Need feedback Please! ATI testing

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Specializes in BSc, ASN- RN, MBA.

I am a student nurse and was asked to sit in on a commitee about the nursing program curriculum. This meeting had a representative from a company that provided NCLEX type of testing each semester and covered each area covered in a nursing program (Med-Surg, Peds, etc). The company was called Assessment Technologies Institute. They asked my opinion about the program following the presentation.

It would cost student over $450 extra for the program books, and would make the student have to sit for an hour or two extra for testing each semester. But, I sort of liked their online pre-testing options (that showed rationals) and knowing that what we are getting taught is going to actually help us when we sit for the NCLEX.

So, I am wondering if any of you had this kind of testing at your school and what you thought about it? Right now, my school has a 99% pass record. So, Please let me know what you all know about the program and what you think about it!

THANKS!

Lisa:uhoh3:

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Specializes in nicu.

My school used the ATI during the program. We were required to pass most of them before we could move on in the program and before graduation. We were given more than one opportunity to pass. The cost of the ATI was built into the cost of the program. I thought they were very good at reviewing content. The books are thorough for the ATI exams. I just think they put too much stress on students that are already stressed out. It seemed like double testing to me when you have to take both the ATI and the final exam.

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My school uses ATI, just got my books today, in fact.

I think the cost isn't too bad.

I do find it a pretty good comprehensive review of the core nursing courses. I would rather use the ATI testing book and tests to study what I learned in courses rather than go digging through all my old notes and power point slides.

I also find that it is good because it will phrase questions in the form that it will be on the NCLEX, so when we do get to the NCLEX there will be no surprises.

And also, we do have to take one for each course. We get points for it depending on our grade and percentile. If you fail it, you do not have to take it over but you do have to meet with your nursing advisor for a way to solve the problem.

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Specializes in nicu.
My school uses ATI, just got my books today, in fact.

I think the cost isn't too bad.

I do find it a pretty good comprehensive review of the core nursing courses. I would rather use the ATI testing book and tests to study what I learned in courses rather than go digging through all my old notes and power point slides.

I also find that it is good because it will phrase questions in the form that it will be on the NCLEX, so when we do get to the NCLEX there will be no surprises.

And also, we do have to take one for each course. We get points for it depending on our grade and percentile. If you fail it, you do not have to take it over but you do have to meet with your nursing advisor for a way to solve the problem.

I just graduated last december and took NCLEX in february and found that ATI is nothing like NCLEX.

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I've talked to some of the grads from the program and they said that the ATI was more useful to study for the NCLEX than going through the instructors notes.

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Specializes in Critical Care: Cardiac, VAD, Transplant.

Our school is also doing it. We get the books as we go through each subject although we have to pay in advance for the entire course of ATI books (I think it was $450). I have the fundamentals and pharmacology so far. I haven't had the opportunity to even look at the books due to all of the assigned reading. It is a shame because it looks like good content. We didn't get discs with our books, but I think those would be great time savers and my classmates would be more likely to practice with them. The content is not directly incorporated into our study programs but we are still expected to pass the ATI exams as well as the regular class exams in order to pass the class. It's like taking an additional class...only, on our own time. (what we have of it, anyway:rolleyes:)

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Our school uses the ATI program--we must pass to move to the next semester. We are able to take practice tests at home as much as we want before we take a proctored exam at the end of the semester. I like them for review before tests, and it's pretty easy reading compared to the rest of our dense and sometimes repetitive textbooks, so it doesn't feel like extra work to me. The cost of this program is built in to our tuition. It sounds like you school has a solid pass rate--ours is 96%, and I think that the ATI is probably a good, reliable tool to ensure the pass rate stays high.

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Ugh! The crappy thing about the ATI exam is that it is really comprehensive. We didn't even learn about contraceptive medications in pharm due to time constraints but the meds were still on the exam. Oh well!

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Specializes in L&D, IBCLC.

Our school uses ATI and I love the books to study with thru out the semester. I also like taking the comprehensive tests at the end of each semester because it shows your weaknesses maybe you didn't even realize you had. Another reason I like the tests is because it helps me feel confident that I know that material and not just that I'm good at "getting" the way my teacher asks the questions.

Good luck in your meeting

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Bumping this thread and adding a question. I just found out that I need an ATI package for my LPN to BSN transition class. It's $457. I thought it was just for that class but since a couple of others have posted that theirs was $450 is it safe to assume this package will cover all my ATI stuff for the whole program? I about stroked out when I heard $457!!

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ATI sucks, sry to put it the bluntly, but I think it's pointless. I would much rather my school offer the caplan review or something like that at the end of the program. As some have said before, it is SOOO comprehensive that you probably haven't covered everything that you will be tested on. And you are required to get a certain percentage before you can move on to the next semester. Honestly, never even cracked one of the books and the DVD's are pointless and boring.

Word of advise for your program. If you already have a 99% pass rate, DON'T bother. This program was designed to target schools with low pass rates.

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We used ATI in my program.

ATI is NOTHING like the NCLEX.

NOTHING

Its great content review but thats where I would draw the line.

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