how to bounce back after failing nclex rn the 1st time?

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hello anyone who feel what i feel? i took the nclex-rn boards august 2008 and still dont take the boards again, im preparing myself for that test since i knew i failed. that was the first time i took nclex rn, mine is ca bon. sometimes when i study, i often catch myself in depression in failing the test, i know ive been on acceptance stage which is fine but just sometimes i felt depress on this test. also in reviewing, i know we can never get back the time and money for this test so i am reviewing since then and that i cry too much not just on test but on my life..i feel sometimes it was a traumatic event in my life. i wish anyone who knows or do bounce back after failing and pass the 2nd time time around..? and maybe someone could voice out how they pass and prepare the 2nd time around?:cry:

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Study as if you havent studied before for the exam. Practice questions and read the rationale regardless on whether question was right or wrong. Don't over do the study ie don't over load your brain. Set a set time every day as study time and keep to it. If you feel things are getting to intense take a short break. Use a good resource, I passed on third attempt and used Saunders and learning ext but use what is good for you and your study style

You can do it just need to have a structure

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hi there im an example just found out today that i pass the boards!!:rolli took the ist time this in end of feb this year. grad in jan. and after studying and waiting for the school to hurry up and send list to the boards. when i took the test i was so taken back by how simple the words are written yet soo complex that i did not know how to answer, i freaked did all 265 and felt like crap!..i knew i knew the material. i had the saunder book which was what i was using and realise i needed more ques on an anaylsis/app level and know books really offer that. my friend gave me access to kap and 3 of us were using at different times and well all pass. i only used kap, did the online content which is a video breakdown of the test in on content according to how the nclex grades, i listed to that, did hte trainers starting at 4 there are 7 of them i had gotton a 65% on all of them and i thought i was failing to a friend told me it was really good. not too much the qback because those ques. mess with ur head. i took the test this thu. stop at 75. passed. ..dont give up!!at this point now u need content because too much time has pass

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I understand how you feel.....I took my test in NY for the first time on February 17, and found out two days later that I failed....I was so depressed, I felt like I let my whole family down....But I picked myself up, and started studying again. I used Saunders the first time.

I took the test again on April 10, and I felt a lot more confident because I knew what to expect.

Hopefully I will find out my results tomorrow.

My advice to you is to focus, study, and don't feel sorry for yourself because it won't help you. I know it's easier said than done, but you really have to focus on studying or else you won't retain anything you are studying.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse.

pretty nurse1028:

i'm not sure if this will help but....

** do not study at home!!! go to your local library or a quiet park.

** life has its ups and downs. this, failing your nclex, is part of the "down" side of life. as you begin to study, you will realize that there are a few things (possibly several things) that you did not know about nursing when you sat for your first nclex exam. no one will know everything as they sit for their boards. the goal is to be able to take in and recall as much as you can the next time you sit.

** make notecards (3x5 index cards. hole-punch the corner and use a metal ring to contain together). keep the note cards with you all the time. flip through them when you are stuck in traffic, waiting at the drive through, sitting in your doctor's office, waiting in line at the grocery store.... repetition is the key!!! :) suggestion: on the front of the card put "lab value - calcium" on the back put the normal lab values plus signs, symptoms and expected outcomes for hypo and hypo calcemia. you may have 100+ cards by the time you finish reviewing your saunders or kaplan books but the cards should contain the information that "you" think is not sticking in your mind as well as it should.

** have friends/family call out the information on your note cards--with you completing the sentence, filling in the missing information.

** if you are using kaplan...review the online content (listening to videos) and complete a qbank/qtrainer every day!!! try to complete 50, 75 then 100 questions per day with 100 being your minimum 2 to 3 weeks before you sit again; but one week before you sit for your next exam attempt to answer 265 questions with each sitting. this will help to prepare youself for the full 5-6 hours if the computer does not cut off early.

** failing the nclex the first time, any time, is a large hurdle to overcome to begin with. your goal...to know that you will pass. be positive!!! stay positive!!!

remember: you went to school too long to stop now. so don't give up!!! :nono:

good luck!! ;)

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I know how you feel! I failed the boards last month and I'm having a hard time trying to study for it again. All my friends passed and I did better in school than most of them. I also feel depressed. Some days are better than others. I don't fail at much so this was a hard pill to swallow. I studied for 3 weeks straight every day to prepare for the test and I don't feel like it helped. If anyone has any suggestions for me also that would be great. I know I'm not the only one who has failed on the first try but it sure does seem like it........(

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Specializes in heart failure and prison.

Sorry to hear that you failed. I took my boards last month and this is how I passed my boards the 1st time. I used Kaplan and saunders. I also made my own nclex note book. I wrote down something about the question. i,e if the question was about an air embolism, I wrote down all the signs, symptoms and interventions. I also had 3/5 cards with the lab values. I have read previous post here on allnurses and some people have failed 10 times and yet they did not give up. I am not sure but does your BON give you a print out of your weak areas? If so, maybe use that as a guide. I found it easier to know the content, for me, the test taking skills didn't help me to much. Another thing, I did not over study. I worked 8 to 5 mon to fri, so by the time I got home from work, I could only do 50 questions a night and I read all the rationales. I constantly did questions over and over. Even if I knew the question I still read the rationale. Good luck on preparing, give yourself time to grieve and then get back to studying. Erase the negative thoughts and be positive you will bounce back and pass your boards the next time around.

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Thanks for the reply! I'm reading saunders right now! I think the biggest thing for me is that all my friends are working and I'm still studying and working as a waitress until I pass! I work every day as well and forcing myself to study! Thanks for the encouragement!!!!

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Specializes in heart failure and prison.
Thanks for the reply! I'm reading saunders right now! I think the biggest thing for me is that all my friends are working and I'm still studying and working as a waitress until I pass! I work every day as well and forcing myself to study! Thanks for the encouragement!!!!

That's ok, your time will come. Everything is done for a reason, never question why. You got thru the hard part which was school. Also, for me, I never read a book. I did question after question. You know the content, you just have to learn how to answer the questions. Maybe this is a suggestion, take vacation 2 weeks prior to taking the boards, that way you can focus on studying and remember to relax in between studying.

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Wishing you good luck and encouraging you to keep at it.

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I failed the first time around too. 75 question in 45 minutes. After that I picked myself up and made a study plan which I adhere to. 3-4 hours a day of Saunders CD questions, some Kaplan questions from the online Q bank and of course Priority and Delegation by Linda LaCharity, that book is awesome. It will train you to think like an RN. Good luck and dont feel down about failing the first one. The vast majority of people pass taking it the second time around.

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thank you everyone for reply and encouragement. i just remember the day before i take test the first time we got family problem just something happen so when i take my test again next time i think it would be good to be alone from all before the day.. i sometimes feel hopeless and given up on this test but u guys are correct weve survive our difficult nursing school and sacrifice time and effort. i love nursing when i was studying i have a good grades always on time on school not being absent on class but i dont know how i failed the first time..maybe my time is the 2nd time..please wish me luck when i take boards again..thank u all

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