kaplan - worth it?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 26, 2014

For those who passed, it was. For those who failed, it wasn't.

Kaplan focuses on strategy, prioritizing. It assumes you understand the content. If you are strong on content, but need help with concepts/strategies, it might be good for you. If you are weak on knowledge/content....it's not your best choice.

What do YOU NEED to focus on?

jocy_anne · Jul 26, 2014

Just as RNsRWe stated, Kaplan focuses a lot on the strategy. It helped me a lot because that's where I needed to focus my attention. However, I also went to a school where Kaplan was required and was part of our curriculum, so I'm not sure I would have paid for it if it were not required. I am grateful my school used Kaplan. I just took the NCLEX this morning and felt that Kaplan really prepared me well. I almost felt as if I was just taking another set of QBank questions. My screen shut off after 75 questions and I counted 31 SATA, 5 drag and drop, and 1 med calc (although I don't think the types of questions you get actually determines how well you're doing). I came home and decided to try the trick and got the good pop-up. So we'll see what happens when I get the official confirmation.

The most important advice I could give you is to just focus on you. Don't worry about what other people do, because what works for them might not work for you. Figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are, and then just keep doing practice questions. You can do this! :-)

RunBabyRN · Jul 26, 2014

I liked the strategy help. The content I preferred to study on my own, so I could focus only on what I personally needed. During the class, a lot of topics come up, and you just write them down to review on your own (there's always something!). I felt that the questions in the QBank were harder than the NCLEX, which had me in a panic when it shut off at 75, but I passed.

Knowing what the NCLEX wants and how to take it helped me a lot. Again, I think the content is more individual, and if you know how to study in a way that works for you, you can review that much with a good content book on your own.

Micki8475 · Jul 27, 2014

I was fortunate in the fact that my college has some sort of grant through Kaplan, so students are able to take the course for free. I do feel it helped me, and I passed NCLEX-RN on the first try. The story might be different if I had to pay for it myself! lol

dandan4o9 · Jul 27, 2014

I just signed up for it (kaplan nclex classroom review), and im hoping it works for me.

rob4546, ADN, BSN, MSN · Jul 27, 2014

There are so many ways to look at this subject. To know for sure I believe we would have to know how you were prepared in nursing school. Do you have a firm grasp on the content? Did you practice any test taking skills in nursing school? Personally how do you feel about taking tests?

My nursing program really prepared me for being a nurse. I think I could have passed without taking the Kaplan review but it was added to our semester and was required. I really can't say I didn't need it though because it did help me with test taking and practice on NCLEX style questions. From what I have read here over the past year or so the two most popular are Kaplan and Hurst. Hurst is great for content but has little to do with practice questions. Kaplan is short on content, even though it does have some, but good on practice questions. Some people have done both.

I might suggest another way of thinking about it. If you are at all worried about the NCLEX then do it. Passing the first time is really important. If you fail the first time then more than likely you will take some sort of review course. If you fail you will have to pay out of pocket to take the NCLEX again. If you fail then you will have to wait 45-90 days to reapply to take the NCLEX and miss out on 2-4 months of pay you would have received as a RN. So it may be more expensive to not take it.

I really do think a major key in passing the NCLEX is how stressed you are about it and your overall confidence. I felt well prepared, had a tremendous amount of confidence, and walked in like I owned the place. I walked out 75 questions later without a break and very happy with my performance. One of my closest friends was in all my same classes and was prepped the same; freaked out about the test and let the stress get to her. She had 168 questions and did not pass. She was the only one in our class that didn't pass. So figure out how to deal with the stress and develop your confidence.

zzbxdo · Jul 27, 2014

Borrow the test taking book and learn the test taking logistics in the first 3 or so chapters. That's the only useful aspect in the study guide, everything else is application of the material given to you.

laKrugRN · Jul 27, 2014

I passed with Kaplan, I certainly think it was worth it passing the first time.

OneHappyRN · Jul 27, 2014

I used Kaplan and definitely think it's worth it. I purchased "On Demand" which gave me access to ALL of the online content teaching videos then the 1300 Question Qbank.

I did not watch any of the videos, but only did the Qbank.

Yes, it's a lot of money, but for me...so was nursing school. I figured I paid my tuition for nursing school, why wouldn't I pay for this when most people have been successful using it. I saw it as a continuation of my education.