NCLEX and HESI study guide (preparing for NCLEX): Do you need a study guide for NCLEX-RN or HESI exam? If so, you have came to the right place. I am a registered nurse who developed a free study guide log for future nurses/nursing school who are going to be taking the NCLEX or HESI exams. I developed this study guide while I was a nursing student and have decided to share it via the web. This study guide includes which review books you should buy to help you pass these exams first try and how I studied day by day in order to prepare for these exams.
NOTE: If you are having to take the NLN PAX-RN exam, NET exam, HOBET exam, or ATI TEAS exam click the links for their study guides and information about each pre-nursing entrance exam.
Hesi Study Guide: Review Books
The study guide below is exactly how I studied and I pass the HESI exam with a 1002 (first try) and NCLEX-RN on the first try with 75 questions. Feel free to print this study guide and tell all your friends about it. I’m all about helping other nursing students out!
Okay…with that down the question is what books do you use in order to prepare for them. After much research on the web and looking at reviews, I found two books out there that are hands down the best to study with for your exit HESI exam and NCLEX-RN. I bought these books off of Amazon.com. The best books to study for your exit HESI exam and NCLEX are the :
- Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination
- HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination
*Disclosure: The items recommended in this article are recommendations based on our own honest personal opinion and experience. We are an affiliate with Amazon.com, and when you buy the products recommended by us, you help support this site.
Free NCLEX Quizzes
Here are some free NCLEX quizzes, dosage calculations quizzes, and personality quizzes that we have developed. Bookmark this page and always check back for new quizzes added.
Study Guide For HESI Exam (and NCLEX)
Listed above are the books I used to study for my exit HESI & NCLEX-RN. I will be taking by exit HESI March 27 (passed) and my NCLEX June 11 (passed).
NOTE: the NCLEX 3500 website I used is no longer available for users to access
Here is my study log of how I prepared for NCLEX-RN and HESI:
- December 11- 100 questions, Reviewed every body system-renal, heart, GI, GU, ear, eye, endocrine, cancer..etc. scored 72% using Saunders Book review CD.
- December 12-100 questions, Reviewed Pediatrics scored 65% using Saunder Book review CD.
- December 13-50 questions, Reviewed Delegating & Prioritizing Skills scored 76% using Saunder book review CD.
- December 15-100 questions, Reviewed Fundamental Skills scored 74% using Saunders Book review CD.
- December 17– 100 questions, Reviewed OB skills scored 70% using Saunders Book review CD.
- December 18- 75 questions, Reviewed everything fundamentals, OB, peds, Older Adult..etc using the HESI CD (just received today in the mail), got 58% score..yeah I know.
- December 26-69 questions OB (during labor questions) scored 73% using Saunder Book review CD, read some chapters in my HESI book covering electrolytes, EKGs, IV solutions, & DIC.
- December 27-35 questions reviewed Fundamentals using HESI book CD scored 71%, 50 questions using NCLEX 3500 website reviewed all areas (ob, fundamentals, mental health, peds,..etc) scored 66%
- December 29– 50 questions using NCLEX 3500 website covering Peds (didn’t get a score…I choose the method of getting the rational right after I answered the question), read my HESI book reviewing HIV, pain, & grieving.
- December 30– 25 questions using NCLEX 3500 website covering Peds…received 75% score.
- December 31-100 questions using Saunders review CD covering Peds…received 75% score, read some chapters in my HESI book covering Peds…growth development, pain, shots schedule, and childhood illnesses.
- January 2– 55 questions using HESI Studyware CD scored 64% reviewing Peds, read some chapters in my HESI book covering Peds….respiratory disorder (RSV, epiglottis, asthma, Cystic Fibrosis..etc) & Cardiovascular Disorders (VSD, Tets of Fallot, ASD, CHF, rheumatic fever).
- January 3– 100 questions using Saunders review CD covering (every adult body system-renal, GI, ear, eyes…etc) & OB scored 65%, read some chapters in my HESI book covering Peds (Neurological disorders & Renal Disorders)
- January 6-100 questions using Saunders review CD covering (all body systems, fundamental skills, OB, Peds) scored 79%, read some chapters in my HESI book covering Peds (GI problems…cleft palate, pyloric stenosis & Blood disorders…ALL, Hemophilia, Iron deficiency)
- January 7-50 questions using Saunders review CD covering Mental Health scored 80%, read some chapters in my HESI book covering Peds (Endocrine disorders…PKU, Diabetes, Hypothyroidism & Skeletal Disorders….Scoliosis, Types of Fractures, Case Care, Compartment Syndrome) *Read the whole unit on Peds in my HESI book…now moving on to OB.
- January 8-50 question using HESI Studyware CD covering OB…scored 56%, read a chapter in HESI book covering OB on the basics (ovulation phase, menstruation phase, prenatal visits, diets, teaching..etc)
- January 9-100 questions using NCLEX 3500 website scored 64%, read a chapter in HESI book covering OB (tests, Biophysical profile, Fetal Heart Monitoring…decelerations…etc)
- January 12-100 questions using NCLEX 3500 website scored 72% covering Peds & OB, read a chapter in HESI book covering OB (the antepartum stage)
- January 13-50 questions using NCLEX 3500 website scored 64% covering OB, read two chapters in HESI book covering OB (the neonate & postpartum period)…plus I’ve been practicing Dosage & Calculations questions
- January 15-100 questions using Saunders practice Cd scored 69% covering every topic (mental health, peds, ob, fundamentals, delegations, every body system, med. surgical)
- January 16-100 questions using NCLEX 3500 website scored 72% covering every topic (mental health, peds, ob, fundamentals, med. surgical), read half of a chapter in HESI book covering OB (postpartum complications)
- January 18-100 questions using Saunders practice Cd scored 83% covering mental health, Peds, Cardiovascular, fundamentals, read half of a chapter in HESI book covering OB (postpartum complications).
- January 19– 100 questions using NCLEX 3500 website scored 70% covering mental health & fundamentals.
- January 20-100 questions using Saunders Cd practice questions covering analysis….didn’t receive a scored. I did the study mode and it told me immediately afterwards if I got the question right or not. Overall, I only got about 20 wrong out of 100.
- January 21-120 question using HESI practice CD covering med. surgical..received 54%, read chapter in HESI book covering OB.
- January 22-100 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode). I did the study mode and it told me immediately afterwards if I got the question right or not. Read last chapter of OB concerning neonate complications in HESI book….onto med. surgical now.
- January 23-100 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode). I did the study mode and it told me immediately afterwards if I got the question right or not. Read a chapter in HESI book covering med. surgical.
- January 26-100 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode). I did the study mode and it told me immediately afterwards if I got the question right or not. Read a chapter in HESI book covering the renal system…on the med. surgical chapter.
- January 29-74 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode). I did the study mode and it told me immediately afterwards if I got the question right or not. Read a chapter in HESI book covering the Cardiovascular system…on the med. surgical chapter.
- January 30-100 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode). I did the study mode and it told me immediately afterwards if I got the question right or not. Read a chapter in HESI book covering the GI system…on the med. surgical chapter.
- January 31-100 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode). I did the study mode and it told me immediately afterwards if I got the question right or not. Read a chapter in HESI book covering the Endocrine system…on the med. surgical chapter.
- February 2-81 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode). I did the study mode and it told me immediately afterwards if I got the question right or not. Read a chapter in HESI book covering the Musculoskeletal system…on the med. surgical chapter.
- February 3-40 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode). I did the study mode and it told me immediately afterwards if I got the question right or not.
- February 7-75 questions HESI CD (covering everything)…scored 60%. Read a chapter in HESI book covering the Eyes & Hearing…on the med. surgical chapter.
- February 9-100 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode). Read a chapter in HESI book covering Neuro….on the med. surgical chapter.
- February 11– 60 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode).
- February 12- 100 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode). Read a chapter in HESI book covering Neuro again…..on the med. surgical chapter
- February 13-40 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode).
- February 14-50 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode).
- February 15-150 questions using HESI practice CD scored 64% covering Drugs…fun fun!!
- February 18-50 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode).
- February 21-50 questions using Saunders CD covering analysis…. didn’t receive a score (doing study mode).
- February 23-75 questions using the NCLEX 3500 website covering Med. Surgical scored 64%.
- February 24-75 questions using the NCLEX 3500 website covering Med. Surgical scored 60%…read in HESI book covering blood disorders
- February 25-50 questions using NCLEX website covering med. surgical 64%….50 questions using NCLEX website covering every topic scored 84%.
- February 26- 50 questions using NCLEX website covering med. surgical 62%
- February 27– 50 questions using NCLEX website covering every topic scored 69%….20 questions using NCLEX website covering Fundamentals scored 74%….10 question using NCLEX website covering Peds scored 80%.
- February 28-75 questions using NCLEX website covering every topic scored 70%…read chapter in HESI book covering Reproductive System.
- March 1– 75 questions using NCLEX 3500 website….scored 65% doing pretest covering everything. Read a chapter in my HESI book covering burns on med. surgical chapter….finished with that chapter woohoo!
- March 2– 75 questions using the NCLEX 3500 website…scored 76% covering Med. Surgical and Peds
- March 5-50 questions using the NCLEX 3500 website…scored 76% covering Med. Surgical, Peds, and OB.
- March 7-50 questions using the NCLEX 3500 website…scored 70% covering every topic.
- March 8-50 questions using the NCLEX 3500 website…scored 82% covering Peds (I think one of the best scores I have received in awhile).
- March 9-50 questions using the NCLEX 3500 website…scored 72% covering OB.
- March 10- Read HESI hints and end of section questions in HESI book covering the first 4 chapters in Med. Surgical…..then 50 questions on NCLEX 3500 website covering Med. Surgical: Cardiac, Endocrine, and Respiratory scored 76%.
- March 11-Read HESI hints and end of section questions in HESI book covering the next 4 chapters in Med. Surgical…then 50 questions on NCLEX 3500 website covering Med. Surgical: Immune, Musculoskeletal, GU system scored 72%
- March 13-Read HESI hints and end of section questions in HESI book covering the next 3 chapters in Med. Surgical: Neurosensory & Neuro System, Blood System….then 120 questions using HESI cd covering Med. Surgical scored 60%.
- March 15-50 questions used NCLEX 3500 site covering everything made 64%.
- March 16-50 questions using HESI cd covering OB scored a 76%….woohoo. Read HESI hints in 2 chapters covering OB.
- March 17-50 questions using NCLEX 3500 website covering Peds & Med. Surgical socred 78%. Read HESI hints over OB.
- March 18-50 questions using NCLEX 3500 website covering mental health, fundamentals, and med. surgical scored 62%….read HESI hints over OB.
- March 19-Finished reading the HESI hints in OB chapter moving the Peds. 50 questions using NCLEX 3500 website covering Med. Surgical, Fundamentals of Care, and The Neonate scored 76%.
- March 20-Read HESI hints in Peds chapters and the end of the section review questions. 50 questions using NCLEX 3500 website covering Peds. scored 74%.
- March 24-100 questions using the Saunders practice CD covering everything scored 86%…..finished reading the HESI hints and review questions in the Peds chapter…..HESI is almost here!!
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MARCH 27: I PASSED EXIT HESI TODAY HAD TO SCORE A 850 TO PASS…..RECEIVED 1002. I HAVE A 95% CHANCE OF PASSING NCLEX-RN.
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- May 13:read a chapter in HESI NCLEX book covering Medical surgical and answered 20 questions covering all topics with Meds Publishing NCLEX review software (supplied through work) scored 65%.
- May 14: 40 questions covering every topic of nursing scored 75% using Saunders NCLEX practice CD.
- May 17: 75 questions covering every topic using the Meds Publishing software through work scored 69%.
- May 18:75 questions covering every topic using Meds Publishing software through work scored 77%.
- May 20: 20 questions covering Pharmcology using Meds Pub. software through work scored 80%.
- May 24-75 questions covering Med. Surgical using Meds Publishing software through work scored 71%.
- May 26: 74 questions covering Med. Surgical using Meds Publishing software through work scored 73%.
- May 27: 75 questions covering Med. Surgical using Meds Publishing software scored 71%.
- May 30: 75 questions covering Peds using Meds Publishing software scored 81%.
- May 31-75 questions covering Psych using Meds Publishing software scored 69%.
- June 1: 50 questions covering Older Adults scored 70% using Meds Publishing software.
- June 2: 50 questions covering Peds using Meds Publishing software scored 71%.
- June 3: 74 questions covering Pharm using Meds Publishing software scored 72%.
- June 4: 100 questions covering Med. Surgical scored 74% using Saunders.
- June 9: 125 questions covering everything scored 74% using Meds Publishing.
- June 10: 74 questions covering Med. Surgical scored 80% using Meds Publishing.
June 11th…..I passed NCLEX-RN on first try with only 75 question 🙂
In order to pass your HESI and NCLEX-RN I recommend checking out these review books.