Anyone ever consider retaking NCLEX just to see if you could still pass?

Nurses General Nursing

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I know I'm probably a masochist but I have been wondering for a while if I could still pass NCLEX after 25+ years out of school. There are so many threads about how hard it is to pass- I didn't think it was that tough when I took it 25 years ago. (I was a lousy student and I'm no brighter than average). Does anyone know if you can "audit" NCLEX? God!- what if I took it again and failed- wouldn't they have to take my licence?! Great, now that I've posted this, I'm going to have nightmares about NCLEX for the next week!

Specializes in Telemetry RN.

I am with you OP. I have a secret desire to take the NCLEX now just to see how I would do, even though I still have a semester left of school. Not for it to count or anything, just for my own knowledge...

Once I pass, I still intend on continuing my education, so it won't be the last of standardized tests I'll see. I must have the same machoist streak.

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Specializes in Neuro-Surgery, Med-Surg, Home Health.

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I took the California Nursing State Board examination in the early 1980's. I studied everyday, 6-8 hours a day for six months prior to taking the state board exam. We used pencil and paper to take the exam, and it took almost forever to get the results released. If I'm not mistaken, NCLEX was not even in existence back then. Yeah I know, I'm an old hot air, as my wife likes to describe me lately.

If I want to punish myself, I'll sit on my porch one lazy Sunday afternoon, get a heavy hammer, whack my pinky finger rather than retake the state nursing licensure examination!!! :yeah:

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Never considered nclex but did do med-surg certification after 27 years and passed it. Thought that was pretty good for a diploma grad when they give data on bsn nurses don't pass it.

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I have to disagree with this. I do not see how anyone could pass the CAT Nclex and not have any real knowledge. Game, I don't think so. The nursing review industry would not be in business if this was not such a serious matter. Compiled with the course taking and nursing program that you must first get through. Speaking for myself I studied my butt off. My life consisted of nothing but nursing for a period of time. As for "those nurses "there is always a small percentage that just don't care. I can not speak for back then when the test was pencil and paper, but now you have no idea what you may receive on your test. I have to respect the fact that anyone who has passed the Nclex is well deserving of their success. Those of you who are still in the process of testing continue to study and apply yourself 100 percent. Trust me it is not a game !:twocents::twocents::twocents:

I have to agree with this.

I took the test 3 years ago. Two other GNs on my unit took it first and said it was easy. Both said that most of the questions they got came almost straight from the Kaplan book. I had been studying both Saunders and Kaplan so I thought I'd have no trouble either. HA!!

I'm a good test taker...always have been...and I graduated with an A- average. But the NCLEX was the most horrible experience at taking a test I have ever had in my life! Only one question was even remotely like a question from the Kaplan book (and before anyone says anything, I was NOT relying on getting the same questions in Kaplan), and a lot of them were about obscure things that kept me wondering where they got that stuff from.

Plus, I kept getting hammered with questions about drugs that I'd never heard of. I also got several questions in a new format that had never come up in any review in school or in any book. I must have gotten at least 4 of them wrong before I even figured out what it was that they were asking. When I finally understood what they wanted, I ended up getting a couple more like that and then the test shut off.

I don't know exactly how many questions I got but it was in the low 80's. I was devastated because I was absolutely positive that I had failed and even told everyone at work that I had failed. As I walked out of the testing site it was all I could do to keep from crying. I was literally sick to my stomach for the next 2 days, and when I found out that I had passed, I just stared at the computer for the longest time thinking that there must have been a mistake. I finally let myself be thrilled with passing, but a couple of hours later I started to doubt myself again and logged back in to make sure I hadn't read it wrong.

So yeah, if anyone thinks the test was easy then you got lucky with the questions you got.

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

Was it fair for the Feds to dictate that foreign graduates of nursing schools take this exam? Specifically Canadians who had been here for years (as it basicly only affected Canadians)? Was this fair?

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Yes when the first computerized test came out the results were "mailed" to you. I beleive I suffered in full blown torn agony for about 6 weeks. Is the envelope small for yes or big for no; wait this isn't right, a sheets a sheet. Oh now that was special waiting all that time.

I knew I passed but having played "the game" with the computer you never know. I got a pharm question wrong (I knew it because the computer kept asking me more pharm questions with greater difficulty). When they finally wanted to know what temperature a polar Bear's urine is during a solar eclipse I decided to go into survival mode and take a tip from my probability and statistics professor. No; I'm not tellin but it worked.

So when I read knowing how to take a test vs actual knowledge I have to say it's a bit of both with the computerized test. You definately have to know how to take it.

If they questions were getting harder that means you got them right, doesn't it? When you get a question wrong, they give you an easier one and keep getting easier until you get it right then they get harder and harder until you get one wrong.

I remember my review teacher told us if we start getting ICU sort of questions or things about ICP or Swan-Ganz catheters we should feel pretty confident that we're doing well. When I took it I felt like maybe I wasn't doing too hot but then I got some crazy ICU setting question and it boosted my confidence because even if I got that one wrong I was answering higher level questions :)

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.
:confused:

Just curious, what were you drinking when you thought up this post???? lol,lol. Are you kidding? Who would want to ever take NCLEX again? I'm not understanding the whole thought process here.:confused:

We have a bunch of staff who have just finished nursing school and are preping for boards- I looked at thier review questions and I'm not sure I could still pass, plus ther have been SO MANY threads on "I just took NCLEX for the 2nd,3rd, 4th.... time, I can't help but think things must be very different from when I got out of school. With new RNs comming into my hospital, I'm not sure I'm able to clearly understand the knowledge base and skill level of new grads anymore. I can't help but wonder if they know WAY MORE than I did (or maybe more than I still do) when I got out of school. I'm cheap- no way I'm going to drop $200. for curiosity. Plus what would it mean if I failed- shouldn't I give up my licence?

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Very interesting question. I like to keep current also, and read NCLEX books every six months or so. Still score okay, but it would be interesting to retake it! (without as much stress as the first time!)

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Was it fair for the Feds to dictate that foreign graduates of nursing schools take this exam? Specifically Canadians who had been here for years (as it basicly only affected Canadians)? Was this fair?

Anyone from outside the states dictate this for real reason as they DO NOT get the same education as we do. Funny, because if you go outside the states to certain countries who do not have the quality of education as we do the same holds for US students. Sorry, but it is fair. I guess it's all how you look at it.:twocents:

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we have a bunch of staff who have just finished nursing school and are preping for boards- i looked at thier review questions and i'm not sure i could still pass, plus ther have been so many threads on "i just took nclex for the 2nd,3rd, 4th.... time, i can't help but think things must be very different from when i got out of school. with new rns comming into my hospital, i'm not sure i'm able to clearly understand the knowledge base and skill level of new grads anymore. i can't help but wonder if they know way more than i did (or maybe more than i still do) when i got out of school. i'm cheap- no way i'm going to drop $200. for curiosity. plus what would it mean if i failed- shouldn't i give up my licence?

remember back when you did take your boards; they were based on the level of education that was availabl back then. medicine changes every three months as you know, so yes things have changed a lot, thus we all should keep on our ceu. for me personally, to turn around after so many years "for the heck of it" and retake the boards; would be a big no thank you!!!

i do think that taking certain certificate programs, i.e. med-surg, etc. it important; especially if you want to move into a specialty. well, good luck in whatever you decide to do. remember, more education in your field is always a great thing! maybe you can study during all that free time we get working at the hospital lol,lol,lol.:lol2:

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Specializes in Postpartum, Antepartum, Psych., SDS, OR.

Purchase or borrow any NCLEX book. Go to each chapters end and take the test, for questions you miss god back and find the right answer...........continue until you reach the books end. Now you are ready for the GREAT test at the end of the book, take it and see how good you do. If you master the test, you would pass the NCLEX. Remember don't read unless you are looking for the correct answer.:nurse:

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I have to disagree with this. I do not see how anyone could pass the CAT Nclex and not have any real knowledge. Game, I don't think so. The nursing review industry would not be in business if this was not such a serious matter. Compiled with the course taking and nursing program that you must first get through. Speaking for myself I studied my butt off. My life consisted of nothing but nursing for a period of time. As for "those nurses "there is always a small percentage that just don't care. I can not speak for back then when the test was pencil and paper, but now you have no idea what you may receive on your test. I have to respect the fact that anyone who has passed the Nclex is well deserving of their success. Those of you who are still in the process of testing continue to study and apply yourself 100 percent. Trust me it is not a game !:twocents::twocents::twocents:

Do you think back in the day we had pencils and paper we knew what was going to be on the test? :confused:

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