Opinions please!

bluesky, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2004

I'm sure this may not be new news however, the NCLEX is a test UNLIKE any you will experience in school. Some schools give you more NCLEX-like questions on their exams than others but don't let that fool you. That said, you can get an excellent preparation for the NCLEX through an NCLEX prep class such as Kaplan, so I really wouldn't make the NCLEX pass rate your only criterion for selection of schools. For example in my area, a certain community college in the suburbs has the highest pass rate (100% actually), but the clinical options are sub optimal (no big teaching hospitals, etc). Other, larger institutions with lower pass rates have national ranking, more resources and better clinical placements but less personalized TLC. So I guess what I'm trying to say, in a rather long winded kind of way, is, determine what the (say) top 5 most important characteristics are to you, and then pick the school that posesses the most. Just my .02 cents and then some. :) And sorry about the poor grammar... my brain is fried on NCLEX studying.

bluesky, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2004

I'm sure this may not be new news however, the NCLEX is a test UNLIKE any you will experience in school. Some schools give you more NCLEX-like questions on their exams than others but don't let that fool you. That said, you can get an excellent preparation for the NCLEX through an NCLEX prep class such as Kaplan, so I really wouldn't make the NCLEX pass rate your only criterion for selection of schools. For example in my area, a certain community college in the suburbs has the highest pass rate (100% actually), but the clinical options are sub optimal (no big teaching hospitals, etc). Other, larger institutions with lower pass rates have national ranking, more resources and better clinical placements but less personalized TLC. So I guess what I'm trying to say, in a rather long winded kind of way, is, determine what the (say) top 5 most important characteristics are to you, and then pick the school that posesses the most. Just my .02 cents and then some. :) And sorry about the poor grammar... my brain is fried on NCLEX studying.

alexillytom · Jul 1, 2004

I'm sure this may not be new news however, the NCLEX is a test UNLIKE any you will experience in school. Some schools give you more NCLEX-like questions on their exams than others but don't let that fool you. That said, you can get an excellent preparation for the NCLEX through an NCLEX prep class such as Kaplan, so I really wouldn't make the NCLEX pass rate your only criterion for selection of schools. For example in my area, a certain community college in the suburbs has the highest pass rate (100% actually), but the clinical options are sub optimal (no big teaching hospitals, etc). Other, larger institutions with lower pass rates have national ranking, more resources and better clinical placements but less personalized TLC. So I guess what I'm trying to say, in a rather long winded kind of way, is, determine what the (say) top 5 most important characteristics are to you, and then pick the school that posesses the most. Just my .02 cents and then some. :) And sorry about the poor grammar... my brain is fried on NCLEX studying.

Thank you. I hope I didn't imply that the NCLEX would be a piece of cake. I know that sometimes I ramble and I don't want to come accross as cocky. Especially since I have not even started nursing school yet or even looked at an NCLEX question. I meant to say that I believe I will pass it because I am willing to do whatever I have to. I will kick my kids out(they can come back after I am done), divorce my husband, muzzle my dog, and study until my eyes bleed. I am just determined to get started.

As for the school, they do offer an NCLEX review class at the end of the senior year.

It is included in the tuition but is optional. I wonder how many students, who took the review class, actually passed. :confused: The students seemed to think their was a lot of support being offered so if one did happen to struggle they just had to take advantage of the resources and put in a lot of extra effort. Now I am stressing. Do I sound arrogant or cocky?

alexillytom · Jul 1, 2004

I'm sure this may not be new news however, the NCLEX is a test UNLIKE any you will experience in school. Some schools give you more NCLEX-like questions on their exams than others but don't let that fool you. That said, you can get an excellent preparation for the NCLEX through an NCLEX prep class such as Kaplan, so I really wouldn't make the NCLEX pass rate your only criterion for selection of schools. For example in my area, a certain community college in the suburbs has the highest pass rate (100% actually), but the clinical options are sub optimal (no big teaching hospitals, etc). Other, larger institutions with lower pass rates have national ranking, more resources and better clinical placements but less personalized TLC. So I guess what I'm trying to say, in a rather long winded kind of way, is, determine what the (say) top 5 most important characteristics are to you, and then pick the school that posesses the most. Just my .02 cents and then some. :) And sorry about the poor grammar... my brain is fried on NCLEX studying.

Thank you. I hope I didn't imply that the NCLEX would be a piece of cake. I know that sometimes I ramble and I don't want to come accross as cocky. Especially since I have not even started nursing school yet or even looked at an NCLEX question. I meant to say that I believe I will pass it because I am willing to do whatever I have to. I will kick my kids out(they can come back after I am done), divorce my husband, muzzle my dog, and study until my eyes bleed. I am just determined to get started.

As for the school, they do offer an NCLEX review class at the end of the senior year.

It is included in the tuition but is optional. I wonder how many students, who took the review class, actually passed. :confused: The students seemed to think their was a lot of support being offered so if one did happen to struggle they just had to take advantage of the resources and put in a lot of extra effort. Now I am stressing. Do I sound arrogant or cocky?

bluesky, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2004

Thank you. I hope I didn't imply that the NCLEX would be a piece of cake. I know that sometimes I ramble and I don't want to come accross as cocky. Especially since I have not even started nursing school yet or even looked at an NCLEX question. I meant to say that I believe I will pass it because I am willing to do whatever I have to. I will kick my kids out(they can come back after I am done), divorce my husband, muzzle my dog, and study until my eyes bleed. I am just determined to get started.
As for the school, they do offer an NCLEX review class at the end of the senior year.
It is included in the tuition but is optional. I wonder how many students, who took the review class, actually passed. The students seemed to think their was a lot of support being offered so if one did happen to struggle they just had to take advantage of the resources and put in a lot of extra effort. Now I am stressing. Do I sound arrogant or cocky?

Please don't stress... I think I was more reacting to the notion that there is a heavy connection between GPA and the NCLEX mostly because I myself am someone who has always done well academically but for whom the NCLEX style questions are not coming easy. My problem was that I found nursing school to be soooo much easier than my previous degree that I did the minimum amount of work to get a good grade. So, in the end, I just specialized in figuring out the test style, but not really learning the material. This was very amusing to me as I watched my fellow students toil over content for hours and then get lower grades than me (how's that for cocky!). Now, however, I am finding that the NCLEX *does* require nursing content knowledge despite all the critical thinking hype and I'm stuck learning ALL the nursing content I should have over the past few years. :uhoh21:

We had a (mandatory :rolleyes: ) class for NCLEX review through the school as well but MARK MY WORDS... only Kaplan is worth your time. So, again, I absolutely did not mean to imply that you were being cocky, in fact I appreciate your passion and commitment!

bluesky, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2004

Thank you. I hope I didn't imply that the NCLEX would be a piece of cake. I know that sometimes I ramble and I don't want to come accross as cocky. Especially since I have not even started nursing school yet or even looked at an NCLEX question. I meant to say that I believe I will pass it because I am willing to do whatever I have to. I will kick my kids out(they can come back after I am done), divorce my husband, muzzle my dog, and study until my eyes bleed. I am just determined to get started.
As for the school, they do offer an NCLEX review class at the end of the senior year.
It is included in the tuition but is optional. I wonder how many students, who took the review class, actually passed. The students seemed to think their was a lot of support being offered so if one did happen to struggle they just had to take advantage of the resources and put in a lot of extra effort. Now I am stressing. Do I sound arrogant or cocky?

Please don't stress... I think I was more reacting to the notion that there is a heavy connection between GPA and the NCLEX mostly because I myself am someone who has always done well academically but for whom the NCLEX style questions are not coming easy. My problem was that I found nursing school to be soooo much easier than my previous degree that I did the minimum amount of work to get a good grade. So, in the end, I just specialized in figuring out the test style, but not really learning the material. This was very amusing to me as I watched my fellow students toil over content for hours and then get lower grades than me (how's that for cocky!). Now, however, I am finding that the NCLEX *does* require nursing content knowledge despite all the critical thinking hype and I'm stuck learning ALL the nursing content I should have over the past few years. :uhoh21:

We had a (mandatory :rolleyes: ) class for NCLEX review through the school as well but MARK MY WORDS... only Kaplan is worth your time. So, again, I absolutely did not mean to imply that you were being cocky, in fact I appreciate your passion and commitment!

alexillytom · Jul 2, 2004

Thank you Bluesky! I will make sure to look into the Kaplan review course

no matter which school I choose. Maybe, I'll run right out today and buy the book so I can take a look at it. :) I am really afraid of this whole process.

I don't want to make a decision out of desperation. If only I had gotten accepted outright into my CC instead of this waiting list. I swear, this is more stressful than almost anything I have ever gone through.

alexillytom · Jul 2, 2004

Thank you Bluesky! I will make sure to look into the Kaplan review course

no matter which school I choose. Maybe, I'll run right out today and buy the book so I can take a look at it. :) I am really afraid of this whole process.

I don't want to make a decision out of desperation. If only I had gotten accepted outright into my CC instead of this waiting list. I swear, this is more stressful than almost anything I have ever gone through.

bluesky, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2004

Thank you Bluesky! I will make sure to look into the Kaplan review course
no matter which school I choose. Maybe, I'll run right out today and buy the book so I can take a look at it. :) I am really afraid of this whole process.
I don't want to make a decision out of desperation. If only I had gotten accepted outright into my CC instead of this waiting list. I swear, this is more stressful than almost anything I have ever gone through.

You know if I should be so lucky as to pass the test on the first try (July 21), I would be more than willing to send you my book which does have a few notes on it but is otherwise intact! :)

bluesky, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2004

Thank you Bluesky! I will make sure to look into the Kaplan review course
no matter which school I choose. Maybe, I'll run right out today and buy the book so I can take a look at it. :) I am really afraid of this whole process.
I don't want to make a decision out of desperation. If only I had gotten accepted outright into my CC instead of this waiting list. I swear, this is more stressful than almost anything I have ever gone through.

You know if I should be so lucky as to pass the test on the first try (July 21), I would be more than willing to send you my book which does have a few notes on it but is otherwise intact! :)

alexillytom · Jul 2, 2004

You know if I should be so lucky as to pass the test on the first try (July 21), I would be more than willing to send you my book which does have a few notes on it but is otherwise intact! :)

Good vibes, and well wishes being sent your way Bluesky! I know you can do it!

I look forward to seeing your post announcing the addition of RN at the end of your

name. Again, thanks for all of your input. I can't even begin to express how helpful

you have been.

alexillytom · Jul 2, 2004

You know if I should be so lucky as to pass the test on the first try (July 21), I would be more than willing to send you my book which does have a few notes on it but is otherwise intact! :)

Good vibes, and well wishes being sent your way Bluesky! I know you can do it!

I look forward to seeing your post announcing the addition of RN at the end of your

name. Again, thanks for all of your input. I can't even begin to express how helpful

you have been.