I have been lurking around here for a little while during nursing school and recently now that I graduated in May. I took my nclex July 2, and found out today (July 4) that I failed :-( I am devastated to say the least for so many reasons. I studied for about four weeks with the saunders book, finished the entire book and always did the questions at the end of the chapters. I memorized lab values etc. I did lots of questions on ATI, and the prioritization, delegation and assignment books for practice as well. I truly felt prepared.
During the test, I found myself frequently stuck between all four answers of the questions instead of the usual 2. But I also understood and confidently answered a good amount of the questions. I believe my test went to 85 questions. I walked out, not feeling good about it, but never expecting that I would fail. Of course I did the pearson vue trick as soon as I got home and never good the good pop-up, so deep down I knew and just prayed for a miracle until the official results came in.
My questions is, what now? I already payed the $200 to take my test again because I wanted to retake it asap. I know I have to wait at least 45 days to retake... Does anyone know how fast the ATT will come? I am in Mass, so is there a limit for the number of times I can take the test? I couldnt seem to find this info online. And lastly, what should I do to study. I def feel I should do something different since the saunders book obviously didn't work for me. I had payed for the ATI course during my last semester of school since it is what my school used to prepare the students. I decided to not use ATI to study after I graduated because it seemed redudant and a waste of time to answer case study questions etc. But now I'm thinking I should have done that. I also heard about NCSBN, what exactly is it and how does it work?
Sorry for the long post, I am devastated and feel totally helpless. I still can't believe I failed :-(
Yes, unfortumately you do need to pay another $80 to the board to be eligible again. It sucks but at least its not another $430 that we had to pay the first time around.
Yes, unfortumately you do need to pay another $80 to the board to be eligible again. It sucks but at least its not another $430 that we had to pay the first time around.
OK, thanks for this info. Still sucks, but you are right, it is better than $430.
By the way this test really makes you feel like a complete dumbas$ if you fail. I just read that there is a 90% passing rate for us educated, bachelors student. WOW. Way to make me feel STUPID :-(
Don't be hard on yourself. I have no idea where that pass rate percentage comes from. So far from my graduating class (this past May), I personally know 4 people that have failed and they told us our school has a 98% pass rate?!?! Also, I work in an ER with extremely smart and talented men and women who admitted to me that they failed (some of them multiple times). It's ok. You're gonna pass it. Just a small road bump.
As far as NCSBN, I felt like their 3 week $50 review course was money well spent. I just did the practice questions that came with it. As far as I know, NCSBN writes the actual NCLEX test questions so what better way to prepare than do their practice q's, right? Their questions were very challenging and totally obscure (again, similar to NCLEX). Their website is kind of hard to navigate so here's the link to the course: Home - NCSBN Learning Extension
Good luck. Think positive. You will pass it. Big hugs.
And lastly, what should I do to study. I def feel I should do something different since the saunders book obviously didn't work for me. I also heard about NCSBN, what exactly is it and how does it work?
By the way this test really makes you feel like a complete dumbas$ if you fail. I just read that there is a 90% passing rate for us educated, bachelors student. WOW. Way to make me feel STUPID :-(
I FEEL YOU, i am on the same boat, graduated 2011, I failed last june2013. It was devastating because of the time and money spent but I am trying to keep high hopes and taking it again on october. I used saunders for 2months full time review and NCSBN 3weeks making up a total of 3months review.
As for NCSBN, I took the $50 package. (In my opinion) it wasnt helpful because it was just repeating what saunders was already giving. and the questions were not even close to the nclex exam. I am a visual learner and unfortunately not much videos or images were shown in it. For those who like reading all throughout i guess this is more effective for them. And there were also problems with their website I was delayed for 5 days before starting. hope that helps
To all of you that failed, you are not alone! For one you are not stupid. This test is more of a GAME than anything. I have taken the test 3 times and have been unsuccessful. Talk about feeling like a dumb ass!! I even tutored my friends in nursing school and they ALL passed on the first time 3 of them in 75 questions. I retake the test in August. But just to point out a little fact about how the nclex isn't about intelligence, I finished my last semester of nursing school while attending graduate school for my MBA at the SAME TIME!! Yes insanity!!! You must NEVER give up #1. Part 2 find out what works for YOU! After i failed the third time, i decided to do hurst online, read Linda Lacharity's PDA, The KAPLAN NCLEX RN 2012-2013 strategies book and next week I'm starting on Saunders. The test is about DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE QUESTION IS ASKING? After three unsuccessful attempts, it wasn't my CORE knowledge that was the issue. It was the fact that I wasn't trained on how to answer the questions. Therefore, I strongly suggest renting the Kaplan nclex RN 2012-2013 strategies book
Once I started to read that book I realized that I was falling for the "distractor" answers. That book teaches you HOW TO TAKE THE TEST!!!! I strongly recommend you start there. Best of luck. You will get it!
THanks for posting this, I definitely agree with you. I know my content and I had high marks in nursing school but I think my problem was I had POOR TEST TAKING STRATEGIES. In the NCLEX exam i encountered questions with diagnosis, labs, interventions that I was very familiar with but the problem with me was giving an answer to WHAT THE QUESTION WAS ASKING and I thinks thats where SATA got me really bad. I am planning to get the KAPLAN like you are. Which do you suggest, the book or the online review? and if i choose online which package you can suggest? or heard from others effective? thanks a bunch :)
Here is something that has kept me going since December when I finished nursing school and failed my boards 3 times. Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he invented the light bulb!!! And that is what he said when they asked him about that…
So approach the NCLEX much like Thomas Edison approached inventing the light bulb! You HAVENT FAILED! You have just successfully discovered one way not to pass NCLEX!!! Don't give up. For if you do, then and only then have you really failed! :)
Love how you said this. thanks for motivation. I agree with you too. Everybody who took NCLEX didnt get the same questions (it was lottery type I heard), that means failing it is NOT a basis of concluding that you are less smarter than the first time passers. I will retake it in october too and I was glad reading this blog. Lets encourage each other. HOpe to hear from ya'll future RNs :)
dbrassard3
2 Posts
Yes, unfortumately you do need to pay another $80 to the board to be eligible again. It sucks but at least its not another $430 that we had to pay the first time around.