For those who have taken the NCLEX, I have 2 questions for you...

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What did the questions on the NCLEX remind you of???? What study program did they seem like??? Kaplan or Saunders??

Or does the NCLEX have there own style???

DId you you use the stragedy that Kaplan teaches??? The reason I ask is because that stragedy about the Kaplan tree only applies to their questions. When I use it other times like on Saunders it does not work the same. I don't want to miss questions on the NCLEX because I am following something that is not right. I keep remembering what someone told me, "Kaplan is a business so they make their questions apply to what they want you to learn".

Sorry I guess I asked more than just 2 questions.

Thanks you so much in advance!!!

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I think sauders worked better than Kaplan....To tell you the truth the nclex questions are like no other...Just know you stuff and work on critical thinking , thats what it is all about....hope that helps....I also liked the hurst review...

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The exam is based on critical thinking. It wants you to use your brain, but you need to have the knowledge base there to begin with.

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Good questions!!!

I also read the Kaplan book a while ago and found out that their strategy only worked with their questions. It messed me up big time and I had to reteach myself back the old way.

I use the Kaplan trainer to gage how I would do at the NCLEX since everyone say's the questions are similar style. I got the CD from a friend that took the course. I have heard that the NCSBN http://www.learningext.com are the closest to the NCLEX. I have been using the learningext and really like it. It only tells you why the right answer is right. Saunders breaks it down as to why the wrong answer is wrong and why the right answer is right. I think that is important. I think Saunders rationale's are the key to working your way through a question and critically think your way through it. But I really use Kaplan and learningext to see how I'm progressing for the NCLEX.

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I passed NCLEX a few months ago, and my suggestions are........

Take your time, read each question carefully and ask yourself the following :

1. Is this question about assessment, planning, implementation or evaluation?

i.e can I apply the nursing process to answer this question?

2. Does it involve the ABC's?

3. Does Maslow' hierarchy of needs apply?

4. What would a prudent nurse do in this situation?

These are just some very basic strategies. My advice is to practice, practice, practice and review the rationales. Some questions appear to give all correct answers, so it's important to know why an answer is the correct one in this situation.

I think it is also important to feel confident about your knowledge base. NCLEX "assumes" you have the knowledge, it is testing you on how you apply that knowledge.

And remember, NCLEX is set in the 'ideal world'. It is text book answers they are looking for, not necessarily what we do in the 'real world'.

These are just a few of my humble observations.

Good luck to all who are preparing and waiting :)

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Specializes in LDRP.

I thought it was more like Kaplan's higher level questions...the "who would you see first" ones. Kaplan had a ton of priority questions, just like NCLEX.

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What did the questions on the NCLEX remind you of???? What study program did they seem like??? Kaplan or Saunders??

Or does the NCLEX have there own style???

DId you you use the stragedy that Kaplan teaches??? The reason I ask is because that stragedy about the Kaplan tree only applies to their questions. When I use it other times like on Saunders it does not work the same. I don't want to miss questions on the NCLEX because I am following something that is not right. I keep remembering what someone told me, "Kaplan is a business so they make their questions apply to what they want you to learn".

Sorry I guess I asked more than just 2 questions.

Thanks you so much in advance!!!

I personally think that the NCLEX questions were exactly like the ones that I was taking from the Davis NCLEX-RN Success book/CD. It was a great preperatory tool. I was used to the style of questions by the time I got to take the NCLEX and felt a bit more confortable. It still doesn't help how you feel afterwards though-I swore that I had failed! But, I was optimistic, I clicked off at 75 and found out I passed. I really liked the Davis CD. There were hundreds upon hundreds of higher level questions. I was told by my program administrator that if you could keep your head above 65% on any of the CD tests that I would be fine and she was correct. Good luck to you!!

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Specializes in NICU.

I used the Saunders Review but I didn't think those questions were like the NCLEX questions. However, the Saunders helped a lot!! I would definitely recommend you keep using the Saunders.

I only took 1 Kaplan test, so I can't really comment on that.

The Mobsy CAT questions were really similar to the NCLEX questions and I used that about a week before taking the NCLEX, it helped tie everything together for me and build up my confidence before taking the real thing.

Good luck to you!!

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:balloons: :balloons:

Can you tell I am happy!!!!!!!!!

Took my boards on Thursday and had my results Sat. morning. Never did I ever think that I would have them so fast. I had 75 hard questions, and then is was all over.

Thanks again for all those who answered my questions!!

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Congrats!!!

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What did the questions on the NCLEX remind you of???? What study program did they seem like??? Kaplan or Saunders??

Or does the NCLEX have there own style???

DId you you use the stragedy that Kaplan teaches??? The reason I ask is because that stragedy about the Kaplan tree only applies to their questions. When I use it other times like on Saunders it does not work the same. I don't want to miss questions on the NCLEX because I am following something that is not right. I keep remembering what someone told me, "Kaplan is a business so they make their questions apply to what they want you to learn".

Sorry I guess I asked more than just 2 questions.

Thanks you so much in advance!!!

I just took the NCLEX for the second time and I am happy to say I PASSED!!! The first time, I took the Hurst Review Course and failed. This time, I did tons and tons of Kaplan questions and I really feel like it was worth every bit of effort I put into it so therefore, I think NCLEX questions are very similar to those of Kaplan. Good luck on your test!!! The most important thing I can tell anyone to do is to have a positive attitude when you take your NCLEX and don't be discouraged if you seem to be getting a lot more questions on your test than your friends and fellow student nurses did. I got 166 questions on my NCLEX this time and I didn't know what to think. No matter what anyone says, the length of your test says nothing about if you've passed. It depends on you and the computer's decision. Again, good luck and get some sleep the night before your exam!!!

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