Purchasing the latest of editions of textbooks required for Exelsior

caliotter3 · Feb 21, 2007

There is one indiv who stated that they did not purchase the recommended texts at all. All they did was study an NCLEX test prep book for the subject areas covered by each exam. You should use ebay, or half.com, anyway, b/c often you can find the latest edition, at a discounted price, in new condition. The Excelsior source for references is not the cheapest way to go.

As far as material for the tests, no, the latest edition is not going to make that much difference.

luvluv · Feb 21, 2007

Well thats where I was going to purchase them from- amazon. Buying the latest editions to all would cost me 245 but if i were to buy the edition before that it would be around 130 or 140. I already have Laurends notes off of ebay and was going to buy the practice test. I just wasnt sure if there would be a big difference that could possibly cause me to fail in the editions.

caliotter3 · Feb 21, 2007

No way that the difference of one edition would cause you to fail. I am doing Excelsior and have had many textbook edition changes while I go as slow as a turtle. If you have ever read any of the discussion about the textbook industry, you would see that the major changes from edition to edition, is graphics and a paragraph here and there, and the price. If you really want up to date info, you have to follow what is discussed in published formal studies by the experts. The textbook publishers are out to make money, and they make money, by changing editions on the average of once every 3 yrs. In some of my pre-nursing classes, our instructors would make allowances for new editions of the same text. They told us that we didn't have to get the new one if we had the old one, and would actually point out any differences. Good luck on your money output. One of the best ways to save money, is to prepare for, and take the tests as quickly as you can. This is b/c you will see that each yr, Excelsior charges you a fee just to stay enrolled, and each yr they put out a new list of fees, and increase the fees accordingly. The first time I ever saw anything about them, the CPNE cost was less than $1000 (about $800) as I recall. Now it is pushing $1800.

luvluv · Feb 21, 2007

Do you know who that individual was who just used the NCLEX test prep or where that post is or even what book they used.

caliotter3 · Feb 21, 2007

I don't remember the thread, although it was quite active within the past month. Look in the NCLEX or independent learning forum for the past month to month and a half. (Suggest looking in the last few pages of the archives).

As I recall, it was one of our male nurses, a recent Excelsior grad, and he said he used the Saunders NCLEX test prep book. Suzanne4 swears by the Saunders book. She has devised a test prep study plan that is outlined at the beginning of the NCLEX forum in a sticky. To be quite frank, I have several test prep books that I have collected over the yrs, and go to them first when I study for the NC tests. Practicing asnwering actual ?s gets me better ready for the tests. The review books have the info outline also. I don't have to waste so much time pulling info out of the texts. I just read them for an overview. That's just how I study. You can also find some tips by looking in the files sections of the many Excelsior/distance learning groups that can be found on Yahoo. Hope this info helps.

Mudwoman · Feb 22, 2007

THe ONLY books I bought for all 7 of the NC tests were the Wong's Pedi book, 2 of the Management in Nursing books for NC 7 and a book on Culture/Religious issues in nursing that I found----total cost was less than $60 for used books. I used my 12 year old nursing books from LVN school and NCLEX practice exam books for studying the rest. I had thousands of $$ invested in College Network study guides and found them very inadequate except for the practice tests at the end of the guides. What a waste of money!!!!

Larabelle · Feb 24, 2007

Do Not, I repeat Do Not purchase any text books instead try doing what I did. I NEVER PAID ONE PENNY TOWARD BOOKS. I obatined all of my books through interlibrary loan through my public library after all isn't that what we pay taxes for (to support the library). Then I obtained the information as outlined in the free Excelsior exam study guide from these books. Although sometimes I could not obtain the most up to date version I passed every exam with flying colors. Buying the text books is a waste and I am a penny pincher.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2007

I wouldn't worry about using the latest editions. Excelsior exams are not dependent on knowing that a picture on page 27 changed in the new edition.

anticoagulationurse · Feb 25, 2007

I agree. I bought 2 or 3 editions old texts. And I only bought/used two (the med surg and the fundamentals texts). I spent $120 on both on ebay.

luvluv · Feb 26, 2007

Thanks guy for all of this informative info. I ended up purchasing the Saunders review book and going to the library. I found all of the required books there. They had all of the newer editions but just as references so I just checked out the older ones.

laizure · Feb 26, 2007

I used this as my main study guide that helped me pass the NCLEX.

I have to tell you that I think that Saunders NCLEX Study guide with the CD is the best. I reveiwed almost all NCLEX study guides that were available and Saunders by far was the best, Why?

- The CD contains over 3000 Questions and you can go by section, take a test or quiz with every subject or individual subject

- The CD give you a reveiw of every question and you can bookmark questions for further review.

- The book is complete. If anything it has too much information, however, subjects and easy, short and concise statments on everything.

- If you don't like the book, use the cd, it has all the questions in the book. However, reading the book will give you many more questions and tips. Along with alot of pictures.

The only other book I found useful out of 20 or so was Lippencotts.

I hope that others read this and use this information to help them pass the NCLEX.

One more thing, if you studying to take the LVN/LPN use RN study books instead and don't limit yourself.