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

[firefly101]

I am in my first semester of nursing school (for BSN) and all of my tests are NCLEX style questions and want to get more practice on how to answer them. I've seen NCLEX-RN books that are specific to med-surg or OB, but is there a book out there that would have more questions related to the courses I am currently taking (foundations, pathophysiology and pharmacology) ?

[nurse2be13]

Saunders!

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

I like lippincott's Q and A :)

[firefly101]

i know some have you have been doing this, but if you think of a book (like saunders) could you specify the edition, give me the complete title, or even post a link to a picture, so i know exactly what you are talking about? :) there are so many different types!

[nikkih901]

Saunders NCLEX definitely! That book was my lifesaver. The Review and Rationales series by Prentice Hall for Foundations, Med Surge, OB, Peds, Mental Health; etc. (I love that series of guides). Heck, it seemed like the questions from the R&R series were more difficult than actual test questions which helped tremendously. Also, I cannot forget the HESI NCLEX-RN Examination and obviously the regular text that is mandatory for your specific class. I know that sounds like a lot but I am a re-admit into my program and I used all of these books to make concepts stick! I wish I had known about these sources before I was academically released from my program. This time around, I made a B in OB and I have to give credit to all sources that I previously mentioned. Although I am on Fall break now, I am not wasting anytime reviewing information to pass Adult Health I (or called Med Surge in some schools). Good luck to you!!

[nikkih901]

i know some have you have been doing this, but if you think of a book (like saunders) could you specify the edition, give me the complete title, or even post a link to a picture, so i know exactly what you are talking about? :) there are so many different types!

Saunders NCLEX ISBN: 978-1437708257. Prentice Hall Review and Rationales (they are specific to the subject matter with different ISBN's. (Go to www.amazon.com) HESI ISBN 978-0323065856. All can be found on www.amazon.com I sure hope this info helps. But first and foremost you must understand critical thinking skill (I worked on that all summer long). Until you grasp that things may be difficult. I am very thankful the critical thinking "light bulb" came on for me this summer. I was so distraught that I was dismissed from the program but when I learned how to critically think, that is when everything fell into place.

[lillymom]

I use the same book the previous poster mentioned. I also use the lippincot, ATI, and Davis's Success series Davis's Success Series Text Catalog on the Behance Network (these books are separated by courses). Our tests come from a mixture of all of the sources listed above and our instructors strongly recommend any and all NCLEX study materials and provide students a resource library of all these books. I don't worry about contradicting test questions because if we can prove where we found the information and the rationale it will usually get thrown from the test.

[CP2013]

This one also helps!!

[CP2013]

This one is great for quick review the night before an exam. I don't know how I feel about it for NCLEX. But I like it more than the study guide that comes along with my text books.

[girlrn]

I used Kaplan strategies book and saunders because kaplan book didn't have enough practice questions. Kaplan strategies definitely helped me a lot. Oftentimes, there are questions with 2 good answers but asking you to pick the best one. I learned from kaplan book to pick answer based on hierarchy of needs.

[on eagles wings, ASN, RN]

I got the whole series of reviews and rationales. My absolute fave!

[SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP]

We were given Saunders in our first semester. It has been a lifesaver. I read the summaries for each topic before I read my book, then I go back and do all the questions right before the test.