Kaplan review--would like comments

2006RNCS · Jun 16, 2006

Hi! I agree about doing lots of NCLEX review questions. I don't know about 200 a day. That seems excessive. 50 a day would be wonderful. I loved Saunders. I found it to be the most helpful. I also bought Lippincott's, REA's Interactive NCLEX-RN flashcards, and finished the ERI workbook and review course at school. Also, I purchased medication flashcards by Kaplan-they come bound in a flip-type book. They were wonderful. I had so many meds, and priority questions on my NCLEX exam. I am so glad that I did so many questions, because I passed the first time.

GA_RN2006 · Jun 16, 2006

Hi! I agree about doing lots of NCLEX review questions. I don't know about 200 a day. That seems excessive. 50 a day would be wonderful. I loved Saunders. I found it to be the most helpful. I also bought Lippincott's, REA's Interactive NCLEX-RN flashcards, and finished the ERI workbook and review course at school. Also, I purchased medication flashcards by Kaplan-they come bound in a flip-type book. They were wonderful. I had so many meds, and priority questions on my NCLEX exam. I am so glad that I did so many questions, because I passed the first time.

2006Rn How many questions did you do a day? And how long did you study prior to taking the NCLEX.? I thought about getting Kaplan's med cards, do you think they are worth it.

I've been coming to this site everyday for the past 2 weeks reading up on everyone's opinions of the NCLEX. I am so scared. My appt is July 10th and when I made my appt I was sick. I can just imagine how i'm going to be the day of the exam. I've been doing questions everyday at least 100 or more for the past week but then I go back and have to review everything that I messed up on:angryfire ..I would think after 2 yrs of nursing school I would remember more. :uhoh3:

Well any help you can give is greatly appreciated..

Thanks...

ashley_michelle · Jun 17, 2006

I took the Kaplan course a few weeks ago... but I paid $500 dollars for it. =( And that's exaclty what we did. First day - 180 diagnostic test.. then questions for the rest of the afternoon. and then the next two days were 8 hrs of doing questions (but we did them as a whole group ) and we did 150 per day. 75 in the morning and 75 in the afternoon. And it ended with 180 question readiness test and then we reviewed those questions after that test. I found it very difficult to pay attention that long and focus on each question. They did throw in some content review throughout the week, but I thought it would be more than it was. If you buy the kaplan book... its the same thing that they say in that class. =(

Our Kaplan instructor encouraged us to go to our family doc's and get a perscrip. for inderal. ( for the day of the test ) I"m not even kidding. It took me by surprise.

But anyway, I was not overly impressed with my 'kaplan' experience. But as long as yours is free, then why not go ahead and do it. They do give some good pointers in disecting questions.. but not 500 dollars worth. So.. there's my two cents. =)

2006RNCS · Jun 17, 2006

GA RN2006:

Hi! You will be fine. The NCLEX was not at all what I thought it would be. If you keep doing the review questions, and keep reminding yourself about all that you have learned in the last few years. You know more than you think you know. I think a big part of it is knowing that you can do it. You made it through nursing school, which was extremely difficult. The NCLEX is a lot about safety-a lot of priority questions, diseases and infection control, meds(You can get the Kaplan med flip book at Books-A-Million for $15, and it is well worth it.) I had several medication questions. Also, therapeutic communication was big on my test. I only had a couple of OB. I know that the next few weeks are going to be hard for you, but please always remember that you do know so much, and the NCLEX is based on minimum nursing competency, and being a safe nurse. Good luck to you!!!!!!

GA_RN2006 · Jun 17, 2006

Thanks for your words of encouragement 2006RN..I'm just getting so frustrated but at least everyone here understands my frustration.

Also thanks Ashley_Michelle for your info about Kaplan..I don't think I'll take the review class, thats basically what i'm doing at home. I did see the Kaplan Review book along with the trainer CD on ebay, I wonder if it would be worth getting? Good luck to you.. :)

GA

Karmi · Jun 17, 2006

I took the Kaplan class and used the online trainer also. The class was helpful as far as the who would you see first questions, I had a ton of those of boards and since we did a ton in the class I think I was well prepared on that part. Always remember ABC's come first! I took the class for 4 days then did the 7 tests on Kaplan website, plus we had to do ATI in school. I highly recommend Kaplan, I know others that do not, but since i passed and paid the money for the class I have to give them a little credit. However NCLEX is a hard test to study for!!

Good Luck!

MIA-RN1, RN · Jun 17, 2006

I took the Kaplan course a few weeks ago... but I paid $500 dollars for it. =( And that's exaclty what we did. First day - 180 diagnostic test.. then questions for the rest of the afternoon. and then the next two days were 8 hrs of doing questions (but we did them as a whole group ) and we did 150 per day. 75 in the morning and 75 in the afternoon. And it ended with 180 question readiness test and then we reviewed those questions after that test. I found it very difficult to pay attention that long and focus on each question. They did throw in some content review throughout the week, but I thought it would be more than it was. If you buy the kaplan book... its the same thing that they say in that class. =(
Our Kaplan instructor encouraged us to go to our family doc's and get a perscrip. for inderal. ( for the day of the test ) I"m not even kidding. It took me by surprise.
But anyway, I was not overly impressed with my 'kaplan' experience. But as long as yours is free, then why not go ahead and do it. They do give some good pointers in disecting questions.. but not 500 dollars worth. So.. there's my two cents. =)

Thanks Ashley I appreciate your response. Yes, I have no choice but to go and sit and be bored doing these questions. THey gave us the book too. We have access to a testing center, but I doubt I'll go. I've been doing my 100 Saunders questions and felt prepared--until I got there and the Kaplan woman started saying all that weird stuff.

MIA-RN1, RN · Jun 17, 2006

I took the Kaplan class and used the online trainer also. The class was helpful as far as the who would you see first questions, I had a ton of those of boards and since we did a ton in the class I think I was well prepared on that part. Always remember ABC's come first! I took the class for 4 days then did the 7 tests on Kaplan website, plus we had to do ATI in school. I highly recommend Kaplan, I know others that do not, but since i passed and paid the money for the class I have to give them a little credit. However NCLEX is a hard test to study for!!
Good Luck!

Thanks for your input! I plan to use the website. I started a 50 question Qbank test yesterday but it froze on me when I got to a fill in the blank quesiton and I had to shut it down. Hopefully that is not precedent with their website!

I have the class once a week til July 14; then I test 10 days later. I wanted to test earlier but figured I need the time to prepare anyway.

MIA-RN1, RN · Jun 17, 2006

Hi! I agree about doing lots of NCLEX review questions. I don't know about 200 a day. That seems excessive. 50 a day would be wonderful. I loved Saunders. I found it to be the most helpful. I also bought Lippincott's, REA's Interactive NCLEX-RN flashcards, and finished the ERI workbook and review course at school. Also, I purchased medication flashcards by Kaplan-they come bound in a flip-type book. They were wonderful. I had so many meds, and priority questions on my NCLEX exam. I am so glad that I did so many questions, because I passed the first time.

DId you do 50 questions a day or more?

I think I want some flashcards so that I can just cart them around with me when I am out and about. We were told that priority questions are a huge component of this year's exam.

smile123 · Jun 17, 2006

I started the Kaplan review today and the woman there said many strange things. What does everyone think?
5. **THIS YEARS TEST HAS MANY PRIORITY QUESTIONS SO STUDY THOSE THE MOST**
7. One practice question stated that a nurse is preparing a woman w/ a ruptured ectopic pregnancy for surgery. What is the MOST IMPORTANT post-operative goal to address now?
a. Fluid volume
b. Pain
c. Emotional support
d. Respiratory therapy.
Most of us thought pain, the answer was respiratory therapy. The woman said that any postop patient needs turn cough deep breathe. Which we all know. But pain is huge here. Anyway, that's an example of how things work I guess.
Comments welcomed! :)

Whenever you have a priority question, you need to look at the ABC's first (airway, breathing, circulation). That's why respiratory therapy is higher than pain. (If you cannot breathe, it doesn't matter how much pain you're in!) ;-)

MIA-RN1, RN · Jun 17, 2006

Whenever you have a priority question, you need to look at the ABC's first (airway, breathing, circulation). That's why respiratory therapy is higher than pain. (If you cannot breathe, it doesn't matter how much pain you're in!) ;-)

very true. But most of us thought of respiratory therapy as the specialty, and not as tcdb.