Saunders vs Kaplan

[Drmy4ever]

I just received Suzanne's NCLEX study material, Thank you so much Suzanne!

Now I have a dilemma. I know Saunders is highly recommended and I have actually bought the "Saunders Complete" a year ago when I first started nursing school. However, only last week, I also signed up for the Kaplan course at my school and now I feel like I have just wasted $455 on the Kaplan course. My Kaplan class will start in mid October for 6 weeks. I'm planning to take the board in late December. Any suggestion of whether I should using both programs simultaneously or should I finish Kaplan program before starting on Saunders?

[Jaggy Thistle]

I've failed NCLEX twice :-( The first occassion was completely my own fault and I didn't realise how much was involved. I didn't study and I just thought "because I'm a nurse I should do o.k.!" whatever!

On the second occassion I used Kaplan and the CD which got me closer as the first time I failed on 75. The second time I got +160q's. But still I didn't really do any other studying other than Kaplan, which I feel is very much learning the strategies to answering the questions, which is good, but then Saunders helps provide you with the knowledge base you need.

So here it is. I know I'm an international nurse and have other issues, like units of measurement and blood gas values, etc., to learn/deal with, but on my experience so far, do both and as much of Saunders as you can after doing Kaplan. Suzanne very kindly helped me out with her study plan and I've just gotten myself together (been really down about starting again wondering if it's worth it, feeling despondent/stupid, all the things everyone else goes through if they fail). Anyway, I've just gottent he Saunders book and started reading it and from what I can see I REALLY need both and wished I had done it the last time. However, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Hope this helps you to decide what you need to do to pass, as I'm sure you WILL.

All the best

Lynnex:)

[joolsc]

Hello,

I am at the beginning of what I am expecting to be a long journey.I am a UK trained RN and I have a job offer in Tucson. I am starting to study for the NCLEX..i'm not expecting to be taking the exam for quite a while yet, approx 4 months. I have read all your comments about Kaplan and Saunders and am confused as ever:uhoh3: . The agency I am going with have offered me the Kaplan distance learning course for half the usual price, but I have also seen a Saunders 16 week course available on Amazon. Has anyone used either of these or do I just need to use the comp review books.

I have already got a Kaplan book and several cd-roms (mosby, saunders,lippincott,kaplan). I am prepared to splash out the cash if it is needed but obviously don't want to just throw it away if a book for a quarter of the price will do.

Any thoughts or advice will be gratefully received.

Thanks,:)

Jools x

[suzanne4, RN]

Save your money and just purchase the Saunder's Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN. There is no reason that you cannot do it yourself, and I have not been overly impressed with the Kaplan program for international grads.

[joolsc]

Thanks Suzanne:)

[lien17m]

As I said in your pm, if you take 6 weeks for the one program, you will not have six weeks left for mine. It will depend on how comfortable you feel with the information in your Kaplan course.

Greetings !!!

Ms. Suzanne4, I'd like to know more about your 6 weeks guide to using the Saunders...I wish you could send me the guide...I'm really interested with what it is,since I read a lot of good feedback about it here. , I wish you could send me .....I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance,.

[ari3sdog]

its not tricky. have you seen kaplan strategies? this will help u to answer this kind of question. by the way, ur priority is airway thats why trach is the first concern.

[ari3sdog]

its not tricky. have you seen kaplan strategies? this will help u to answer this kind of question. by the way, ur priority is airway thats why trach is the first concern.