Failed NCLEX multiple times

Nurses General Nursing

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A question to all of the experienced nurses out there. I have seen multiple threads on this forum started by people who have taken the NCLEX multiple times and still can't pass. These threads are always responded to with words of sympathy, encouragement to not give up, study tips, and stories of great nurses that didn't pass the first time. My question is how many times would someone need to fail before you wouldn't want them to be the nurse taking care of you or your family member? I don't want to discourage anyone from success, but then again I'm not sure if I would want a nurse who took more than 2 tries to pass boards taking care of me or someone I cared about. How many times do you all think a person should be able to test before they need to look elsewhere for a career?

I don't think we are on the same page with what we are discussing...let me see if I can figure out how to word it so maybe we both get what I mean...

I am saying that those that haven't even taken the test yet shouldn't really be judging whether or not others could be good nurses if they fail a bunch of times. You said it yourself that there is a chance you could fail...suppose you do, a couple of times. Then, would you feel that there should be a limit on how many times you can take the test? Do you think that failing a few times would necessarily make you a bad nurse?

I'm just wondering these things...as I've said. I have NO experience in the matter and wouldn't even pretend to judge others before I do have some, even the HESI that you are talking about.

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I don't think we are on the same page with what we are discussing...let me see if I can figure out how to word it so maybe we both get what I mean...

I am saying that those that haven't even taken the test yet shouldn't really be judging whether or not others could be good nurses if they fail a bunch of times. You said it yourself that there is a chance you could fail...suppose you do, a couple of times. Then, would you feel that there should be a limit on how many times you can take the test? Do you think that failing a few times would necessarily make you a bad nurse?

I'm just wondering these things...as I've said. I have NO experience in the matter and wouldn't even pretend to judge others before I do have some, even the HESI that you are talking about.

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Hi all,

I can understand your points about nurses and anxiety...if they have anxiety on a test how can they handle pressure and anxiety in real life?

Have you known any new grad or nurse who could walk into his/her first code and know immediately what to do/what not to do?

I know I don't. I am a new RN but that dosen't make my test-taking anxiety cross over into my clinical experience. I am prudent, rule-oriented, and asking questions to all my colleagues. The majority of new nurses for their first year begin this way. And I am on my toes in every situation from someone choking to a patient with cold and clamy skin.

I was a bit offended that you would think that the anxiety is comparable. I was compelled to respond that we all learn how best to handle emergency situations with great mentoring from those of you who have experienced it and time spent on the job learning it. Please don't be so quick to judge those who had difficulty with Test-anxiety, not Life-anxiety.

JacelRN

Sorry you were offended. I am not here to be politically correct. You are entitled to your own opinion as we all are. I still think the anxiety is comparable. I am a calm person and can act and stay calm in emergencies in order to keep my head clear. If I get anxiety...I am a big mess and couldn't make a decision to save my life!

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Hi all,

I can understand your points about nurses and anxiety...if they have anxiety on a test how can they handle pressure and anxiety in real life?

Have you known any new grad or nurse who could walk into his/her first code and know immediately what to do/what not to do?

I know I don't. I am a new RN but that dosen't make my test-taking anxiety cross over into my clinical experience. I am prudent, rule-oriented, and asking questions to all my colleagues. The majority of new nurses for their first year begin this way. And I am on my toes in every situation from someone choking to a patient with cold and clamy skin.

I was a bit offended that you would think that the anxiety is comparable. I was compelled to respond that we all learn how best to handle emergency situations with great mentoring from those of you who have experienced it and time spent on the job learning it. Please don't be so quick to judge those who had difficulty with Test-anxiety, not Life-anxiety.

JacelRN

Sorry you were offended. I am not here to be politically correct. You are entitled to your own opinion as we all are. I still think the anxiety is comparable. I am a calm person and can act and stay calm in emergencies in order to keep my head clear. If I get anxiety...I am a big mess and couldn't make a decision to save my life!

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Tweetiepie,

I hear you response but did you hear mine?

Furthermore, anxiety can be a good thing if used correctly. Does my heart race, my palms sweat, my mouth get dry when I am faced with emergencies at work. No. In real life issues I control my anxiety as I have always done.

However, panic attacks are serious if they happen frequently and I understand that some people trying to become nurses with these issues may not be best suited to deal with emergent situations in the workplace. I am simply stating that many graduates deal with the anxiety of TEST-TAKING and need to learn how to deal with it.

I am one of those who LEARNED to curb my anxiety as you easily do. I am thankful you didn't have to go through it like I did, but please be a bit more compassionate about those who do not get things right away. We are all a work in progress and not perfect.

Just wanted to defend those great nurses and future nurses who suffer from what many do, but don't talk about.

JacelRN

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Tweetiepie,

I hear you response but did you hear mine?

Furthermore, anxiety can be a good thing if used correctly. Does my heart race, my palms sweat, my mouth get dry when I am faced with emergencies at work. No. In real life issues I control my anxiety as I have always done.

However, panic attacks are serious if they happen frequently and I understand that some people trying to become nurses with these issues may not be best suited to deal with emergent situations in the workplace. I am simply stating that many graduates deal with the anxiety of TEST-TAKING and need to learn how to deal with it.

I am one of those who LEARNED to curb my anxiety as you easily do. I am thankful you didn't have to go through it like I did, but please be a bit more compassionate about those who do not get things right away. We are all a work in progress and not perfect.

Just wanted to defend those great nurses and future nurses who suffer from what many do, but don't talk about.

JacelRN

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Tweetiepie,

I am thankful you didn't have to go through it like I did, but please be a bit more compassionate about those who do not get things right away. We are all a work in progress and not perfect.

Just wanted to defend those great nurses and future nurses who suffer from what many do, but don't talk about.

JacelRN

I am a very compassionate person. I work with dying people! Because these are just words on a screen, you have no idea what my tone of voice is behind them. I am a very calm, considerate person. I am the one who sets up study groups to help other students out with their test anxiety by putting info in our brains!!

It's not that I am not compassionate about those who do not get things right away..where did that come from? I am EXTREMELY patient. I explain things over and over and over with not so much as a change in my attitude. I am not perfect either...did i ever say I was? :)

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Tweetiepie,

I am thankful you didn't have to go through it like I did, but please be a bit more compassionate about those who do not get things right away. We are all a work in progress and not perfect.

Just wanted to defend those great nurses and future nurses who suffer from what many do, but don't talk about.

JacelRN

I am a very compassionate person. I work with dying people! Because these are just words on a screen, you have no idea what my tone of voice is behind them. I am a very calm, considerate person. I am the one who sets up study groups to help other students out with their test anxiety by putting info in our brains!!

It's not that I am not compassionate about those who do not get things right away..where did that come from? I am EXTREMELY patient. I explain things over and over and over with not so much as a change in my attitude. I am not perfect either...did i ever say I was? :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't think we are on the same page with what we are discussing...let me see if I can figure out how to word it so maybe we both get what I mean...

I am saying that those that haven't even taken the test yet shouldn't really be judging whether or not others could be good nurses if they fail a bunch of times. You said it yourself that there is a chance you could fail...suppose you do, a couple of times. Then, would you feel that there should be a limit on how many times you can take the test? Do you think that failing a few times would necessarily make you a bad nurse?

I'm just wondering these things...as I've said. I have NO experience in the matter and wouldn't even pretend to judge others before I do have some, even the HESI that you are talking about.

I made a response to this..but for some wierd reason it didnt show up.

In a nutshell: I never said that failing NCLEX = a bad nurse nor do I even believe that. Yes, I would be devastated if I failed NCLEX, but i understand that there are standards that have to be met in most things in life. The BON is mostly concerned about patient safety and not really concerned about giving me endless chances.

It is pretty much the same with a driver's license..you get a few tries and if you do not pass, you have to take the learning program over and then attempt to test some more.

Again, I do not think that failing the NCLEX means one will be a bad nurse at all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't think we are on the same page with what we are discussing...let me see if I can figure out how to word it so maybe we both get what I mean...

I am saying that those that haven't even taken the test yet shouldn't really be judging whether or not others could be good nurses if they fail a bunch of times. You said it yourself that there is a chance you could fail...suppose you do, a couple of times. Then, would you feel that there should be a limit on how many times you can take the test? Do you think that failing a few times would necessarily make you a bad nurse?

I'm just wondering these things...as I've said. I have NO experience in the matter and wouldn't even pretend to judge others before I do have some, even the HESI that you are talking about.

I made a response to this..but for some wierd reason it didnt show up.

In a nutshell: I never said that failing NCLEX = a bad nurse nor do I even believe that. Yes, I would be devastated if I failed NCLEX, but i understand that there are standards that have to be met in most things in life. The BON is mostly concerned about patient safety and not really concerned about giving me endless chances.

It is pretty much the same with a driver's license..you get a few tries and if you do not pass, you have to take the learning program over and then attempt to test some more.

Again, I do not think that failing the NCLEX means one will be a bad nurse at all.

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Specializes in Going to Peds!.
It is pretty much the same with a driver's license..you get a few tries and if you do not pass, you have to take the learning program over and then attempt to test some more.

I think this is a suitable idea. If you fail NCLEX x number of times, then you should be required to take a "remedial" semester before being allowed to try again. This may seem harsh but if a student has attempted 4, 5, or 6 times, I would start wondering how they actually passed their classes to begin with. I understand test anxiety. I'm not even in my nursing semesters yet, and I'm already preparing for NCLEX. I figure preparation is the best guard against anxiety. Please don't think I'm judgmental of those of you who've attempted multiple times. I'm not. I just do not feel the NCLEX should allow unlimited attempts. I also think you should be required to attempt NCLEX with x days/weeks after your course completion. If you don't attempt the test until 10 months after school, how on earth do you expect to pass? I think it should be treated more like an "exit exam" that you are required to pass before receiving your diploma/ADN/BSN.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Going to Peds!.
It is pretty much the same with a driver's license..you get a few tries and if you do not pass, you have to take the learning program over and then attempt to test some more.

I think this is a suitable idea. If you fail NCLEX x number of times, then you should be required to take a "remedial" semester before being allowed to try again. This may seem harsh but if a student has attempted 4, 5, or 6 times, I would start wondering how they actually passed their classes to begin with. I understand test anxiety. I'm not even in my nursing semesters yet, and I'm already preparing for NCLEX. I figure preparation is the best guard against anxiety. Please don't think I'm judgmental of those of you who've attempted multiple times. I'm not. I just do not feel the NCLEX should allow unlimited attempts. I also think you should be required to attempt NCLEX with x days/weeks after your course completion. If you don't attempt the test until 10 months after school, how on earth do you expect to pass? I think it should be treated more like an "exit exam" that you are required to pass before receiving your diploma/ADN/BSN.
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