Kaplan Book vs Saunders

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Specializes in LTC/Pediatrics.

Hey everyone! I know this might have been discussed in here before but I just want to know those who took the kaplan course... how did you find the kaplan course book ?(The RN course book..not the strategy guide) Do you think that's enough for a content compared to saunders? I did saunders before and honestly, as much as I love the comprehensive information, its hard to read through it because it has too much information. I find the kaplan book easier to understand and seems to be straight forward... tho i still use saunders to get extra information that kaplan has not talked about. Can anybody give me a feedback about the book? Thanks!

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Specializes in Tele.

I had the book just because when I was studying for nclex-rn i went NUTS and studied and studied.

The kaplan book is awesome, its just like their class. I think its worth every penny $35.... I had that book, and I went to the kaplan complete course.

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I also took the Kaplan Complete Course online. Although the course was extremely expensive, I thought it, too, was worth every penny. The online videos are SO helpful, and that's something you can't get from just reading the course book. I would recommend reading the course book through one and then watch the online video with your course book in hand. After that, start doing questions. That's all I did to pass the NCLEX. Good luck!

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If you feel that you need a different resource, then find one that seems like it would work for you. It does not matter what resource you use, only that you learn the content well enough to be able to answer questions based upon it. Good luck.

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Specializes in LTC/Pediatrics.

thank you so much for the feedback!I've decided to stick with kaplan since I'm almost finished with it. Like I said, I'm using saunders too for additional information. I'll start doing questions now everyday for the next 3 weeks until the Big day!

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hi.. just read your post... want to know if the kaplan book you are referring to is the kaplan strategy book? Where can i purchase the kaplan review book? I am also preparin for my nclex rn exM. tHANKS

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Specializes in Tele.
thank you so much for the feedback!I've decided to stick with kaplan since I'm almost finished with it. Like I said, I'm using saunders too for additional information. I'll start doing questions now everyday for the next 3 weeks until the Big day!

yes! that is perfect. Keep doing questions and you can even do a section of questions and see if you do well or if you get less than an 80% watch the video content of that section in kaplan (that's what I did!) and keep doing the questions even if they are repeats, and pick the answer based on the rationale not because you remember the questions.

keep studying and you will do well!!

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Specializes in Tele.
hi.. just read your post... want to know if the kaplan book you are referring to is the kaplan strategy book? Where can i purchase the kaplan review book? I am also preparin for my nclex rn exM. tHANKS

there is a kaplan strategy book that is $35 you can get the newest version in any bookstore such as borders.com

and there is a kaplan content book that comes with the kaplan complete course that you get when you purchase the kaplan complete program

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

I tried a which bunch if things here is my opinion on them:

Kaplan- the blue book you get if you enroll on the program, not for sale in the book stores, great info, to the point, but if your base is weak, you can feel lost in a heartbeat, although I can tell you that your school books for reference when you don't understand this book, will prepare you rock solid for the test.

Saunders- the closest thing ti the nclex, although this is bad, because If you study on test level it can be either yey or nay, can you want to set your bar really up! So to me, sanders is ok but mediocre

Mosby and mosby lacharity- high bar setters way more complex than the nclex, nice and understandable rationales, it helped me a lot on a 1 to 10 scale nclex is a 7 and mosby a 8.5 in difficulty level, so I benefited from this quite a lot, even though I felt so dumb reading them, and my score on the questions were around 65% while in other booked I was getting 78% average

Oh, medsurge made easy! Cool beans book, easy to understand complex things, builds the base for mosby.

Review and rationales book- for some reason they made me mad, I did not like them, too iffy! And missing points on diseases, sort of confusing, and the questions were not that well written, upsetting and depressing, but at the same time that some of the subjects were bad, the medsurge only dedicated book is good, did not like their lab value questions, found them to vary much more than the other books

Ati- I would compare ati content to mosby, if you have ati stick to it, great and to the point, easy reading, not confusing, great bullet like info, well organized, follows a pattern, although I hate the book questions some confusing some stupid and some really hard, now this books does prepare you well to take on mosby's questions, great lab and data values, matching most books. When it comes to conditiions it has, diagnose, pre, during post procedure, at risk for, nursing diagnosis, nursing care and complications. The best ati books in my opinion is medsurge, peds, ob, pharm, and delegation/ leadership. Did not like the mental health one... Too vague for me.

There you go, so now you have an idea of the books, although take a book at barneys or borders, sit down with some coffee and try it out, till you find your fit, just like Cinderella.

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Specializes in LTC/Pediatrics.
hi.. just read your post... want to know if the kaplan book you are referring to is the kaplan strategy book? Where can i purchase the kaplan review book? I am also preparin for my nclex rn exM. tHANKS

no, im referring to kaplan RN course book that comes with the review course. actually if you type in at ebay "kaplan RN course book" you will see a couple of them listed up for sale. I also have the kaplan strategy guide which is excellent! hope this helps :)

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Specializes in Psych, Stepdown, Research.

9lives and everyone else:

Have you guys heard good things about Hurst? I took the review course and it made the content incredibly malleable. I was considering augmenting that with the NCBSN learning extension online stuff. I know how I learn best but I'd just like to hear if anyone has any opinions on Hurst (since I haven't taken my boards, or even received my ATT yet).

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im using Kaplan NCLEX - RN 2010 edition (with the CD). I dont feel like thats enough though, so I was thinking of getting Saunders comprehensive review for the NCLEX - RN examination with the cd

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