I just finished my nursing program...

orchid · Mar 2, 2004

hi there I just did my NCLEX I used Kaplan and stonyfield Incredibly easy with 3500 review questions...I liked them all , it gave me a broad range to study from..all the best

KimRN03 · Mar 2, 2004

I loved Kaplan's class. The questions are difficult and VERY similar to the questions on NCLEX. I also used Mosby's Review Cards, they are great for on-the-go studying. They are just index cards, so you can put a handful in your pocket and take them with you anywhere. Do as many questions as you can, don't spend too much time reviewing content alone unless you are consistently getting the same kind of questions wrong.

nekhismom · Mar 2, 2004

I liked Kaplan, but I used so many different things, it's hard to tell which was best. I say, trade CD's with all of your friends and study as many as you can. That way, you will be prepared in numerous techniques.

Best of luck to you, and congrats on graduation!!! :balloons:

NurseDixie · Mar 2, 2004

I went to a Kaplan review and borrowed a Kaplan NCLEX review book from a friend, too. The CD that comes with the book has questions that are very similar to the ones on the real test. Good luck!

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 2, 2004

I'm using NCLEX Review 3000 CD Rom right now, and I like it a lot. It's got tips and cross-references on the sidebar, and rationales. It also has tons of nursing process questions, which I hear the NCLEX will be increasing beginning in April. I'll be taking the Kaplan course soon, and I've heard great things about it. Not so much in the question content, but in very good test strategies.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 2, 2004

Oops, forgot to add something. For those of you that have Palm Pilots, Davis's has an NCLEX review for Palm now. Here's the link: http://www.fadavis.com/online_store/catalog/catalogdetail.cfm?section=online_store&publication_id=2014&subsection=catalog

Lippincott is currently working on one as well. I haven't received my Davis's yet, so I can't vouch for how good it is, but it's a great idea- I take my Palm everywhere, and can study for the NCLEX on it now. Cool, eh?

JacelRN, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2004

Hi leraern,

I agree with the others, I think Kaplan is a good resource, especially for new grads. If you can afford it of course. It's expensive. They also have an online option that may save you some money, but the course itself may be better in person.

I used the Kaplan CD7 and tested myself from that before taking it. It helps you to see where you stand and the questions are very similar in difficulty and the appearance. It it set up exactly the same with the background color and how the mouse works as the NCLEX exam. Great resource. If you can use that at least over a 2 week period working your way from the 75 question tests to the 265 question test a couple days before you sit for the exam, that's excellent prep. :) Anything about 60% is a good indication you're where you need to be to pass. Also, something I've found is the lower you are in the 60's, the more questions you most probably will get. I was testing in the low 60's and got 202 questions, my friends were scoring in the high 60's to 70's and got less than 100 questions.

I agree Lippincott is also great because it breaks down the subject material, it has no index to reference which made me frustrated, so I just used my sticky notes to pick out those sections I could flip to easily and do questions.

Overall, build up your confidence while you study. Cover all the basics, like labs, VS for infants, kids, and adults, immunizations, etc. And then in each section of OB, Peds, Psych, and Med-Surg, study the Major abnormalities and disease processes. I can tell you the NCLEX will test you more on these situations than the more general subjects.

Good luck and CONGRATS on passing nursing school! :balloons:

God Bless,

JacelRN