Encouragement for multiple test takers.

Nursing Students NCLEX

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I wish we had more people on here that would come forth and say how many times they took nclex. I really respect the people who are not afraid to say how many times they took it and then passed. I will start with myself. I have taken Nclex 4 times already. I graduated in 2012 and I agree with a recent post I read, it is embarrassing especially if people you work with know you have already graduated. I have gone through so many emotions with this test. Each time I took the test I broke down and cried and questioned my ability, but someone encouraged me by saying this: just because you failed nclex doesn't make you bad nurse, if anything it will make you a more careful nurse. Some of the best nurses failed this exam a few times. Think of it this way, once you finally do get that license you will remember how hard it was to get and that you will work that much harder to keep it. Don't let me people tell you oh it wasn't that hard, to them maybe it wasn't. Maybe they didn't have a full time job like you have, maybe they are still at home with their parents not paying for rent, car insurance,kids, and just bills. Maybe they didn't have to work so that's why they could spend 8-12 hours a day studying. I don't have 12 hours a day to study so I decided I don't care how long it takes to get this license I'm gonna study day by day , taking my time and absorbing it all in. I'm gonna keep watching YouTube videos, I'm gonna finish my PDA book and once I'm done with my PDA book if I still don't understand it I'm gonna buy another and do that one. I'm gonna keep visiting allnurses everyday several times a day. I'm gonna read and not rush my studying. It's better to do 30 questions a day with full understanding then to do 100 questions a day just to say you did 100 and you didn't understand a thing. I'm currently studying the three major topics. Safety infection control, pharmacology, and priority.

30days2nclex, I am having to retake the NCLEX as well. This will be my second time. When I found out I failed, I cried. I didn't start studying again until yesterday & decided to change my studying habits. I'm going to study longer hours (4-5 hours/day if I'm not at work), having a friend tutor me, make flashcards, etc. I think my problem is that I am a fast test taker. I realized today that when I take my time, read the question fully, look at all the answer choices, & then go back to read the question I do better on the practice quizzes.

In nursing school, I was envious of the ones that would get good grades but then I had to realize that they were also not working so they could spend hours studying when I could only study in blocks because I worked full time to support my family & pay for school.

I am confident that I will pass NCLEX this time around. I talked to a friend today & she told me that I have 6 hours to take the test. My issue is that I watched a Kaplan video & the lady freaked me out talking about how your test is graded if you run out of time. I just need to tell myself that I have 6 hours to take the test & to go slow.

I have confidence that you too will pass NCLEX. And I like your thinking-just realize all the hard work & dedication you have done to come this far. Getting that license will be even sweeter. :-)

I also tell myself that if some of the nurses I work with now could pass NCLEX (and I don't know how they did), I too can pass NCLEX! One more thing I tell myself: just because I have to retake NCLEX will not make me any less of a nurse. I have been telling my friends this who have taken the test & I need to listen to my advice. :-)

Yes! My problem is..not looking at all the answer choices. Misinterpreting words like serous and serious lol. Half of it was my problem not really paying attention to the question or just hurrying through just to say I studied today. After failing 4 times I've developed new study habits as well, writing down things over and over again, saying things out loud, making hundreds of flashcards that have now turned into a book lol. I have 300 medications in a box and I'm gonna get through them even if its going over 3 a day. Will Smith said you don't set out to build a wall you just focus on one brick at a time.

Good luck to you...5th time just may be the charm for you. At least you recognize that you need to change some things about how you study and/or take the exam.

Try not to get hung up on others and their success at the exam. I'd be willing to bet that some of them who post that they passed, this was not their first time at it. Lol!

Well I am a retake of nclex -pn myself. What I found out about myself is I didn't understand how to take this test at all. I studied for about 2 months but I just didn't understand how to take this test. I went around think I read everything I was good in school...I got this test...WRONG. The nclex is a test that test your understanding of how to explain...how to handle yourself..and what to do to make the patient safe. I never been a nurse never but I been a tech for over 9 years plus I am still a tech. That can be a problem for me ..because I see things so different. So to handle this better I am going slow and listening to things the nclex way and I am learning to be patient with myself . You have to learn the way nclex is testing..or just learning the content to me is worthless . Understand why they choose the answer and why are they asking this questions. Who knows how things will be but I am feeling better about myself ..I can do this test and pass...

ok, i'm not the only one that does that....misinterpret words and meanings and select the wrong answer....but i was ready to dx myself with dyslexia.....at times i feel there is something wrong with my nerve axons why my brain and eyes wont coordinate correctly.....#dontjudgeme...but its the truth.

like you, the next time around i'm doing things shortly for a change.....wish you luck!!!

Nothing but the best of luck to you. I am using exam cram which I heard is great I never used it before. People tell me that to get through it with score of 70% or higher and I will be in good shape. I write down words I don't understand and I look them up and see what they mean...I will try to understand the word ..who knows what will work until it works...

This is a great thread - it's encouraging to see you guys talking this out and building each other up. Those are winning tactics and I'm rooting for each of you! I hope you will all post in this thread when you conquer nclex so we can congratulate you!

A quote for you:

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Calvin Coolidge

When I was in school one of the instructors told us that many would not pass the NCLEX the 1st time. She was soooo right! I took it my first time in March, failed miserably at 75 questions. My second test was June 24th. I failed with 258 questions and ran out of time. I am scheduled to take it a 3rd time on Aug 20th. I am so tired of studying this same material I could scream but I know the more I go over it the more I will retain it so I keep on. I really thought I had passed the 2nd test. I was so sure that I decided not to do the PVT and to celebrate with a nice dinner that evening with my husband. Well after dinner I caved and did the PVT. It went straight to the CC page. I was beyond crushed, ashamed and humiliated. I cried myself to sleep and cried all the next day. A week later I stopped feeling sorry for myself and went back to studying. I've been studying 4 to 6 hours a day 6 days a week since then. Yes, I still get butterflies in my stomach when I think of the test coming up soon and that there is a chance once again of failing but there is a better chance I will pass! I'm going with the odds and the odds are on passing! Your odds are on passing too. I don't have the greatest support system but I do have a loving God that supports me so I'm going with what I have! Each day I tell myself I will be a RN on Aug 20th. Each night I pray God will help me pass by giving me questions that I know the answers to. I ask God to allow His angels to comfort me and help me concentrate and remember what I have studied. We can do this because we are not alone. We have tons of others just like us who are wanting to start their dream of working as RN's. Let's pool our prayers and all pray for each other to succeed on the next time we each take the NCLEX. Believe and it will happen. It will happen! God bless each and every one who reads this.

I'm bumping this. No kidding - I want to hear about where you guys are today. How many days until the next test? Anyone passed yet? How can we help? I really want to know! All updates welcome -- demanded, even! I do love a good story!

ETA: I'm a southern gal and love a happy ending -- shoot me!

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