Do you think nclex is fair?

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Hello nclex victims, I just wanted some feedback on the nclex exam. I have taken this exam a couple of times and fail to propell to put this thing behind me. Of course I was sucessful during nursing school or I wouldn't have made it too this point but why is it that this nclex is getting the best of alot of people? I have went as far as requesting a review of the exam questions that was given to me with my responding answers and I was hit with well it is very exspensive to allow this to be done. The starting fee is 400.00 plus other cost will be involved. Then you will not be allowed to bring pencil or paper during the reviewing process. Then to top it off they(BON) told me this will be useless to do because each time you test the questions will never be the same. Which I understand why the questions are not the same and the cost is not an issue to me but they (BON) seem very reluctant in making this request fesable and consistantly stressing the cost and time that is involved. I don't think there is a study method out there that I have not used or tried in preparation for this test and like alot of people on this site have said maybe you might get a question or two that you can apply to what you have studied but the rest of the test you seem to be asking yourself what the heck are they asking me. After rereading the question over and over you stilll are left to guess what the answer is. I have read the test plans and the print out that they send you to guide you through your week areas after you fail but these things still dont seem too help. Like others have said each time you test you will have different weak areas than before. I also read the pass/fail precentages and I find it amazing the rates of second time test takers fall way below the scale and international student have it even worse. I'm curious to know if this could be one of the reasons why there is a nursing shortage. Because the nursing schools are flooded with nursing students and there is always a waiting list to enter. They said the test dont tell what type of nurse you are but it gives board information as to if you have minimum comp. to practice. If this is so then why would they allow you to attend clincals and past after caring for the sick and tell you that a computer told them you are not comp. enough to practice?

As to the NCLEX, I hated it too and don't think it is an accurate reflection of our nursing knowledge but it is just something we have to do.

It used to be a couple of days of essay questions . .. :clown:

steph

None of the individual state boards were comprised of essay questions. They were all 100 questions and given over two days on five different areas. And then you waited about six weesk to two months for results and the exam was only given two times per year.

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I guess if you're in the 15% group that have failed, then the NCLEX is very unfair. We've all taken the same test though, and it's a monster!

The individual state exams were much tougher in many respects than the licensing exam that is now used.

It is not a point of being unfair. If one understands what the exam is looking for in an answer, then they pass. 85% actually pass this exam the first time.

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Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.
As to the NCLEX, I hated it too and don't think it is an accurate reflection of our nursing knowledge but it is just something we have to do.

It used to be a couple of days of essay questions . .. :clown:

steph

I took what we called the "board exams" in 1976 and it was a very long two days in a very hot Sacramento that year! Of course we had a paper test in front of us, no computers. Then there was the 6-8 week wait until you got your results.

I think many people are took quick to judge a test when they fail as the test being at fault. I see posts on allnurses from nurses who have failed 5, 6, 7 times. If the test questions are different each time, that nursing student cannot have a very good grasp on the knowledge required.

JMHO.

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Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.
When was that? I took it in 1977 and it was 2 days of multiple choice questions. There were only 2 times per year you could take it. If you weren't feeling well, or if those 2 days were inconvenient for you, that was just too bad. I remember people throwing up in the middle and just keep going, etc. If you didn't complete the test or failed it, you had to wait 6 months to take it again.

You make it sound as if it used to be easy. It wasn't easy then, either. It was just different.

In 1976 I think we had a combination of multiple choice and essay questions, but I don't actually remember. I do remember that it was once or twice a year, no exceptions, and you are right, people attended who were ill or very pregnant (that was me).

For some, multiple choice questions might be easier; others might prefer essay questions. Nobody said it's ever been easy.

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Hello nclex victims, I just wanted some feedback on the nclex exam. I have taken this exam a couple of times and fail to propell to put this thing behind me. Of course I was sucessful during nursing school or I wouldn't have made it too this point but why is it that this nclex is getting the best of alot of people? I have went as far as requesting a review of the exam questions that was given to me with my responding answers and I was hit with well it is very exspensive to allow this to be done. The starting fee is 400.00 plus other cost will be involved. Then you will not be allowed to bring pencil or paper during the reviewing process. Then to top it off they(BON) told me this will be useless to do because each time you test the questions will never be the same. Which I understand why the questions are not the same and the cost is not an issue to me but they (BON) seem very reluctant in making this request fesable and consistantly stressing the cost and time that is involved. I don't think there is a study method out there that I have not used or tried in preparation for this test and like alot of people on this site have said maybe you might get a question or two that you can apply to what you have studied but the rest of the test you seem to be asking yourself what the heck are they asking me. After rereading the question over and over you stilll are left to guess what the answer is. I have read the test plans and the print out that they send you to guide you through your week areas after you fail but these things still dont seem too help. Like others have said each time you test you will have different weak areas than before. I also read the pass/fail precentages and I find it amazing the rates of second time test takers fall way below the scale and international student have it even worse. I'm curious to know if this could be one of the reasons why there is a nursing shortage. Because the nursing schools are flooded with nursing students and there is always a waiting list to enter. They said the test dont tell what type of nurse you are but it gives board information as to if you have minimum comp. to practice. If this is so then why would they allow you to attend clincals and past after caring for the sick and tell you that a computer told them you are not comp. enough to practice?

Personally, i do not think nclex is fair at all. In my opinion one can be pretty good guesser and pass over a really smart person. I think the whole test plan is ridiculous but of course there is nothing we can do about it. I don't understand how one test can prove safe nursing practice, just b/c one passess doesn't mean they will never make a mistake and vice versa. Just b/c one doesn't pass does not mean they will kill their pts or will not be a safe nurse. But it is what it is, so we just have too pass this beast of a test. Good Luck to you

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None of the individual state boards were comprised of essay questions. They were all 100 questions and given over two days on five different areas. And then you waited about six weesk to two months for results and the exam was only given two times per year.

Yeah, I cleared that up above . . . :D

steph

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In 1976 I think we had a combination of multiple choice and essay questions, but I don't actually remember. I do remember that it was once or twice a year, no exceptions, and you are right, people attended who were ill or very pregnant (that was me).

For some, multiple choice questions might be easier; others might prefer essay questions. Nobody said it's ever been easy.

In my, as I mentioned, menopausal memory, I think Echo took her test around this time. I can't find the darn book though . . . .:cool:

The way she described it - it sounded much harder than NCLEX.

steph

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Specializes in icu.

as much as i want to have my license, we all have to take that darn test.. the nclex is my worst enemy.. you sometimes feel so beat up physically, mentally and emotionally..but it tests your credibility as a future nurse.. so if you pass it, its gonna be your best friend.

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The NCLEX is not a reflection of what kind of nurse I am going to be at all, however I continue to struggle with it. It is just one of the many hoops that we all have to jump through to get what we want, we may not like it but we have to do it, right?

Good luck to each of you that have not passed it yet, we need to continue to support each other and work through it, its not going to change because we don't like it, it's just something we have to do, and once we pass we can move on to a wonderful career and help other who are stuggling right?

Thank you all for you support, and I will continue to study and take it as many times as I need, all I want out of life is to help others, and be a great nurse, and I can only hope someday that will come true!

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