failed NCLEX... heartbroken..need help

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I took my NCLEX for the first time a few days ago and found out yesterday that I had failed. I got 75 questions and I walked out of there numb. I stayed positive though because I did well in nursing school and I prayed for this ever since last winter.

I am so heartbroken right now. I've never faced such "failure" before. I got accepted into one of the most competitive nursing schools in New York and graduated with honors. I am discouraged and hurt. I don't even know if this is the path that God wants me to walk on anymore. I don't understand how this all happened. I can't stop crying...

I guess I did not study hard enough for this exam. I took the KAPLAN course and actually just depended on it. I did not use other sources. I have a MOSBY's review book at home that I used while I was in nursing school and looked through it once in a while. I thought KAPLAN alone was enough because many of my colleagues told me that the Q-Bank questions were good enough.

I am trying very hard at this moment to be optimistic and put myself back together and start studying again but it is indeed difficult after looking at NSCBN's passing rate for repeat test-takers.

I would really appreciate some words of wisdom or success story after a storm, etc. from other students and nurses. Advice on what I should do now. How I can start all over. Where to start. How to figure out what was it that I did wrong.

Thank you for listening.

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I understang exactly how you feel. I took NCLEX the first time in JAN and did not pass with 265 ?. ( I had alot going on the before the test ( my baby brother was killed week after thanksgiving, I also have 3 children.) It never entered my mind that I would not pass. I cried the day I found out and ? if this was the path GOD had for me. The next day, I told myself I will not give up on my dream and let anything stop me. I took a few days off and then began to study again. I told myself this would not happen again. This time I answered 100-150 a day, 2 weeks before my test, we went on vaction, when I came back I answered more ? the Sunday before the test my Pastor talked about worrying and anxiety and that day I was determined not to worry and put in in God's hands. I retook April 2 , received a pass on april 4 ,then I was struck by the BON that my test may not have been valid. I became very anxious and came on this board and posted messages. That night and the next day I prayed and thanked the Lord for my victory and then I received confirmation on 4/05/08 that I indeed had past. If i can go through everything I have been through and not give up. So can you!!! Don't ever give upand don't let this test make you feel like you are a failure you made it this fair!!! :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

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Specializes in Med Surg, Telemetry, Long Term Care.

sorry to hear that.try doing suzannes plan.it will help you pass.

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Specializes in Case Manager, LTC,Staff Dev/NAT Instr.

I know exactly how you feel... passed boards first try as an LPN, honor upgrade grad student May 07, failed NCLEX for my RN @ 110 while another classmate passed stopping at same number and that person struggled throughout nursing school..I felt like a *failure* but after a good cry, prayer of guidance...I passed the second time at 75 (Hurst Review) and knew I passed before leaving the facility...You haven't been brought this far for nothing so pick yourself up and try again...you will succeed!!!!:yeah:

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing, ICU.

Sorry to hear that you didn't pass. But, you know what...you're going to be fine. I know it's hard and the feelings are unbearable, however, don't second guess yourself. You made it this far...and from your post...your not a dummy...I reckon that you are HIGHLY intelligent. Maybe this time you weren't ready. If you still have the kaplan q bank, finish all of the questions, all of the question trainers, and all of the videos. This was my mistake the first time I took the test and didn't pass. I had all 265 questions the first time but did not pass. The second time I only had 75 questions and passed. Let me tell you what I did (I hope this helps :saint:)...I finished up Kaplan (complete online) answered all questions in q bank and every q trainer. I tried not to focus on the score, eventhough Kaplan recommends 65% or greater. My biggest focus when answering questions was understanding the rationale and trying to think through the questions critically. I also tried to understand what the question was really asking and weed out the distractors. If I got stuck on a question I used the strategies (assessment vs implemenation, maslow, abc's, expected outcome, positioning-promotion/prevention, saftey, delegation-safe expected outcomes-unchanging procedures-assessment/teaching). If I got a question wrong, I'd mark if it was because I misread the question, didn't understand what the question was asking, knowledge deficit or if I didn't read the question properly. If you have certain areas of weakness in a subject matter covered in the test plan or with a specific disease process-study that. Just remember that you are not going to be able to remember everything. Also, take a break when you feel tired. One more thing, perhaps the most important...Pray, Pray, Pray, Trust God, and Believe that you can weather this storm.

By the way...I used Saunder's comprehensive review 4th edition...and trust me...I DID NOT get through the whole book before I retested. Do what's best for you.

Hope this Helps!!

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All I have to say is you failed, and that's ok. I have failed at just about everything I have ever attempted in life at least once. Now, you take a couple days off and do nothing related to school. Go to Six Flags or something. Have some fun and clear your head. Then go back, study your butt off again and again until you can do it in your sleep. Then go take the test again and kick the crap out of it.

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Sorry you failed, but you obviously have the ability to pass, all the advice given is good, I just wanted to share what worked for me, beg or borrow as many cd-roms as you can get your hands on, regularly do a test of 75 questions, review your results and work on the weaker areas, it's good test practice and often gets you to look at subjects in a different way than if you just read them off a page, anyway keep your chin up, and good luck for next time.:up:

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girl dont let this get you down :) Review it and try it again :) you have alot going for ya!

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I know how you feel. I failed myself, and like you blamed myself for quite some time. But lets look at the preparation vs the outcome. I'll use your own words:

"did well in nursing school"

"accepted into one of the most competitive nursing schools"

"graduated with honors."

"took the KAPLAN course"

Those are all the right things. You did well in school and spent a hefty price for the Kaplan course.

You're not a failure. You are just are one of the many people who have to take NCLEX again.

Search this forum. You'll find many including myself in your same situation.

You'll also see the good old "It doesn't mean you won't be a good nurse" advice. There couldn't be a more truthfull statement than that.

These are my words of wisdom:

"NCLEX is as much about the art of NCLEX as it is about the art of nursing"

Because of that you cannot blame yourself.

Good luck and God bless.

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Thank you so much everyone. Really encouraged me alot and made me feel better. This is a wonderful forum.

I am going to study so hard and pass the 2nd time. Thank you again.

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Thank you so much everyone. Really encouraged me alot and made me feel better. This is a wonderful forum.

I am going to study so hard and pass the 2nd time. Thank you again.

Hey don't worry about it. Its just another hurdle that won't matter that much in 10 years once you have alot of exp. under your belt. Just live in the now and roll with the punches so to speak. Get it done, don't lose hope, and get on with working and the rest of your life. I'm sure you'll fine 2nd time around.

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sorry to hear that!! hey cheer up!! there's always next time my friend..just dont give up on your dreams...soon u will be rn..

just do practicing tons of questions.. saunders, davis, lippincot cd's are great and also the NCSBN review online really helped me to passed at 75 questions..

best of luck!!!

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