NCLEX questions nowhere near Saunders/Kaplan!

Nursing Students NCLEX

Published

Took the NCLEX-RN today. The questions were so far away from the practice questions in Saunders comp review and Kaplan books/cd-roms! Most NCLEX questions were about prioritization, delegation, some meds and labs, psych, infection control.

The Saunders book was very useful review book for general nursing knowledge, but I don't think it prepared me at all for the type of questions in the actual test... I could have skipped most of the Saunders chapters (all adult chapters like respiratory, cardiology, and ob/gyn etc and pediatrics) and done equally well.

Question for NCLEX takers: what books/courses do you think would be the best for preparing for NCLEX? (maybe prioritization, strategy, delegation books). Saunders and Kaplan were thorough, but they were nowhere near the actual NCLEX questions...

LR

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Took the NCLEX-RN today. The questions were so far away from the practice questions in Saunders comp review and Kaplan books/cd-roms! Most NCLEX questions were about prioritization, delegation, some meds and labs, psych, infection control.

The Saunders book was very useful review book for general nursing knowledge, but I don't think it prepared me at all for the type of questions in the actual test... I could have skipped most of the Saunders chapters (all adult chapters like respiratory, cardiology, and ob/gyn etc and pediatrics) and done equally well.

Question for NCLEX takers: what books/courses do you think would be the best for preparing for NCLEX? (maybe prioritization, strategy, delegation books). Saunders and Kaplan were thorough, but they were nowhere near the actual NCLEX questions...

LR

Oooh, low blow to Saunders and Kaplan. Being a recent NCLEX taker, I found that the questions are VERY similar to Saunders. The format were just like Kaplan but IMO I know that if I had studied Saunders 3rd edition and CD, I would have passed. Im doing Suzannes plan only now that I have found out for myself. Im not skipping anything. Maybe you should consider it. Then again, you probably passed. I hope you did. I know its hard but think positive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't get me wrong, Saunders and Kaplan are great books. Saunders especially has great content review.

... but the answer choices in Saunders are pretty different from each other so it's usually straightforward to choose the most correct answer. I can't say the same for the actual NCLEX, where usually all the choices were very close to each other so picking the most correct one was much harder.

I got 265 questions in NCLEX today. When doing Saunders (3rd ed compr review) from the CD and book I got about 75-80% correct, so the Saunders questions were pretty easy for me. I really can't say the same for NCLEX.

Maybe studying prioritization and care strategies a lot would make more sense instead of studying all the details of all the different conditions (skin, oncology, endocrine, eye or ENT for example)...

Oooh, low blow to Saunders and Kaplan. Being a recent NCLEX taker, I found that the questions are VERY similar to Saunders. The format were just like Kaplan but IMO I know that if I had studied Saunders 3rd edition and CD, I would have passed. Im doing Suzannes plan only now that I have found out for myself. Im not skipping anything. Maybe you should consider it. Then again, you probably passed. I hope you did. I know its hard but think positive.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Don't get me wrong, Saunders and Kaplan are great books. Saunders especially has great content review.

... but the answer choices in Saunders are pretty different from each other so it's usually straightforward to choose the most correct answer. I can't say the same for the actual NCLEX, where usually all the choices were very close to each other so picking the most correct one was much harder.

I got 265 questions in NCLEX today. When doing Saunders (3rd ed compr review) from the CD and book I got about 75-80% correct, so the Saunders questions were pretty easy for me. I really can't say the same for NCLEX.

Maybe studying prioritization and care strategies a lot would make more sense instead of studying all the details of all the different conditions (skin, oncology, endocrine, eye or ENT for example)...

I see, well lets not jump to conclusions, usually when you think 2 of the answers look right and you can easily eliminate the other 2, thats when they say (NCSBN) that you are answering 50% correct which is the track you should be on according to what Ive read on their site. They expect you to walk out there thinking you failed. Dont be discouraged. Stay positive. Positive thinking brings positive outcomes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used saunders for my content review. the prioritization, delegation and assignment book by mosby had helped me a lot when I took the exam, coz most of my questions are of this type. This book guided me how to eliminate properly. I ended at Q75. passed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Float RN -all specialities.
:lol2: Welcome to the NCLEX hazing! I used the Saunders book and the CD. You may have not noticed on the CD that you can go under content and choose a test pertaining to any system. If you choose delegation, you will be tested on only that. It took me awhile to discover that. I did my NCLEX and passed with 75q.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
:lol2: Welcome to the NCLEX hazing! I used the Saunders book and the CD. You may have not noticed on the CD that you can go under content and choose a test pertaining to any system. If you choose delegation, you will be tested on only that. It took me awhile to discover that. I did my NCLEX and passed with 75q.

Is Saunders book and CD the only book u used for content or did your eyes wander:uhoh3: elsewhere too?? :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Float RN -all specialities.

I also did the canadian exam and passed with the first attempt. So, my eyes did look upon the canadian prep books. But I would not suggest using the canadian books for the NCLEX, different exams it might confuse you.

I stuck with one book to study for the NCLEX. I did not want to be overwhelmed. My husband bought me other books to study from, but I didn't look at them. I was too busy with saunders:studyowl:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have to agree. Neither Saunders nor Kaplan look like NCLEX though the Kaplan questions are a tad closer. Both good sources of info but nowhere near NCLEX.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have to agree. Neither Saunders nor Kaplan look like NCLEX though the Kaplan questions are a tad closer. Both good sources of info but nowhere near NCLEX.

I agree.. Just finished my nclex last tue got 75 q's with 3 SATA and ! computations.. Its tough and very hard especially if u come down with 2choices coz everything fits.. Its way tougher esp the delegation and drugs part.. I just hope i'll pass...:balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You just have to remember that every person gets a different set of questions, so it's logical to assume that some will pass with closer to passing line and probably will get easier questions on average, some will get harder questions and pass way about the passing line.

Also, each test is different from the other test, so some people will be lucky to get more questions that are familiar, some less.

You never know what you're gonna get. You may get 75 familiar questions, or 75 unfamiliar. That's why you should study for the worst and hope for the best.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment