Didn't pass the NCLEX RN due to anxiety

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Hi all,

I am a new grad RN student from Kaplan. I did the Kaplan review and my average for the qBanks was 67%.

I graduated June, and took the NCLEX end of July.

I just wanted to know if anyone out there has ever failed the NCLEX RN because of nerves...The content on the NCLEX was very similar to that of Kaplan review, but I kept changing my answers because I felt like I had to get out of the testing center and my heart was pounding.

My final result was a FAIL with 265 questions with "near passing" on all categories.

Please help! I am planning to schedule my retake in September 2014.

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Specializes in Oncology/StemCell Transplant; Psychiatry.

If you were at the point of near panic (heart pounding, urgent need to leave the testing center), you may have some kind of test anxiety. Did you ever experience these kind of feelings when you took an exam during nursing school? If you do have a problem, it must be addressed before you spend more money retaking your test.

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No. This was the first time this happened. I had some stuff with money happen a few days before. I am addressing it now but my thing was, the content wasn't that bad. I just kept changing my answers and now, here I am studying and waiting.

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Hi LsoMagical,

You are not alone on this. The same thing happened to me. I graduated on May. Took the test the first week on june and failed at question 224 because I ran out of time. During my exam I was very anxious and I just wanted to get out of the testing center. I never felt that way before. I received the CPR two weeks after and I got "near passing" on all categories as well. Let me tell you, I felt horrible, and I cried for a few days, but now I am studying again :)

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I am worried that this is going to happen to me tomorrow! My doctor gave me something to calm me down so I hope it works when I really need it to!

Be sure to take steps to reduce your test anxiety before taking it again!

Good luck to you next time!

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The day before the test, do not study. Research shows that your brain does not retain crap you stuff into it at the last minute-- musicians learning a new piece play the first part on Monday, the second part on Tuesday, and the third part on Weds. Then they do something else entirely on Thursday; meanwhile, behind the scenes, the brain is organizing the new info into familiar cubbyholes already stuffed with music, putting it ready for easy access. On Friday, the whole piece works much better.

What this translates for in test-taking land is this: The day before the test, you go to a museum or a concert, go take a hike, read a trashy novel, make a ragout, do something else entirely. Take a small glass of wine, soak in a nice hot bath in a darkened tub with a few candles on the sink, get a nice night's sleep.

On your way out the door in the morning, open the refrigerator door and read the mayonnaise jar label. Do what it says: Keep cool, do not freeze. No caffeine. Then go to the testing center, you incipient RN, you!

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Well the best of luck to you the next time. I failed the nclex-pn a few months ago ...I got all 205 questions. My anxiety was over the top when I took my test also.. I felt like my heart was going to down straight out of my body at times. When I got to 85 questions and it keep on going I wasn't mad I just wanted it to be over...then I kept on getting Pharm questions about 40 to 50 questions. Like when do you give them or what kind of reactions to them. Everyone said that means I was failing in the pharm...but I got a near passing with that one...Then everyone said next time just relax...the test knows your anxiety..just like if a patient knows...

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I literally just logged on here to address this same concern. I too failed with 265 questions, I was "near passing" or "above passing" standard in ALL categories. I know I can do this if I can just keep my anxiety at bay!!! I test in 13 days and I am already panic stricken :( ....I honestly dont know what to do to calm myself down!

Does ANYONE have any advice? What did you do to calm yourself?

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

NOT RECOMMENDING THIS:

A friend failed three times. Passed the fourth after showing up at the testing center severely hung-over.

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

I don't have the Kaplan review, but from what I know about it, it shows a person when they change their answers with the purpose of discouraging people from that practice. This is something I learned from nursing school to NEVER EVER change answers. Continue studying and try to break the habit. Try to focus only on what you need to do to pass and ignore other life circumstances. If you got a small bit of cash Get the Delmar review and do as many mock exams as you can. Their mock exams use computer adaptive testing and can also go up to 265 questions and this is the main reason I am using it is to get rid of nerves if I go pass 75 questions during the nclex. I know kaplan has better questions but its a confidence builder. I think many students get to 76 and think in the back of their head "they failed" so they begin to loose focus.

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.
I literally just logged on here to address this same concern. I too failed with 265 questions, I was "near passing" or "above passing" standard in ALL categories. I know I can do this if I can just keep my anxiety at bay!!! I test in 13 days and I am already panic stricken :( ....I honestly dont know what to do to calm myself down!

Does ANYONE have any advice? What did you do to calm yourself?

I'm yet to take the exam, but to clam down exercise works best for me. Ride a bike, go jogging, swimming or anything. Turn up some music and dance silly for an hour. lol just do anything physical and the body mechanisms will take care of the rest. At your study area, write yourself positive notes like...I am an RN, think you are an RN and make it happen.

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Hi LsoMagical,

You are not alone on this. The same thing happened to me. I graduated on May. Took the test the first week on june and failed at question 224 because I ran out of time. During my exam I was very anxious and I just wanted to get out of the testing center. I never felt that way before. I received the CPR two weeks after and I got "near passing" on all categories as well. Let me tell you, I felt horrible, and I cried for a few days, but now I am studying again :)

From my understanding you can not fail the test by running out of time. They simply take the last 60 questions you answered to determine if you have passed or failed. I know a couple of people who did not finish the exam by the time limit and still passed, so one thing I would do is take your time reading and answering the questions. Also, before you take the test again, make sure you read the NCLEX candidate bulletin and FAQs on ncsbn.org so that you are aware of what is going to be on the test and the rules about passing and failing, especially regarding time. Best of luck to you!

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