Before
you take the NCLEX, like most students you'll sign up for a
review course. Today there are
so many to choose from. Which
one should you take? Think about your learning style and choose
the course that is right for you.
*Note-Many
Medical Centers are now including NCLEX review as part of
their Nurse Residency programs. Find out what your future employer
is offering before purchasing a review course.
•3-10
Day Seminars
•Web Conferencing
•Online Review
•Home Study
•Review Centers
•3-10
Day Seminars
These are usually taught by Nurses who travel around the country
giving lectures on NCLEX review. The seminars are held in school
lecture halls or hotel conference rooms and run all day, breaking
for lunch.
Pros: It can be a great way to
spend some last minute quality time with your classmates before
you all go your separate
ways
after graduation. It's also a good format for
auditory learners and you're able to ask questions face
to face,
to a
live person.
Cons: Lectures
are
all day. There's
usually little, if any, audience
participation
and the days
can be
long
and
tiresome.
Cost: $280 and up (depending on extra features)
More Info:
--Sylvia
Rayfield NCLEX-RN®
--Drexel University live
--California School of Health Services
--ERI
--Frye's Review
--Review
for Nurses Live
--Hurst
Review
--Excell
Nursing Review
--Martin Review
•Web
Conferencing
Similar
to a live seminar except you attend from home and you type in your
questions.
Cost: $40-$700
More Info:
--www.nursing-review.com
•Online Review
You purchase access to the courses for
3 weeks to 6 months. Some basic courses are less costly
and include review materials and practice tests. Bigger review
services include
"test-taking strategies" and online encyclopedia access
and engaging tutorials.
Pros: These
type of review courses are convenient. You can
study
anywhere you
have
online access. You can study at any time of day or night. They
include practice questions and most include
exams that can determine your strengths and weaknesses. You
have lots of reading and some courses include interactive
tutorials
which
are great for visual or hands-on learners.
Cons: You
need to have self discipline to set aside time each day to study.
Do
you like the idea of the online courses but, do not have reliable
web access? Many of the online courses are sold as software packages.
Cost: $50-$600 (Depending length
of access and any "extras" the courses includes)
More Info:
--Thomson
Delmar Learning's NCLEX-RN OnLine Review
--NCSBN
Learning Extension
--Drexal
University Online Course
--California
School of Health Sciences Online Review
•Home Study
You can get something as simple as a review book
at your local book store, audio of taped lectures, or you can
buy DVD's that feature hospital scenarios and procedure demonstrations.
Home Exam
review
kits are available and
vary in their
contents so you have a variety of choices.
Pros: Auditory
learners can enjoy
taped lectures at home, in the car
and as you're exercising. This is a great option for those
who don't care to sit in front of a computer, or a lecture
hall for hours. Using different studying formats can help
you stay interested and you may study more often. Once you
pass your exam you can sell your materials.
Cons: As with online courses you must have
the self discipline to do the studying and it may be isolating
if you don't have a study group.
Cost: $30-$400 (Review books start around
$30)
More Info:
--ATI
Testing
--Review
for Nurses
--Kaplan
--Sylvia
Rayfield & Assoc.
•Review
Centers
Test preparation
is their specialty and they teach in classrooms like traditional
students are used to. The classes tend to be shorter then
the all day seminars.
Pros: You
always have a place to go without distractions. Most centers have
a variety of study materials and a room to use
when
you are
not in class.
The classes meet at a set time which forces you on a studying
schedule. Instructors are with you to answer your questions.
Cons: Review centers are more expensive then your
other options. You may be driving a while to reach one of the
centers depending on where you live.
Cost: $429-$499
More Info:
--Kaplan
