and practice questions are great, in my opinion, and it's totally free. It also tracks your progress through the program and sends you email updates. I used it as part of my prep, and found it helpful. The best "question only" review software I used was NCLEX mastery - it's an app for Android and IPhone that many folks have had success with. The paid version is around $25 and I found that it was worth every penny for the massive supply of questions and excellent progress tracking/tailored review capabilities. I didn't pay for a review course and passed in 75. However, my program had ATI integrated throughout and I just graduated in December, so your mileage may vary depending on your unique situation.

Heres a blurb and link regarding Khan Academy (which I also used for calculus and o. chem lol)

"This content has been developed to support nursing students preparing for the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Videos and questions will be added to this collection throughout the summer and fall of 2014. All of this content has been created under the direction of Khan Academy and has been reviewed under the direction of the the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). This content is intended to be a supplemental resource for nursing graduates, not a program of study for the NCLEX-RN exam. The NCLEX-RN is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). For more information on the NCLEX-RN, visit: https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.html"

https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/NCLEX-RN#

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2015

Everyone is different. What works for one student may not work for another. I passed NCLEX my first time but I do not think I would have without Kaplan. Some people pass without studying at all. I don't think that there is an easy answer.

kalycat, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2015

Everyone is different. What works for one student may not work for another. I passed NCLEX my first time but I do not think I would have without Kaplan. Some people pass without studying at all. I don't think that there is an easy answer.

Absolutely true!! I have friends who swore by Kaplan and its methods and I couldn't stand it...for some reason I would attempt to use the decision tree as instructed and 30 seconds in, my eyes would glaze over. Learning styles are funny things, that's for sure, and with a test like this one...never the same experience twice... It's hard to know what will work for someone!

Nyde21 · Feb 23, 2015

Yeah, their "decision tree" nonsense really drove me nuts. I complained to Kaplan about it several times. Decision tree? What for? 8 to 9 out of 10 times you cant even use their "decision tree".

I have 2 options that are free, but I dont know who to go with.

I have an old Hurst review program, its all on a USB drive. I believe someone gave it to me back in very early 2014. Question is....how old is this Hurst review? And...does the date of it matter????

Also, I have an ATI prep course, with LIVE (real person) coach. But,...i dont know why something tells me that this ATI prep course, with its FREE LIVE human being coach isnt going to do it for me. Or will it????

kalycat, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2015

Nyde21,

I'm not absolutely sure on this...maybe someone knows better than I do, but I believe I read somewhere that the most recent NCLEX overhaul was 2013, so you might be ok with the Hurst....that said, I don't know for sure what they change on the test or how that relates to review content.

I didn't use ATI with a real live person, lol, but I did get a great deal out of their books and online training modules. I also felt their questions were quite comparable in difficulty and style to the actual NCLEX...just my .02, but as much as I hated ATI exams during my program, I was thankful for the support when I sat down to take the test. :)

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Feb 23, 2015

Nyde21,
I'm not absolutely sure on this...maybe someone knows better than I do, but I believe I read somewhere that the most recent NCLEX overhaul was 2013, so you might be ok with the Hurst....that said, I don't know for sure what they change on the test or how that relates to review content.

The adjustments made to the CAT scoring are minute, and every few years. Basic content is still basic content; whatever you find from 2013 or 2014 is not going to change. And regardless of people's claims that they got "a harder test" because of the CAT adjustments, in reality it isn't significant. If you were going to pass, you'd still pass. If you were going to fail, you'd still fail. Barring those who were on the spitting fine line that fell onto the 'fail' side...and who should probably do that anyway....it doesn't matter.

OP, you should go with whatever review system you find best for your own needs. Some struggle with content and must get that down before being able to even study for strategy, application of knowledge questions. Others have a good handle on content so must focus on critical thinking/application type questions.

Whatever you do....Good Luck!

Nyde21 · Feb 23, 2015

Wow! Youre so right. Problem is...i believe i need to focus on all aspects. I need to know content, strategy, critical thinking etc etc.

Wow!!! I need some major help!

loveSBK · Feb 23, 2015

Hurst videos is what helped me for content. I watched them one time and the information was the same as it was on the Saunders. And if ATI is free, then take advantage of it. We did ATI our last semester and the review was great, the lady teaching really knew how to teach. They do questions over and over, so don't expect to go in there and get full lectures. I didn't like their ATI books, too broad.

INN_777, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2015

Hi Nyde, I passed NCLEX just a few weeks ago. My main tool was Kaplan, but I also used the old Hurst lectures and I think they are just fine for the purpose. Major concepts don't change. Also on ATI. My school offered it throughout the program and then a free course at the end. I have not opened my free course since I went with Kaplan. BUT, I have to say, I never took ATI seriously but I thought nclex was actually pretty similar to ATI. That might be just my perception, of course.

So if you graduated from a strong program, you do the old Hurst lectures and use ATI for question practice this should be enough. Of course you have to gauge where you are yourself too. Good luck!