What NCLEX study guide is similar to the questions on the test?

DTC · Apr 24, 2007

I hope the RN boards make more sense than the LPN boards. I prepared by studying everything I could get my hands on. I finished the test,,had the minumun questions thrown at me,,,walked to my car,,sat there for a few minutes,,wondering,what the heck was that all about? None of the questions were worded anything like and of the study materials and it seemed to be more geared to critical thinking rather than actual factual knowledge. I couldnt tell you a question on it now,,its been a year,,I just remember thinking,,,well,,either I did so well I passed easily or I did so poorly that the computer just gave up and cut me off soon,lololol

Good luck!

carolinagirlRN · Apr 25, 2007

I used the Saunders and I found it to be very good. I studied from it. Do you have one. I'll send it to you.

1AndyRN · Apr 26, 2007

I used the Saunders and I found it to be very good. I studied from it. Do you have one. I'll send it to you.

No, I don't have the Saunders review book yet. That would be really nice of you to send it to me. Did you just pass the NCLEX ?

carolinagirlRN · Apr 27, 2007

I took the test Monday so I'm waiting to find out. Yeah if u want the book I'll send it to you, just let me know.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 27, 2007

Kaplan, saunders, or Mosbys RN study guide? I do not have saunders yet but if it is close to board style questions I will get it. Please help. Oh by the way, I am a new member. I graduate May 17th of this year. I plan to take my NCLEX at the end of June.

I used Kaplan, Saunders, Lippincott's, and found Kaplan questions most useful. Saunders is very good for reviewing areas you might be weak in, good for content, but for answering beyond the 'knowledge-based' questions, Kaplan won hands down in my opinion. Lippincott's I just found too easy...it was great for that psychological boost when I saw my Kaplan marks on the sample tests kinda low, and then I'd take a Lippincott's and score aces, LOL.

If you're using online materials (disks, or online through websites), I can tell you the Kaplan computer tests were EXACTLY like the NCLEX. EXACTLY. The color, format, style of text, clock....the same. The questions in the study package (Q-Bank, and Tests) were a little more indepth in the course itself than the NCLEX (in hindsight, this is how I felt). But when it came time to TAKE that NCLEX, it was exactly like taking another Kaplan exam! Nothing new jumping out at you, familiar format.

kjoyb · Apr 27, 2007

how about lippincott?

Sheri257 · Apr 27, 2007

Kaplan.

1AndyRN · Apr 27, 2007

I used Kaplan, Saunders, Lippincott's, and found Kaplan questions most useful. Saunders is very good for reviewing areas you might be weak in, good for content, but for answering beyond the 'knowledge-based' questions, Kaplan won hands down in my opinion. Lippincott's I just found too easy...it was great for that psychological boost when I saw my Kaplan marks on the sample tests kinda low, and then I'd take a Lippincott's and score aces, LOL.
If you're using online materials (disks, or online through websites), I can tell you the Kaplan computer tests were EXACTLY like the NCLEX. EXACTLY. The color, format, style of text, clock....the same. The questions in the study package (Q-Bank, and Tests) were a little more indepth in the course itself than the NCLEX (in hindsight, this is how I felt). But when it came time to TAKE that NCLEX, it was exactly like taking another Kaplan exam! Nothing new jumping out at you, familiar format.

Thank you so much. I too find that the kaplan book seems to be what we need the most to pass the boards. More critical thinking than knowledge. I am relieved to hear that the kaplan computer test is so similar to the actual NCLEX. I didn't just want to burry myself in a book before knowing if it would be useful.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 27, 2007

I didn't see how NCLEX compared to any of the CDs I practiced with, and I had about 6 of them from different sources...Saunders, Lippincott, Delmars, Mosby's and purchased a subscription to the learning extension on line thingy. NCLEX was the oddest exam I had ever taken, but I guess that something panned through, since I passed with minimal questions. I think that we all walk out of there dazed.

Nuieve · May 2, 2007

I recently bought Delmar "Practice Questions for NCLEX RN"

http://www.amazon.com/Practice-Questions-NCLEX-RN-Delmar-CD/dp/1401805906/ref=sr_1_6/002-4410909-7952860?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178083689&sr=8-6

and took the first test today with this program (175 q)

and what can I say - wow! it's excruciatingly difficult most of the time. I normally scored at about 80-90% in Saunders and Springhouse programs (I started with them) - those are piece of cake, and I scored only 61% in Delmar, I felt like I didn't know anything and was guessing all the time, lots of "none makes sense" and "all make sense" answers, and some "i don't understand what they're asking me" ones...

Delmar is as hard or even harder than Kaplan (I took one test from their question trainer about a month ago) except that Kaplan doesn't seem to ask basic knowledge questions (Delmar did a couple of times).

It's also a new release, so there are lots of "choose all that apply" and "type-in" answer questions, and also a few about cultural influences, community/home care etc... Another bonus is that the pool contains about 4400 questions, so it will take a while to go through all of them. You're given statistics after completion of the test.

The bad point is that you can't really choose areas to study. There's only one option "random test". But Kaplan doesn't allow it either so... not a big deal to me... I stumbled upon several questions with unclear rationales and errors in the answer choices (missing lines, corrupted), but those were about 4-5 of them... the rest seemed to be pretty accurate and complete.

The CD also contains animations and instructions on IV techniques... not bad.

I highly recommend this book/CD. I think it deserves some attention to say at least.

coachlvr · May 2, 2007

I have already taken the NCLEX. Do not study from Mosby, their questions are way too simpler than the real thing. The closest that I've studied from are the online question trainers and Qbank questions from Kaplan. Everything from the difficulty of questions (especially tests 7, 8, 9-- feel exactly like the NCLEX), to the test screen, clock,.. identical to the real thing. They even have the alternate test q's like check all that apply, and rearrage in order. so practice on those and take the time to read the rationales for each one after you're done. Kaplan questions are so close, that I got 5 questions on the real NCLEX that were exactly the same on Kaplan trainers.

No matter how much you study, you will always feel dumbfounded after taking the NCLEX no matter how well or bad you did. It really is a stressor!