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

Nurses Retired

Published

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 geriatrics.

While people might make it out of nursing school, some are not successful in obtaining a license. After the first unsuccessful attempt, it means reviewing and revising study habits. Seek the help of a friend who passed the exam. After multiple unsuccessful attempts, something clearly isn't working. Use it as a learning experience.

0 Votes

Hello, thanks for the possitive encouragement. I've taken the nclex four times and failed. I went to a very poor school and didn't teach us very well. Is there any live courses, face to face for a refreshner course for the lpn in Dayton, Ohio? It's been 3 years since I've been out of school and need some real tutoring. Any suggestions out there? Thank you.

0 Votes
Specializes in Peds Med/Surg; Peds Skilled Nursing.

I graduated in 2006 in the summer took a Live Kaplan class. I don't think i would have passed without that class. I did their online modules. As for studying on my own i just bought NCLEX question books i did all of the questions and read the rationales that's what helped me pass the first time. i didn't spend hours reviewing material. I just did questions and read rationales. If the question had material i didn't know that much about the rationale would give some basic background info on it.

The key to the NCLEX isn't knowing as much info as possible its about recognizing what kind of question they are asking and picking out the best answer by process of elimination. Kaplan teaches you all types of tricks and hints. It helped me so much. This was my experience however I heard a rumor that the NCLEX got harder since i took it in oct of 2006. not sure if its true......good luck to you:)

0 Votes

Hello Everyone, As I have read all of these posts from page 1-4 I know now that I am not alone. Everyone's posts has encouraged me to start somewhere. This is my story......I graduated in 1998 from Nursing school and i took my test in 98 and then again in 2000. After taking it twice I got very discouraged. Even in shcool I was not that good of a test taker and I think for the most part it was my nerves / anxiety that I always thought I would not do well. I did not graduate with a 3.0 instead a 2.8 but Nursing was my passion. After not passing my test twice I gave up....I recently got married last year but no kids right now but defintely planning. I did want to take this time to get back into it b/c I do love Nursing and know that is what I want to do but the fear of not passing the test again is always in the back of my mind. My husband / family has definitely encourged me to go for it, but their words isn't enough to make me say OK LETS DO IT The first time i took the test I did take the Kaplan but still didn't pass. I thought it was an excellent review and I would def. take it again for review. I think this weekend I will go to Barnes and Noble and purchase my first NCLEX book after 14 years of being out of the field and just start doing questions. I would love to find a refresher course / study group. I am in Atlanta, GA if anyone has any information / suggestions, my heart, mind, body and soul is ready to accept it and move forward....Thank you for reading and listening...I have never expressed this just held it in for so long and if this is the start of a new beginning to being the RN that I have always wanted to be then it feels GREAT! Be Blessed!

0 Votes
Specializes in Oncology/ Psych.

What I found to be very helpful was the NCSBN online course. I paid $50.00 for 3 weeks! Was very very helpful! You can do it ! Have faith and pray!!!

0 Votes

hi, i just wanna ask if BON california didn't change their policy? so until now the max attempt to pass nclex-rn is still unlimited? do they check the year of graduation, coz i graduated 8 years ago so im thinking they will not allow me anymore to take NCLEX-RN?

hope someone can enlighten me? thanks in advance...

0 Votes

Hi, I am internationaly graduated nurse I took NCLEX -RN 3 time and failed, I studied with KAPLAN, so please some body help me what course i can take to pass RN exam and how study more.

0 Votes
ANNIENURSEANGEL said:
Took me 4 times to pass. I have test anxiety, and question myself alot. I had to take a remediation course through florida. The best thing i ever did. I finally learned to use my critical thinking skills to decipher questions that were difficult for me. When doing practice questions, i would just answer, and move on. Finally figured out that my first choice was usually the right one. Stay with it. It took me 13 years. I graduated from my nursing program in 1997.

Hi! I read your post and I too have failed boards 3 times and now need to take a remediation course/clinical in order to be active to take RN boards again. I live in FL too. Just wondering which school/remediation program did u do? How much did it cost? Any advantages/disadvantages to this program you took? I'm lost trying to figure out what school will be best to do remediation. I have no schools around me, so I will need to find an online school. Thanks.

0 Votes
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.

I am in the same situation..graduated 2007. I took my test 10/24/13 and BON not in too many words said that I did it...but waiting in the mail for results ..the reason on my call was telling them that it has been 6yrs and I wanted to know if iv cert is still good they said give my lic to my old school tell my school to send the certificate and I guess that will be it. Just waiting for the results and send the paymen. I live LONG BEACH CA. and I hope my old school will not give me a hard time on sending it..I took a refresh course on the NCLEX...does anyone out their know how it goes in CA. has anyone had a hard time that their old school didnt want to seen your info to the BON..PLEASE NEED SOME INFO...

0 Votes

i haven't read all the comments, but if you've been out of school for 9 years, how will you be a good nurse now? How would you have retained all that info? Yikes

0 Votes

Good luck to you all who are retaking your exam!

0 Votes

To cpmom and the rest of you who have failed and preparing to take the next exam, don't fret your time will come and practice practice practice your questions! Don't let any one or any of these posts question you different. After nursing school and training there is a reason for everything and when you pass you will find your path of what your nursing passion inspired you on. Good luck, and if cpmom ever retook her exam, please keep us posted!

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment