Failed NCLEX-RN... what now?

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Hey y'all.

I just found out I failed my NCLEX this past weekend. I got all 265 questions with a ton of prioritization and only a few SATAs and a few dosage calc. I'm obviously devastated but now even more determined to pass this next time! I have some questions and am hoping to find some fellow repeaters to boost my confidence a bit...

What strategies worked for you? I'm planning on doing the NCSBN review... good idea?

How did you keep your spirits up for the next time around?

Did you choose the same testing center or a different one?

I am very sorry for this news!!!!

My advice is take a break maybe enjoy the holidays and then get back into it and maybe trying to stick to a study schedule and relax!!! the LaCharity PDA book is a must and I found the Mary Ann Hogan Comp review was great!!! I used these 2 books and passed with 75 questions....Good Luck you got this the second time around!!!!!!

One trending theme that I noticed on the NCLEX is safety precautions. What I did was made a list of all communicable diseases from scarlet fever to hep A to chicken pox. I didn't pay attention to all the details. I simply wrote: airborne precautions, contact, droplet etc. There might be several questions that might address this. Know how to move a patient safely. Know calculations. But practice as many questions as you can. That is the best way to prepare. I took both Kaplan and Hurst and hands down, Kaplan is better. It's everything that Hurst is plus more! Hurst will tell you that they will teach you everything you need to know (core information), but guess what, so does Kaplan and they have way more info and more practice tests. I hope this helps and don't give up!

Specializes in Cardiology.

I passed on my first try which shocked me because I thought it was incredibly difficult but this is what I did to prepare... I took all of the ATI final exams on their website, some of them I did more than once. I did 50-100 questions/day from Lippincott books (in my opinion they're the best) and didn't study at all the night before. I had 78 questions, most of them were math, meds, and SATA's. Just remember to use your basic nursing knowledge if you get stuck- ABC's, nursing process, Maslow's heirarchy of needs, calculations etc. Don't stress, take your time and breathe! Good luck!

Hi everyone!

I wanted to thank all of you for your kind words of encouragement and study tips.

After completing the 3-week NCSBN course and the Live Hurst Review, I PASSED MY NCLEX ON NOVEMBER 8, 2012!!! I passed in 75 questions and had many pediatric and priority questions with a few SATAs thrown in for fun.

I truly feel the Hurst review is what made the difference. It made things so simple and it taught me a new way to think about the test. I know it's expensive and sometimes not easy to find (I had to travel from Philly to Richmond, VA) but I highly recommend it to ANYONE taking the test.

Good luck to anyone taking it and remember, YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Hi. I also failed last month ..are uou planning to retale again soon?

I agree on not studying for 3 months. I knew that I wouldn't know where to begin on studying 2 years of material and just took the plunge ASAP fresh out of school, passed after 75 questions.

I believe if people have learned the material in nursing school they are better served taking the test as soon as possible with the material taught in school still fresh in their minds; I also think it would help alleviate some NCLEX anxiety to psych oneself out and remind oneself that 2 years of school have been completed successfully.

Additionally we are in test-taking mode fresh out of college, I know if I had waited I would get out of test-taking mode quickly. I went with a friend who went onto 250+ questions. He came out of the testing center a wreck thinking he'd failed due to going on to so many questions. He was a fantastic hard-working student who I thought passed and he did pass. I believe his only issue may have been English as a 2nd language, he spoke English very well but it isn't the same as speaking it from birth.

Just jump in upon graduation is what I would advise anyone! Also keep the faith and do not listen to the naysayers who will try and tell you they are superior in knowledge having taken the two day written test 'back in the day' and walked 10 miles in a blizzard uphill both ways to get to testing center...there is always one who thinks that being given an opportunity to repeat NCLEX is because all you young-uns got a trophy in school for breathing. Yes, one OP actually said that, always someone who romances the 'good old days' when charting took forever and involved shoals of paperwork.

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