Question for those that passed the NCLEX and used Kaplan....

k.morris · Jun 30, 2009

Okay....wow you are very stressed you need to calm down and just do what you know you need to do which is just study. I took my NCLEX on June 16th and passed!....I did take Kaplan and hated the whole decision tree motion. I feel like it messed me up more than helped me and made you focus too much on the way the questions and answers are worded and not enough on the contact or knowledge that we all have from nursing school. I took the class and then for a little over a week utilized the Q-Bank online with your kaplan account. I did about 88% of the questions available and felt comfortable answering the questions my own way.

But let me tell you the NCLEX is not like anything you have taken before. I feel like the Kaplan questions and the questions you actually recieve on the NCLEX are very different. I expected a lot of med-surg questions and actual hands on nursing stuff, but it was not like that at all....You will leave feeling like you failed...But it will be okay....I almost cried thinking I genuninely failed but passed....

My best advice to you is just answers lots of questions online and get used to computer questions and maybe narrow down your tooks to Saunders and Kaplan. They seem most legit to me.

GOODLUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 30, 2009

I have a question for those that passed the NCLEX and used Kaplan as "ONE" of their sources
I just graduated last Friday and am starting the process of studying for the NCLEX. I have Saunders, Kaplan, NCLEX Made Easy, and since my school recomm F.A. Davis I have that as well as the Insanely easy books from the Rayfield course that was included in our last semester.
My question though is with the Kaplan chart of 10 critical thinking paths that they recommend that you memorize to help plan your attack of how to answer various questions. Is this worth the bother and is there really that sort of recognizable system on the boards? I've done 200 practice questions so far as a pretest, now I was going to go over basic patho's to refresh and focus on endocrine and cardiac before taking more tests.
However (if you have the book it's on pg 91) and it's the "real world" section of type questions and I'll try to shorten it!
A pt has acute alcohol intox. He has a 5 year hx of abuse, he's agitated and verbally abusive. Orders inc Librium 50 mg IM or PO q 4-6hrs for agitation. The nurse should take which of the following precautions after Librium is administered?
A. Place the pt in restraints
B. Leave the pt in a room by himself until tranquilizer takes effect.
C. Assign a LPN to stay with the client and assess his condition.
D. Ask the security guard to stay with the pt.
Now the answer is C but since I was taught to never delegate the nursing process, I'm confused with the word "assess" and how that answer is correct! Frankly I didn't like any of the answers, I knew to rule out restraints but beyond that I honestly didn't like any of them, but I'm concerned that I could have a question on there that ordinarily I would rule out delegating an assessment as an answer but apparantly on a "real world" type question it's acceptable:uhoh3:
So after all that background I'm basically asking if there's a way to figure out if it's a mangagement question vs a real world question and if the pathways are really sound advice. I"m starting to think that I have too many books and might get bogged down in the process instead of just focusing on one but I've heard good things about Saunders, Kaplan and Davis.....sooooo HELP!!!
btw Im planning to schedule my boards for September since August is rumored to be gone already. Okay shutting up now TIA

It has to be C by default since A. restraints are not appropriate in this situation (he's verbally abusive but there's no mention of danger to himself or others), B. you never leave the patient by himself in NCLEX nursing (there may be a few exceptions in psych nursing), and D. you'd never leave the responsibility for the patient's safety post-librium to the security guard.

I think what they meant with C is that since you as the RN did the initial assessment, it was in the LPN's scope of practice to stay with the patient and report changes in his condition--LPNs can differentiate between normal and abnormal. Assess is a poor choice of words, I agree...but there's no way it can be the other three answers.

I haven't taken the NCLEX yet (Friday), but I've taken Kaplan and I do have to say it's been a big help. I feel more confident going into this test than I would have had I not--it's helped improve my critical thinking immensely. The decision tree can be a headache at times--I sometimes forget to use it. But overall I think the tree and Kaplan has done me a world of good. But if you haven't noticed, the Kaplan books are lean on the nursing content side, so keep Saunders handy to look stuff up with.

Also, people recommend that you limit the number of sources you use for studying. A friend of a friend had taken the exam several years ago and failed--she was going between four or five different sources trying to memorize it all, but ended up confusing herself beyond all belief. So I'd also keep Saunders and Kaplan, and maybe NMIE or one other one.

Good luck!

star77, MSN, RN · Jun 30, 2009

~first, a deep breath~

So, Kaplan did help a lot.

The reminder of Safety, ABC, then Maslow's etc was awesome.

Identifying Assessment vs intervention: great.

...but...

I think it comes down to your ability to 1) stay calm, 2) reason through things, 3) critically think, and 4) identify what the question is really asking you.

The content is there (or not, I guess, in some cases), so you just have to trust yourself to know the answer, as we will have to when we're on the floor, working.

Kaplan helped in regards to Q bank (yes, they were hard, but I still feel that the actual NCLEX was more difficult), and in regard to the format of the test. I think Saunders was too easy. Kaplan was very in touch with what the test encompassed.

I passed the NCLEX after using Kaplan online. 75 questions.

I am also a really good test taker, and I know this about myself. I think you have to assess yourself and your abilities and decide from there. Most of my friends who used it felt it was worth it.

Good luck, whatever you decide. :)

dancincc · Sep 7, 2009

Has anyone used the NCLEX PN 3000 software for review?

SMUgrad · Sep 12, 2009

I understand how you are feeling, and if I were doing an NCLEX review right now they would say this is not good therapeutic communication but here goes anyway. I have taken Kaplan as a review along with 8 other people from my graduating class. Many of us felt the the instructor was so bad we opted not to return to the rest of the courses defaulting the 100% money back guarantee and just decided to use the online portion of the package and the book but here was my reality (mind you this is just MY EXPERIENCE):

I took the boards 2x and the second time I still can't say I have found out what REALLY worked. Kaplan's decision tree worked WHEN I NEEDED IT but the best thing to do is to eliminate choices first and once you made the decision to eliminate the choice DO NOT LOOK BACK and second guess yourself (eliminate it and put it out your mind). Yes, I purchased the Kaplan course; yes, I purchased about 5 more review books; yes, I also borrowed my friend's set of Saunders review flash cards but I can honestly say that the book that helped me out the most is the Kaplan book that you can purchase at any book store that is about 1/5 the number of pages than many of the other review books out there. It talked about strategies that really helped me like learning how to REWORD THE QUESTION. In the back there are 180 practice questions. After that, just practice questions, and more questions, and more questions, and more and more and more . . . . are you following me?

On the day of the exam, I took a deep breath and told myself to stay calm no matter what, at 75 or even 265. I went the whole way, 265 questions and 11 minutes to spare until time was up. If you find yourself in that situation ("OMG its question 76 and the computer didn't shut off, does that mean I'm not gonna pass?" Tell your negative mind to "shut up" and remind yourself that as long as they are giving your questions you still have a fighting chance. Give it all you got as if its still question #1. Did I mention I had bad gas too?? Ok TMI. I really hope this helps you, if you get this far in my message.

All in all . . . the best of luck to you.

Oh and by the way, remember that NCLEX questions will never be "real world situations" so asking yourself that will be pointless. It's ivory tower nursing they are asking you about.

Cheers! :typing: :cheers:

SMUgrad · Sep 12, 2009

sorry PS: I did pass my NCLEX after 265 questions and 349 minutes :thnkg:

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2009

Used Kaplan three years ago. Great program. Passed with the minimum number of questions.

Suggest you concentrate on Kaplan.

Don't feel bad if you don't do well on the practice exams... I found them to be much tougher than the NCLEX.

Good luck!

smn2010, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2009

smugrad!!!

your comment was excellent!!! i felt the same way about kaplan (i left my class after the first day also!!!) but in the end felt that the small "purple" kaplan book was the best in regards to nclex question prep (determining how to break the question down). all the other sources were good to use if i needed to review "content" when i didn't understand the rationale.

i didn't have "bad gas" when i took the nclex but i did have trouble with my breathing!!! (anxiety!!??) :chuckle

blueyes1995 · Sep 12, 2009

Hi there.

I took the Nclex recently after studying Kaplan online as well as out of the Kaplan Book. I failed the NCLEX. I have heard by many to use the Saunder book for content and the to do the Kaplan Questions since these questions are harder and closer to NCLEX style. I will try this new study approach. I suggest that you try what feels right to you in regards to getting the most out of learning.

aec rn bsn · Sep 13, 2009

I took the NCLEX 3 years ago, used Kaplan and passed. I didn't even look at how many questions I was on, since I didn't want that anxiety to come in regarding how many questions I was doing (good trick). I took it in about 30 mins. I read the Kaplan review book, it took me so long to get through it, I already forgot what I read. The most helpful were the question bank, I actually saw about 2 similar questions they had on the actual NCLEX. At Kaplan my scores after doing the sample questions were in the 50% and I think they recommended to be around 75% ??? Don't read books with too much pathophysiology stuff....NCLEX won't ask like that...spend more time on the Kaplan question bank..it will be helpful. Lastly, don't keep postponing the date of your test even if you still don't feel ready. GOod luck and RELAX, if you fail, it won't be the end of the world!

crissy234. · Sep 13, 2009

I used also kaplan and I passed!Thank you for lessening my anxiety! Thank you silverdragon for making this site!Now i can start my profession and help my father who is severely ill!Than you all!God is Good! SILVERDAGON!we love you!