Kaplan vs. Saunders

Published

I am using both the Saunder's book and CD, and the Kaplan self-study program. I do really well on the Saunder's questions, but horribly on the Kaplan questions. NCLEX uses different levels of questions- are Kaplan's questions on a higher difficulty level than Saunder's?

This might be a stupid question,

But I'm from Canada and have not heard of any of these prep guide books, Can you buy these books at any book store branches? Or do they need to be orded (via mail/internet??) I would like to buy them ASAP so I can get started and be prepared to write it after my Candian test.

From what I have ready Saunders seems to be most preferred, as well as mentions of Suzanne's study guide (how do I get that ?)

I might get Saunders and Kaplan... dunno yet ... i'm soo confused on what is best and how to get it ...b/c we are told nothing about the NCLEX up here!!!! :uhoh3:

Any help on how to get the preps would be SOOOOOO much help

Thanks

Jenn

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I took the NCLEX on Feb. 17th, and got 265 questions. When I walked out, I was 100% sure that I failed. I had done Saunders, and also went through the Kaplan book and Q-bank (I didn't do the actual program because it was too much money, so someone loaned me their book and password for the !-bank). When I finished the NCLEX, I felt like neither Saunders or Kaplan prepared me for the NCLEX. But I passed mostly following Suzanne's program. I don't think going for the same type of questions is necessarily the right strategy, because Saunders questions are NOTHING like the NCLEX, but guess what, neither are the Kaplan questions. I think the point is to just do questions, and pay attention to the correct and the incorrect rationales. I think this is what improves your critical thinking ability, and will eventually help you succeed on the NCLEX.

I tried the Kaplan but withdrew after the second day because the format wasn't right for me. We just sat there for hours looking at questions, and I would tune out after an hour. I'm glad I withdrew and got all my money back. I would advise future NCLEX takers to follow Suzanne's plan. I was convinced that it didn't work after I took the NCLEX, but I was (happily) eating my words when I found out that I passed :)

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

To Canada, you can purchase Saunder's NCLEX guides from Amazon.com or other online book sellers (for less than $50). Your own bookstore could probably special order it for you as well.

Kaplan is a course that most people go to classroom sessions for and costs hundreds of dollars to take ($500??). It includes their own study materials & study booklets, and I believe Kaplan also has online study courses. They offer money back if you fail (I've heard).

NTPinky's comments about how NEITHER study plan made her feel prepared echos the sentiment of one of my closest study buddies throughout the program. She relied on Saunders mostly (heavy on the CD portion), but also did all the Kaplan practice tests. She was convinced she'd failed (but didn't) since she said a lot of the questions she had no idea what the procedure was, or had never heard of the disease before.

All throughout my NCLEX I was wishing I'd gone over the comprehensive text more & done less CD. I think I spent days doing that practice disc - but THEY say that it gets you used to test taking the way NCLEX is given at any rate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
To Canada, you can purchase Saunder's NCLEX guides from Amazon.com or other online book sellers (for less than $50). Your own bookstore could probably special order it for you as well.

Kaplan is a course that most people go to classroom sessions for and costs hundreds of dollars to take ($500??). It includes their own study materials & study booklets, and I believe Kaplan also has online study courses. They offer money back if you fail (I've heard).

NTPinky's comments about how NEITHER study plan made her feel prepared echos the sentiment of one of my closest study buddies throughout the program. She relied on Saunders mostly (heavy on the CD portion), but also did all the Kaplan practice tests. She was convinced she'd failed (but didn't) since she said a lot of the questions she had no idea what the procedure was, or had never heard of the disease before.

All throughout my NCLEX I was wishing I'd gone over the comprehensive text more & done less CD. I think I spent days doing that practice disc - but THEY say that it gets you used to test taking the way NCLEX is given at any rate.

I did questions from Saunders over and over... That got me up to speed on little things I had forgotten.. I did the entire disk (I think there are 4000 questions) if there was something I didn't remember that was on the disk, I would look it up in the book.. Then the week before the test I went to the library and took various tests from books (kaplan, lippincott) and low and behold I got like 95% on those tests from my studying with saunders).. I also took a review course at my local hospital from Drexel and used their CD to study as well... I guess it worked because I passed..

Anyway.. I wanted to comment on the feeling like you failed thing.. there is a thread on here titled "my nclex theory" or something like that... Well in there (and it is a long thread) there is a link to the NCBSN site that explains the way the test works.. and apparently even nursing EXPERTS in particular areas cannot get more than 50% on the exams in the "higher level" areas.. So essentially-you do "fail" the exam because you are really only getting a 50% on the exam.. So that is why you feel like you failed... I personally thinks that sucks. I understand logically that it is the most accurate way to gague whether or not a person is safe and competent because CAT testing is very reliable (Microsoft uses it as well).. but it feels HORRIBLE after you take it to wait 48 hours when you are feeling so crappy... Anyway.. It is my mission to change that one day. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used Saunders all the way thru nursing school. I believe, it helped to build up a knowledge. For the NCLEX I used Kaplan, and so glad I did, because my NCLEX was very similar to Kaplan's tests. Very heavy on prioritizing, delegation, tons of drugs questions (much more than I expected), at higher application level. Well, I passed with 75 questions. In fact, I did not find NCLEX to be very hard. From what I've heard from my classmates, I expected it to be much worse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Which Suanders Book/CD do you recommend?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't know if it is just me, but the Saunders questions seem a lot easier, in general, than the Kaplan questions.

I hope the NCLEX is like Saunders.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't know if it is just me, but the Saunders questions seem a lot easier, in general, than the Kaplan questions.

I hope the NCLEX is like Saunders.

I did Saunder's (and Suzanne's study program) and it was way harder than the actual NCLEX questions. I passed at 75.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi hello, Im have already my Visa but still waiting for my schedule of departure bound to new york. as soon as I arrive in new york i will be taking time to review and pass the nclex. while im still waiting for my sched of departure i want to buy some nclex reviewer. what reviewer are hepful for me to prepare for my nclex and where and how can i buy those reviewer & how much does the reviewer cost? I want to buy all original books so i can carry it when i will be going to new york because we all know that United States have issued a notice prohibiting pirated and recopied materials. thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I did Saunder's (and Suzanne's study program) and it was way harder than the actual NCLEX questions. I passed at 75.

You are the very first person I have ever heard say that. wild! everyone always says saunders was much easier. wonder why you thought it was harder? give me encouragement since saunders is what I am doing!!!

AmyD

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You are the very first person I have ever heard say that. wild! everyone always says saunders was much easier. wonder why you thought it was harder? give me encouragement since saunders is what I am doing!!!

AmyD

I mostly did the 100 exam type. I prob. did 40-50+ 100 item exams. I started getting 60s then eventually I was consistently doing mid-80s on my last 10-20 exams (not counting the recycled questions). I never touched the 90s (even if I'll consider the recycled questions). In addition, sometimes I concentrate categories w/c I'm always get low scores such as analysis.

However, I did study extensively first a review book before I did the Q&As.

I got mostly priority questions, about 3-4 delegations and 3-4 select all that apply. No calculations. If I'm not sure of my answer, I'll always think ABC's and safety first. Saunder's likewise helped me a lot in testmanship since it also includes "testing tips" this helped me a lot if I'm still not sure even after thinking the ABCs and safety issues.

Practice, practice, practice was the trick for me.

Goodluck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi hello, Im have already my Visa but still waiting for my schedule of departure bound to new york. as soon as I arrive in new york i will be taking time to review and pass the nclex. while im still waiting for my sched of departure i want to buy some nclex reviewer. what reviewer are hepful for me to prepare for my nclex and where and how can i buy those reviewer & how much does the reviewer cost? I want to buy all original books so i can carry it when i will be going to new york because we all know that United States have issued a notice prohibiting pirated and recopied materials. thanks!

My preference is for the Saunder's Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN. You can order it on-line at www.amazon.com and they will deliver it to the Philippines. The cost in the US for it is $42.95. just to give you an idea, you will need to add on shipping charges, and I think that you can get it in about ten days for reasonable shipping costs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion