Studyguide101 or books??

Editorial Team / Moderator · Feb 23, 2016

In my opinion, textbook use generally results in higher exam grades and improved exposure to topics. SG101, while very helpful, is still somebody's notes, bottom line.

I know, people will get mad at me and say C=RN and C's get degrees and I know there are excellent nurses out there with lower GPAs, but if you want to advance your education, GPA matters. Just my opinion and experience.

If you go one edition back, books are typically much cheaper and still contain nearly the same information.

Good luck!

MedicFireRN · Feb 24, 2016

In my opinion, textbook use generally results in higher exam grades and improved exposure to topics. SG101, while very helpful, is still somebody's notes, bottom line.
I know, people will get mad at me and say C=RN and C's get degrees and I know there are excellent nurses out there with lower GPAs, but if you want to advance your education, GPA matters. Just my opinion and experience.
If you go one edition back, books are typically much cheaper and still contain nearly the same information.
Good luck!

This! I bought the books and read the material. I didn't want to rely on someone else's notes. I also knew that when it came down to it, I was responsible for the material in the books, not whatever is in SG101.

Molemedic, MSN, EMT-P, NP · Feb 24, 2016

Why not use both? That's what I prefer to do. I use the content guide to guide me through the textbook and I use Google to elaborate a little further on things I'm not completely sure of/are interested in learning more about. I then like to use the SG101 as kind of a refresher. They are very handy to have around to keep stuff fresh in your mind and are super convenient as I load it onto my phone and can take it anywhere. Some people have been able to pass the exams using just the notes but more often than not with poor grades. Nothing beats the text book.

P.S I don't use Excelsior recommended books as I have my own from a brick and mortar school. It's all the same info it's just you have to look through the textbook to find it where as Excelsior gives you the exact chapter for the recommended books.

NurseBinWA · Feb 25, 2016

I have a ton of nursing books already and may pick up a couple recommended excelsior books just an edition older and use the study guide as well. All of your input was helpful and much appreciated!! I plan to follow EC content guide and look up the information I need to learn based on it in my various sources.

UlanaD · Feb 26, 2016

I passed all the nursing exams with just study group101. It's not 'notes' they are real study guides and even better than the $500 college network 'notes'. Getting the books was waste of money. And, I'm sorry but your comment is offensive. I got ALL A's and B's and that is not what I call 'poor' grades. People who get poor grades did not study efficiently.

NurseBinWA · Feb 26, 2016

I ended up purchasing the 11ed. of the Excelsior recommended med surg book on Amazon for $17.99 plus Saunders NCLEX RN book for class content and for NCLEX studying so it will serve 2 purposes. I will use both the book with EC practice exams and studyguide101. Good luck all!

NurseHopefulInOH · Feb 26, 2016

I use both and prefer to read the text first in the books and feel it gives a more complete picture for better understanding. I bought my books on Amazon. Most were cheap as I don't buy the latest edition. SG101 is good to review and when I can't bring my books places to study but it was to disjointed for me. Also the practice tests are helpful

NurseSuzy22 · Feb 28, 2016

I've use study group 101 for all my exams so far and all A and b's. No poor grades here either LOL. I do have most of the books but i rarely use them. I look on you tube too for videos but mostly just the study guide quizzes adn practice exams. I'm on LS1.