Hello, I am a graduate nurse and I just took my NCLEX for the 2nd time yesterday and today I found out that I didnt pass again.
I just feel like a failure because I studied and I scored better in the areas that were low when I did practice test at home. I'm just not sure what to do next, if there is anyone that has been through this or know anyone.
I just need some advice because at this point I feel like a failure and I do not know what to do.
HUNurse
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October 31st, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Hi!
You can pass. I just took the NCLEX in August. I recommend you get the Kaplan review book. The book is so easy to review. I went through it in 2 days. The tips are awesome. I used the tips and it worked. The computer shut down when I answered 75 questions. There is a definite strategy to the NCLEX. One tip I used is don’t look for the right answer first. You need to eliminate each wrong answer to get the right answer. You have everything you need to answer the questions in your head. The book can teach you the strategy to use to find the right answers. Try not to stress out about it. You know what to expect now so use that to your advantage and relax. Good luck!
October 31st, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Thank you for your advice. I did utilize the kaplan book both times and they do help but Im just not sure if I am a bad test taker. Again thank you for your advice and I will utilize that book this time as well.
November 1st, 2008 at 1:21 pm
If you’ve tried studying for the test, going over the kaplan material (which is the best in my opinion), maybe it’s time to shell out the few hundred bucks to take the Kaplan review COURSE. A few of my classmates did it and had nice things to say about it.
November 1st, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I did that as well the first time and I did like the course because it helped me to understand how to answer the questions. Im not sure what to do this next time because it feels like I have done everything that I can think of. Thank you for your advice.
November 6th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Describe to us what you have done to prepare. How many weeks in advance did you take to start preparing? How much time did you take to prepare? What did you do the day before or the day of the test? Did you get the Q-bank from Kaplan?
November 6th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
For the second time I spent about 12-13 weeks preparing using focused test provided by my online teacher then the last week I took a predictor test through Assessment Technologies Institute(ATI) that predicted that I would pass. I used ATI and I also used Kaplan as well but I did not have Qbank. The day before the test i relaxed and went out to eat. So im not sure what to do next time because I thought that I prepared very well that time.
November 7th, 2008 at 10:05 am
I had such an experience when I took my RN Nclex. What helped me when i did the test the third time is remembering how they tested the last 2 times. I realized that I was weak when it came to lab values and prioritizing using the lab values. Therefore I concentrated on that. When i did it the last time I only had 75 questions and i knew that I had passed.
November 7th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Please keep your head high and do the best you can. You are not alone. I know it can be depressing and one may feel like a failure. I hope my advice helped
November 7th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Oh ok. Well thank you and your advice was great. When I get my results back I will focus on my weak areas. Thank you.
November 8th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Get this book and do 300 questions per day for a month. Read the rationale as soon as you do the question. I swear by this book. Our university actually required it. I didn’t read topics. Doing these questions over and over and reading the rationale helped me remember common themes. Good luck!
Saunders Q & A Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination (Silvestri, Saunders Q & A Review for the NCLEX-RN Examinatio) (Paperback)
November 8th, 2008 at 10:53 am
It’s Ok! You can do it! I failed miserably the first time I took it, but then realized that it wasn’t necessarily about what you know, but strategy. I got ahold of a tutor who went through the Kaplan Question Bank questions with me. We went through them and through them, and I wasn’t sure how she was “tutoring” me, but then I saw massive improvements when I did the questions on my own. Email me @ americana_emilia@hotmail.com and i’ll tell you more specifically about how she helped me. But always remember that the airway is the most important. then comes breathing/circulation, then doing the least amount of harm. But AIRWAY first!
November 8th, 2008 at 10:54 am
also, failing the nclex does NOT mean you’re a bad nurse…or that you can’t be one…but get a great tutor first because i think if you fail the 3rd time (which you WON’T), you have to do some remedial courses before you can take it again.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Thank you all for all of your help and I will utilize all of the suggestions you all have given me. I just got my results back and my areas that were weak the first time increased so all of my areas wer scored as near passing standard. Again thank you all for the words of encouragement!!!!
November 14th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
My advice would be to practice all the questions you possibly can- get those books mentioned above in another post. Thats the best way to study. Good luck to you!
November 15th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Hi HUNURSE,
Don’t give up and don’t be discouraged!! I’ve been in your shoes……I had taken the NCLEX so many times that I don’t even know which time I passed! I know it was after the 5th time, I think….hahahaha…..but don’t despair….set your goal and go for it!
What finally worked for me was Kaplan review and Saunders review questions……I would get up every morning and practice about 100 questions before going to work…..and then at night I would review rationales and apply Kaplan techniques, ie: prioritization,ABC’s etc….I did that for little over a month and I kept mum about when I was going to take the test again….next thing you know, I passed and surprised everyone! including myself. It’s been 8 yrs now, and I look back at those hard times….but I persevered and always believed in myself! Don’t give up, set your goal and go for it! You will do it!
November 15th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Thank you for your encouragement. I have started to review again and I do have the Kaplan Review and Saunders Review. I will be using those. I will be successful!!!!!!
November 15th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I think the biggest suggestion is do all the questions you can, and the night before the test do no questions at all. Try to relax (yeah right, huh) and just do your best. I suspect that you’re just a person with test anxiety, as are a lot of people. A majority of my class had problems taking the NCLEX, so try not to worry to much about it, and certainly dont be discouraged. It’s tough, but I’m sure you’ll get it soon. Take care!
November 16th, 2008 at 9:06 am
I also failed the test twice and I understand all the feelings you are experiencing. I took advice from my clinical instructor who adviced me to get an anti anxiety med.It really calmed me down and made the information stick in my mind. Sometimes it’s not that we don’t know the content, it’s our own anxiety that trips us up. I just took it Wed and passed. Keep practicing questions NCLEX3500 and SAUNDERS was the best for me. I thought Kaplan was a waste of money. Do get the strategy of the ABC’s and Maslow down.Good luck! You will be an R.N.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 16th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Don’t freak…easy for me to say right? Well, i failed 5 times before passing it on my 6th time. Each & every time not only me but my family & co-workers were shocked! I mean i had never failed anything in my life…whats the deal??? After the 5th time i studied NO knowledge info & only NCLEX test taking stratigies. It helped me to get into their way of thinking & HOW to answer the test questions. Both answers are right…what now? Truth be told if i had this piece of advice right out of school i would have surely passed the first time. You can not memorize the drug book- so don’t waste your time trying…study how “they” want “their” questions answered.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Way to keep positive, You WILL do great!
You’ve taken all the right steps, you’ve reached out for advice, you now have some more resources…now review 1-3 hours a day, 100 questions and rationales.
Take mini breaks between hours, quick walk around the block, brief phone call to a friend, but then get back to it.
Don’t forget “Me” time” pedicure, manicure, movie or lunch with a friend, reading a fictional book etc…but NCLEX every day for at least a month before the test, six weeks at the best.
Answer questions based on critical thinking and application, like you were actually performing what the question is asking you based on the skills you’ve learned.
Good luck and you WILL succeed!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I think you may be OVER studying! At this point you don’t need to study you need to just review your weaker areas. Remember the day before go out and enjoy the day. DO NOT OPEN YOUR BOOKS! Relax and you will do just fine. We all believe in you, It’s time you believe in yourself!
Best of luck!
November 17th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Wow, it is just uplifting to know that I am not the only one that this has happened to because it felt like that at first. Thank you all for your advice and I will be successful. I do agree with understanding how to answer the questions because I know content I just need to differentiate between the last two answers. I have not set a date yet but I just got back to studying. I also am using the HURST review book which tells me how to answer the question. Again thank you all for your encouragement!!!!!!!
November 18th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
good luck!
December 9th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I am a terrible test taker. I hyperventilate sometimes, my palms get so nasty I have to wipe them on my pants about 10 times during the exam, my legs bounce 23846 miles an hour and I don’t sit still.
I was so nervous that the day before I took a spa day and I didn’t study at all. I went and got a facial, mani-pedi and full body massage… I didn’t talk to any of my friends the day before nor did I study that day… no one knew I was taking the exam except my boyfriend… it was a mental health chill zone out day. I think that is what helped me pass….
December 10th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
You can pass!!! I got the book NCLEX for dummies, its a WONDERFUL book. The first time I took it I failed with 75 questions and after reading this book, I passed with 75 questions….It can be done, dont give up!!!