Is NClex preparation classes very helpful

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I am getting ready to graduate in December and starting to look into preparation for the Nclex exam.

I know Kaplan has a preparation course ($499.00)!! I am wondering how you all feel about these prep courses and how helpful they were? Or any other advice and suggestions for preparing for the RN-Nclex Exam.

Thanks,

Bea

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Specializes in (future hope) Genetic Nursing.

I Don't know about Kaplan specifically. But I took a similar overview course through Rutgers university. This was because it was included into my tuition. And to be honest. I didn't feel that it helped me much at all. My time would have been better spent reviewing over my note from class (which I did anyway.) Granted let me say that did a Diploma program so I only spent 2 1/2 years in nursing courses. So everything was really fresh when I went in. Basically I found the NClex to be somewhat challenging but not amazing hard. I did the test (for NJ) in about 2 hours and in 75 questions. I had some classmates say they did the test in a little over 30 mins and only had to do 75 questions as well. So basically what I'm saying is if your comfortable with your note taking skills or have excellent handouts, I don't think you need to do the Kaplan.

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I was wondering the same thing. I'm in a diploma/Associates Cooperative program in North Jersey and we are all required to take a review course at the end, usually Rutgers. If I am absolutely forced to spend hundreds of dollars on the course, is there any way a school can penalize a student for not showing up the Rutgers class? Can they even find out who attended on which days? Because I really don't think I'll need the class, I know my own study methods very well and a review book is always the best for me.

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This depends on how much effort the person attending puts into the task at hand.

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Specializes in (future hope) Genetic Nursing.
I was wondering the same thing. I'm in a diploma/Associates Cooperative program in North Jersey and we are all required to take a review course at the end, usually Rutgers. If I am absolutely forced to spend hundreds of dollars on the course, is there any way a school can penalize a student for not showing up the Rutgers class? Can they even find out who attended on which days? Because I really don't think I'll need the class, I know my own study methods very well and a review book is always the best for me.

No there's no penatly for not going. God after the first two days, half the people didn't show up again. Now yes they do take attendance. But I think that to see how many student are intersted in the review.

Personally I went everyday because I figured I paid for it anyways so...why not go. But again it really didn't help me review for the NClex.

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I think staying home and working in a book is a much better use of my NCLEX study time, so thanks for the tip. If there's any way possible I can get out of paying for the class (if the school puts my name in to take the NCLEX before I have to pay, I guess I'm home free) saving the money would be a bonus.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

If you have good test taking techniques, then just take the test as soon as possible and you should be fine. I never took the prep classes and passed my first time. Everyone that I know that did classes said it was just test taking tips.

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I and many Nclex takers i known didn't take any review courses but still pass the exam; but of course we had to have useful review books such as LaCharity, Lippincott's alternative format questions, or Davis's book.

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I will graduate in December and am thinking about taking the Hurst review online. A friend of mine who is a NICU nurse highly recommended it. It's also cheaper than Kaplan ($300 vs $500). I also know someone who failed the NCLEX after taking the Kaplan review and she is now doing the Hurst and says it is much better.

I have a bunch of review books because I use them to study for my exams, my favorites are Saunders and the new Lippincott's alternate format book.

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I could pass NCLEX with nothing but Kaplan questions. Though we got a very good group discount of like 350 each. If you're not in a financial pinch, it's an "investment" and safety measure well worth the money.

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For me, every penny of it was worth it. I enrolled in the Kaplan taught by Dr. Gloria Blatti.

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