Failed the NCLEX at 149 Questions... Please help!!!

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Last week I took the NCLEX for the first time and failed at 149 questions. I come to this forum in need help and advice in studying for the NCLEX for when I take it again.

Last January I took the Kaplan Review Classroom and utilized the question bank until May. I did not find this course as helpful as I thought it would be and did not feel prepared to take the NCLEX after my subscription to the Q Bank expired. Maybe it was because I was working a job with alternating shifts (day shifts, night shifts) and did not have a quite place to focus and study. I put off studying again until I quit my job and relocated with my girlfriend in September to another state into our own apartment where I finally had a quite place to focus on studying.

I started studying again in late September with the NCLEX RN Mastery and I did most of the questions from the question bank, and I also reviewed the LaCharity book for a few weeks. I found them helpful but I didn't feel nearly as prepared as I needed to be for my test scheduled on December 15th. I then started using the Maryann Hogan Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX book and its question bank and also the Hurst Review. I found this combination very helpful and started with 50-60 questions per day and eventually 200-300 questions per day in all content areas as the test date neared. I scored in the 70% range in the pre-diagnostic tests and in the 80% range in the post-diagnostic tests (but keep in mind that these tests recycled a lot of the questions from the practice quizzes, and I used my books & notes during the tests). At the same time I was watching videos on NCLEX/nursing related topics such as pathophysiology, med-math, etc. I was studying 6-7 hours per night almost every night.

So I went into the test feeling as prepared as I could be. When I got to the test center I was very nervous, hyperventilating and pacing around the parking lot. As I took the test I don't think that I was rushing through the questions to get to 75, but in hindsight I think that I could have taken more time. By the time I got to question 75 I had around 12-13 select all that apply questions, so I thought that maybe I was doing alright. But the test didn't end and I just kept going, clicking away at my answers and I noticed that the questions dropped in level of difficulty but I was getting questions on topics that I was less familiar with, such as bioterrorism (I'll admit that I focused largely on the med-surg areas covered on the Hurst Review and less on management than I should have, I probably should have revisted the LaCharity book before the test). So after 2 and a half hours, the test ended at question 149. I found out a couple days later that I failed.

I still have to wait for the test report from Pearson to arrive in the mail to know in which areas I performed poorly, but that will take 4-6 weeks and I don't want to take too much off from studying because I will start to forget stuff.

I don't know what to do any more. I've utilized so many resources. The Kaplan Classroom Review & Q Bank, NCLEX-RN Mastery, LaCharity, Hurst Review, and Maryann Hogan Comprehensive Review. I did 50-300 questions per day, I stayed up all night studying for 6-7 hours every night of the week, I watched NCLEX/Nursing related videos, etc. I gave it my all and I still failed. I feel utterly defeated. I'm devastated. And I don't know how to start again.

Please any help and advice is welcome!!!!

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Hello don't give up nor be hard on yourself it's ok.....do u world it will help u a whole lot all topics covered there is on the nclex and the rationales are great.....give urself 45 days schedule your next date as soon as you can and study the u world consistently and I know you will pass that's what I did and passed with 100 questions

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First of all....... The sky isnt falling! You can do it, but you have to stay focused. I say that because I am preparing to take my test for the third time. I just started doing U WORLD. Those questions are real life NCLEX in my opinion w/ amazing rationales. I also think it is important to watch videos. Trust me, I know what it feels like to feel defeated. I have been a firefighter paramedic for 17 years. Failed twice........ Totally crushed me and it still hurts. Never quit. If you would like to go over material..... I'm always willing to try new strategies. Good luck.

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Specializes in Ortho.
xdead.png.pagespeed.ic.Feh-w0hUy0.png I took mine yesterday 12/21/15, I had 200 questions and ran out of time! I sat for 5hrs, that is a very long time to sit and focus on this test. xunsure.png.pagespeed.ic.7iymidAR43.png I get my unofficial results tomorrow, I've tried the PVT and not a good pop-up. But, I have a test mode mindset and I'm just going to keep studying and try again in 45days. Has anyone here used u-world? I've read that it's a good one to use, I used kaplan, watched videos, did index cards but maybe I need to try something else. Expecially do more SATA! I had about 40 select all that apply, bioterrorism took me by surprice, prioritization, delegation and many pharm -they would provide a drug then "who would you question this order for" type. But only 1 dosage cal! I was ready for more dosage calculations. lol I found this website to prep for the bioterrorism part. CDC | Bioterrorism Training and Education Keep your head up, if you feel discouraged then it will be twice as hard to keep going, just keep thinking of how happy you will be once you get that PASS. So dont quit just keep that study momemtum going. Good luck and keep us posted!! ;)
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Okay, so I will try U World. Any more advice please? Much needed & appreciated.

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Sounds like you had a lot more SATA questions than I had. I only had in the ballpark of 15-17.

Well tonight I am going to start up again by going over some Hurst Review material and then purchase U World and start going over that. I'm going to aim to take the test again within the next 2 months.

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Sounds like you had a lot more SATA questions than I had. I only had in the ballpark of 15-17.

Well tonight I am going to start up again by going over some Hurst Review material and then purchase U World and start going over that. I'm going to aim to take the test again within the next 2 months.

Don't study for long straight hours, instead do a 2-3hr quality reading or qbank questions (you can do 75qs then review your incorrect answers) & rest. That workout for me. 3-4days each week.

I used Kaplan, Saunders book & online access, Kaplan strategy book & 1 month of UWorld. I remember i had a question on Bioterrorism too! [emoji3] I passed @83q's.

Goodluck & be confident!

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Yup. I did really slow on mine i think i got the blue screen/option to take break at 74 lol:) i was like what! 2hrs i still have one question to tackle. I did take a quick break & ready for another 4hr longest just in case.. Mine didn't stop at 75 but at 83..

Don't rush..[emoji137]🏽

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Is it okay to refer to my books when answering questions? Otherwise I'm just guessing, right?

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I took the NCLEX today I got this pop up but I do not know if I passed yet "Our records indicate that you have recently scheduled this time. Another registration cannot be made at this time."

I understand how you feel because I have failed before too.

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I also used Uworld. It is really difficult and frustrating at first. I was only answering 30-40% of the questions correctly. The rationales are really good, and you start to know how to narrow down the answers. By the end I was still only answering 60-70% correctly, but the questions are harder than the NCLEX. I passed in 75 questions in about an hour and half, and I was one of the unlucky ones with a bunch of peds/mother-baby questions. Don't rip through tons of questions at once because your brain will get tired, make sure to pace yourself when you study. I referred to Saunders here and there if I wanted to brush up on content, but after nursing school you should be pretty set with content. The NCLEX is about answering questions. I passed with the minimum amount of questions and I honestly could tell you I was positive of my answer on very few questions. You kind of just learn how to narrow them down and make your best educated guess if that makes sense. I wasn't confident at all when I walked out of there, I figured it could have gone either way. Good luck, you can do it!

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The questions on U World are a lot harder and have more SATA compared to the Maryann Hogan Comprehensive NCLEX Review test bank, which I primarily used before taking the NCLEX. I've been scoring in the 40-50% range, which has frustrated me but it's supposed to be harder. I plan to take the NCLEX again in late February. Any more advice please?

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