Failed NCLEX multiple times

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A question to all of the experienced nurses out there. I have seen multiple threads on this forum started by people who have taken the NCLEX multiple times and still can't pass. These threads are always responded to with words of sympathy, encouragement to not give up, study tips, and stories of great nurses that didn't pass the first time. My question is how many times would someone need to fail before you wouldn't want them to be the nurse taking care of you or your family member? I don't want to discourage anyone from success, but then again I'm not sure if I would want a nurse who took more than 2 tries to pass boards taking care of me or someone I cared about. How many times do you all think a person should be able to test before they need to look elsewhere for a career?

What gets me is people that haven't even taken the NCLEX yet judging other's when they have no idea if they will even pass.

Guilty as charged. However, I also occasionally help out the school administrator in charge of NCLEX prep. She complains about students who failed who didn't take advantage of various prep materials, tutors, Kaplan etc. that were made available. The same slackers everybody has run into at one time or another in nursing school. So, yeah, call me crazy, but I still wouldn't want these people as my nurse. If that somehow renders my opinion invalid, so be it.

:p

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What gets me is people that haven't even taken the NCLEX yet judging other's when they have no idea if they will even pass.

Guilty as charged. However, I also occasionally help out the school administrator in charge of NCLEX prep. She complains about students who failed who didn't take advantage of various prep materials, tutors, Kaplan etc. that were made available. The same slackers everybody has run into at one time or another in nursing school. So, yeah, call me crazy, but I still wouldn't want these people as my nurse. If that somehow renders my opinion invalid, so be it.

:p

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I've said it before in the graduate nurse forum and I'll say it here. I really don't like the CAT system of testing. Some people are intimidated by a computer. It's not a familiar way to take a test. Most of us take our tests in school using pencil and paper format. I know that there are advantages to using the CAT system like getting test results sooner, but I think there should be a choice.

My opinion? Bring back the #2 pencils and paper format. Or at least give us a choice.

A lot of people leave the testing center feeling like they have failed because the questions get progressively harder. Psychologically, this is not good for the test taker, especially one who has testing anxiety.

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I've said it before in the graduate nurse forum and I'll say it here. I really don't like the CAT system of testing. Some people are intimidated by a computer. It's not a familiar way to take a test. Most of us take our tests in school using pencil and paper format. I know that there are advantages to using the CAT system like getting test results sooner, but I think there should be a choice.

My opinion? Bring back the #2 pencils and paper format. Or at least give us a choice.

A lot of people leave the testing center feeling like they have failed because the questions get progressively harder. Psychologically, this is not good for the test taker, especially one who has testing anxiety.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I've said it before in the graduate nurse forum and I'll say it here. I really don't like the CAT system of testing. Some people are intimidated by a computer. It's not a familiar way to take a test. Most of us take our tests in school using pencil and paper format. I know that there are advantages to using the CAT system like getting test results sooner, but I think there should be a choice.

My opinion? Bring back the #2 pencils and paper format. Or at least give us a choice.

I don't know what it's like at other nursing schools, but all of the nursing tests at my school are administered on computer. Just FYI.

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I've said it before in the graduate nurse forum and I'll say it here. I really don't like the CAT system of testing. Some people are intimidated by a computer. It's not a familiar way to take a test. Most of us take our tests in school using pencil and paper format. I know that there are advantages to using the CAT system like getting test results sooner, but I think there should be a choice.

My opinion? Bring back the #2 pencils and paper format. Or at least give us a choice.

I don't know what it's like at other nursing schools, but all of the nursing tests at my school are administered on computer. Just FYI.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
My opinion? Bring back the #2 pencils and paper format. Or at least give us a choice.

I have taken both the paper and pencil (LPN) and computerized NCLEX (RN). The paper format was much, much, much harder!

500 grads all together in the same room, from all over the state- most having driven to the capitol from out of town and having to stay in a motel. There were 400 questions, and you had to answer them all. Some test-takers were so overcome w/ anxiety, that they cried uncontrolably(sp) while testing and had to be escorted out. They could not complete the exam. Everyone there was practically peeing their pants.

If you had to go to the bathroom during the 6 hr ordeal, you had to be escorted by a test preceptor who stood right outside your stall and listened.

We got an hour break for lunch, during which many people cried, and had major anxiety attacks.

In those days, the NCLEX-RN was given over a two day period. Imagine the stress for those grads- having to pay for out of town travel, accomidations, child care, and meals for two days, being a broke new grad!

It took FOUR MONTHS to find out if you passed or not.

If you wanted to work as a nurse during that four months, you had to pay $100. extra for a temporary permit to work prior to licensure.

No, I don't think anyone who knew what it was like would want the paper and pencil test back.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
My opinion? Bring back the #2 pencils and paper format. Or at least give us a choice.

I have taken both the paper and pencil (LPN) and computerized NCLEX (RN). The paper format was much, much, much harder!

500 grads all together in the same room, from all over the state- most having driven to the capitol from out of town and having to stay in a motel. There were 400 questions, and you had to answer them all. Some test-takers were so overcome w/ anxiety, that they cried uncontrolably(sp) while testing and had to be escorted out. They could not complete the exam. Everyone there was practically peeing their pants.

If you had to go to the bathroom during the 6 hr ordeal, you had to be escorted by a test preceptor who stood right outside your stall and listened.

We got an hour break for lunch, during which many people cried, and had major anxiety attacks.

In those days, the NCLEX-RN was given over a two day period. Imagine the stress for those grads- having to pay for out of town travel, accomidations, child care, and meals for two days, being a broke new grad!

It took FOUR MONTHS to find out if you passed or not.

If you wanted to work as a nurse during that four months, you had to pay $100. extra for a temporary permit to work prior to licensure.

No, I don't think anyone who knew what it was like would want the paper and pencil test back.

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Specializes in None...YET!.

Interesting thread. I'm scared of the NCLEX test and it will be at least 3 years before I take it!:scrying:

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Specializes in ED.

Failing that test or passing it is no predictor of how good a nurse will be after a year or so in the field. It only tests what book material they learned in school and how they can twist it around to meet critical thinking skills.

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The above threads are over two years old. The NCLEX exam is purely common sense with the ABCs thrown in. If you approach it that way, it shoudl not be an issue for you. The exam in not interested in cramming toi prepare for it, or information that you already had in school, but wants to know what you are going to do with the information that you have learned, how you are going to apply it.

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Specializes in Nursing assistant.

I have always wondered about standardized testing in general as an indicator of someones ability to perform certain task. Test taking seems to be a animal of its own breed: personally, I test well, probably better that I actually perform on job. I have a daughter that struggles with testing, but she is very bright, compassionate and capable.

So, no, I don't think taking the test multiple times is a problem, if the individual is getting a greater grasp of the material, and their clinical skills are sharp.

I need to add that I am not a nurse, I am an aide, so I might not be a good judge of this particular exam.

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