Kaplan or Hurst NCLEX-RN review which one is better?

Deetermined · Apr 26, 2011

I did Kaplan...I'm glad I did because the questions were set up and at the level of difficulty for the NClex questions. I was more relaxed because the questions seemed alot like the 900 questions that I had already answered with Kaplan. Dont know much about hurst.

I♥Dexter · Apr 26, 2011

I used Kaplan. Hurst doesn't sound familiar. Anyways, Kaplan was good for studying test-taking strategies, but not so much for content review. I also used Lippencott, which I liked because it has a lot of questions and is broken down by systems. All in all, I found the content in ATI to be the best representation of what is actually "need to know" info, for the big test.

Good luck!

learning&yearning · Apr 26, 2011

I did Hurst and felt like it was great! But I didn't do Kaplan so I cannot compare. I did have some Kaplan questions but I didn't use their content. I just wrote a hugh post about my studying, you should read as I, too, had way too many resources!

hunnybaby24, BSN, APRN, NP · Apr 26, 2011

I liked Kaplan. I did a lot of the Qbank questions and review questions. Remember it isn't content review, mostly test taking strategies. My friends all did Hurst and they said NCLEX was very hard and they didn't know if they passed it or not. I came out of the test feeling like it wasn't that difficult. I got a lot of SATA questions, fill in the blank, find the area where they want you assess (harder questions) so I felt confident I was going in the right direction. Got 75 questions and i passed the first time! Good luck! :redbeathe

Vanillanut, DNP, RN, APRN · Apr 26, 2011

I am doing Hurst now. I haven't done Kaplan so I can't say much about it other then comparatively speaking it's more expensive.

I can say that I am really enjoying the Hurst online review- Marlene makes it funny & easy to remember key points. I don't regret purchasing Hurst and I would purchase it again, knowing what I know now. My learning style is very visual, so the videos are right up my alley. All the little "extras" are also included (vaccination tables, etc misc stuff for memorizing). Quick & easy, I feel like I'm getting through a lot of material fast and not missing anything. I really don't have anything negative to say about it.

learning&yearning · Apr 26, 2011

Wow! Lucky for you! :) I haven't heard anyone say they felt ok leaving the test! I had 25-30 SATAs and quite a few PD&As. And with 75 questions, I was a mess! Nice job, Hunny. :)

Mukfay · Apr 26, 2011

Haven't heard of Hurst either. I understand the messages about content review, but my Kaplan instructor pointed out that cramming in nursing school wouldn't work, and so it probably won't work for the NCLEX.

The test-taking strategies Kaplan teaches you are extremely effective. What makes the NCLEX difficult is not the content mastery required, but rather understanding where the question authors are coming from, and what basic assumptions under which they are proceeding. Kaplan helped me to 'get inside their heads' so to speak, and develop a gut-level understanding of what they were testing for, and how they were testing for it.

As for content review - if that becomes a concern, consider this. Kaplan puts out a report for each test you take that focuses you on needed areas for review. If you review both the questions you got correct, and the questions you missed along with their rationales, you begin to understand where you need to focus your content review efforts. It saves you time over going over material that you are doing well with.

In any case, I was in and out in 75 questions, and their data support this outcome for anyone who uses their program. Their money-back guarantee says it all for me.

Regards,

Mukfay

RNlovesherPharmD · Apr 26, 2011

Hurst > Kaplan. Everything you need to know, short and sweet but memorable.

Test strategies are good from Kaplan....but I give my 75 question pass to Marlene Hurst :) Kaplan just seemed like questions I'd been having for the last four years, nothing special. :nurse:

Freedom42 · Apr 26, 2011

Marlene Hurst rocks. I passed the exam two years ago in 75 questions. The whole thing, including the optional 20-question survey at the end of the exam, took me 55 minutes, and there was no doubt in my mind that I had passed when I left the testing center. I struggled with two questions.

Hurst is very personality driven. There's no difference between the online review and the live review; I opted for the online review, which is done by Marlene herself, and I'm still hearing her voice in my head. Excellent, concise, and to the point. I found her practice questions to be much more difficult than the NCLEX itself. I felt over-prepared for the exam.

vpoonia · Apr 29, 2011

I did both and this is what i found:

KAPLAN: great question prep. Very similar in wording, difficulty level and content to real NCLEX. Didn't have many surprises.

so so on content prep. Unless you are willing to sit a countless hours listening to online lectures and reading their book (very suggestable though).

Even the screen on their question trainer is set to look like the one on the actual NCLEX, which makes one feel more at ease.

HURST: great content review in terms that are understandable. Gives you the WHY of the process and intervention - that will help you narrow down the choices drastically.

I utilized both the resources and was successful. So much so, that i double bound the Hurst book and put it in my study. It is THAT informative.

ChloeRae · Apr 29, 2011

Thank you so much for the info. I really appreciate it :up: :up: :up: