Do most pass NCLEX the first time?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all,

I recently graduated and will be taking the NCLEX early in January and I'm sure you all remember the worry that goes along with it. What I was wondering is it really as hard as they make it sound like?

During nursing I almost always made very strong B and sometimes an A on our tests. I studied usually at least twice before each test. Occasionally I would make a C on a test but that was when I really didn't study much at all.

I have taken some of the practice tests and they are all so different I don't know how to judge how well I will do by these tests. I scored an 82% on a practice test from Springhouse, but on the Kaplan tests the best I've done is 68% and they say that is borderline.

I am just frustrated because it seems you can't get much info on how well you have to do to Pass the NCLEX-- I have heard everything from 50% to 70%. You would think it wouldn't be that hard to get 50-70% right unless they were really hard questions.

Any info would be greatly appreciated. My college says that they have around a 92-95% pass rate in the last year or so graduating classes.

Waiting to hear everyones stories about what they think about NCLEX. There are alot of people on this site that have these same questions and worries that I have.

Specializes in Interventional Pain Mgmt NP; Prior ICU and L/D RN.

Hey, stop and take a deep breath!!!!!! First off you seem to have said you are a good test taker...THAT WILL HELP! The people that I know that did not pass the NCLEX the first time were admittantly bad testers to start with.

I went through nursing school with 2 kids and a husband that long hauled (drove a 18 wheeler cross country); so I didn't study as much or as well as I should have..but I went to a review course, studied my NCLEX books, answered the questions in the back, etc...Now the same week of my test I had to drive 6hrs round trip twice to pick my husband up b/c his truck broke down and then to take him back and my youngest at the time decided to stick a bubble gum ball down his year. The local doc couldn't do anything and I had to take him 40min away to a ENT doctor!! This made for a wild, hairy week....

Now, I sit out in my car getting ready to go take my test and tell myself..just do your best! Guess what; I answered 75 questions and the comp cut off...I almost fainted...I sit in my chair for about 5 min before I could move...afterwards I just kept telling myself that if I failed I deserved to if I missed that many out of 75! I PASSED!!!

Now I won't lie, the test isn't WAYYYY EASYYYY, but you know what, it's not that hard either (looking back!!!) It will test your basic knowledge needed to be a new nurse and nothing more. It even asks simple safety questions about home health inspections (avoid slip rugs, rails on steps, etc...) Now my NCLEX was mostly Psyche, but everyone's is different.

My best advice is the night before stop studying about 1-2 hours before you go to bed...drink a glass of wine, sit back and relax.

YOU"LL PASS!!!

Good luck and let us know how you do!!!

And congrats ahead of time:)::p:):):)

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I would say the odds are in YOUR favor! Roughly 84% across the board, whether diploma/ADN/BSN grad pass NCLEX-RN the first time. Got that stat from :

http://www.noadn.org.

good luck! and BREATHE.

Can I add a second question to this?

I am wondering whether ya'll took the NCLEX-PN or the NCLEX-RN. I have heard more people say they failed the NCLEX-RN on the first try, i have only heard a small amount of people say they failed the NCLEX-PN on the first try.

Leigh

Bottom line and answer to your original question. YES most pass the FIRST time.

Did you not just say your school has a 92-95% pass rate? The last time I checked (and the last time you did too) that is WAY more than just the majority.

The national average is not that high but is still in the 80's the last I knew.

You obviously went to an excellent school.

Relax. Go register to take the test soon and get the dern thing over with. YOU WILL do fine. ((((((hugs)))))

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

i have known of ONE person exactly who failed NCLEX-RN the first time...one out of 100s of nurses i have known. That is not many. Like my above post, the odds are in your favor, if you don't psyche yourself out. QUIT stressing so.

What happens if you "flunk" the RN Boards too many times?

I am just assuming that the RN boards have the same rules as the LPN boards and you can take the LPN boards up to 12 times in 3 years. If you fail it the 12th time you have to go back to school. At least that is what my program told me.

Leigh

Specializes in Emergency.

Rebel - there was a nurse I used to work with who finally passed on the 5th try! Yep the 5th try!!!

Okay, now the question I have is if you get a job as a GN with the understanding the you have your NCLEX scheduled, what happens if you fail the test...will they let you schedule the test again, allowing you to continue to work or will they give you your walking papers. Just curious!

The way it works at the facility I will be working at is this:

If you fail the NCLEX your hourly wage goes from RN pay back to a Nurse's aide hourly wage and you work as a nurse aide until you pass the NCLEX.

I will not lie... took the NCLEX-RN in July and I thought it was extremely difficult, shut off after 75 questions and I was convinced I failed... I drove home sobbing in my car...

But I passed! :)

You can study those review things all you want- I had two books and did an online course and the questions I got on the NCLEX were totally different than any review questions I had done. But they must have helped me somehow...

I was a B student also, with the occasional A like you... I'm sure you will pass on your first try...

Good Luck!

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