Dont Waste Money on a review course!

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I have recently passed my nclex on 6/19/2014 with 75 questions. I did pearson vue trick and it worked. I studied for a total of 3 weeks. I used the Kaplan test stratgies book, Lippincott alternate format book, and la charity delagation book. I also purchased the Ncsbn 3 week plan for 50 dollars and just did the questions. While studing all my classmates spent 400 bucks on kaplan and other reviews and I think its all a waste of money. The key to passing nclex is QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, AND MORE QUESTIONS. After a while you will get in the groove of reading the questions and seeing what it is asking. Good Luck everyone, if I can do it you can too.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

thread moved for best response

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I think my money spent on Hurst was well worth it. Everyone's core content strength, testing strength, etc. is different so for many a review course may be appropriate and beneficial. I agree that doing plenty of challenging questions (Kaplan Qbank is excellent) is almost a necessity. Also, La Charity PDA is an excellent resource. Congratulations

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.

Congratulations on the passing score, and for the most part I think that you are correct. Not everyone needs to take a review course to pass the NCLEX. In retrospect I believe that I could have passed without taking the Kaplan course. My scores were much higher than what is usually posted here but that didn't matter to me. I did all the questions I could find. Silvestri, Kaplan, and 3 other question and review books (and apps).

BUT, I believe that there are many people that should take it. The people that need help with test taking skills and even a little review of content before the NCLEX. In that case the review isn't a waste of money if it helps them pass on the first try. Many of us had the Kaplan course added to our program so it wasn't really out of pocket at the time.

So yes, you don't have to have it, but if someone is struggling then by all means reach out for more help.

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I'm actually one of those people that left the NCLEX thinking that there was no way to study for it exactly. I wasn't sure that Kaplan helped me at first, looking back it I see that it helped in some ways but after I took the exam I had a different attitude towards review courses. I agree that one should look at what the NCLEX test and work on your weak areas but not just for the sake of the test, it's for the sake of your patient and your nursing career. Before taking the NCLEX I realized that I wanted a better understanding of FVE (fluid, volume and electrolytes) and I wanted this not just for the NCLEX. I've gotten in the habit of looking for areas of weakness and strengthening those areas. The questions I found difficult on NCLEX were the questions that contained content I was weak in even then I could r/o 1 or 2 answer choices.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
The key to passing nclex is QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, AND MORE QUESTIONS.
What would you suggest for those unfortunate individuals who prepare by answering questions, questions, questions and have failed NCLEX at least once?

Preparing for NCLEX is not a one-size-fits-all approach because we all come to the table with varying levels of test taking skills, content knowledge, and learning styles. By the way, congratulations for passing!

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Some people really do need the review courses and some do not. I think a lot of it has to do with how your nursing school prepares you. Some schools do exams all the way through that teach you HOW TO ANSWER the questions, some do not. Mine was one that did not, and without the review course, I would have failed. Most of my classmates agree. Our school used ATI, which I believe is simply awful. Our school also concentrated a lot on group projects and research papers. Those are great when teaching EBP and team effort, but lousy for preparing for the test. We had no HESI, no exit exam and no real idea what nclex was all about.

I would not pay attention to a post that says "Don't waste money on review", that is simply not valid advise. Instead I would say look at your personal experience, your nursing school experience and take a diagnostic test. If you do not feel good about it, pay for the review, it's well worth it!

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Specializes in LTC, HH, and Case Mangement.

My school has a three day review built into our last nursing class. I expect to do well as my school prepares you well to be a RN. The pass rates are great!

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The nursing school I attended had us use the HESI testing throughout the school and i believe it really helped, but I have to say I do better at teaching myself. Some of my classmates used kaplan so far all that used it have passed except one person. I agree that some people need review courses, but I believe that if you do enough questions and study the ones you got wrong, you will learn alot. I think I learned more from the rationales to the questions I was doing that any review book I read. The NCSBN course is really good, they have review material and lots of questions, that are very similar to the nclex. I used this program for the questions and it really helped. So like others have said questions dont work for everybody because everyone learns differently, but if you are on a budget, NCSBN and practice lots of select all that apply questions and you will do great. Best of Luck to all.

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.
The nursing school I attended had us use the HESI testing throughout the school and i believe it really helped, but I have to say I do better at teaching myself. Some of my classmates used kaplan so far all that used it have passed except one person. I agree that some people need review courses, but I believe that if you do enough questions and study the ones you got wrong, you will learn alot. I think I learned more from the rationales to the questions I was doing that any review book I read. The NCSBN course is really good, they have review material and lots of questions, that are very similar to the nclex. I used this program for the questions and it really helped. So like others have said questions dont work for everybody because everyone learns differently, but if you are on a budget, NCSBN and practice lots of select all that apply questions and you will do great. Best of Luck to all.

Yes you are correct. Doing practice problems is very important. Practice makes perfect, or at least BON licensure. :smokin:

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