Do you think saunders practice questions will help me on the Nclex?

FA to CRNA2b · Mar 17, 2009

Saunders is fine. Read the whole book and do all the questions. Don't forget to read the rationales.

rngolfer53 · Mar 17, 2009

My entire NCLEX review consisted of doing Saunders questions, as well as a PDA review program that I could use at odd moments when I didn't have a computer or book handy.....like waiting for an oil change.

I passed. I think the reason it worked is because nothing prepares you for questions as well as answering questions.

Still, while I was taking the NCLEX, I was sure of very few answers. But, it shut off after 75 questions, so don't panic if you think the test is hard while you're taking it. One question at a time, and forget thinking about previous questions or what may happen next.

Good luck to you.

RoyalNurse · Mar 17, 2009

I tried the Saunders questions, and thought they were too easy. I like the NCSBN website, after all, they're the ones writing the actual questions on the NCLEX!

Go here: http://www.learningext.com/ It's about 50 dollars for 3 weeks, but they have a lot of delegation, prioritization stuff.

Good luck, I know you'll make it!! :redpinkhe

hlhulse · Mar 17, 2009

thank you so much everyone for your advice and encouragement. I am so tired of studying. I started a little this past summer and have been seriously studying since Sept and when i failed, what a discouragement, especially after taking Kaplan. Sometimes I think my problem is that i am reading the question to fast and not thinking clearly on critical thinking. I have always had trouble with critical thinking, I feel its improved. I asume the only way to inprove your critical thinking is to practice and practice doing questions. Some of the questions in the saunders are easier compared to the Nclex, i wish that all those types of questions would be on the exam. LOL

clay07 · Mar 17, 2009

After graduation I practised only on the computer using the cd's from the Davis NCLEX prep guide.

I found Davis 's questions were closer to the questions on the exam (content)-opinion.

I found Kaplan Prep for NCLEX to be very helpful, they also have books online.

Hope this helped.

clay07 · Mar 17, 2009

Sorry, just realised I mentioned Kaplan when you said that you used it. Did you go to the review or just use the book?

itsmyturn · Mar 17, 2009

Saunders is fine. Read the whole book and do all the questions. Don't forget to read the rationales.

The above is all I did and I passed.

hlhulse · Mar 17, 2009

Clay 07,

I did the review and all the questions Kaplan gave me, actually twice. I also read the entire book that Kaplan gave me. I did alot with Kaplan. I felt it was a good starting point, but it all comes down to critical thinking with me, which i am trying to improve. :rolleyes:

lovehospital · Mar 17, 2009

hey everyone
I took the Nclex in December and failed, using kaplan too. I decided to take the Hurst review for my next review, which I took, which I thouht was good, now I am just reviewing all my notes and doing 100 questions a day from various sections in the Saunders Q & A book 3rd edition. I feel that saunders is somewhat like the Nclex but not entirely. I have no other material to get questions from. I think alot of the books out their are just like saunders questions. Do you think I will be successful if I am practicing these questions? Plus I need more hlep on prioritizing and delegation questions and saunders doesn't provide to many of them. I am planning on retaking the exam next month, april. Any suggestions. :typing

I can suggest a book called "Prioritization,Delegation Assigment" Linda A.LaCharity.It is mandatory in our school for our Nursing leadership class,I'm doing practice questions from this book right now to prepare for Hesi (in two weeks).

So yeah,maybe it is worth to give it a shot,anyway good luck,you can do it!

RNMariposa · Mar 17, 2009

I did hurst review and some of the mock nclex questions were similar to the nclex questions. I have mosby and saunders and a couple of other things but after taking the exam the closest thing to the nclex was ATI. And I said it before on another post- I hated ATI. It made me crazy and it made me cry and I wanted to burn my books a couple of times but the ATI was the closest to nclex IMO. I mainly used hurst review and kept watching the videos online until I felt I knew good with all of the content and it really helped watching the review of the mock nclex questions because they were talking through why things were right and wrong. I also made out notecards and carried them with me everywhere and went through them whenever I was out and waiting for a few minutes. However, everyone studies differently so this might not fit in with how you study.

clay07 · Mar 17, 2009

OK.

Well, when in doubt go with safety especially with meds you don't know. Some questions aren't clinical judgment, just common sense (anyone outside the profession could answer them). I find that in exams we over-think. Read the questions carefully, pay attention to clues, in other words see what is key word that if missing makes the question reads differently (makes sense?).

Try and practise doing 280 questions over 6 hours. Time and pace yourself. Select the areas you are weakest in eg. infection control, safety, clinical management, growth and development, medication...

Spend a minute on each, if you don't know, really don't know, I always think safety. For e.g. if its a med I don't know, I always eliminate the answer that I would least desire for my patient or would be most therapeutic (makes sense?).

Surgery pts: Safety-HRFF (high risk for fall), changes in vitals, risks for hypovolemia, changes in mentation, I's and O's (void how long after or amount), remeber rule is after 8 hours and pt has voided, use bed pan or have pt use commode (all dependent on type of surgery...) or if pt has foley and still nothing after 8 hours call MD. LOC, meds. What to treat first hemorrhage or oxygen...ABC or triage. Sometimes circulation overides airway if pt won't survive...(obviously in triage scenario)

Medical pts: Diabetes know your labs, S/S, What to do or not to do with hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic pts (emergency care), diabetic teaching-ulcers, nail clipping, skin care, diet (makes sense?). Exacerbation of respiratory disorders e.g. COPD, oxygen level for nasal canula, S/S, pt's on vent (alarm goes off always check pts first). As a matter of fact pts on any tubes, check patients first...These I know you know already, but I guess I am just suggesting a way in which you can study.

Focus on the systems (Neuro, rep, digestive...), look at possible (popular)diagnoses for each and study nursing interventions, think pathophysiology, tie it all together.Always read the rationales when you practise, even if you got it right.

Revise labs for acid base balance, your labs to recognise respiratory acidosis, metabolic...WBC, HgB, Hct...

I hope I helped.