How to use Saunders effectively.....

lloi · May 28, 2013

I am using Saunders (along with Hurst) for my content review and I am starting to wonder how to effectively use it.
I am about halfway through it and a lot of stuff is familiar and others are not as much. There are so many lab values, therapeutic levels, etc. that I just cannot fathom memorizing each and every one (minus the given Na, K, ALT/AST, etc.). I did very well in nursing school so I feel like I have a basic understanding of concepts, but still....the sheer extend of the content is a little overwhelming (especially compared to Hurst who keeps it super simple!)
So my question is, for those that have successfully passed the NCLEX and even to those of you that are currently using Saunders, how are you studying from it? Just using the questions on the cd? Reading the entire book? (More than once?)
Thanks!

im using both saunders an hurst now and incorporating the two make things simple for me to understand. i dont memorize except that i have to inculcate in my mind the lab values. understanding the anatomy of each human systems make me easy to understand the pathophysiology of each disorders.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 29, 2013

I used Saunders, and once I realized I'd never get through the whole thing (which I tried first), I started doing test questions and using Saunders as a reference book for answering them. (And I passed in 75 the first time.)

Don't let the volume overwhelm you. REMEMBER YOUR BASICS and try to keep in perspective that the NCLEX is a national exam and they have to cover the essentials that all of us were taught. ALL OF US. So we both covered different things in our programs, but we had a basic core knowledge at graduation. That might help with anxiety and nerves.

Striving2BG8, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2013

This is exactly what I'm realizing right now too! I only rented the Saunders Comprehension book so I don't have the CD and I have NCSBN right now. I think I'll be able to get through the NCSBN course quicker so I'm buying the Q&A Saunders and going back to doing questions. I think that will do me better.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jun 1, 2013

I used Saunders review cards, in addition to other sources, solely for the purpose of preparing for the exam. Each source, I covered within 1-2 weeks while working 30-40 hours per week.

I didn't read every book's particular review. For instance, I used Kaplan as a blue print because their chapters were broken down based on the NCLEX categories. The other book I reviewed was Exam Cram for Systems, etc. It also had a great hand held portable card for lab values, great tidbits of info that do appear on the exam. I use LaCharity for Prioritization.

I used NCSBN to familiarize myself with how the NCLEX was going to be.

Saunders review cards were excellent because they broke the questions down based on NCLEX subjects, and reviewed rationales as well.

I say focus on what you think you might have difficulty in...what are normal lab values? What side effects of a med are you going to report with the provider and what do you anticipate which interventions, what will be the priority in???

Those are the types of situations you need to prepare for on the boards.

Answer questions, review rationales, if you stifle through a section, review it and go from there.