Pearsonvue's Nclex-rn by Mary Ann Hogan

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Hi there friends and colleagues!

I would like to ask about Prentice hall's nclex-rn by Mary Ann Hogan (Pearsonvue), do you think this resource material would help me prepare for the nclex-rn exam? What about nclex-rn exam cram? Did anybody used this resources helped them? I just purchased these two books and they're very much overwhelming and very thick to read on. What can u suggest me to do inorder to go through these books? Are the questions in these books similar as the onces in the board exam? Just wondering. Thank you for your time to read on and answer my inquiries. Thank you.

Specializes in Peds.

We took an NCLEX review class, so I have been using the book since Jan. We went thru certain chapters...some I didn't read but I did the questions at the end of the chapters and did study questions on the cd. Once I started studying after graduation, I would first do 100 questions to see where I am. If I didn't get the percentage I wanted, I would review the chapter and make notes, then do another exam to see if I improved. My goal is at least an 80% on each 100 question exam. It's still alot to remember tho :-( I got an 81% on 100 questions for Safety and Infection control, so I think I'ma gonna pray and move on because I have more units to cover and I test at the end of the month....yikes!

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We took an NCLEX review class, so I have been using the book since Jan. We went thru certain chapters...some I didn't read but I did the questions at the end of the chapters and did study questions on the cd. Once I started studying after graduation, I would first do 100 questions to see where I am. If I didn't get the percentage I wanted, I would review the chapter and make notes, then do another exam to see if I improved. My goal is at least an 80% on each 100 question exam. It's still alot to remember tho :-( I got an 81% on 100 questions for Safety and Infection control, so I think I'ma gonna pray and move on because I have more units to cover and I test at the end of the month....yikes!

I see...sounds like you've been doing very good. :yeah:That's great I really envy you. I really doubt I could go through this book, but I'll surely try to answer the quizzes in the back and prac. the cd. Right now I'm only scoring 60-70& which didn't really fit to the passing rate however, i'll keep trying and and try to read on and understand the rationale. U are doing very good 80% wow, i envy you that's really a very very good score. Safety and infection control is my problem too, actually that was the category that I found out that I was below the passing standard, so is management of care, and reduction of risk potential. All of the other 5 categories I only managed to be near the passing standard. Getting my performance eval. test result really blew off my confidence... the test was really hard. I really do want to be ready for the test. And like you, I'll try to go through the units cover by cover ti'll i'm ready.

Marie

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I do have a question though, did you enrolled to hurst or u just have her book?]

I did the Hurst live review, which comes with a big workbook that is exclusive to the review. Marlene Hurst has also published an NCLEX prep book that you can pick up for less than $20, but I don't recommend it. I thought it was poorly written and edited, and the MP3 recordings that came with it -- the main reason I bought the book -- are of atrocious quality.

The Hurst Review works because it is a culture of personality: You'll never forget Marlene Hurst! She makes it easy to remember anything and everything. She breaks everything down into basic concepts. More volume, more pressure! Pain never killed anyone, etc.

If you are considering Hurst, you should know that the live review, the DVD review, and the online review are all identical in content, regardless of the lecturer. They're scripted. The only difference is in price, with the online review the cheapest. If I were doing it again, I'd go for the online review, since it can be done at your convenience, and you can watch the lectures as many times as you like for a fixed period of time (90 days, I believe, but I'm not sure). If you need the structure of going to class every day to make you study, the live reviews are fun.

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Specializes in Peds.

I also did Hurst as a part of our final requirements for nursing school (if we did not go, they threatened to not send out information to the boards of nursing!!) It doesn't review everything, but gives you the basics...and YES her personality helps alot! I went to a Fluid and Electrolytes review she did when I went to a NSNA conference over spring break, and that helped me pass an upcoming F&E test in my fundamentals course! I'm doing her stuff, along with Hogan and all my other 500 resources LOL

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Specializes in Peds.
I see...sounds like you've been doing very good. :yeah:That's great I really envy you. I really doubt I could go through this book, but I'll surely try to answer the quizzes in the back and prac. the cd. Right now I'm only scoring 60-70& which didn't really fit to the passing rate however, i'll keep trying and and try to read on and understand the rationale. U are doing very good 80% wow, i envy you that's really a very very good score. Safety and infection control is my problem too, actually that was the category that I found out that I was below the passing standard, so is management of care, and reduction of risk potential. All of the other 5 categories I only managed to be near the passing standard. Getting my performance eval. test result really blew off my confidence... the test was really hard. I really do want to be ready for the test. And like you, I'll try to go through the units cover by cover ti'll i'm ready.

Marie

I understand how u feel...even tho I have been at this since June, I feel retarded still! I did very well in school but right now I'm like how did I even pass. It's okay to get frustrated, but pick urself up, review what you need to kno, and keep at it!

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:heartbeat"I did the Hurst live review, which comes with a big workbook that is exclusive to the review. Marlene Hurst has also published an NCLEX prep book that you can pick up for less than $20, but I don't recommend it. I thought it was poorly written and edited, and the MP3 recordings that came with it -- the main reason I bought the book -- are of atrocious quality.":heartbeat

Hi freedom how you've been doin? Sorry for the late reply, been caught up trying to organize my studyplan (or sorta)..:yawn: It's giving me a migraine trying to redo everything and starting back at one. I haven't received my ATT yet. But I've been trying to go through my notes and books which I find suitable for me to go through with and study. I don't think I'll be buying that hurst book anytime soon, everybody said it's not worth purchasing, besides I think I already have a bunch of materials to use, I don't even know which one to use first. :clown: And I really can't afford to attend another live review classes. I just done one that last year here ohio at cayuhoga community college and cleveland state univ. for their 3-day NCLEX-RN review classes. And that was very expensive. I dont think I can afford to do it again. Nor can I afford to take another kaplan course online. (My huband has been broke for 2 yrs now going 3 because of me:smackingf). I'm stupid to get this test done. This will be my 3rd try, and I'm really very very frustrated...:banghead: I mean...its been tough esp. being a I'm foreign educated nurse...but I'm not really a bad student, I do study and I've managed to graduate but with this test I just fee like I've learned nothing at all...:Crash:. I just can't crack the test. I mean I know the content, I know the problem and probably the answer it's just hard to prioritize which was is the right answer. Pardon I really feel like puking. :barf01: I am not giving up though, I may not have done it this time, but I surely would try again and hopefully be more prepared the 3rd time around. Right now I just purchased the ncsbn' online course and I took my assessment test I got 63% which ws basically near the passing standard. You have to have 71-75% to pass, and it's making me feel really bad. And after I review my right and wrong answers I found out that I knew the answer just got confused with the two items which one is which to pick on the choices. Totally going crazy!!!:imbar:eek::confused::lol_hitti However, I guess I just have to review back my nsg. content and practice practice answering more board questions. I haven't recieved my ATT yet, but I surely am not ready to retake just yet so I'm going to make sure this time I'm really really a 1,000,000% sure. How u doing with your review? How did you manage to keep cool and organized your study plan? Care to share?

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:heartbeat"I understand how u feel...even tho I have been at this since June, I feel retarded still! I did very well in school but right now I'm like how did I even pass. It's okay to get frustrated, but pick urself up, review what you need to kno, and keep at it!":heartbeat

Same here, I feel like totally mentally- incapacitated or something. I mean, I don't know..it's kida rediculous...:banghead: It's like I was in school for four years but haven't absorbed, remembered, or learned :lol_hittianything...I mean taking this test is like outerspace for me or something or I'm the one who's from outerspace. Just crazy..maybe I'm the one who's crazy heheehe!:clown: Yup I think that answers it all...:chuckle I'm the one who has an insanity problem trying to prepare for this test. Oopps...sorry. (signed) Anyhow, I wont give up, I'm going to keep trying. I just started getting all my notes and books prepared for me to get back studying...I was reviewing my performance report from m previous exam...and I found out that I'm really dumb (below the passing) with management of care, reduction of risk potential, and health promotion. I was near the passing standard with the rest of the other categories. So I think I should try to read and review on those subject that I was below the passing first and then brushed on the other's next. I definitely need to review my nsg. content do I? What do u think? Any suggestions? I took my assessment test, the other day from ncsbn and I got 63%, basically I failed..I mean they said you have to have 71-75% to be ready for the nclex. So that really determines my capacity...I definitely need to work harder. It really blew my mind off...coz I'm so tired already...:trout::smackingf:aln::hdvwl::yldhdbng::brnfrt: I'm really to lose my mind, I thnk I already have heheehe!:chuckle Anyhow, I'm going to stop melting down, and getting my butt up in high gear. I definitely need to stop mopping around. Though it kinda hard after knowing I just didn't made it last week. But, I gotta hitch back to my books and my notes and start studying again. I certainly would like to use the prentice hall's review, it's more organized and exactly like the nclex-rn exam. The quizzes in the back are like the ones I had in my test, so are the ones in the cd-r. Nclex cram too..both cds really sort off mimic the exam. Though, I am not having good ratings of both discs. I mean I've been only getting 45-60% scores. Can't get any higher than that? Do u have any suggestions for me to? You seem really well-prepared already. I totally envy you friend. You sound like your really ready for this test. I mean you've done everything already, what's keeping you from not taking the test yet? Where are u at from your review?

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:heartbeat"We took an NCLEX review class, so I have been using the book since Jan. We went thru certain chapters...some I didn't read but I did the questions at the end of the chapters and did study questions on the cd. Once I started studying after graduation, I would first do 100 questions to see where I am. If I didn't get the percentage I wanted, I would review the chapter and make notes, then do another exam to see if I improved. My goal is at least an 80% on each 100 question exam. It's still alot to remember though I got an 81% on 100 questions for Safety and Infection control, so I think I'ma gonna pray and move on because I have more units to cover and I test at the end of the month....yikes!":heartbeat

Hey newgrad, 81%! WOW THAT'S GREAT!!! You sound really really READY! WOW! Ey, dont worry to much, you've prepared quite well...it sounds like you've been doing VERY VERY GOOD. Just keep COOL:yeah::up: ok. You can do it. You said you're taking the test this month?when? Anyhow, goodluck...just stick to your plan, try to finish what you can. Dont listen to my wohoos in my previous IM/thread..I'm insane remember heheehe!:clown: Just do everything you can. And stay calm. How many months have you started preparing for the boards just wondering? I think I kinda would like to mimic your study plan, the way u utilized the prentice hall book and disc. Right now, like I said i only scored 45-60% which totally sucks! But I'm not giving up, I'm going to keep studying.

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How u doing with your review? How did you manage to keep cool and organized your study plan? Care to share?

I focused my content study solely on what was in the Hurst Review. That might be disconcerting to some, as Hurst doesn't suggest you spend a lot of time memorizing drugs but instead focus on a core group of a dozen or so. (As it turns out, I had only two drug questions on the exam.)

I used Hogan's CD for test questions on each subject covered in Hurst. I studied for four to six hours every day for two weeks right up to the exam, and at night I would do at least 100 practice questions. One of my professors suggested that I always do at least 100 questions so that I would develop mental stamina. She also said that research suggests you are ready to pass the exam when you've answered 5,000 practice questions and read the accompanying rationales. I started doing the practice questions the day after graduation, attended the review two weeks later, kept doing practice questions every night, then continued studying during for two weeks straight. Reading the rationales is key. Hogan was helpful because the CD gives you an instant analysis of your weaknesses. You can then narrow down the subject of practice questions to focus on whatever area needs improvement.

I think Marlene Hurst is right when she says you shouldn't try to memorize everything, only focus on storing essential content in long-term memory. The exam is focused on the knowledge that an entry-level nurse must have. It's very basic.

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:heartbeat"I focused my content study solely on what was in the Hurst Review. That might be disconcerting to some, as Hurst doesn't suggest you spend a lot of time memorizing drugs but instead focus on a core group of a dozen or so. (As it turns out, I had only two drug questions on the exam.)

I used Hogan's CD for test questions on each subject covered in Hurst. I studied for four to six hours every day for two weeks right up to the exam, and at night I would do at least 100 practice questions. One of my professors suggested that I always do at least 100 questions so that I would develop mental stamina. She also said that research suggests you are ready to pass the exam when you've answered 5,000 practice questions and read the accompanying rationales. I started doing the practice questions the day after graduation, attended the review two weeks later, kept doing practice questions every night, then continued studying during for two weeks straight. Reading the rationales is key. Hogan was helpful because the CD gives you an instant analysis of your weaknesses. You can then narrow down the subject of practice questions to focus on whatever area needs improvement.

I think Marlene Hurst is right when she says you shouldn't try to memorize everything, only focus on storing essential content in long-term memory. The exam is focused on the knowledge that an entry-level nurse must have. It's very basic.":heartbeat

Yup, I just noticed that when I loaded up hogan's disc..it was truly amazing...i mean it was definitely like the real exam and you can actual customized it by how you study. But like in any other disc this one is more formatted on the nclex-rn blueprint which I was amazed. Becuase my saunder's wasn't like that it was more by subjects. And the questions in the disc were almost familiar to me, after taking the nclex twice I sound like a veteran already hahaha..not being a procastinator and a joker about it..i mean i still feel awful. But having seen the disc I was in awe that some of the questions in the disc were the same as the ones i took in my previous exam, so was the nclex-rn exam cram. Though I find them hard to crack. The questions were really hard. But like what you said, I just have to focus on material for content and then the rest would be practicing 100Questions a day ti'll I can sense that i'm ready to take on the test. I think I like your studyplan and I do wnt to mimic it and make it my own, and make sure this time around that i won't schedule my test ti'll I'm really ready. And your right the tet is really not about memorizing stuff, it's more about being able to analize questions and situations analytically. Used nsg. knowledge-based and put it into critical thinking in every problem, which is kinda hard because it really confusing how to prioritize situation, and answers when they are totally close to each other to get the right answer. Hopefully by using hogan's practice cd, like what you did, I would be able to trained myself to answer nclex questions. I kinda like that plan anwering 100Q/day. That sounds perfect compared to aiming 200 i dont think I have the stamina to do that yet...I'm having a meltdown with 50 as of the moment, hopefully I'll race the no. of items soon. Thank you my friend and CONGRATULATIONS!!! I truly envy you, and proud of your success. :up: Congrats!!!

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I like Hogan...that is one of my study aids, esp since I do not have my Saunder's book, just the cd. I just did a 100 question exam using the Hogan cd. Overall, I think it breaks down things well, but just like any book, there are some things that I find confusing (see my post about Herpes Zoster). Also, I disagree with how the book instructs the removal of PPE when leaving a pt on isolation (it says gloves, mask, gown, then eye shield, but CDC says gloves, eye shield, gown, then mask).

Follow CDC

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:heartbeat"I did the Hurst live review, which comes with a big workbook that is exclusive to the review. Marlene Hurst has also published an NCLEX prep book that you can pick up for less than $20, but I don't recommend it. I thought it was poorly written and edited, and the MP3 recordings that came with it -- the main reason I bought the book -- are of atrocious quality.":heartbeat

Hi freedom how you've been doin? Sorry for the late reply, been caught up trying to organize my studyplan (or sorta)..:yawn: It's giving me a migraine trying to redo everything and starting back at one. I haven't received my ATT yet. But I've been trying to go through my notes and books which I find suitable for me to go through with and study. I don't think I'll be buying that hurst book anytime soon, everybody said it's not worth purchasing, besides I think I already have a bunch of materials to use, I don't even know which one to use first. :clown: And I really can't afford to attend another live review classes. I just done one that last year here ohio at cayuhoga community college and cleveland state univ. for their 3-day NCLEX-RN review classes. And that was very expensive. I dont think I can afford to do it again. Nor can I afford to take another kaplan course online. (My huband has been broke for 2 yrs now going 3 because of me:smackingf). I'm stupid to get this test done. This will be my 3rd try, and I'm really very very frustrated...:banghead: I mean...its been tough esp. being a I'm foreign educated nurse...but I'm not really a bad student, I do study and I've managed to graduate but with this test I just fee like I've learned nothing at all...:Crash:. I just can't crack the test. I mean I know the content, I know the problem and probably the answer it's just hard to prioritize which was is the right answer. Pardon I really feel like puking. :barf01: I am not giving up though, I may not have done it this time, but I surely would try again and hopefully be more prepared the 3rd time around. Right now I just purchased the ncsbn' online course and I took my assessment test I got 63% which ws basically near the passing standard. You have to have 71-75% to pass, and it's making me feel really bad. And after I review my right and wrong answers I found out that I knew the answer just got confused with the two items which one is which to pick on the choices. Totally going crazy!!!:imbar:eek::confused::lol_hitti However, I guess I just have to review back my nsg. content and practice practice answering more board questions. I haven't recieved my ATT yet, but I surely am not ready to retake just yet so I'm going to make sure this time I'm really really a 1,000,000% sure. How u doing with your review? How did you manage to keep cool and organized your study plan? Care to share?

Hey was that an Sylvia Rayfield live review you took in Ohio@Cayuho and ClEVELAND University? How was it?

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