Help! Failed NCLEX five times, out of school for 9 years

Nurses Retired

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Hello Everyone,

I am new to allnurses.com. A very long story short: I graduated RN school in May 2001. I have taken the NCLEX five times and was unsuccessful. I had tried everything I knew to do and still couldn't do it. I will admit I did give up. The last time I took it I was eight days from having my first child and she is now six. I thought for some reason I was not supposed to do nursing. I got out of nursing all together a year later. I really want to get my license, otherwise nursing school was a waste. I contacted my old school and they didn't even seem to care. I have searched and searched and the only thing I can find online and otherwise is refreshers that you already needed to have your license at some point in time. I never had trouble in clinicals or any hands on work just that test. I am very frustrated and although I want to figure out what I can do even as I write this I feel like there isn't any help out there. If the only thing I can do is go back to school and do the WHOLE program over NO WAY! I am married with two young kids and work full time repeating two years of that again I don't think I can do it. If any of you out there has any ideas you could send my way I would appreciate it. Thanks for your time:)

Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

Dear BDPF,

Have you taken a remedial class and NCLEX testing class. After 2 yrs I can not see how the info would be fresh enough in your brain to be able to pass. Do you know what part you are lacking?

To find your answer about number of times go to Board of nursing for Texas.

I had huge test anxiety but worked with a therapist in college to teach me to overcome it and I did.

I hope you are able to get help before taking another attempt at the test. Good luck.

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Specializes in NCA, Graduate Nurse.
msdaschcav said:
Hi cpmom

I was in the same boat with you last year. I graduated in 2001 took the test many times and failed. I gave up, started doing other things but I kept thinking about nursing school and what a waste. I finally decided after much prayer to try again. I did questions at first to see what I remembered (not a lot). I then took Kaplan, another review course and worked with a local tutor. I did questions, after questions. thousands of them wherever I could find them. It cost me a whole lot but I was determined to make it happen. I became more motivated after 4months and I took the exam for the 5th and last time in November of 2009 and PASSED.You can and you will. Stay focused and determined and do whatever you feel you have to do to make it happen. Good luck and God bless.

Hello,

I know this post was awhile ago so hopefully you will recieve it. I just recently passed my nclex in March 2011. I graduated in December 2009, and failed 3 times. I took the exam a total of 4 times, and passed on my fourth. It took me a whole year to finally pass the nclex. I worked in a ER as a graduate nurse, but was let go after I failed twice. I actually didnt work the whole time I was studying, except on the side with my mothers business. Now that Ive passed, I ve been applying everywhere in my area (Michigan), but Im having a very difficult time finding a job. Was it hard for you to find a job? I dont know if its because I have a gap on my resume, or if this is normal. I started applyin a week after I passed, a total of 21 positions, and some are responding back with were hiring someone that is more qualified. I just wanted to know if you had the same trouble, and if you were off from nursing from the time you graduated to the time you passed nclex. Hope to hear from ya.

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

Hey Mwrn, Congrats on passing, what an accomplishment!

I am bummed for you. This economy is hard. Even new grads with extern, pca, cna experience are having a hard time getting a job. So your gap normally wouldn't be too much of a problem but in this economy it is. I am prepping to take a refresher course after 4 years out and no experience so I am right there with you. Wishing you the best!!!:redbeathe

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A review course is a must. No matter what you get on the final grade in Nursing school, a review course is necessary because you will be able to interact with the others and instructor and will have the answers and rationale behind why, and all the rest. If you know the whys, then the answer will mean more than just the correct answer and will stick in your head. There is no shortcut to Nursing. If your heart is really in it, then you will find a way to do it.

Anything good is worth the effort.You should be able to do it. If you did it once you can do it again.

Macspuds

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MwRN, What did you do to finally pass? I have a friend who hasn't passed in 3 attempts. He's tried Kaplan and tutoring. He plans to do more tutoring but I was wondering if there were anything else we could try. Thx!

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Specializes in NCA, Graduate Nurse.
Kruebelm said:
MwRN, What did you do to finally pass? I have a friend who hasn't passed in 3 attempts. He's tried Kaplan and tutoring. He plans to do more tutoring but I was wondering if there were anything else we could try. Thx!

Well,

I actually passed with Kaplans. That was my last resort because I did everything. I did Hurst review, a review online that I found called caring4you review, which wasnt very good, and I also used the nclex 4000 cd by lippincott, I failed each time after studying those reviews. Kaplans, in my opinion was the best review because it taught you critical thinking skill and content. I did everything on that website. What kaplan did he do, the live or onine live? I studied that for about 3 months doing everything twice on that website. I also reviewed meds every night watching tv, the classifications and pertinent side effects. I also studied mneumonics for infection control and for electrolyte imbalances. You can search for them at this website, or I will email all of them to him if he wants me too. THey really came in handy to me during the exam, I actually would right them on my board that they give you during the exam with certain questions. I would like to know what his study plan was for kaplans or what hes been doing to study in general to see if hes doing something wrong. Tell him to hang in there, stay positive and focused, he will pass. Trust me, everyone would tell me that, and I would try to agree with them, but in the back of my mind there was always a question mark. Its awful what some people have to go through, but it only with make him a stronger person and a stronger nurse. He will appreciate his job all that much more. God has a reason for everything. Another good book I used was Linda La charity, priority, delagation, and assignment. I purchased that for more questions after I ran out of kaplans questions. Hope this helps, Let me know if he needs help with anything. I know how hard it feels and what hes going through! Good luck!!

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I know this thread was started quite a while ago but I wanted to lend some encouragement to those of you who have failed the test repeatedly.

First of all, if you can complete nursing school, you can pass the NCLEX. Remember how many people didn't make it through? The instructors have a way of weeding out the ones that will not make it but you did. Remember what it took to do all that studying? The sacrifices you made? The determination to do this alone should give you encouragement and motivation. You made it! Remember that.

Two, considering you did make it through, there must be another reason you aren't passing the test. Consider all the reasons this might be happening. Are you having an exhorbitant amount of test anxiety? Remember that we all had some form of anxiety but for certain people it can inhibit memory and critical thinking skills. There is help for test anxiety.

The questions on the NCLEX are worded in such a way as to be confusing and you'll have to use critical thinking to choose the right one out of the final two. Ask yourself what would happen if you did each, and which one would take care of the problem they are addressing in the question. Analyze it if you really are having a problem choosing otherwise go with your first instinct if you have prepared well. That's the key though.

When I graduated in 1993, I had to wait two months to take the NCLEX. I spent those two months reviewing and preparing for it. When I tell you that, I'm talking about studying as much as I had when I was in school. Hours per day - not simply one or two. I made a list of what I thought I was deficient in and although I reviewed everything, I paid special attention to my personal needs.

Lastly, and this is meant in the best way, there may be nurses or family that discourage you from taking it again. Don't let that happen. You may experience attitudes about the number of times you have had to take it but again, don't let anything discourage you from doing what you have to do. I admire your determination.

I once worked with a nurse who had to take the NCLEX repeatedly to pass. Know what? We didn't know and she was a very good nurse. I think the fact that she did have a hard time may have even helped her in the end. She was very systematical and organized which in retrospect, I think she may have partially learned because she did have to take it so many times.

So, just do what you have to do. If you work, spend your entire evening hours studying. Get someone to help with the kids. Buy as many books as you have to, borrow the money if you have to. Take as many courses as needed. Just don't give up. If you need extra time, study for a few months, schedule the exam and then continue to study.

Just do it...........and get er done! :)

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Hi there!

I feel the same way here. I graduated May 2010. I failed Nclex 4 times and feel very discouraged. I was going through a lot of family and health issues. I realized that I shouldnt have taken those tests. A few times, my friends and family would ask, "Why arent you taking the test. Take it next week. Dont you want it to get it done? Why are you lagging?". I realized that I should have ignored them because I felt that I wasnt ready for the test. First htime, I just took Kaplan without watching the videos and did alll the Qbank and Qtrainer but it didnt sink in. And I still took the test. Second time, I took Kaplan again and focused on the videos. The videos are long and boring for some reason. I dont count most of these tests because I went through a lot this past year emotionally and physically. So now, I'm doing Hurst Online review and its making sense to me. Videos are interesting and most of the instructors on it are Southern, so its kinda funny. Their voices arent monotonous like the Kaplan ones. Oh yeah, there is this cute guy with a Southern accent which made it interesting with Hurst. Hahah sorry just to add that in. I was glued to the video. For me, it helped me focus. :) Doing the questions with Hurst is just practice, so I'm not sure if I'm doing well.

Please pray for me....My test is in a few days!

Rosychks

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Good luck to you! I'm pullin' for ya!

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

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OMG Annienurseangel I would really like to chat with you.Your story sounds so familiar,I thought I was the only one with this story from Florida.Pls I need more info,b\I've been afraid to muc time has passed. THANKS IN ADVANCE

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OMG ANNIENURSEANGEL

I would really like to speak wit you,your story has really touched me because it sounds all so familar to me.Pls I want this so bad,just afraid because I thought I've waited to late.It's good to hear from someone from Florida where I reside. THANKS IN ADVANCE

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