Thoughts on ATI: Assessment Technologies Institute

Rednights · Dec 16, 2009

The average scores for these things are around 60-65%. So don't freak out when you get those scores. The low averages helps out when/if your school requires a level 2. Easier said than done though when that 1200 page med/surge book is fair game.

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2009

It is required at my school. It counts 5% towards our final grade in each class, which sucks. So far I see no benefit, just one more thing to stress about. However, my freind just graduated and on the comprehensive ATI he scored high so that gives him a great chance to succeed in the NCLEX. I guess I will find out as I come along the course.

Good Luck.

kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 28, 2009

I honestly do NOT like ATI at all. It counts 10% of our grade for each class now...the problem is that the questions do not reflect a lot of the material we learn each semester. Also the Levels scored(below 1, 1, 2, 3), do not reflect how most students do in the class. A LOT of students who are failing the class, do really well on the ATI. And when you ask them how they studied for it, they say the same thing,"i just closed my eyes, picked one, and moved on". That might not be true in all cases, but definitely more than one student said that. On the other hand, a lot of students who are doing veryl well in the course, score a 1 or below 1 on the ATI. I don't think it's the critical thinking problem, because that's what causes most ppl to fail the course..So how can they fail a course because of lack of critical thinking, but do well on a test...and vice versa? I've gotten mainly 1's on the ATI's, but done very well in the courses. Also I took a Kaplan Q trainer because I found access to one, and got a 75% on it...and I'm not even studying for the NCLEX yet. I think it really depends on the person.

littleone49 · Dec 28, 2009

I'm from Iowa and we do ATI. I like the books we got for another resource, but I hate having to be online so many hours a week and take certain tests when I really should be studying for the chapters where doing in class. I don't think it really reflects how we really do. Many students in my class did horrible on ATI but do very well in class and seem have a lot of common sense. I think it takes to much time from what we should be studying and the tests we take for ATI have nothing to do with what were learning in class or is on stuff we have never even talked about. I do believe the books are helpful though just wish we could use it more as another study guide then being actually tested and having to stress more tests.

rane106 · Jan 29, 2010

My school currently counts the ATI as a pass/fail exam each semester per class. Basically...if we fail the ATI we fail the entire semester. However, I'm in the senior class and we petitioned our new director to change this and she did (THANK goodness!!). That said, I think the ATI is SOOO much better than the old ERI. The books that you get each semester are VERY helpful when studying for the ATI and your course exams. The practice tests on the ATI website are also very helpful. I have found that a lot of the questions on the practice tests show up on the actual test.

Jak2010, on what premises did you petition to your director to change the pass/fail rule? My classmates are trying to do the same thing also, so any information that worked for you will surely help. Thanks in advance!

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2010

I like the Med/Surg DVD. A nice review -- the presenter speaks awfully fast though.

PeanutBuddy · Jul 14, 2010

I'd like to hear more on this topic.. very interesting. My school is factoring it in as 10% of several clinical courses and pass/fail for others.

mama2four · Jul 16, 2010

I graduated in May and my school used ATI as well and counted toward our final grade. We also had a new test every week with which we had to get a minimum of a level 2 and we also had several proctored exams (good practice for Nclex - similar feel, but these are timed) that we also had to score a minimum level. Yes, some of it was tough and even when I looked at the "Topics to Review" to look up what I got wrong I didn't always find the answer. I didn't like that the books weren't indexed to look things up quickly. With all of that said, I think it was a good prep for the Nclex. When I took the 180question predictor test at the end of the semester it said that I had a 98% chance (up from 93% at the beginning of the semester) of passing the Nclex if I had taken it that day. After we graduated we were required to take a 3 day live review where we got a great comprehensive, condensed review book (that was indexed, btw :). I did a little bit of the review book almost every day and did several sample tests and did some questions from a Saunders book and I passed the Nclex in 75 questions. Having taken the Nclex now and looking back - I do think it was helpful. It's unfortunate that they are making such a big part of grading and actually dropping people from programs for not passing -- that's a lot to hang on someone. I think that there is so much emphasis on it because these schools are all in hot competition to recruit good nursing students and one of the factors that is a selling point for some of these programs is their Nclex pass rate (I know it is at my school).

I hope this helps. Stick with it because no matter what hoops they make you go through to get there, once you are there it is all worth it. Good luck :)

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2010

we use it at our school, i reallly like the tutorials (the info in them) how ever the tutorial/test is SOOOOOOO time consuming! i think the first one i did took me close to 4-5 hrs?!?!