Failed NCLEX, AGAIN!

waterfall09 · May 21, 2010

It is so hard to tell if you passed or fail. Wait to get results. If you want to be a nurse bad, you will come up with the fee to retest. It is a journey but it is worth it. But pass the NCLEX is one hurdle. Then you have to face looking for jobs. So, keep pushing along....

HarStarr · May 21, 2010

Thanks for the support, waterfall.

smn2010, BSN, RN · May 22, 2010

well, it does not pain me to type this directly for sonoritygenius to read....

wow! definitely a truly negative response you provided there!!! something that no one wants to read after failing the nclex!!! :madface:

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heck, i hope i never have someone like you as a nurse caring for me!! i can just hear you now whispering outside my hospital room..... "i feel sorry for that patient, s/he has been in/out of remission with cancer 5 times in the past 5 years, s/he is going to die!!!"

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jazzy --- just ignore what sonority said!!! you keep your head up -- hold it up high!!! :) you can beat this nclex monster!!!

i think the issue is about content and may possibly even involve test-taking anxiety. content is something that you can easily master, if you take your time.

try this...focus on your content.

use the saunders nclex rn review (or any review book you are comfortable with), but use the most recent edition. start with cardiovascular. you can go back to the earlier chapters (legal, management, cultural diversity later, fluid & electrolytes...) later. basically, follow the content in the book as it is on the "content" area on cd that accompanies the book. you may already know the information (cardiovascular)--but start there anyway. read the entire chapter. now, pull out your old college nursing books and read the same topic/chapter to match the cardiovascular chapter you are reading/reviewing in the saunders book. after you have read the information (...twice now...once with saunders and once with your nursing book..) do the saunders end of chapter questions. if you have to, as you are reading, make note cards for any terminology, meds, signs/symptoms that you find hard to remember. if you make less than 85% (yes, i'm increasing the percentage here...) read the chapter, from both books again.

then, use the saunder's cd and answer 50 questions a day on the same topic. don't move on to the next content area (in the saunders book or cd) until you getting 85% of the cd questions correct for that content area. once you get 85%, move on!!! you need to save some of the questions for exam mode!! (note: the saunder's cd allows you to select questions by content area in "study" mode (just remember where you stop/start )....or you can do 100 questions in the "exam" mode...by content area, if you prefer). once you master cardiology, move on to renal, respiratory, child health, delegation, fundamentals... until you have completed the entire saunders cd (which will match the chapters in the saunders book).

so that you get a mix of questions, use saunders to review content and try this website "exam master" to practice questions from all content areas in a random format--not content specific. try to get in 50-100 questions with each sitting. exam master is located at http://www.exammaster2.com/wdsentry/utmbrn.htm (just register and open an account.) the site is used by the university of texas nursing program and contains over 3,800 "supposedly" advanced nursing board questions!!! :yeah: :yeah: this might be a better way for you to mix up your studying (content for a few days until you get 85%....then try exam master...to test your knowledge on all nclex topic/content areas...) i think if you review your content while doing practice questions you will also learn how to "break" the questions down as you review.

i hope this all makes sense. sorry for such a long post!

right now, take some time off from studying. give yourself a week or so and start studying again!!! :up:

TabithaB · Jul 23, 2010

Smn2009........thanks for the tip re: Exam Master!!!

I am using it and find it great........my question is (as a foreign trained nurse) are the questions tough enough for Nclex????

I have done 2000 Q's so far and my percentage across the board is 75%, having been educated in another country it is hard trying to determine what Q's are good enough to base studying around!

Any input from anyone would be great!!!!

Thanks

smn2010, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2010

tabithab:

i am glad the exam master is working for you. :) just remember, the number of questions you do is not as important as "how well you understand" the questions you do. of course, the more questions...the more practice you will have; but your goal should be to focus on the rationales. along with the rationales, make sure you are paying close attention to the application and analysis type questions that you complete. with each rationale, the "type" of question you have answered will be indicated. any nclex book you are using will provide you with information about this (usually somewhere within the first few chapters of the book). as the book will describe, there are several "types": knowledge, comprehension, application and analysis....along with select all that apply (sata), point and click (diagrams), etc. the application and analysis questions are the types of questions that will definitely move you well above the passing line as far as the nclex is concerned.

also, as you begin to practice with more and more questions, you should begin to determine which questions fall into the various categories (types). along with practice, you will also begin to see that there is a "pattern" to the questions. a question can be presented several different ways (...wording of the question...) with the same/similar answer. so if you understand what the question is "asking" you will be able to correctly answer the question--->even if you don't know (are not familiar with) the topic. at least you will probably (most likely) be able to narrow your answer choices down to 2 answers. :idea: :yeah:

i hope this is helpful information for you.

just keep practicing and concentrate on the rationales and the application/analysis type questions.

good luck with your nclex. :up:

TabithaB · Jul 24, 2010

Thanks Smn2009!!!!!!

I think that i have a handle on the Nclex style of thinking, and i am able to narrow it down to 2 possible choices (as i answer questions i pick a second choice and have a good record of picking the right 2)

This will be tough.........but hopefully i will nail it!!!!!!

jadu1106 · Jul 24, 2010

Hi jazzysmika,

I know you have taken review courses like Kaplan, but have you considered Sylvia Rayfield & Associates? I am merely asking, because I took her review class after failing my 5th time. The instructor I had was so wonderful. She made class interesting and I really enjoyed and believe it is what really helped me pass. Its not like Kaplan, this is more than just going over questions on the screen, this class goes over content as well. She makes you think and learn and it sticks in your head. It may be worth a shot! But as the other posters said, stay away from negativity and focus on being calm and positive. Have faith and confidence!! You finished nursing school, you will finish and become an RN also! I didn't know it would be possible for me, but I did it! And so will you! Do not give up! :)

jadu1106 :)

thywillbedone · Jun 3, 2011

jazzy, i know its almost a year from now since you posted this, im hoping you conquered the nclex. i myself failed my second time just two days ago and failure really sucks..ive cried over it since and i dotn want to be depress anymore..

and jadu1106 wow so pruod of you, see it's people like you that are so determined inspires me..i was wondering if u can further elaborate about Sylvia Rayfield & Associates..and are they here in northern california?