Advice Needed!!!

[mizzdjb]

I am a 2009 Practical Nurse Graduate. I took my boards in October and failed. I am scared to retake my boards because at times I feel as if I am ready and at other times I feel as if I am not. I took the Hurst Review in December but I still feel that way. I have been studying on and off, but it seems as if I am forgetting everything that I learned. I know that you do not come of out nursing school knowing everything, but I feel like the things I should know will not stick. I am a hands on person and that is how I learn the best. I have a lot of other things going on at the moment and still, I continue to put off my test. I need advice on how to prepare for the boards and feel confident about taking the test. I am very determined to become a Nurse. I started the program in 2007 and went through two semesters and failed by one point. I was devastated because I only had 10 weeks of nursing school left . On top of that I found out I was pregnant with twins and that put more stress upon me. My husband was a Marine and he was getting deployed and I already had a 2 year old. I never gave up, but my instructors gave up on me. I told them I would be back the next year and wouldn't anything stop me. I proved them wrong and I was right. So, hear me out and help me out. This has been my dream and I hope you all can give me positive feedback and whomever reply to my post, thank you in advance!:)

[caliotter3]

You have to make up your mind to prepare for the test and take it. Studying on and off like you mention in your post is not going to cut it and you know it. Set a date for the exam, make a plan, and work your plan, then take the test. Just do it. Good luck.

[mizzdjb]

thank you!

[onarom]

Something to consider- the NCLEX is being revised and will be more difficult. This change will begin in April. Maybe you should try to get you test date for the end of March. Unfortunately, I don't graduate until May

Here is some more detailed information:

New York, NY (December 16, 2009) – With the December 10 announcement by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to raise the passing standard on the NCLEX®-RN exam, aspiring nurses in the class of 2010 may find the upcoming exam more challenging than anticipated. The executive board of NCBSN votes on the passing standard every three years and in the past 15 years it has voted to raise the passing standard four times, with the latest vote impacting this year’s graduating nurses. The change will go into effect in April 2010.

In 2007, the last time the NCSBN raised the passing standard, the higher passing standard translated to a drop in pass rates by around three percentage points among first time, US educated test takers. With approximately 140,000 first time, US educated test takers forecasted to take the NCLEX®-RN exam in 2010, this could translate to over 4,000 more nursing students failing the exam in 2010 than 2009. According to the NCSBN website, “With the increase in the passing standard, there is an anticipated decrease in pass rates. However, over the course of a year or two, the pass rates tend to return to the level prior to any passing standard increase.”

“What nursing students should understand is that while this will make the test somewhat harder to pass statistically, the questions themselves will not become any more difficult,” said Barbara Irwin, director of nursing, Kaplan Nursing. “But the increasingly tight job market for nurses means it becomes even more critical for test takers to prepare for the NCLEX®-RN exam thoroughly. In such a competitive market, test takers will want to pass the exam the first time to make themselves as viable as possible for good positions. The good news is that at Kaplan Nursing, over the years we’ve seen that as the bar rises, aspiring nurses will rise to the challenge.”

Among other changes to take effect in April 2010:

• The Management of Care subcategory currently comprises 13% - 19% of the exam; this will increase to 16% - 22% of the test.

• Reduction of Risk Potential subcategory currently comprises 13% - 19%; this will decrease to 10% - 16% of the test.

• A newly designed test interface will launch, including a changed font and reshuffled button placements.