Studying for the NCLEX

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Hey everyone!

I just passed the NCLEX-RN (YAY) and prior to taking it, I read a lot of the threads here to get ideas on how to study.

Now that I've passed, I wanted to pass on some tips of my own...

I really recommend the NCSBN's review. I bought the Saunder's book, Mosby's, Kaplan, yada, yada, yada...

Anyway, I found the info in Saunder's to be overwhelming!!! It was incredibly comprehensive but almost went into too much detail.

Since the NCSBN (the national council of the state boards of nursing) review is put out by the NCLEX makers, I figured I would give it a try.

It gives a comprehensive review of all the major systems, and the content is way more manageable than Saunder's (I thought). It gives tons of practice tests with rationales (I didn't even get through all of them before my test day!). The best thing was they give "hints" in boxes and in the points to remember section at the end of each chapter.

For example, there was one hint that said if you have a pt on a vent, and the high pressure alarm went off, you would ALWAYS do this, and NEVER do this.

Well, what do you know...I'm taking the test, and towards the end (I went to 75) I get a question about what to do when the high pressure alarm went off.

I was so stoked-I knew how to answer that one precisely cause of that review.

I also bought the Kaplan online Q-bank. I found the questions to mirror the NCLEX difficulty level exactly. However, it was quite expensive- $299 for 1000 questions.

So, I guess I'm saying go with the NCSBN and the Kaplan questions if you can afford it.

I would skip Saunder's just because I think it's too detailed (it is intimidating).

Also, I thought the Mosby's book of questions just plain stunk.

Alot of the answers to the questions struck me as just plain WRONG-like very untherapeutic communication techniques, etc.

Anyway, GOOD LUCK to everyone about to take it!!

It's not really THAT bad...

Hope this helps!!

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Congratulation!! Sounds like it's time for a new name huh?!? Thanks for the tips...I'm taking it on Thursday and I'm praying I pass. I have also taken the NCSBN and have been scoring in the 70's on the random questions...highs of high 80's lows in the 60's. Anyways it nice to hear of someone who passed with NCSBN and Kaplan as that's what I've been doing! Again, :balloons: :balloons: Congratulations!!!

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Can you please tell me more information about the NCSBN book that you are talking about? Such as the specific title, where you aquired it from, and even the ISBN # if you have it. And CONGRATS on passing your boards!!!!

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http://www.ncsbn.com

The NCSBN course is online:)

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Hey everyone!

I just passed the NCLEX-RN (YAY) and prior to taking it, I read a lot of the threads here to get ideas on how to study.

Now that I've passed, I wanted to pass on some tips of my own...

I really recommend the NCSBN's review. I bought the Saunder's book, Mosby's, Kaplan, yada, yada, yada...

Anyway, I found the info in Saunder's to be overwhelming!!! It was incredibly comprehensive but almost went into too much detail.

Since the NCSBN (the national council of the state boards of nursing) review is put out by the NCLEX makers, I figured I would give it a try.

It gives a comprehensive review of all the major systems, and the content is way more manageable than Saunder's (I thought). It gives tons of practice tests with rationales (I didn't even get through all of them before my test day!). The best thing was they give "hints" in boxes and in the points to remember section at the end of each chapter.

For example, there was one hint that said if you have a pt on a vent, and the high pressure alarm went off, you would ALWAYS do this, and NEVER do this.

Well, what do you know...I'm taking the test, and towards the end (I went to 75) I get a question about what to do when the high pressure alarm went off.

I was so stoked-I knew how to answer that one precisely cause of that review.

I also bought the Kaplan online Q-bank. I found the questions to mirror the NCLEX difficulty level exactly. However, it was quite expensive- $299 for 1000 questions.

So, I guess I'm saying go with the NCSBN and the Kaplan questions if you can afford it.

I would skip Saunder's just because I think it's too detailed (it is intimidating).

Also, I thought the Mosby's book of questions just plain stunk.

Alot of the answers to the questions struck me as just plain WRONG-like very untherapeutic communication techniques, etc.

Anyway, GOOD LUCK to everyone about to take it!!

It's not really THAT bad...

Hope this helps!!

I agree with you regarding Saunders book being very detailed (that is, if it's the one with 75 chapters). It is anxiety-producing. I have heard good things about the NCSBN review, & I think I'll give it a try. It's $50 for 3 weeks, & $79 or $89 for 7 weeks. I am currently going through my Kaplan book again (I will be taking NCLEX for the 3rd time). I also agree that Kaplan questions mirror the difficulty of the NCLEX questions, I believe I stated something to that effect in one of my posts. This last time that I tested, I actually had at least 5 questions on my NCLEX test that were word-for-word questions from my Kaplan NCLEX Trainer CD. Thanks for sharing the information!

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Can you please tell me more information about the NCSBN book that you are talking about? Such as the specific title, where you aquired it from, and even the ISBN # if you have it. And CONGRATS on passing your boards!!!!

To my knowledge, NCSBN does not have a book. They offer a class online, which costs $50 for 3 weeks, & something like $79 or $89 for 7 weeks. You have unlimited access to the site once you join. I have heard good things about it, plus, they have added new format information. The website that I was given is http://www.learningextension.com

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Hi

I am just about to start studying for the NCLEX (british nurse) :uhoh21: and have viewed some of the sites mentioned. any ideas on how to START studying - best book etc. I know i will probably end up with a few books but which one first?

Cheers

Kay the 2nd :)

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