saudners??? mistakes????

debsuztx · Apr 3, 2006

Actually, just last week I found a mistake taking the study test for the Endocrine section. I checked with my classmate to see if maybe I was just looking at the question wrong; but, nope the answer they give is definitely wrong. I wondered who I could contact (not that I don't have anything to do at this point), but if you are currently studying the NCLEX, it's frustrating when you find a wrong answer for a question. Then you start wondering, what others could be wrong? Anyone have any comments or suggestions regarding this topic. Thanks!!

Leda · Apr 3, 2006

Not knowing the specific question/questions you are referring to makes it difficult to fully answer your concerns, however you need to consider the following points:

1. NCLEX is seeking the best answer. This means selecting the best answer among those listed for the question, in response to the situation as described in the question. This may sound like NCLEX-speak, and it is. But the point is the best answer (among those listed for a particular question), may differ from the textbook correct answer. In fact the verbatum textbook correct answer will not be found as an option. NCLEX is evaluating safe and effective nursing practice, using the questions to evaluate the test taker's critical thinking via the question as constructed. The NCLEX review book questions are attempting to mirror this process.

2. Human error does happen and from time to time and any review textbook may have the wrong letter/number listed as the best answer option. This can happen when a review text is updated and the answer order is changed, but the question and possible answers remain the same (just reordered). Read the rationale for the best answer and see if it matches the letter/or number option, or if it would better fit with the answer you selected as correct. If the later occurs then there was an editing/proofreading error that occured when the review book was being constructed.

3. There is lag time between actual practice and NCLEX question development in review books. This means that when the question in the review book was written the best answer was referenced as the correct response based on published information (i.e., current nursing textbooks) at the time the review book was being developed. So occasionally what you see in current actual clinical practice may differ from the NCLEX review question due to the timespan between the publication of the book and current practice. However since most questions are testing fundamental concepts this is seldom a problem.

4. When you encounter a "questionable" response in an NCLEX review textbook take this opportunity to go back to a current nursing textbook and verify the best care/answer for that nursing situation. It is always good to use more than one textbook to support the best answer.

Overall Saunders gets rave reviews for being an excellent tool to prepare for the NCLEX. The majority of the questions are not controversial or problematic. For those questions that are troublesome just be sure that you reference the best answer with information that is published in current nursing textbooks and you should be fine.

Best of luck with your NCLEX studies.

eliza_mae017 · Apr 3, 2006

With some of typos in Saunders, yes i encounter that and it isnt a problem. As long as u understand the rationale both right and wrong then u will know which one is right and wrong answer........"Human error does happen" I understand that" Saunders still is the best book to review for NCLEX... THUMBS UP:specs:

suzanne4, RN · Apr 4, 2006

With any book that ocmes out, there are always a few issues that arise, just from the sheer size of the amount of material that is covered.

If you think that after doing the research, there is a problem, contact the publisher, and they will correct it in future versions.

Again, the biggest part of preparing is understanding what the exam is looking for. What Leda stated above is 100% correct.

AmyD_RN · Apr 4, 2006

oh I am hoping no one thinks I am dawging Saunders at all. I just had few questions on if something was the right answer or not. I just didn't want to be telling myself it was if it wasn't ,(that was all), I love this book and the program. thanks for the replys.