Got the Dreaded "On Hold" Popup...

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Just got home from my NCLEX-RN. I got 75 questions and was done in about an hour. I had only about 15 SATA, 1 ECG, 1 math, 1 picture, and 2 drag and drops. I feel like I failed for some reason. If I remember back 2.5 years when I took my NCLEX-PN, I got 85 questions and felt like I failed too when in all reality I passed. I got the dreaded 'on hold' pop-up and was wondering how long holds are usually in place? I'm sure it totally depends but wondering if those who have got the 'on hold' popup could let me know how long they had to wait. Not sure why I got the 'on hold' popup but I did have to use the restroom at question 50 and had a little trouble with the palm scanner because my hand was still wet from washing. Any insight here? I'm trying to stay positive and calm but it is a seemingly impossible task. :arghh:

Hi, Nurse2beMN, I have a friend that took the exam on a Monday and got the same pop up. She actually called the boards on thursday that same week, and they told her that if the results were not up by friday to call back on the following Monday. She finally got the results friday afternoon. I hope your situation gets resolved soon. I imagine how anxious you must be but hang in there.. From what you said it seems that you did really good! :)

Hi, Nurse2beMN, I have a friend that took the exam on a Monday and got the same pop up. She actually called the boards on thursday that same week, and they told her that if the results were not up by friday to call back on the following Monday. She finally got the results friday afternoon. I hope your situation gets resolved soon. I imagine how anxious you must be but hang in there.. From what you said it seems that you did really good! :)

Thanks @soonnursetobe for the encouraging words. I feel so alone in this 'on hold' situation. Did your friend end up passing after the hold?

hi guys! my on hold was released. and i failed. Ughhh! taking it again after 45 days for sure! no more distractions this time. But i am wondering if my "fail" grade has something to do with the computer glitch that I had during my exam. Called pearson vue and they said they filed an incident report and cannot do anything about the results. I just have to take it again. :(

hi guys! my on hold was released. and i failed. Ughhh! taking it again after 45 days for sure! no more distractions this time. But i am wondering if my "fail" grade has something to do with the computer glitch that I had during my exam. Called pearson vue and they said they filed an incident report and cannot do anything about the results. I just have to take it again. :(

I'm so sorry to hear that @audreyjamm :(. Take a few days off and then jump back in.

Thanks Nurse2be. Did you find out your results yet? Would this be your first take? Im praying for you :)

Thanks Nurse2be. Did you find out your results yet? Would this be your first take? Im praying for you :)

No, unfortunately I'm still waiting. I'm starting lean more on the idea that I failed though. This was my first time taking the NCLEX-RN but I did take the NCLEX-PN 2.5 years ago and passed with 85 questions. After my NCLEX-PN I also felt like I failed, but who doesn't?! Ugh, the wait is killing me!

One more question for y'all.. I got about 4 questions on the same exact thing. I obviously can't go into much detail about what this 'thing' was but I'm just wondering if that means that I didn't know much about this certain 'thing' so it kept pounding me with questions about it or if it is true that it is really randomized?

The answer is yes and yes :) Once someone has satisfied the computer that an area of knowledge has had sufficient demonstration of competence, it moves on. If it keeps returning, most you weren't at or above passing standard until (eventually) you made it past, They are random, but from what I've seen on this forum people tend to remember best the questions that gave them the most grief, or perhaps it's more accurate to say 'mis-remember' based on their own anxieties. Being uncertain about a topic, then seeing it show up AGAIN only makes it seem like it's popping up more than another topic (which the person knows well). What we do well, we brush past quickly, and it doesn't register on our brains quite as indelibly.

I got the last question wrong (I know this for sure) hoping the last question was one of the research questions :nailbiting:

Getting that last one wrong only meant something if it put you below passing standard. If it was far enough above passing standard that getting it wrong wouldn't change your statistical outcome, you'd still pass :)

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
hi guys! my on hold was released. and i failed. Ughhh! taking it again after 45 days for sure! no more distractions this time. But i am wondering if my "fail" grade has something to do with the computer glitch that I had during my exam. Called pearson vue and they said they filed an incident report and cannot do anything about the results. I just have to take it again. :(

The computer glitch is why you were on hold. They did a full QA/QC assessment to ensure your test met the standards and was fairly graded. If it was determined that the computer glitch was an issue ( it happened to a classmate of mine and a year or so ago it happened to a bunch of candidates due to a storm & power issues) your test would be invalidated and you would be given the opportunity to retest at no charge.

Yes my friend end up passing!

.....due to a storm & power issues) your test would be invalidated and you would be given the opportunity to retest at no charge.

I believe I would have rather cut out my own tongue with a spoon than taken that exam a second time, shortly after completing it the first!

Update: called Pearson Vue and they said that they don't count the test day as a business day (Wednesday) so I will have to wait until Monday to receive my results. Ugh, is this normal? It seems like everyone on here gets their results within 48 hours regardless of holiday, etc.? Do you think I should call again and try to speak to someone else?

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I believe I would have rather cut out my own tongue with a spoon than taken that exam a second time, shortly after completing it the first!

I think I would panic then try and find a new career real fast. Especially if there were nerve wracking computer glitches and power issues during my NCLEX

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