I would highly recommend this book. It’s a review guide for the HESI exit exam and NCLEX. It’s by the producers of the exam and it has a section for each class (med/surg, OB, peds, psych, etc). I didn’t buy this book until my last semester and I wish I would have had it sooner. I linked below the 6th edition but you could get the 5th edition and be fine too
https://www.amazon.com/HESI-Comprehensive-Review-NCLEX-RN-Examination/dp/0323582451
Here is a link to it on amazon. It also comes with an online test bank of practice questions, which is great. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0323582451/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_glt_i_RXJD6N01681YE3RG7SMH
Edit: there are HESI strategy tips in little boxes throughout the book, those were great. I've only failed one HESI so far and it was maternity/peds. Reviewing this book brought my score from a 720 to a 955 on my 2nd try.
UWorld, my friend. It’s an app and it’s amazing, but on the pricey side for a year’s subscription.
If you’re ballin’ on a budget, you could buy this below book and register the online code to access their NCLEX questions bank, which I frequently used during school to help me review for exams.
Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 8e https://www.amazon.com/dp/0323358411/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NK9Q0N8EB3CJKPYTP6CS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Correct. The same creators of the Hesi.
HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination https://www.amazon.com/dp/0323582451/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_N3MHKZT0K58MV7NT7MNS
There is a PN version as well. Good luck
I used the official teas prep book. ATI TEAS Review Manual: Sixth Edition Revised https://www.amazon.com/dp/1565335759/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_59mKFbDXAEYK0
Paid for nursehub.com and did a bunch of practice tests.
Pocket prep for the teas is also a good resource, especially for doing a few questions every night on your phone.
I also suck at tests like this. Did really well in all of the pre reqs, but got a 79 on the teas. Made me have to move to an area with a program that was more gpa based and less teas.
This is the official one. I used the same one (for the 5) and did quite well. Looks like you can get a used copy for under $20.
Thank you! Great insight. I was looking online, and I'm kind of confused on which book is which. Correct me if I'm wrong.
The new one is: https://www.amazon.ca/Examkrackers-MCAT-101-Passages-Cars/dp/1893858901
And the old one is: https://www.amazon.ca/Examkrackers-Passages-MCAT-Verbal-Reasoning/dp/1893858553
Just confused because one version uses 'Verbal Reasoning' instead of 'CARS'
Thanks!
Not OP, but I just started Nursing school this week. Is this the book you're talking about? I'm interesting in buying it also
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0323358519/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
NCLEX Mastery app seconded. I was given the ATI books through my school, and hardly used them. I definitely would not buy them.
I highly recommend this book There is a newer edition now, so look for that. This book was my go-to for all review prior to any tests in class and it helped tremendously.
OP, which book are you talking about specifically? I am doing the EK101 CARS passages and I am getting wrecked on some passages. Their logic is pretty stretched at times.
I am using this book: https://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-MCAT-101-Passages-Reasoning/dp/1893858901/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1501087140&sr=8-3&keywords=exam+krackers
Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX Review. This book only provides basic information about each topic without going too much in depth, so it's kind of more useful if you've already been introduced to the content in lecture. If you buy the book new it comes with an online database of practice questions and rationales which are EXTREMELY helpful. It might be difficult to study before going to school because you don't know what you have to study and you haven't been introduced to nursing school style questions, but this book is really helpful once you're in school and I should provide you the organization that you want.
Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 7e (Saunders Comprehensive Review for Nclex-Rn) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0323358519/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GFbuzb8NHT6VT
ATI TEAS Review Manual: Sixth Edition Revised 6th Edition
This is the OFFICIAL ONE, made by the test creator, ATI. All the rest are other companies making their own.
Yes,
Pretty good book actually, a lot of really boring and dense humanities passages, with a good portion of questions being "reasoning beyond the text".
The book you linked is great. It is the one recommended by my instructor as well, as this one https://www.amazon.com/Saunders-Comprehensive-NCLEX-RN-Examination-Nclex-Rn/dp/0323358519/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492486033&sr=8-1&keywords=saunders+nclex+review+2017. The book you linked is smaller and more direct and has "hesi hints" which are very helpful. The book I linked has questions at the end of every section but the hesi book you linked does not. Both books have online sections as well on the Evolve website. The book I linked is much more detailed and comprehensive for its online portion; literally thousands of questions. The best bang for your buck is probably the one I linked but if you can afford it, buy both. On my mid-year med/surg HESI exam I scored a 955 and I actually just took my year end med/surg HESI exam today and did very well with a score of 1115. I studied for both using mostly the book I linked. I guarantee you will pass your exam if you spend sufficient time in either of these books.
Which one is the new EK CARS book? I have the "101 passages in MCAT Verbal Reasoning 2nd Edition" - and I wouldn't say it is extremely hard. I also have MCAT Reasoning Skills from EK, but that book doesn't have too many passages to really work on- although it seems like its built more for the 2015 MCAT.
Would the extremely hard one you're referring to be this one? https://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-MCAT-101-Passages-Reasoning/dp/1893858901/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483640968&sr=1-1&keywords=Examkrackers+101+Passages+CARS
I know it says 'pre-order', but when you purchase it from Amazon call EK and tell them that you ordered the book and they'll ship it out once they confirm the payment. I did that with one of their 10th edition books a while back just so I could avoid the expensive shipping rate!
I have this, is this what you're talking about?
Losing your head and freaking out is definitely not how you want to approach taking an exam. So whatever you are doing keep doing it, your classmates are being overdramatic. Study the material well, you're never going to know 100% while in nursing school IMO, but you can damn well use critical thinking to get to the safest answer. You got this!
PS: If you're super serious use this review book to self tests as you go through your classes.
Here is where I shared my experience (LINK BELOW), and I had to write the second time and used the same resources as you, a comprehensive review book and Uworld. I had also access to Hurst, but did not use it other than one of their resource documents, that had info about cranes and crutches.
Two another resources that may also help you: Lacharity book (for prioritization and delegation) and the CPR (Candidate Performance Report) that your BON might have provided you with your results.
To be honest Uworld really helped me with strategies when I read each rationale thoroughly, and the comprehensive book (Saunders) was for brushing up my knowledge base.
Most of the questions on NCLEX were similar to the topics that I came across on Uworld.
I am sure you will do great this time, my friend. I know it's easier said than done, but please pick yourself up and it's okay to feel bad about it, but don't let it keep you behind :)
Please let me know if I could help you someway or another
Here is the link, where I shared my experience and some tips: https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentNurse/comments/50kmr5/passed_on_the_2nd_attempthere_is_how_i_went_from/?ref=share&ref_source=link
Here is the Lacharity book: https://www.amazon.ca/Prioritization-Delegation-Assignment-Exercises-Examination/dp/0323113435
I just bought mine in paperback from Amazon. I am not aware of a digital version.
I've never seen the inside the book but isn't EK only has like mock exams on it? Or does it actually have small "lectures" inside it that tells what specifically that needs to be studied? Like how a textbook has chapters for each topic.
Also, this is the EK I am looking at buying. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1893858707/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3JP5AYO7HSZ1Y&coliid=IRDSGBOREGNOE
Is this what you would recommend I get?
I just passed the NCLEX, and I would recommend:
the National Council's questions if you have internet access.
LaCharity's Prioritization, Delegation, & Assignment - it was awesome not only for the prioritization questions, but for learning general strategy.
I thought both of these resources were harder than Saunders and closer to the level of difficulty of the NCLEX. You get content and rationales with the National Council's questions, too.
I've also heard good things about the Pharm book recommended by /u/myname150, although I haven't used it personally.
Good luck!