A big problem, need help :(

Jolie, BSN · Aug 21, 2010

I would suggest she contact the school from which she graduated and ask for their help in identifying her weaknesses and for test-taking strategies.

It is in their best interests to see that she passes NCLEX without any additional failures, as that will hurt their pass rate.

As for entering a NP graduate program, it may be best to delay that until she has had some professional working experience.

And put the books away until Monday. Treat her to an enjoyable, stress-free weekend. It will do a world of good :)

mammac5 · Aug 21, 2010

Is she doing the online Kaplan questions? That's what I've been doing the past few weeks and it tells you what areas you are weak in. I wonder if trying that would help her hone in on specific weaknesses.

She's got to be getting frustrated at this point. I agree with previous poster who suggested she get in touch with her NS to ask for some help...it is in their best interest to help her pass.

DayDreamin ER CRNP · Aug 21, 2010

I agree with Jolie. I think she needs to figure out where her weaknesses are. Just recently, my program made the senior students complete a "HESI/NCLEX Plan" as part of a grade. We had to go back and review our previous HESI scores and determine a plan to improve. I was shocked to see how weak I was on the assessment questions. In three tests, that was my weakest area.

I soon figured out that I wasn't reading the questions correctly.

You can read and practice questions all the livelong day but if you aren't learning WHY you are missing certain types of questions, you won't improve those areas.

I would also suggest going to speak with the school and get help figuring out how to better understand the questions and where her weaknesses are.

If this happens to students in my program, they allow students to repeat his/her preceptorship which includes a class portion too in which they teach NCLEX strategies. That might be a great option for her.

I further agree that she should delay the NP program. It sounds like she isn't ready and needs some RN experience. Both of my sisters-in-law are NP and they both say that new grads NEED to work on the floor or in a unit before going to NP school. They say that the NPs that went straight through have ZERO respect on the floors they work on. They also say that experience matters and makes a huge difference in understanding and processing the material.

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 21, 2010

I strongly agree with the previous posters. Simply doing practice questions is often not enough. A person has to figure out WHY they are giving the wrong answers before they can change whatever it is they are doing wrong.

In addition to the suggestions above, I would look for any kind of learning center, course, etc. that would include a teacher who could help her to diagnose her problem.

As for grad school ... I also think she should post-pone it for at least a year if possible to get some experience as an RN first. If she hasn't mastered the beginner-level content and gotten some experience using it in real-life situations, it's too soon for grad school.

justwandering31 · Aug 21, 2010

I don't want to make light of the fact that she may not be ready to retake NCLEX but my understanding is that Kaplan has harder questions. Has she looked to see what score is considered "good" on those tests?

I did Saunders review books and I think it was a score in the 70s that indicated a good chance of passing NCLEX. I think Kaplan may have been lower. I'm just saying this because I don't think she should expect to get a 100%

Is it possible that she has the info down but needs additional help with test taking skills? I found that to be as big a part of the test as the actual nursing knowledge. If she is overthinking the question or reading into it wrong then it won't matter how much she knows.

Gold2010 · Aug 21, 2010

First of all I would like to appriciate your kindess and hard work and respect that you are giving to your girl friend. I can guess you would be helping her a lot in other activities too. Keep it up.

as others said post pone NP atleast for one year, get experience then do it. as for kaplan scores I kaplan say they give harder questions comparative to real one. don't loose hope. Pray, pray.

gold2010

mammac5 · Aug 21, 2010

There is a thread about what Kaplan scores are considered sufficient to pass NCLEX...we were told in Kaplan review course that we should try for 60 - 65 on the tests that come with the course. Those questions are tough!

We were also told that all testers get 15 experimental questions within those first 75 questions. So really (if you pass in 75) you only have 60 questions that count toward the pass/fail "grade". Out of those 60, we were told that most people answer ~30 of them incorrectly...the issue is whether you answered 30 that were of sufficient difficulty (higher reasoning, complex thinking) or were they easier, fact-based questions. That's the beauty (or not) of the CAT system.

As for holding off on grad school for the NP program, I may get boo-ed down here, but I'm not sure that's necessary. She's had a temporary set-back and, perhaps, is not a great test-taker.

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2010

What I would do is I would get a review book, a normal one, mosby illustrated, Kaplan... Whatever! Get 2 markers and mark down what I know and in another collor why I need to know. It only takes 2 days to do a skim through review. 1 day medsurge/peds another day ob/psych/prioritization. Answering questionsnis nit everything if you don't " kinda" understand what they are talking about.

justwandering31 · Aug 22, 2010

To add on to my previous post, she really needs to not read into the question. This is hard when you are nervous about a test. This being her second time must be making it that much worse.

I am not a good test taker so I can empathize. I did pass NCLEX and I really feel that it is because I took the questions at face value.

The answer will always be one of the ABC..Ds when it is priority, or Maslows order, or which will kill the patient first, etc. I am saying this because I know when I get nervous I tend to overlook the obvious answer and talk myself into the answer that my mind makes look the best (usually the "other right" but not "as right" answer - FYI, there are usually 2 right answers, one is just more important).

The questions are made to give the tester a chance to prove minimum competence. This means they aren't going to give real complicated/tricky questions. So, if you are looking at the question thinking it is too hard, your probably reading into it too much.

I know if she was able to get through nursing school, she is able to pass this test. I wish her good luck on the retake.

justwandering31 · Aug 30, 2010

Just wondering if your girlfriend took her exam on Friday the 27th? Was hoping to hear some good news about her test.

Sl1011 · Aug 30, 2010

Just wondering if your girlfriend took her exam on Friday the 27th? Was hoping to hear some good news about her test.

Me too... waiting to hear good news :)