Completely Frusterated...Taken NCLEX 3X's!

heatherbless · Feb 14, 2004

I am so frusterated! I have taked my boards three times and have failed every time. The first time I got 76, second time 135, and third time only 75! I hate this test! I have taken 7 1/2 months off from studying b/c I had to get another job other than NICU. Now I'm starting to study again. I have 6 different review books and have taken one class, but none have helped! I have a bachelors degree in Nursing but can't be a nurse yet! Does anyone have any advice or know how many times you can take the boards?

hey, I do not know if there are restrictions on how many times in each state...in NC I know there is not. But, maybe you can try a review seminar or something--you will do it--just don't give up. Best to you. hty

Trauma Columnist · Feb 14, 2004

Check with your states board of nursing. In Illinois - its three times and then evidence of re-education has to occur. Good luck...

Chrislynn2003 · Feb 14, 2004

Don't give up. You will pass. In my state you can take it 8 times which is equivalent up to 2 years. Best of luck!

Christine

austin heart, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2004

In Texas it is three times. Then you must have evidence of remediation and re-education. And I think that there is a waiting period even after that. But, I believe every state has there own thing. I would contact your states BON. Good luck.

JacelRN, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2004

Hi Asil9,

This is a very difficult time for you, failing even once is rough. You feel like you should be a nurse by now and that you're waisting your time and energy.

I know how that feels. I failed 2x.

What advice I can give you other than what my friends said, is to use that frustration, sadness, even anger to fuel your next attempt. I found that using my emotions to "kick my butt" reminded me how important this was to me! I worked hard every single day, studied content until it ran out of my ears and did question after question. I know you feel you did the same thing, I'm only suggesting you do it again, get up and try once more. Give it everything you've got and don't look back to say you could have done more. That will help your confidence when you take it.

Secondly, there is most probably nothing wrong with your knowledge base. You have learned more in this study period than someone who passed their first try, so I would say don't start with knowledge study. Look at your weaknesses. The board sends a diagnostic profile of where you fell short. Use this to your advantage. Make a list of everything you feel even remotely unsure of and be sure to cover that before taking the test again.

Then, I would suggest looking into a private tutor or a review that teaches you how to look at the question and pick it apart, use knowledge to answer, and apply test taking strategies. Ofcourse there is Kaplan as a universal answer to any state, but I would suggest a private tutor to boost your self-esteem and confidence. Having one on one help is awesome. I know that is how I passed my third try.

Overall, hang in there! You can and WILL pass this test, you just have to keep plugging away and find out what is your biggest obstacle. Understanding why you are failing is the first key to passing.

God Bless,

JacelRN

perc71, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Feb 15, 2004

In this particular case, the past can interrupt the future. When you re-take your NCLEX in the future try not to think about your past NCLEX exams-it will only make you nervous. As they say...As long as you have a pulse, there is always hope...Good luck to you.

photon71

asil9 · Feb 15, 2004

Thanks, JacelRN

It's always nice to hear once in a while that I'm not the only one who has gone through this and that there are others with similar circumstances. Thanks for your words and advice about approaching my boards again. asil9

pacu nurse 2216 · Feb 15, 2004

I am so frusterated! I have taked my boards three times and have failed every time. The first time I got 76, second time 135, and third time only 75! I hate this test! I have taken 7 1/2 months off from studying b/c I had to get another job other than NICU. Now I'm starting to study again. I have 6 different review books and have taken one class, but none have helped! I have a bachelors degree in Nursing but can't be a nurse yet! Does anyone have any advice or know how many times you can take the boards?

you hang in there, it will come. sometimes things happen for a reason, maybe you are doing too much. i know several excellent nurses who had board problems worse than yours and they worked thru it made it and i am very proud of them. they are excellent nurses and i know you will be too!!

wishingmary · Feb 16, 2004

I am so frusterated! I have taked my boards three times and have failed every time. The first time I got 76, second time 135, and third time only 75! I hate this test! I have taken 7 1/2 months off from studying b/c I had to get another job other than NICU. Now I'm starting to study again. I have 6 different review books and have taken one class, but none have helped! I have a bachelors degree in Nursing but can't be a nurse yet! Does anyone have any advice or know how many times you can take the boards?

The best advice I can give you is to take the Kaplan Review. I just graduated from a community college, took the Kaplan Review and then took the NCLEX-RN the next day. I passed on 75 questions. The NCLEX is a test that follows different rules. It teaches you how to answer NCLEX test questions. The answer you and I might know is the answer may not be what the NCLEX is looking for. For example. Pain is considered psychosocial except in few pathologies, ie. kidney stones. Being psychosocial, you don't try to manage it before managing the patient's anorexia. Even though Maslow is hardly brought up in nursing school, at least mine, it hasn't gone by the wayside. The Kaplan Review goes through each assess test question and breaks it down so you can discover what NCLEX is looking for. Oh I wish nursing school prepared students for the NCLEX. Nursing knowledge is important but so is passing that test. I mean you have to know the theory to pass the NCLEX, the Kaplan can't save a person who is ignorant of the basics. Another thing is in nursing school, our instructors overtaught us. For instance, in my psych nursing rotation, we were taught to find out what a psychotic was seeing or hearing, what a neurotic was believing to assess if they have any suicidal/homicidal thoughts. On the NCLEX, if you did that, you would get it wrong. All they want you to do is tell the patient that you understand he/she is seeing, hearing, believing whatever, but that you do not share that experience and you reorient him/her to the present. Hope that helps.

I don't know how many times you can take the NCLEX in OK. Sorry.

msgarfield · Feb 16, 2004

I am so frusterated! I have taked my boards three times and have failed every time. The first time I got 76, second time 135, and third time only 75! I hate this test! I have taken 7 1/2 months off from studying b/c I had to get another job other than NICU. Now I'm starting to study again. I have 6 different review books and have taken one class, but none have helped! I have a bachelors degree in Nursing but can't be a nurse yet! Does anyone have any advice or know how many times you can take the boards?

:crying2: :I've taken boards x2. The first time I was stopped at 198 and I failed. I received my report from ncsbn and they insist I did 265 questions, and they say the computer's right and I'm wrong. I did 198, and I can't prove it, so I took it again Feb 6, and I failed again. I ordered me a nclex book called nclex made incredibly busy.