Failed NCLEX, feeling awful. Any advice?

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Hi, I'm new to this website but have been reading some of the discussions. I just took my NCLEX-RN exam last Thursday (9/10). Got my quick results yesterday and found out that I failed. I was REALLY surprised. I did not leave the test feeling that I aced it but I definitely felt okay about it. My test shut off in 75 questions and I feel awful that i failed because obviously I bombed it. I looked up questions when I got home that I remembered and I know I got many right! I got about 7-8 priority questions, 3 med calculation questions, and 2 select all that apply. Anyway I am now trying to move beyond the stage of denial and crying. My temporary license has expired so I can't work for the next 45 days until I can take it again. I'm wondering if there is anybody out there who can help me out and let me know how they prepared the second time around. I felt like I studied my butt off and felt prepared for the exam, but obviously not! Thanks for any words of encouragement and/or advice..

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Sorry to hear you failed. I can relate I fail in August. It will take time to get over it. I recommend taking a few days off to just relax and try it again. Don't give up. Stay positive and you will pass. Claim it and it will be yours.

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do u take any review class?

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I'm definitely open to it, I've heard bad and good things about Kaplan. I did do an online virtual ATI course that my hospital paid for, but apparently it didn't help enough! :(

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Specializes in Adolescent & Adult Psychiatry.

Hi there!

I personally didn't have to take NCLEX again, but from what I've read so far in various forums, it's a consensus that you should try and do the following:

1. Start from scratch and act as though you've never taken the NCLEX before. Don't try to analyze the questions from the test you just took because more than likely you'll never see them again.

2. Get the three best books that are out right now: Saunders 4th Edition Comprehensive review, LaCharity's Delegation and Prioritization Review, and Kaplan's 2010 NCLEX Test-Taking Strategies. Focus on these books and understand the key concepts that are covered in the NCLEX as of right now. Also, you have the time and resources for a review class then take advantage of it. However, plenty of people pass without a class so it's up to you.

3. Get Exam Cram and NCLEX 3500 or 4000 CDs and practice doing questions. A LOT of questions. This is the most effective way of understand how the NCLEX wants you to think. Also utilize the CDs/booklet questions that are in the books listed above.

4. Give yourself at least 5 weeks to prepare appropriately and also schedule some down time in between that (like once or twice a week) so that you don't burn yourself out and end up forgetting what you're trying to remember!

5. Stay motivated, keep to your study regime, and have confidence that you can pass this test. Remember, it's only testing us for entry-level competency; so don't bombard yourself with too much information. If you keep to the above books and CDs then you should have no trouble with covering the right amount of content.

Hope this helps and good luck on your studying adventure!

Nursethis21, BSN, RN :nurse:

UIC Alumna

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Hi, I'm new to this website but have been reading some of the discussions. I just took my NCLEX-RN exam last Thursday (9/10). Got my quick results yesterday and found out that I failed. I was REALLY surprised. I did not leave the test feeling that I aced it but I definitely felt okay about it. My test shut off in 75 questions and I feel awful that i failed because obviously I bombed it. I looked up questions when I got home that I remembered and I know I got many right! I got about 7-8 priority questions, 3 med calculation questions, and 2 select all that apply. Anyway I am now trying to move beyond the stage of denial and crying. My temporary license has expired so I can't work for the next 45 days until I can take it again. I'm wondering if there is anybody out there who can help me out and let me know how they prepared the second time around. I felt like I studied my butt off and felt prepared for the exam, but obviously not! Thanks for any words of encouragement and/or advice..

The kaplan helped me a lot when I first took mine forever ago....

but truthfully, my advice to you is go do something else. The healthcare field is circiling the toilet right now and nursing as a profession is pretty terrible as a whole anyway. I dont advise anyone to do it.

If you really want, I say take the kaplan and just have a good attitude. And do it sooner than later.

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yea, kaplan is very good, try as much as possible to get it.

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honey, my school also recommended ati for free but didn't like it, lot of my seniors did ati and kaplan, they said kaplan is way better than ati..i am using kaplan online right now and loved every bit of it...

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First you gotta relax. Then get one book, study it, focus on your weaknesses. Do questions everyday, make prioritization, delagation, safety and infection control, and medications your primary concern. I personally think it's unwise to read different kind of books because it's almost impossible to retain all those information. Just read a book and practice questions everyday.

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Specializes in L & D, Med-Surge, Dialysis.

nclex abcdz strategy

a. spend 1/3 of your time reviewing content you don't understand

b. spend 2/3 of your time answering test question

c. used most comfortable nclex review book for content.

d. begin with the area that is most difficult for you or area that are least familiar

e. use a good nursing reference manual or internet to find information

f. define the disease in terms of pathophysiological process and understand the disease process.

g. identify the early and late symptoms of disease

h. identify most important or life-threatening complication associated with the disease.

i. define the medical treatment.

j. identify nursing intervention associate with early and late symptom of disease process

k. identify what to teach patient and family to prevent in other to adapt to disease process.

l. list the area you need to review.

m. answering question in a test mode will improve your test taking skills

n. each time you answer question, check the number of question you answered correctly that will motivate you to read and study more next time.

o. keep track of your score to see how you're improving in all area of your content.

p. if you answer less than 65% correctly, these is a warning signal!! spend lots of time reviewing content and stop doing question on the weakest area

q. if you answer 65-75% correctly your performance is improving and success is certain. continue working with the content until your score is above 75%

r. every wrong answer, identify why you answered it wrongly.

s. practice 75- 85 question to known how you'll be prepared for nclex exam and see how many you answered correctly

t. do understand the question first, formulate your answer of hand and compare with the option given to see how close your answer!!

u. anticipate test question will increase in difficulty when you get the first question right!!

v. do not panic if someone finishes before you!!

w. do not cram cram!!

x. remember that you have learned a great amount of nursing knowledge and the exam is only designed to determine whether you're able to practice safely @ entry level

y. keep a positive attitude and pray!!

z. wish you best of luck!

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