You Need $800+ Extra For ATI!!!

I tried to come up with a cool acronym for ATI, but I couldn't.  If I did, the acronym would be something about how ATI costs you that A.  For all of you obsessed with getting an A, this will consistently be the biggest wall blocking you from success.  Want to get into a CRNA program?   These exams will be the bane of your existence.

Why!!! Oh!  Why do they put me through this????

Well after they incorporated ATI into the curriculum the NCLEX pass rate shot through the roof.  And so it's here to stay forever...

ATI is a set of nursing textbooks with online coursework that goes along with it.  The textbooks cover pretty much the same material you are learning in your MEDSURG, PEDIATRICS, and OB/GYN lecture courses.  

There is an online ATI exam that is given after you take every Med Surg, Peds, or OB,  final exam.  

The ATI exams count for 10% of your letter grade.  And in case it didn't really sink in the first time I mentioned it.  I'm going to say it again.  The ATI exams are given after the finals.  As in the same day.  So you essentially take two final exams for every class.  One for the lecture.  And one online ATI exam.

ATI costs $800+.  Don't forget to have your accountant deduct it from your taxes at the end of the year.  The ladies in the nursing office let you you pay them over time for ATI.  Like you make a bunch of installment payments as you go along.  So for the start of summer semester I would budget about $300.  I can't remember the exact amount.  Once I find out I will post it.  They will want that dinero from you pretty much right away.  ATI is not optional.  It's not really mentioned anywhere on the Downstate website.  You find out about it pretty much at orientation.  It was a big surprise for all of us to say the least.    

The books are good though.  They are helpful at times when the textbook can kind of suck.  It can also confuse you sometimes because it has some information that contradicts what's in the MedSurg textbook.  

When the values for say electrolytes or BUN are different, go with the Med Surg textbook as these values will be closer to what you will encounter on the NCLEX exam.


Question, comments, suggestions: ramonbritt@gmail.com