What is the best NCLEX Review Center in CA?

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I took the NCLEX this January and I failed. I am planning to take it again and thinking of going to a review center. I just want to now if what review center can you recommend? Or has anyone tried the California School of Health Sciences (http://www.hprovider.com)? Is it a good one and the 3 days review class and 3 weeks online review all worth it? THANK YOUU!

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Specializes in ER, M/S, LTAC.

I feel your pain =( ... Failed mine last month and im retaking it next month. I took Kaplan live review but was not able to utilize their strategies. All we did was do questions in class for about 8 meetings (2xweek) for 3 hours every meeting less 3X15 minute breaks. And 2 of those meetings were done at home =( ... Heres what I did wrong ... I already passed my NCLEX PN about a year ago with minimal questions (Did about 300 questions a day for 3 weeks, Read rationales and pathophys from the book and passed it the first time)...Now after my LVN-RN bridge...I'm Mister Cocky...DId about 8000 questions and thats it. I figured, this is gonna be a breeze since i did NCLEX PN easily. I didnt open any books at all because I was scoring 60s and 70s on the qbank. I couldnt even tell the difference between hyperthyroid and hypothyroid. I stopped at 105, 4 sections were close to passing score and 4 were below passing.

New ME:

-Attended LIVE HURST REVIEW (hurstreview.com) they are more on core content (core content doesnt mean everything we learned about in nursing school..it simply means the majority of the content that you might see in NCLEX)

-Reads 2-3 hours a day about patho for about 3 weeks now (Endocrine, Resp, Neuro, Cardio, Renal, GI - Hurstreview PAthophysiology is a very easy to understand book, ATI and Saunders) INCLUDING Delegation and Prioritization by Linda Lacharity

-Does 200-300 questions/ day from Kaplan Qbank, NCLEX 3500, Nurse Nonoy NCLEX free practice test, ATI, and Saunders 4th ed

-Knows basic lab values

-Expert at ABGs and F&E

-OK on Dosage Calculation

-OK on psych

-OK on basic EKG strips and 12 lead placement

-Now working on Maternity, Peds and Pharmacology (i got 1 week to go)

I still feel uncomfortable and and my confidence level is still shot, I don't think I can ever feel ready. But I'm trying everyday to make a difference. We will see.

Kaplan Review ($500) - good if your content knowledge is very good

Hurst Review ($350) - you'll understand all your why questions

Linda Lacharity ($35) - prioritization and delegation

Prayers (Pricele$$) - you will achieve everything that you want

GOODLUCK!!!!

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Hi carlitosway! Wow! You improved well your study plan. Good job! I hope all of your hardwork will pay off. Yes. It's very disappointing to fail. Now I am doing my best to get over my failure and move on. I checked the Kaplan Review but their schedule doesn't suits mine. Is the Hurst Review really helpful? I am a bit hesistant in taking the online review because I think I will learn better if there will be an instructor to guide me and assess me well. On the other hand I already read the Lacharity. It is really helpful for me.

By the way thank you very much for your reply. I hope you can pass! Indeed PRAYERS are the best! GOODLUCK TOO!

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Specializes in ER, M/S, LTAC.

Thanks! Hurst review was very interactive and fun...I hope it works!

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i studied for kaplan during my 1st take but failed... from my experience it's really a waste of money to go to the review class.. i passed with Lacharity, Saunders, exam cram question book.. I didn't study everyday but still was able to pass with those compared to what i had to go thru with kaplan.. cramming every information in 1 weeks then the question which were pretty vague..

Saunders is good for content specially in knowing ur meds for each system ($45)

lacharity: SATA Question and prioritization is good here ($35)

Exam cram: Mock Nclex in a Cd ($30)

price wise it cheaper and my experience with Kaplan showed me that ur just paying them 500 dollars to help u study where u can do it for 100 dollars by urself

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i studied for kaplan during my 1st take but failed... from my experience it's really a waste of money to go to the review class.. i passed with Lacharity, Saunders, exam cram question book.. I didn't study everyday but still was able to pass with those compared to what i had to go thru with kaplan.. cramming every information in 1 weeks then the question which were pretty vague..

Saunders is good for content specially in knowing ur meds for each system ($45)

lacharity: SATA Question and prioritization is good here ($35)

Exam cram: Mock Nclex in a Cd ($30)

price wise it cheaper and my experience with Kaplan showed me that ur just paying them 500 dollars to help u study where u can do it for 100 dollars by urself

Hi Emerlindo. I'm currently reading Exam Cram. I agree with you that this is a good book! It's very simplified yet very informative. Ok I will think about that. Thank you very much for the information.

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Most people don't use a review center or review classes at all. They just do it on their own. Find a review book that is good for you and stick with it. Good luck.

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i studied for kaplan during my 1st take but failed... from my experience it's really a waste of money to go to the review class.. i passed with Lacharity, Saunders, exam cram question book.. I didn't study everyday but still was able to pass with those compared to what i had to go thru with kaplan.. cramming every information in 1 weeks then the question which were pretty vague..

Saunders is good for content specially in knowing ur meds for each system ($45)

lacharity: SATA Question and prioritization is good here ($35)

Exam cram: Mock Nclex in a Cd ($30)

price wise it cheaper and my experience with Kaplan showed me that ur just paying them 500 dollars to help u study where u can do it for 100 dollars by urself

Hello Emerlindo.

I would like to ask, does the NCLEX Mock CD you are talking about included in the Exam Cram Book? Or did you buy it separately? Thank you!

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You should attend ASCEND review in sunnyvale.....there is 2 schedule one is evening classes 5-9pm good for those that work during the day. The review program last for 2 months (100 hours of live class with computer simulated examination) this cost $599 + $30 . THe other schedule last 12 days 92 hrs from 8am-4pm costing $499. I did the 12 consecutive days and thought it was worth it.The instructor for the review class are very supportive they also offer free individualized instruction, assessment and evaluation prior to taking the examination, they really want you to pass. You will laugh and remember a lot in this class because he makes learning fun. YOu will definitely build your confidence! I schedule my exam 3 weeks later after the exam just to go over my notes and focus on my weakness as well as doing 200 practice questions everyday. I took the test on january 27, 2011 stopped at 85 and did the pvt, got the good pop up....and is crossing my fingers that i pass....it has been 3 weeks already that i have not received my results since CALIFORNIA BON are sooo slow at processing and mailing out the results which is ridiculous. =) GOOD LUCK!

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Hi Carlitosway!

Can you tell me is "Linda Lacharity" a book or what it is..?? I need some assistance with delegation and prioritization.

Thank You :yeah:

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Specializes in ER, M/S, LTAC.
Hi Carlitosway!

Can you tell me is "Linda Lacharity" a book or what it is..?? I need some assistance with delegation and prioritization.

Thank You :yeah:

Hi Ms Brewnette! It is a book about prioritization and delegation. It's divided in 3 parts. 1st part explains how to prioritize and delegate. 2nd part are multiple choice questions (a must before taking NCLEX) and 3rd is Case Studies. You can get em on amazon or eBay. I really kicked butt because of this book along with Hurst Review. i was so confident up to the last question (stopped at 75). Let me know how I could be of help. Good luck and have a fantastic weekend!

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Hi Carlitosway..!!

THANK YOU so much for the info. I didn't pass boards the first time and it's a little frustrating. I've also have done Hurst and believe the content they provided will help me. Any pointers or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Do you feel this book gave you some guidance in helping you select the correct answer..? Anything else you would recommend..? Different strategies or maybe how you broke down your study time..?

I was reading what you posted earlier and thought it may help. Thanks again for the info on the book. Greatly appreciated!!

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