How important is ATI???

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2012

That test sucked soooo bad, I got a level one and was floored as to how I pulled it off, I literally knew the answer to 3 questions and guessed on the rest. The drugs on this test I had never heard of, drugs aren't foriegn in our program and we go over drugs related to the body systems we are working on, but I knew about 2 or 3 of them and that was it. If this so closely mirrors the NCLEX, then why in the world don't schools put more emphasis on it. It seems like it would be a great tool if utilized correctly. Many in my class didn't pass and have to retake it, I feel for them because I thought halfway through that there was no way I was passing it!

Yeah ATI is not easy but it is supposed to help with NCLEX. I don't our school puts a lot of emphasis on it which of course we all complain about but I'm sure we won't when NCLEX time comes. We have to get a level 2 or we lose 25-50 points and have to retake and write a whole thing why we didnt pass and what we're going to do to pass it the second time. I don't know but I'm assuming this was your first ATI? If so, they get easier. I am so suprised though that you guys don't have an actual pharm class, that would make it hard. Do they give you the practice test codes?

FORTHELOVEOF!!!! · Apr 18, 2012

No, i have had several ATI tests before but they all corresponded with the course we were taking and that made them easier. I think not having a pharm class really puts us at a disadvantage, but what can ya do? I guess I should just count myself fortunate that we don't have to pass with a certain level or pass at all for that matter but I will start reading the books now, can't afford to take the NCLEX more than once.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Apr 18, 2012

That test sucked soooo bad, I got a level one and was floored as to how I pulled it off, I literally knew the answer to 3 questions and guessed on the rest. The drugs on this test I had never heard of, drugs aren't foriegn in our program and we go over drugs related to the body systems we are working on, but I knew about 2 or 3 of them and that was it. If this so closely mirrors the NCLEX, then why in the world don't schools put more emphasis on it. It seems like it would be a great tool if utilized correctly. Many in my class didn't pass and have to retake it, I feel for them because I thought halfway through that there was no way I was passing it!

I was going to mention that the pharm ATI was the worst of all the ATIs (the second worst being the med/surg ATI), but your OP was so close to when you were going to take it, I didn't want to freak you out.

Yes, it was bad, even with a pharm course to go with it. It had the first-time highest failure rate at my school.

eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN · Apr 18, 2012

I am a RN (graduated last May) and although I found the ATI to be a waste of time partially during school, it was something I utilized all the time.

I studied my ATI books for my unit exams in nursing school. I loved them! I personally think all that random pharmacology you study helps you see bigger pictures... Enough to maybe even help you on the "real" tests

NCRNMDM, ASN, RN · Apr 18, 2012

We didn't get any points for ATI exams, but we had to pass them to remain in the program. You were allowed two tries, and if you failed both times, you were removed from the program. Be thankful that you even get any points for it.

As much as you may hate ATI, the questions are very similar to NCLEX questions, and it will help you to practice taking tests in that format. If it were me, I would strive for those twenty points, practice as much as I could beforehand, and do my best. You're going to have to take it either way, you might as well stop complaining, start studying, and try to learn something from the experience. The more ATI questions you do, the more prepared you will be for nursing school exams and the NCLEX. Good luck!

FORTHELOVEOF!!!! · Apr 19, 2012

Mattrnstudent23, I'm so glad our program doesn't put THAT much emphasis on it, we would've lost a dozen people yesterday (if they fail again that is). While I am happy we get points, the point of asking how important ATI is, was because of rumors I heard that it was useless for NCLEX and a waste of time. That was my mentality in asking the question, I'm a good student and have pulled out good grades in every class so far, I graduate in December so my thought process was "Why am I going to study my butt off for this if it doesn't matter at all? I have another test that does matter that I could be putting all my time into" And then I was set straight about how important it really is, so now I have changed the way I think about ATI and will likely use use it as a companion to my ever loved Med/Surg books, blehhh! So just to clear that up, I am a good studier, I do take my nursing experience seriously and am definitely learning something from my experience, no worries there.

P.S. It's my thread I will complain if I want to!! Totally kidding, lol. :rotfl:

Good luck to you in school and thanks for the response :yeah:

NCRNMDM, ASN, RN · Apr 19, 2012

I say stop complaining because I remember how much I complained the first time I had to take a proctored ATI exam. I spent two days complaining and feeling sorry for myself instead of studying. I passed it the first time, thankfully, but I should have accepted the inevitable and started studying much sooner.

ATI isn't fun, and I will be the first to admit that I hate it. The ATI books are great resources for the exams your instructors give you, but the proctored exams always seem so ridiculous. I thought that the proctored exams didn't matter until I asked a few nurses that I worked with; they quickly told me that the ATI questions were as close as I would get to NCLEX questions while still in school. They also said that the more proctored ATI exams I had to take, the better I would do on the NCLEX.

iPink, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2012

The ATI's weren't important to me in terms of passing my classes. I never studied for them and they did boost my grade by .5-1 pt. However, I've saved all the codes to go back and use them as a studying tool for the NCLEX.

reagansm · Apr 23, 2012

I have not had a pharmacology class either and it is a weak area for me. I just took the Pharm and Nutrition ATI test last week and made level 2 on Pharm and level 1 on Nutrition. All I did to study were to take the practice tests on ATI. I tried to read the ATI nutrition book, and I tried to review my Pharm book, but there was just too much. If you are making As I believe that you should be able to pass the ATI test just fine (unless your program is just plain easy, which I doubt). Oh, and our ATI test count for 5% of our grade (what percentage is 20 points?).

WorldTravelingYogi · Apr 23, 2012

Where do you guys get the ATI books you are talking about? Our school pays for ATI practice exams online but that is it. They are only practice exams and it is not part of our grade at all. It would be nice to have a book though. A couple classes were going to have proctored ATI exams and then they were cancelled. I asume your school provides the book?

If I have access to the ATI practice exams would you say it is worth it to get ahold of an ATI book?

FORTHELOVEOF!!!! · Apr 23, 2012

The school provides our ATI books, every program is different though.

Our ATI is worth between 4.5-5%, just depends on how many points are made possible for us.

MatthewSN, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2012

Sometimes I feel like my school relies too much on ATI. I like certain things about it....the books for instance are like the readers digest version of the huge textbooks. I don't feel like the modules are very helpful. When I know I have a ton of homework to do, the last thing I have patience for is watching a "perfect world" ATI skills module.