NCLEX, SATA, Studying, Kap, Hurst, Feuer

[ShannonRitzert]

Okay So I have read many posts online. I went to a BSN program. I found it helpful hearing others accounts of the NCLEX, as well as, what they used as testing prep's. I will post my scores and what I felt the programs did or did not do. My story is at the end for those who want to read.

Those starting:

Simple Nursing:

Okay so Mike is a little talkative and does not always get strait to the point. Also, he has made some mistakes in his videos. Though these mistakes are small and it would not make or break you passing an exam. However, in saying that he is also interactive and fun. He connects with learners like me in a unique way. I used him throughout my Nursing program, which by the way was not good (Lost National Accreditation while I was attending and was placed on warning from the State). He helped me stay testing high on both HESI and ATI, which my school used back and forth depending on the Nursing Chair head. We only took ATI entrance exam and paper Maternity.

HESI Exit: Me 921 Class Average 719 National 858 (DEC 2014)

HESI Management HESI: Me 1010 Class Average 771 National 852 (DEC 2014)

HESI Med Surg: Me 864 Class Average 708 National 861 (April 2014)

HESI Psych: Me 775 Class Average 775 National 855 (April 2014)

HESI Maternity: Me 846 Class Average 646 National 859 (April 2013) This was are first year of nursing not typical of nursing programs.

ATI Paper test: Me 80% Class Average 67.7% National 68.1% (April 2013)

I would say if you like his videos on you tube and you having trouble in nursing school use him. He is very helpful. I did however not use him to study for the NCLEX. For exams I used Saunders NCLEX and Simple Nursing (ISBN:9781455727551).

simplenursing.com

Khan Academy: Is great for those who are not strong with math or math-basics or science or chem. It is FREE!!! He helped me pass my TEAS exam.

khanacademy.org

MedCram: FREE!!! He is a you tube Doc. who is great for Acid Base balance. They did not teach it correctly in my program and sadly I have even seen nursing questions written incorrectly. Use him, he is far more then what you need but you will know the content when your through!

Paul Bolin: Also a You Tube Doc. If you stink at psych as much as I did check out his videos. He is great! You might not need all of it and make sure you apply it in your scope of practice.

Andrew Wolf: Patho, Patho, Patho You will understand nursing content so much better if you understand Patho. This guy knows his stuff!

Armando Hasudungan: FREE!!! You tube videos for those visual learners. Really good!

I Have to say be careful who you watch on You tube some people are really good and others not so much.

I want my ACLS and PALS so if your like me this Doc. Is great:

acls-algorithms

Otherwise just use Saunders and you will be fine for EKG or Simple Nursing.

Those getting ready for NCLEX:

Feuer:

Good audio Content but some of the information needs to be updated. Felt over all it was more in depth then Hurst. Some of the readers did a better job then others. Cost for their pharm is $110.00 cost for their whole package $220.00. I am an audio-visual learner so I found this to a an ideal way for me to learn. Know your medication ending's e.g. -Pine, -tidine. This will help!

Feuer Nursing Review|NCLEX-RN|/NCLEX-LPN Class Review

Hurst:

Good for Content- this is a little shallow for my taste. They skim the top of what you will be tested on. Every bit of the content is needed! I am a in depth learner and want the ins and out of everything. I do have to say it was all I used for the HESI exit exam and I scored 921. So it clearly works but my personal preference is toward Feuer for content. Cost of the HURST program is $300.00

https://www.hurstreview.com

Kaplan:

This is for those not great at Test Taking. My School paid for the Kaplan program (cost $300.00)... I am sure it was embedded into our tuition because the NCLEX pass rates were so poor. At one point it was 28% Yuck! However, Kaplan is a great tried-and-true program. It teaches poor test takers how to test. I feel the content in Kaplan is not there. This is in my opinion because they expect you to have it strait out of school. Sadly, not all schools are created equal. I did all 7Q banks as fallows:

9/2014 Q1: 54.7%

9/2014 Q2: 70.7%

11/2014 Q3: 55%

3/2015 Q4: 49% did not answer 30 questions cut off for time

3/2015 Q5: 68.7%

3/2015 Q6: 58%

3/2015 Q7: 57.7%

Sample NCLEX:

1:54%

2: did not do

3:66.7%

4: 30% SATA questions - Which I am not good at. There were a lot on my NCLEX over 1/2.

Diagnostic: 53.3%

Readiness: 68.3%

Link for the chart on how to interpret the Diagnostic and readiness exam.

Guide to Monitoring Kaplan/LWW Integrated Testing:

I did not use the question banks but did attend the live Classroom course. Well worth the time.

NCLEX Experience:

Testing center is like Fort Knox's you will not be testing for someone other then yourself. You have to mail in a photo, scanned fingerprints into the state, and a background check. At the center they scan your Palms left and right and take your photo. Do not let this freak you out! It is a bit daunting when your already nervous. I have to say the lady at the testing center was so kind and bubbly, which really helped. I would recommend testing in Bethesda MD any day! The exam runs though practice questions this is very helpful to relax yourself. I am a very slow test taker. Think out your answers, it is not how quickly you answer, it is what you answer. When I hit 75Q I had already spent 3hrs in the center and taken two short breaks and it cut me off. I tested on Thursday and found out on the state website on Saturday. I hear that some states are not as fast.

Please if I can say anything don't kill yourself with your Kaplan scores or any score for that matter. Everyone is different- learning, testing and on the floor. It is nice as a barometer but do not kill yourself. Many of my classmates have passed and some did much better then me and some did worse. So remember that the test is a CAT and if you stay above the passing line you too will be call RN. Also, if you don't pass the first time try try again. Who cares if you fall on your face, it wasn't the first time and it wont be the last. It is how you stand back up that matters. Take the test don't put it off. Don't be discouraged if your not a first time go. This is the only test in your Nursing career you can take as many times as you have $200 dollars!!!

Also some sites say SATA questions are upper level some say they can be upper or lower. My exam experience was that it was all upper level. However, Some of my classmates that passed said they did not have a lot maybe 20. So if you don't see a bunch don't freak out and if you see a bunch don't freak out. Upper level questions come in many forms multiple choice priority, delegation, select all, drag and drop, and image identification. Kaplan tells you what upper level and lower level questions are. Q-bank 6 and 7 are nothing but upper level.

Now my story:

I was in the military first strait out of high school. I did poorly in high school and grade school. I deployed to Iraq and was injured. This was a turning point for me. I needed to get an education. I was horrible at Math. I have dyslexia from childhood and sustained traumatic brain injury when I was wounded. These issues do not make or break you!!! I went to the sylvan learning center to be tested. Sadly, I was at a 6th grade level. I could not afford to go there to be taught; so I used Khan to help me. I passed college level algebra and statistics with an A because of him, my husband, my family, and friend who plugged away at night teaching me. Good friends and family Help!

I had a horrible College! Don't ask me which college because it does not matter- I feel you should be going to your state board to inform yourself about the college you chose to attend and what their NCLEX pass rates are.

ADN or BSN you can see them for my state at: http://www.mbon.org/education/nclex_rn_stats_fy14.pdf

Each state has their own site. For National Accreditation check:

National League of Nursing-school accreditation

Or

ACEN

Or

CCNE

A bad college is sadly becoming very common. Many have told me similar stories of abusive behavior toward students, classes not scheduled, and clinical not attended. I have to say most of my clinical's were wonderful and were my saving grace. Please don't give up. If nursing is your passion; like it was for me, Push on! Keep dealing with the crazy nights and over cramming there is light at the end of the tunnel. Remember some of college is a game, Have the right stuff, at the right place, at the right time and a backup. Trust me for clinical's it will help. Everyone has a different experience in nursing school and I pray yours is a positive one. However, if it is not, just remember that God's grace and those you love will bring you through. Keep focus on the positives in your life. Blessing to you all in your endeavors.