recent nclex RN takers, which prep did you use?

NewGradNC2015 · Jul 8, 2015

I used the hurst review as well as the rest of my graduating class and everyone passed on the first try

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 8, 2015

I did the Kaplan 4 day class. After completing it, I think I would have preferred just to do it online instead of the in-person class. After I did all the required prep work, I felt like the classroom portion was just a re-hash of what I'd already learned from the online videos. But our instructor was great and we were able to pick her brain with all of our questions. One of the things we did in the class that made us see how the pass/fail works on NCLEX is we had to chart our answers to 75 questions. For every right question, we went one tick above the passing line. For every wrong, one tick below. You could see as you charted your answers if you were staying above or below the passing line. Now, obviously, we couldn't add in progressively harder questions like the computer does during the exam, but it at least gave you a good visual of how you're performing and how you can pass in 75 questions.

I just took my NCLEX RN today and the computer cut off at 77 questions. I'm just waiting for my Quick Results to become available. I feel very good about it. I definitely feel like studying the rationales for the Kaplan QBank & trainer tests really prepared me for NCLEX. Will know for sure on Thursday :)

corann · Jul 8, 2015

That is good to know. Let me know if you don't mind when you find out. I am required to do the online kaplan review as part of my program . I am on day three it is a total of 8 days three hours each. Did you use the kaplan decision tree during your nclex?

guest699183 · Jul 8, 2015

I passed in 75 questions. My program used ATI. But I used Saunders in my last semester. Overall, I think the classes in my program prepared us far as content, they do have a 98% pass rate.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 8, 2015

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Thread moved to NCLEX forum.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 8, 2015

That is good to know. Let me know if you don't mind when you find out. I am required to do the online kaplan review as part of my program . I am on day three it is a total of 8 days three hours each. Did you use the kaplan decision tree during your nclex?

Yes, I definitely used the decision tree. I'll let you know when I find out tomorrow :)

AlwaysLearning247, BSN · Jul 8, 2015

I bought the Kaplan QBank and did questions from Lacharity's Priority and Delegation book. My school also had us use ATI throughout our program. I took NCLEX June 1st.

Good luck!

LV3677 · Jul 9, 2015

I found that the Decision Tree was fine for the NCLEX, especially for questions that involved the ABC's. The video content review was good too; only poopy thing is that they use brand names for medications, not generics. However, there were many SATA questions in the qbanks that I felt helped me with those types of questions.

I think for review material it just depends. Do you need content? Hurst is wonderful. Do you need help answering the questions and knowing what to look for? Kaplan is good for that. I can't speak for ATI or Saunders, but have heard good things.

Shelby, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2015

Not everyone learns the same way, which is why people hear mixed reviews about different NCLEX prep classes and companies. Kaplan focuses more on strategy and emphasizes practicing questions. This might be exactly what some people need-- and so they love Kaplan (especially if it helped them pass the NCLEX). Other people need content and prefer to understand what is going on and how and why something happens. Hurst emphasizes this content knowledge and teaches the student how to think through the different processes to understand what is happening. So that is why some people love Hurst.

Both Kaplan and Hurst offer online content and live reviews. I recommend doing it online if you can be disciplined enough to actually do it. (Make a schedule and stick to it!) Another reason I don't like the live reviews is because it is difficult to remain focused through out the long day and retain all of the information. Many people get through the live review and say they feel like they have to go home and relearn everything. There is definitely pros and cons to both.

Saunders focuses on questions and content, however the content is in such excessive detail that you will probably want to pull your hair out or quit. The difference between Hurst and Saunders is that Hurst gives you the condensed content. Saunders questions are harder than Hurst's. Unlike Kaplan, Saunders does not focus on strategy or really explaining how to pick out the correct answer.

There is also the Feurer review. The audios are great for people who are auditory learners. They also go over questions periodically through out the recordings and explain how to rule out options. There are also "study guides" that go with the recordings, but the guides are mostly the recordings in written format.

So just because someone took one type of review course and it "worked" for them (they passed the NCLEX), does not mean it will work for you. Each person needs to think about how he/she learns best and go from there.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 9, 2015

I passed! Just got my Quick Results this morning

corann · Jul 10, 2015

Thanks, I anyalze why I miss questions sometimes it is content that I need to review and other times it is strategy and rembering that NCLEX is the perfect world. I just wanted to know if anybody had success using their strategies.