I graduated nursing school in May of 2014. I was very active in my program. I was the only person in my graduating class to graduate with honors. I was vice president of our chapter of the national honor society and was an officer in my class as well. My GPA was 3.9. I used to tutor fellow classmates for tests etc. I regularly made the highest grade in my class on tests and exams...but I CAN NOT pass the NCLEX. There are so many of my friends who I graduated with who BARELY passed nursing school who are RN's currently--who I tutored!
Due to my grades during school as well as my community involvement, I received a $35,000 scholarship to finish my BSN through the hospital that I was hired at even before I graduated. The day after graduation, I was at work as a grad-nurse and was making my nursing salary etc. My life was amazing.
The first time I tested was about 6 weeks after graduation. My dad passed away right before my test. I didn't have enough time to reschedule so I took it and failed with max questions. It really devastated me. The hospital I worked for bumped me down to nurse tech and I went from making $25+ an hour, to $9.10 to be a tech. I was totally devastated once again. I lost my scholarship, I lost my pride, I lost my money...everything my family and I had suffered through so I could follow my dream. I let about 3 months go by before I tested again. Once again, I failed. I didn't know where to turn.
My husband worked and supported our family 100% while I was in school. When I was accepted into nursing school, I left a job I hated, but I was making about $70k a year. My husband took on ALL of the responsibilities for our household, both with money and bills, as well as day to day tasks and taking care of our new born son. He did this the entire time I was in school. After I failed the second time, I could really tell he was starting to worry and be upset that I was more than 6 months out of school and still not working because he was working 7 days a week for our family. The pressure just added to my nervousness every time I went in to test. It's two years later and I've failed my test more times than I'd even want to admit. I've been working as a tech for the last 2 years. It has really put so much burden on my family and it breaks my heart. My husband has been working 60-80 hrs a week for almost 7 years and it kills me that it's all my fault. I've told him that I would go back to my old job and he tells me that he knows how much I want this and that he will continue to work like he does to give me more opportunity.
I need to do this for him! I need to do this for my son! More than anything, I need to do this for me because I feel like a failure. I need to find some kind of school to take a refresher course, not just a little 3-4 day testing procedures course. Can anyone shed any light on this for me? I have scoured the internet and can't come up with any schools that do refresher classes unless you are already an RN?
Thank you so much for reading this novel if you have made it this far! I'm sorry for all the dramatics, but this is life I guess!
You have had a lot to deal with, I can only imagine the stress you are under. First of all relax. It sounds like you did great in school but the test anxiety has got the best of you. My advice is to get a few books, one of which is Kaplan strategies and do it cover to cover. It is short and doesnt take long. Otherwise I would set a date to retake it- say 3 months from now. And do 100 questions a day. If you have more time one day do a little extra, or vice versa if you have less. Spend one day a week reviewing areas you might lack, says Peds or Math. But otherwise only do questions.
The day before you take it, dont do any queations, get a pedi, a massage, anything to relax.
That is how I prepped and I was just an average student. You know the information, now its about the questions and how to answer. Dont waste money on a prep. You can do it yourself! Best of luck to you!!!
It has been soooo many years since I licensed that I can't offer too much, but I have two thoughts.... first, do you have any insight into why you have not passed? Did you find yourself floundering on any certain types of questions, were you just going blank on things you thought you knew, did you do very poorly on certain areas (when I took the exam, questions were grouped by OB, peds, etc and the scores can back by area so I knew which areas I had been weakest in), did you feel more confident on simple facts vs. problem solving scenarios? Were you over-thinking the scenarios and so missing the simpler answer that they were looking for? Did you do better on scenarios but didn't know specific facts such as drug info? Take a look at a test prep review book and look at the questions as you would if you were actually sitting for the exam -- do you find yourself thinking in the wrong direction?
Second, can you go back to your school's advisor or favorite instructor to ask for advice....maybe, although you had great grades, some weaknesses in performance/application were noticed that could be worked on while you prepare for the next attempt. Or, maybe one would be willing to do a session with you to try to suss out what the problem is.
Hey did you ever pass? I just took it for the 3rd time my story is similar to yours, just trying to hold out faith that I pass even though time ran out on me at question 250.
If anyone could be so heatless as to tell you to "just give " I would think that 99% of the subscribers would think that advice inhuma and ill-advised..
When your as close as you are to gettin a badge you must carry on.
Going forward would not be a futile attempt at the impossible. You've proven your mettle already.
But there must be a fundamental error in your algorithmic thought process that makes this stupid rite of passage exam not your cup of tea.
Since you are stuck inside your "own casino" as the Italian's say, you really can't see, at this point, the forest for those trees.
You need an objective source expert to evaluate your fundamental errors in thinking through the questions when most of them seem "right."
I believe some of the other posters have given you some leads which seem valid.
You know when I first read your narrative I actually thought it was a composite of all the difficulties individual test takers have had with this exam. Why you should be one of them still defies logic.
Frustration is frustration, but I for one believe that your willingness to continue this trial by fire makes you that much more of an admirable person. A good person.
If anyone could be so heatless as to tell you to "just give " I would think that 99% of the subscribers would think that advice inhuman and ill-advised.
When your are as close as you are to getting a badge you must carry on.
Going forward would not be a futile attempt at the impossible. You've proven your mettle already.
But there must be a fundamental error in your algorithmic thought process that make this stupid rite of passage exam not your cup of tea.
Since you are stuck inside your "own casino" as the Italian's say, you really can't see, at this point, the forest for those trees.
You need an objective source expert to evaluate your fundamental errors in thinking through the questions where most of them seem "right."
I believe some of the other posters have given you some leads which seem valid.
You know when I first read your narrative I actually thought it was a composite of all the difficulties individual test takers have had with this exam. Why you should be one of them defies logic.
Frustration is frustration but I for one believe this trial by fire makes you that much more of an admirable person.
Hey there, I'm so sorry to hear what you have to go through, but indeed you have a great and very supportive husband at your side! I used Kaplan prep course with all those qbank and question trainers that helped me pass the NCLEX big time. It is very stressful dealing with these practice tests and questions that I want to give up so many times, but I had to wipe my tears keep going! It will be paid off in the end. We all survived nursing school, we can survive this exam! I wish you the best and I believed that you will make a great nurse once you passed NCLEX!!! :):):)
Hello, This is actually my first time ever posting but I felt very compelled to. I cannot begin to explain to you how much I relate to your situation! I too graduated in May 2014, and I have yet to pass my boards. It consumes my thoughts and entire being EVERY single day since I graduated. I graduated at the top of my class (with honors). To make a (2 year) long story short, I'll hit the main points...I was 7 months pregnant at graduation (with a four year old at already), I had some complications but nothing to major. The downfall began with my father, a week after I had my daughter he decided to separate from my mother of 30 years...I know what you're thinking, big deal. Divorce happens to many people. Well my father had been having an affair with my life-long, childhood friend/sister. They decided to get married and mind you our families grew up together, we did everything together, we were considered one large extended family because of how close we all were. Well ALL that went out the window, the day their relationship came to light...no one approved but eventually everyone else went along with it and in the process I lost all of those "family" members and mutual friends. I shut down and pushed everyone away, not to mention I had a bad case of post-postpartum blues. I stayed in a slump for a really long time. I just stayed at home with my baby and "studied". With my world falling apart, I continued taking my boards every couple months as I saved money to pay for it. I got the maximum questions all but one time, so I know I was close...just not good enough.
Beside all the crap my dad dumped on me, I had (have) another struggle...my spouse. He's not very supportive. In fact he is very frustrated at this point as if I'm intentionally failing my exam. I helped him through every step of his own program (at the expense of my studying). I feel like he resents me. I got him to where he's at and I'm not getting the same in return. He keeps complaining that I'm wasting money retesting and yet is annoyed I haven't passed. I worked and went to school full time until I had my baby. I was a student nurse and got paid well and I knew they would want to keep me, but I was to embarrassed to return after failing twice. So I left that job, 2 years later I eventually got a job in research and I enjoy it...but I can't shake this feeling of being incomplete until I have my license.
Although I have a family and everyone else is supportive, the fact that my husband (the one that would essentially benefit the most from me passing) is being a real jerk. It makes this sooo much harder. He yells when I don't properly study but then gets just as mad when I am studying because it takes away from time with him. Even when he's not home he's annoyed with my studying because I could be getting other things done. He won't help with the kids and gets upset when I make arrangements for someone else to watch them while I study. It's all a lose, lose situation. Part of me wants to pass this solely so I can show him how I was able to do it ALL without him, something he can never say.
I started studying again (in secret), my boss encouraged me too. In fact, when I told her I'm overwhelmed and drowning at home already, she said that I can devote the first couple hours of my work day just to study). That was an amazing offer that I jumped at the chance for. I know I can do this, I know I can! Like you mentioned, I trained many of the people on my unit and many of them were not the brightest...but they passed!! So why can't I?? I have to prove this to myself and to my boss, who really has faith in me. I'm hoping since the financial aspect isn't an issue this time around it'll be less pressure, but we'll see. I worked too hard to give up now. I'll keep retaking it until I physically no longer can.
My advise to you since your husband is supportive. Accept his support, and show him it was worth the wait!! You can absolutely do it...we both can and WILL!!!
poppy79
6 Posts
You have had a lot to deal with, I can only imagine the stress you are under. First of all relax. It sounds like you did great in school but the test anxiety has got the best of you. My advice is to get a few books, one of which is Kaplan strategies and do it cover to cover. It is short and doesnt take long. Otherwise I would set a date to retake it- say 3 months from now. And do 100 questions a day. If you have more time one day do a little extra, or vice versa if you have less. Spend one day a week reviewing areas you might lack, says Peds or Math. But otherwise only do questions.
The day before you take it, dont do any queations, get a pedi, a massage, anything to relax.
That is how I prepped and I was just an average student. You know the information, now its about the questions and how to answer. Dont waste money on a prep. You can do it yourself! Best of luck to you!!!