My take on NCLEX=RN

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Specializes in mostly in the basement.

Well, I went and took it. I felt like I was just procrastinating and should just get it over with. Every practice test i took i scored with a 99% probability(HESI, MOSBY's CAT and all I actually used was saunders for studying). I have no idea if I passed but of course I feel I failed while I'm waiting for results. CA--forever....

Shut off at 75--no new format, no select all, no math, nada.

However, here's what i wanted to say about the test. It was NOTHING like any of the books, exams, etc. that supposedly prepare you for it. I had no content questions(where was cardiac, renal, psych, specific diseases, anything??) none that were at all like Saunders type. I guess you would categorize them as priority but even now we know that's not always such a good thing.

Anyway, I'm not gonna lose it until i actually find out but i just wanted to give a heads up to those still preparing. My test looked NOTHING like any of the review prep I have ever seen. I perused a lot of them but only used Saunders to study and then took the CAT to see where I stood. I think all of these "predictors" really don't matter unless you have the same kinds of questions.

Thanks for reading my rant--

Mab

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Specializes in ER, Urgent Care.

Hi, I'm in CA too. Have you checked out Kaplan? I'm just curious because I heard that their questions are more similar to the NCLEX. How many questions have you done in preping for the exam? Hey, you can sit back and relax now that you're done. Let us know how you did later.

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Hi there,

Just curious, which edition did you use?..I currently have the 2nd edition Saunders (green one). I was at Barnes & Noble and saw there is a new one out..Of course it was in shrink wrap so I couldnt see inside, but the cover says it has priority questions in it..Don't really want to spend another $40 if I don't have to!

By the way, I heard it is a good sign if you had a bunch of priority questions.

Good luck and let us know how it went1

A.

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The second edition is just fine. There are some additional questions in the third, but my students overseas are still using the 2nd, and not having any issue with it.

Priority questions really can't be prepared for, you just need to know your material to prioritize what you would do next.

The exam was created, not to test things that you learned in school, and were already tested on; but to find out what will you do with the information that you learned.

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Specializes in mostly in the basement.

I didn't try Kaplan and will definitely try that if things don't go my way.

Thanks to you both for the good wishes---fingers crossed....

Suzanne, I wasn't expecting an exam like in school---however, I don't think it unreasonable to expect the questions to be similar to so called "predictor" models. And as someone who only recommends Saunders( which I used exclusively to study and read each and every rationale, etc.) I thought it might be helpful to others to know that the questions on the actual exam will not at all be similar to those found in that material. I'm also curious why priority questions are considered higher level than others--or why one thinks so when we've all seen recently that not to be the case.

Everybody begins at the same starting point. I would rather have ten math calcs and med. questions in a row to bring me way above the passing line and then miss the next 9 priority ones and still end up above the line. Maybe my question lies with the test itself. Thanks for saying good luck, though. Oh, .....woops:)

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Suzanne,

Thanks for the reply..Guess I'll stick with my book then..

Take care,

A.

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I didn't try Kaplan and will definitely try that if things don't go my way.

Thanks to you both for the good wishes---fingers crossed....

Suzanne, I wasn't expecting an exam like in school---however, I don't think it unreasonable to expect the questions to be similar to so called "predictor" models. And as someone who only recommends Saunders( which I used exclusively to study and read each and every rationale, etc.) I thought it might be helpful to others to know that the questions on the actual exam will not at all be similar to those found in that material. I'm also curious why priority questions are considered higher level than others--or why one thinks so when we've all seen recently that not to be the case.

Everybody begins at the same starting point. I would rather have ten math calcs and med. questions in a row to bring me way above the passing line and then miss the next 9 priority ones and still end up above the line. Maybe my question lies with the test itself. Thanks for saying good luck, though. Oh, .....woops:)

The reason the questions on the predictor exams and in Saunders or any other prep materials are not the same as the NCLEX exams is that they are not developed by the same people. The NCLEX questions are developed through NCSBN. If you work with NCSBN to develop questions for the NCLEX exams, you sign an agreement that prohibits you from working on review materials for a period of two years. You also will not be able to work on NCLEX item development for a period of two years.

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Specializes in ER, Urgent Care.

Hi Miss Mab,

Did you find out your result yet? Also, which nursing school were you in and where are you working right now. Just curious since I'm also in the Bay Area. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

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Specializes in mostly in the basement.

Hi Dreamy,

I DID pass.....thank the Lord. The waiting was making me nuts. Failing I could handle---the waiting I obviously couldn't. I went out of state for school. PM me if you want more info on studying/test/stuff. Also, I have some books I can give you since you're near me--I never want to look at that stuff again:)

Also, to my original point---I'm not sure if people misunderstood my intention--I was just trying to give people a heads up that the test is not like all of the test prep material that i had seen--that's all. I wasn't expecting the exact content questions---just the same type or format. I also wanted to write that note before I found out one way or another so it didn't come out sounding like sour grapes.

Anyway---I get to keep my job--woo hoo:)

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:balloons: Congratulations!!!!!! and Much Success!!!:balloons:

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I didn't try Kaplan and will definitely try that if things don't go my way.

Thanks to you both for the good wishes---fingers crossed....

Suzanne, I wasn't expecting an exam like in school---however, I don't think it unreasonable to expect the questions to be similar to so called "predictor" models. And as someone who only recommends Saunders( which I used exclusively to study and read each and every rationale, etc.) I thought it might be helpful to others to know that the questions on the actual exam will not at all be similar to those found in that material. I'm also curious why priority questions are considered higher level than others--or why one thinks so when we've all seen recently that not to be the case.

Everybody begins at the same starting point. I would rather have ten math calcs and med. questions in a row to bring me way above the passing line and then miss the next 9 priority ones and still end up above the line. Maybe my question lies with the test itself. Thanks for saying good luck, though. Oh, .....woops:)

Depends on the questions that you received on your exam. Some have been quite similar to those in the Saunder's book. The reason that I push the Saunder's book is that their rationales are so good. Can't say that about the others.

Priority questions are considered by the Board, that wrote and approved the exam, to be a higher level of question. Not my decision.

Unfortunately, the math and drug questions are considered a lower priority as you were already tested repeatedly on those in school.

The exam is interested in what you would do in a certain situation. They feel (the Board) that you have already been tested on this information and should already know the basics, but want to know how you would do in a certain situation.

I do not write questions for the exam, nor decide what is considered priority and what is not. I just know what has worked for my students in the past, and English wasn't even their primary language.

Not sure what you mean by priority questions have not been found to be of a higher level.

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Hi Dreamy,

I DID pass.....thank the Lord. The waiting was making me nuts. Failing I could handle---the waiting I obviously couldn't. I went out of state for school. PM me if you want more info on studying/test/stuff. Also, I have some books I can give you since you're near me--I never want to look at that stuff again:)

Also, to my original point---I'm not sure if people misunderstood my intention--I was just trying to give people a heads up that the test is not like all of the test prep material that i had seen--that's all. I wasn't expecting the exact content questions---just the same type or format. I also wanted to write that note before I found out one way or another so it didn't come out sounding like sour grapes.

Anyway---I get to keep my job--woo hoo:)

Glad to hear that you passed.

And my personal opinion on what was written before, the exam was written to see how you would handle things. If you already have seen the questions, then it isn't a test of using your brain, but of what you memorized. And that is not a good thing. I still stick by my recommendation of using only Saunder's to prepare.

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