What is a good NCLEX-RN book to get during nursing school?

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2012

I personally wouldn't touch an NCLEX book until it's NCLEX time. Read your course books, do the questions in there and take your tests. The last thing you need is a rationale that is different than a book answer and you have NOTHING to fall back on when trying to prove your answer was right. Read the chapters and a day before the test get together as a group and make up your own NCLEX questions. If you must get a book the least contradictory book (to the school lecture books) was the NCLEX made incredibly easy question book or ATI questions on my phone (app for android and iPhone).

Mads.RN · Oct 14, 2012

Honestly, my friends and I used our Saunders nclex book throughout all of nursing school. Every test we would do all the questions in the book on the subject that the test was on. It helped A LOT!!!!!!!

Stephalump · Oct 14, 2012

We use the Saunders boom. As well. The reviews hit all the main points and the questions are super helpful! The further along I get the more valuable I find it to be.

Ginnym1981 · Oct 14, 2012

I personally wouldn't touch an NCLEX book until it's NCLEX time. Read your course books, do the questions in there and take your tests. The last thing you need is a rationale that is different than a book answer and you have NOTHING to fall back on when trying to prove your answer was right. Read the chapters and a day before the test get together as a group and make up your own NCLEX questions. If you must get a book the least contradictory book (to the school lecture books) was the NCLEX made incredibly easy question book or ATI questions on my phone (app for android and iPhone).

Really?! I'm kind of shocked to hear you think this way. Our instructors tell us to start as soon as possible because it helps us learn how to read and answer NCLEX style questions.

I also feel like it helps me pick out info from the readings that are important for tests.

Just goes to show everyone learns differently!

I have about 5 different NCLEX book and the Saunders is by far my favorite!

Just make sure you write our answers down on notebook paper and don't circle your answers in your book so you can retest yourself later down the road. (totally learned this from experience! :facepalm: )

Good luck!!

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2012

Really?! I'm kind of shocked to hear you think this way. Our instructors tell us to start as soon as possible because it helps us learn how to read and answer NCLEX style questions.
I also feel like it helps me pick out info from the readings that are important for tests.
Just goes to show everyone learns differently!
I have about 5 different NCLEX book and the Saunders is by far my favorite!
Just make sure you write our answers down on notebook paper and don't circle your answers in your book so you can retest yourself later down the road. (totally learned this from experience! )
Good luck!!

It didn't help me at all, infact, it got me thinking way too deep! However, our school was based off of ATI so I had those resources to practice off of and our test questions were very similar to ATI so any other rationale (and we all know ATI can be WAY off base and TOTALLY contradictory of other sources!) so that may be why it wasn't helpful for me. That being said, I didn't touch other books until after the exit exam, took the NCLEX 2 weeks after graduation and passed in 75..so maybe its my learning style, but I "just got it"....I dunno. I say dont because rationales MAY contradict the instructor and again, without using an "approved text" you may find yourself up the creek without a paddle when trying to gain extra points on bad questions.

firefly101 · Oct 14, 2012

the professors in the semester ahead of mine we're frustrated that none of the students had an NCLEX book yet. they're saying that we should have one throughout nursing school. so i want to start looking at them.

CP2013 · Oct 14, 2012

the professors in the semester ahead of mine we're frustrated that none of the students had an NCLEX book yet. they're saying that we should have one throughout nursing school. so i want to start looking at them.

Saunders is helpful. NCLEX made incredibly easy. And Hurst.

Those are what helps me. I have noticed the contradictions but I take the question at face value. I think that's where some students falter. You have to read the question for what it is and then look at the answers. I find those three books plus ATI help me enough in addition to lecture material, that I also "get it" and haven't read a text book since school started. I am a high B student in my program also BSN and I haven't struggled or given up my life for school.

I think some people read the book so religiously they sacrifice their health, and that's not how I wan to suffer through school for an A. Just not worth it long term. Good luck!

CP2013 · Oct 14, 2012

Also- for fundamentals, think common sense for their questions. For example...Why do you wipe in a certain direction when bathing? To promote venous blood return and prevent stasis. Etc.

If you think that way it will help you greatly on exams. :)

A lot of these book help with Med Surg nursing type questions and disease processes. If you aren't there yet it won't help. Know your A&P and fundamentals will come to you.

bausch · Oct 14, 2012

Saunders, Straight A's in nursing (various topics), found doing NCLEX questions helped me have a better understanding of the material. Also, Kaplan Strategies Book will help you understand how to approach questions.

ivikatasha · Oct 14, 2012

Another for the Saunders book here. I have it open in front of me right now, using it to study for my mother/baby final. Been using it since day 1, it has been so helpful.

ER(notso)n00b, ASN, RN · Oct 14, 2012

Another vote for Saunders. I have Strategies for Test Success and the Comprehensive Review. Comprehensive Review has a big section on Fundamentals. These books have helped a lot.