looking for a good review!

LizDavRN-BSN · Aug 8, 2011

Kaplan was the best investment my dad made for me to review for the nclex. I learned alot of things I hadn't learned in school. I also invested in LaCharity PDA and Saunders Q&A...Good luck with your studying

EGeffnerRN · Aug 8, 2011

I just got through taking the NCLEX RN yesterday when I got home I did the pvt and it said that I failed. This is the second time that I have taken the test. The first time it shut off after 75 questions and this time I did all 265. I got a ton of SATA and priority questions and some exihibit questions. I left there feeling like it was the hardest test I have ever taken but at the same time I felt pretty confidient leaving there that this time I had done it. But much to my disappointment the pvt says other wise. I did NCLEX 4000 and Saunders. I have been looking in to Kaplan I didn't do that this last time because of the cost. But I am going to do it this time but before I purchase it I was wanting to get some feed back about it. I have also looked into the Hurst Review also it is about 200 dollars cheaper. I don't know which one to go with please help!

When I read stories like these I always get that "Survivor's Guilt" because I never had to be in that situation of not passing NCLEX. But after nearly failing nursing school on several occassions (one instance requiring an entire year remediation), I think I can safely say "this situation must be difficult for you" (therapuetic Nursing joke).

Joking aside, I did Kaplan, LaCharity, and some Saunders.

Kaplan - was a joke. I think the book itself reflected a lot of topics on the exam, the questions were just very difficult with convoluted wording and rationale. ONLY DO KAPLAN IF YOU HAVE THE CONTENT IRONED OUT. All Kaplan Questions do is challenge you to think, but when I took the NCLEX I didn't even use their decision-tree and passed 75 questions in under 45 minutes. I recommend you read their book though, because a lot of the book's content I felt reflected the test.

LaCharity - a must. By the time I finished parts 1 and 2 (i didn't even bother with the case studies), I felt very confident in prioritization and delegation. Highly recommend this.

Saunders - I am aware that you did Saunders, but honestly how much of Saunders are you able to recall RIGHT NOW? Because that's all that matters. I know they say don't memorize for this test, but honestly there are some things you just have to internalize. That's why I say learn the content before you do Kaplan. Saunders is very indepth, and when we were in Nursing school our last semester it was the book we were tested on, so that's probably why I can recall much information from Saunders. My only suggestion is to go through each chapter one at a time, read a section, and draw a picture that has the details of each topic. Do this for meds too.

For example: Tegretol - anti convulsant, side effect is thrombocytopenia (easy bleeding)

I drew a picture of a seizing "tiger" because it rhymes with "tegre", clawing at a person.

*Make some of the most ridiculuous things you can think of, because the utter hilarity that ensues enforces retention, especially for weak areas. Not to mention is an easy laugh for what is a difficult time in life.

Or like Silver Nitrate for burn victims: drew a picture of a wolfman with burns howling in pain (they hate silver!) because silver is a very painful antiseptic.

Paracentesis - drew a picture of a "centaur" with a big belly and SOB (this procedure is usually done to alleviate ascites) sitting up on the edge of a bed (proper positioning during)

I can literally go all day.

The fact that you went from not passing 75 to not passing 265 means YOU'RE IMPROVING. The computer took more time to make the decision because you were getting more questions right the second time. Take 4 weeks and attack those three books I mentioned to you, take the 5th week more lightly and review what you have learned. Go out, pamper yourself. Days before the test I brewed a beer and replaced the fan in my room! Start with the core body systems and work from there. You can do this my friend, if I can do it, SO CAN YOU. Best of Luck, we're here if you need us.

fmAtoZ&backagain · Aug 8, 2011

i love your comments egeffnerrn i see you have saunders by heart. its a great book, for me that means that you have a strong backgound and content base, which is a plus, possible the reason why you pass that easily. can i ask you, how many weeks you study for your test? did you have more than 900 in the hesi?.

i looooovvveeee how you process the info and i think is the best way, unfortunately for me, i am not good doing those "pictures" i learn from them, they are soo logical, the best.. i learn from you comments.

nursegrad10, i think egeffnerrn is right, you are improving, i think you need more content base, saunders is a key element for your success, in my opinion, then do questions and read slowly, review your rationales, even if you did it right.

take your time for the test, take it when you feel ready.

NurseGrad10 · Aug 9, 2011

Thanks so much for u comments. I do appreciate it. I will pass this thing!!!!!!!

caliotter3 · Aug 10, 2011

Either one can help. But based on what others have said, I would start with Hurst. Good luck.