How do people fail the NCLEX ?

Nursing Students NCLEX

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First off I want to mention that I have not yet taken the NCLEX, nor am I saying its easy or insulting those who have failed it.

However I wanted to make a thread focusing on what exactly goes wrong, which results in people failing the test.

Looking at the statistics many people (90%~) pass on the first attempt, which means only a few dont.

So rather focusing on the many many different ways that the majority of people pass, I was hoping people could share their knowledge and experiences of the most common reason why people dont.

Going off the statistics that NCLEX offers being a foreign educated/non english speaking student obviously seems to be the biggest obstacle, but what else ?

A few points to your post:

The EBP you posted is 23 years old.

Unless the sample size included subjects with document anxiety, learning disabilities, etc, one cannot say whether or not test anxiety does (or doesn't ) have an effect on passing the NCLEX.

I also suggested the original poster look up other articles which don't mention "test anxiety." Also, I would like to see the research that your school produced.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I also suggested the original poster look up other articles which don't mention "test anxiety." Also, I would like to see the research that your school produced.

My point is unless sample size and design includes specific factors, one could produce an measurable outcome related to said factors. If there is a anxiety, learning disability, etc/ NCLEX success correlation study, then we can look at those results. We can also do a review against a study that utilize a sample size without such factors and correlate the to to discover if there is an outcome. But, again, we hate speaking subjective versus objective, we are not in a study. I also was addressing the entire post in terms of school success vs everyone else, which can be several issues in relation to getting a "low GPA", whatever that means...I don't know what would be considered a "low GPA" considering how high the bar was set to pass...and that varies upon institution.

As far as my institution; I mentioned that I was year 2 or 3 in data collection. Per TOS, I can't mention who the principles are. You will have to do a peer review search, once the principles publish their results.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I started using NCLEX questions as a part of my studying process about half way through my first semester. I feel that is a huge part of why I passed NCLEX and did well in school. In my opinion it helps you learn the material better. At my school all the nursing exams were NCLEX style questions, so of course I studied questions. I guess it depends on how your school does exams.

I think it's because of test taking strategy .I don't care how many question you do 5000 sometime more there is no one single question you will encounter on nclex. They are testing your knowledge base and if you can apply that knowledge. Having said that I can safely say this is what helped me pass I used the Saunders review book (the yellow one) through out school IEx if you are doing cardiac I would review the cardiac section this helped me for class exams so for nclex prep I used the NCSBN 3 week review which was very basic and easy to comprehend I passed with 83 questions. Regardless of all the effort through out school and all the studying when I left person vue I was not sure if I had passed. So all I can say is the test taking strategy is what pulled me through coz I can tell you for sure the questions on NCLEX I had no idea where they came from.

Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
I am a new student starting in August. Should I be studying NCLEX review books all along? Or do instructors basically teach you all you need to know to pass the NCLEX?

My program made us buy NCLEX books (Saunders) as a part of the curriculum. I think it really helped me when it was time to take the NCLEX-PN last year (we had the option to take the NCLEX-PN after our first year in the program). I passed on the first try :)

Specializes in Emergency, ICU.

Gosh, I've wondered this for years! It is not hard and I personally only studied the last week before the test. After I took it, I realized I could have gone straight into the test from graduation and pass. It was that simple.

And I know people have anxiety and other factors, but I cannot stop myself from thinking that people needing to re-take the test should just not be nurses.

Yes, it's harsh. Sorry if it offends you, this is my prejudice and I own it. I never express this to actual people I encounter, but I think it.

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1 Votes
Gosh, I've wondered this for years! It is not hard and I personally only studied the last week before the test. After I took it, I realized I could have gone straight into the test from graduation and pass. It was that simple.

And I know people have anxiety and other factors, but I cannot stop myself from thinking that people needing to re-take the test should just not be nurses.

Yes, it's harsh. Sorry if it offends you, this is my prejudice and I own it. I never express this to actual people I encounter, but I think it.

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I dont think its harsh persay, and agree for the most part (from what ive read) although i think luck has to come into it as well. I mean its possible that a person could get a crap ton of awkward SATA/drag and drop questions which could sink them.

Or one could get a ton of awkward questions on certain topics. I know on some Saunders/Nclex 10,000 practice test I usually do pretty well, but the other day got a random test which included a TON of OB questions (which as a male is an area that I never enjoyed and have absolutely zero interest in)

So if by dumb luck I ended up taking the NCLEX and getting a ton of OB/SATA questions I could see myself doing quite poorly.

The way the NCLEX is made just mystifies me, I feel like they could easily ask questions on at least 50,000 topics due to broad spectrum of content they cover in nursing school. So dumb luck surely has to come into play at some point.

Although I guess how low the pass curve is (whatever it is) kind of makes up for that, since 9/10 seem to pass

Hi! Failing the NCLEX was by far the hardest thing I had to accept. I failed it because:

-I've taken my exam 5 months post-grad which means I had to study double than the others who took it early. YOu gotta keep up with reviewing after at least a week of break from school.

-I wasn't consistent, disciplined and committed with my reviews. I procrastinated and was in denial of many things, therefore I kept saying, "I'll do it tomorrow." NEVER DO THAT. KEEP GOING AND MAKE IT HAPPEN!

-I studied last minute--3 weeks before the exam which was the BIGGEST MISTAKE and not the smartest thing to do for something this big of a deal. Study at least 3 months before the exam. Include a study buddy, quiet place to study, exercise, one day break/week (so you're not burnt out the whole week!), healthy foods (beans cuz of the proteins that will boost your energy i.e Wendy's chilis!) and goood sleep! It's ok to start @ 1100am as long as you had a good sleep for better focus!

-I didn't have the right resources although Saunders did help. I wish I've seen Kaplan first cuz its test questions were pretty much similar to the exam. :) Plus it'll challenge you with critical thinking!

But, Keep both cuz it's going to help you big time! Flashcards for lab values! Refresh it everyday so you don't forget it when you take the exam! Include in flash cards--MEDS or whatever diseases you want to include!

-I was so anxious during the exam that I almost quit it. Deep breathing and practice that! Anxiety can make you forget what you studied or lose your understanding of the questions. It happened to me and it wasn't the good thing.

-I did STUDY HARDER but NOT SMARTER! There's a difference!

-I had a hard time with SATA and sequencing. I didn't tackle this during my reviews which was also a mistake. So do as many practice questions and do the diffrent test formats the cd offers!

-I didn't have much faith in myself. Well, I wasn't prepared to begin with...But this time, I'll do things better for my next exam!

I hope these things I've mentioned will help you! It's not easy to open up because it does suck failing a big exam and rethinking about my past actions just makes me mad at myself! But these lessons might help you not to go through what I did!

AND ONE THING...I have this motto: "Preparation + Prayers = PASSING!" This always keeps me up! :)

SO GOODLUCK!!!

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Test anxiety is REAL. Lack of strategy is REAL. The NCLEX is a strategy test as it is having knowledge, critical thinking skills etc blah blah. After much reflection, I know why I failed my first attemp. I could take offense to the comment about "people who do not pass the first time, should just not be nurses" but I won't because luckily I know that it's complete bologna. Good thing we are all entitled to our own opinions though. I work at a world-renowned pediatric institution where I have recently spoken to some of the best nurses I know personally, who recently admitted to me that they too failed the nclex. A few on more than one occasion. Good thing they didn't give up and made it to be the amazing nurses they are today.

Gosh, I've wondered this for years! It is not hard and I personally only studied the last week before the test. After I took it, I realized I could have gone straight into the test from graduation and pass. It was that simple.

And I know people have anxiety and other factors, but I cannot stop myself from thinking that people needing to re-take the test should just not be nurses.

Yes, it's harsh. Sorry if it offends you, this is my prejudice and I own it. I never express this to actual people I encounter, but I think it.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

I thought NCLEX was easy as well. I didn't find it difficult at all, but I understand not everyone is like me. I don't have test anxiety and I feel that I effectively study. I can understand a person needing to repeat the test and being allowed to, but what I can't understand is when someone has taken it an exorbitant amount of times. There definitely should be some type of limit. I remember about a month ago someone posting that they've taken it 14 times, that is just unreal to me and should not be allowed. It seems at that point that out of chance they're eventually going to pass, but that just doesn't sound like a person that will make a good nurse. My nursing program allowed for a class to be repeated once, if it was failed for the second time, you were out of the program, but could re-apply after a 5 year wait period and would have to start all over again. Yet people have as many times as they wish to repeat NCLEX, guess it comes down to money, as long as you're willing to pay the test fee they're willing to let you try again.

Gosh, I've wondered this for years! It is not hard and I personally only studied the last week before the test. After I took it, I realized I could have gone straight into the test from graduation and pass. It was that simple.

And I know people have anxiety and other factors, but I cannot stop myself from thinking that people needing to re-take the test should just not be nurses.

Yes, it's harsh. Sorry if it offends you, this is my prejudice and I own it. I never express this to actual people I encounter, but I think it.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Took the June 2013 exam for 1st time and failed. The computer shut off at 75q. I graduated 2011 and had to work in a non-nursing job. I only started studying full time 2months before exam date. I think what I did wrong was studying too much since I reviewed the book cover to cover but in the end it was too much to recall all of it. The questions were very simple but I guess I overanalyzed them. I am planning to take it again & have a more focused review plan.

As for the person here who commented previously that those retakers shoudnt be nurses, thanks for speaking up your mind and I am sorry for you too because you think that way.

For those who passed, congratulations and it was God's will for you to pass it on the first try. The profession needs you now and I wish all well for their careers.

For those who failed like me, and your passion & gift from God is truly being a nurse to help people, take it again.. failures happen for a reason. Not to bring us down but to build us up.

Specializes in Emergency, ICU.

I thought NCLEX was easy as well. I didn't find it difficult at all, but I understand not everyone is like me. I don't have test anxiety and I feel that I effectively study. I can understand a person needing to repeat the test and being allowed to, but what I can't understand is when someone has taken it an exorbitant amount of times. There definitely should be some type of limit. I remember about a month ago someone posting that they've taken it 14 times, that is just unreal to me and should not be allowed. It seems at that point that out of chance they're eventually going to pass, but that just doesn't sound like a person that will make a good nurse. My nursing program allowed for a class to be repeated once, if it was failed for the second time, you were out of the program, but could re-apply after a 5 year wait period and would have to start all over again. Yet people have as many times as they wish to repeat NCLEX, guess it comes down to money, as long as you're willing to pay the test fee they're willing to let you try again.

Right. I guess my dismay is with those postings from people taking it more than 2 times. And I agree there should be some kind of limit.

I also know that there are people who don't take it right away and then fail and that's actually understandable. But I don't believe taking it 5 times makes that person as good a nurse as someone who only took it once or twice.

Lets be realistic here, would you want a surgeon to operate on you if they had to take their boards 5 times?

But to get back to the OP, a reason for failure that I notice is because language is a barrier. Many foreign educated nurses and nursing students whose primary language is not English have a very hard time passing this test. And that is a problem as well because some schools of nursing are not as strict on English writing skills as others.

I guess it does mainly come down to the quality of the nursing education.

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