5th time failure

Nursing Students NCLEX

Published

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Today I took the NCLEX RN for the 5th time and failed.. Words can't really express how I'm feeling right now , just total shock, disbelief and total sadness because I felt like I gave everything I had into studying for this test.. The first time I took the test I failed with 265, second time 75, third time 211, fourth time 220 and now the fifth time 265.. I felt confident the whole way through the test and kept telling myself that I was going to pass and that today was my day.. Obviously it wasn't... I know from reading these treads that a lot of people have been in my same position, and I know that my time will come and I will pass, I just wish it was today. I have used Exam Cram among other books and I also did Kaplan's program online where I logged in for a week for a web cam classroom. I also did all the questions in the Qbank getting ranging from 60-75%, and I did all the question trainers ranging from 50s - 70s.. On the readiness test I got a 67% which my teacher said I had a 97% chance of passing NCLEX (I guess she was wrong)..This is the 2nd time I did the Kaplan review course.. I'm at a loss.. I don't know what else to do.. I tried my hardess and still failed, even took a xanax before to calm my nerves! Any insight would be helpful, any tips, anything at all.. I just want to pass this test and start my career and my life. I prayed and I went in feeling confident but still came out disappointed like every other time.. Please help!! I don't know what else to do...

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Rita1015,

I know that you can pass this test, you just need to take a couple of days off and relax. Give yourself some time. Regroup and make a schedule out that gives yourself some time to restudy and to pass this test :) You can do this! I promise! I didn't pass the first time, but I did the second time. If anyone has test anxiety let it be me, I sweat during tests and freak out, lol... Oh, and pray during the test too :)! This helped ALOT!!!

Now, please let me tell you what I studied and maybe this will help you. I did the hurst review online and watched all of her videos three times. My problem was the core content on the first try of the nclex. That is why I didn't pass. I also did the Lacharity prioritization book. Let me tell you, you NEED this book! Most of the questions on the nclex are similar to these questions. It helps you decide who to see first, who to delegate too,and which person can be discharged home. You can buy it on amazon.com for $20 too :)

Also, kaplan does help. I think kaplan helps to figure out how to read the question and pick the right answer. I did kaplan qbanks that my friend let me borrow. Yes, it helped, but what really, really, really, REALLY helped was the lacharity book and the hurst review videos :)

I hope this helps you out. Please don't ever lose hope. You made it through nursing school and you shall too pass the Nclex RN! Can you retake it in 45 days?

God bless you!

Jewls67

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Rita..... DO NOT GIVE UP!!! I took it for the 5th time last week and finally passed!! You can do this.... this is not about what you know or don't know, it is about getting out of your way and letting it happen. I am the PRIME example of test anxiety, and also did Hurst Review (2x), Kaplan review, Exam Cram, NCLEX 3500, and LaCharity. One week before I met with a friend who "coached" me through letting go of my anxiety and stress over this test. I knew my stuff, just as you know your stuff. Now you need to work on moving that anxiety to the side and letting yourself come through and do what you know how to do. I would let that little voice come in and tell me I could never pass this test, but I continued to push it to the side and say "Yes, I can" and taking deep breathes instead of freaking out if I didn't know the answer. Believe in yourself, as we all believe in you, because you to can pass this thing. Don't beat yourself up, know that it is not a reflection of any kind of what kind of student you were, or nurse you are going to be. This is just a test and you have come to a bump in the road. Take one step at a time, one question at a time and don't worry about how many you get - you can always find SOMETHING that you know about every question. I KNOW that you can do this!!! Take some time off, clear your head out and just know that you have it in you, then get back after it! And change up the way you study.... get the LaCharity PDA book, it will help with those priority/delegation questions. YOU CAN DO IT!!

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Yes you can get over this bump in the road. You can pass NCLEX!!! I have taken the NCLEX 4 times and have failed. I know exactly how you feel. Some days I feel like giving up. I have everything paid for to retake my NCLEX again for the 5th time but I am scared to death. I haven't set a date yet. I started Hurst Review last week. I am so hoping it will help. I know that you can pass this test. Just believe in yourself!!!! Maybe we can share study material to help each other to get through our next test. We will have RN after our names soon!!!! Just don't give up!!!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

jewls67 thank you for writing back to me. yes, i can take it in 45 days and that's exactly what i plan to do, i'm never going to give up but at the same time i'm so tired of the disappointment, it's so hard, but i know i have to just keep studying and keep taking it. thank you again

lisahb13 thank you for your help! i will definitely get that book and look into the hurst review.. it's beyond frustrating to have to keep taking this test. the funny thing is that this was the first test i kept saying to myself during it that i will pass and i will become an rn today.. i just wish that actually happened. thank you again.

blynn9173 good luck on your test try! i know we all will pass this eventually lol i just wish my time was now, as i'm sure you wish you passed the last 4 times.. it's beyond frustrating especially when all my friends from nursing school passed the first and second times. it sucks a lot seeing everyone get jobs and moving to that next chapter of their lives when i'm still stuck here trying to pass this test.. my mom is a rn and she even helped me study this time around which helped alot. what also frustrates me is that once you become an rn you have so many references available on a daily basis i don't know why we have to memorize so many things such as lab values, drug interactions, side effects etc.. rn's have that all there that they can look up.. it's not fair :( don't give up, and i won't either!! i plan to retake october 21st if they have that date available (it's exactly 45 days).. good luck to you!!

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Specializes in orthopedic & HDU.

hi Rita

i feel ur pain im sorry to hear u failed again....i heard that taking meds before any exam is not only makes your concentration weakened, but also it alters ur normal body function(xanax).anyway things happened for a reason..dont give up,,it will only get better... keep the faith....Trust God...hes got something for you..

Joe

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Specializes in Hospice, ER,ICU, Childerns and long term.

Hi Rita

I have taking this test serveral times also don"t give up. I have not. Also i can't understand why everyone keep recommending the LaCharity book I did not think it helped. I Think its the only management book out there?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I don't really like that book either, it seems a lot different then the Nclex questions. Right now I'm using Saunders, Lippincott, and Nclex 4000.. I'm trying to do a ton of questions a day and then if I come across something I don't know I try to look it up right away. I got my results from my test back and I was only below passing under Psychological Adaptation. Any suggestions on how to study that section?

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sorry to hear that...I am in the same boat...I did kaplan, saunders and la charity everytime and failed...how to overcome from this ...god needs power!! sometime I am feeling so depressed from this exam...how to study pls share ur thoughts..

tnx..

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DONT GIVE UP! At least in your State, you can keep trying. Get the Lacharity book, and if nothing else, practice those exercises on delegation. If you have 200 questions plus, that means you know your stuff. DO NOT second guess yourself! I took a practice right before my Boards. I was able to see CRUCIAL mistakes that I was making. Read each question one at a time, and ELIMINATE your choices if you are not doing that strategy.

I used exam cram, saunders, kaplan, like you I tried a little of it all. Keep going. For the race is not given to the swift. It is given to the one that endures to the end.:nurse:

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Is there any websites that have free Kaplan tests that anyone knows about?

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do not give up...you CAN do this...and you WILL pass...i took it 10 times and i finally passed...it took a while but i did not give up...if i can do this you can too...hang in there...give yourself a break and take a few days off to recoup ...you have gotten this far....do not give up now... =) god bless

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