Failed NCLEX for the 3rd time

Nursing Students NCLEX

Published

Hi everyone,

I am down in the dumps. I just failed my 3rd nclex about a month ago.

Background:

Graduated last May 2011 with 3.6 GPA. Tutored my friends throughout nursing school and they passed, but I have not. Got into a new grad program, but was terminated when I failed the nclex. Talk about a double wammie.

I am confused, down, discouraged, frustrated, and my emotions are a rollercoaster. I keep telling myself to get back into study gear before I forget what I have learned, but some of the times I sit here, at the computer, with my practice questions..... my heart just sinks due to discouragement. :(

I know I must take it again, but my confidence is sinking.

I just reapplied for my 4th attempt. Still waiting for my ATT. I spent about $1200 on nclex fees alone. Not including training course.

What am I doing wrong?

My 1st results were one above passing, the rest are near and below passing.

My 2nd results were 2 above passing, and the rest are near and below passing.

My 3rd results were all near passing and two below passing.

All three times I did Kaplan. The third time the questions on the nclex did seems different and more challenging. I got the "on hold" pop up after doing the pearson trick, but 3 days later got the credit card :(

SO CLOSE!

Prior to my third nclex, my study session is 3 months worth.

1st month, studied 3-4 days a week, 4-6 hrs per day.

2nd month, bunked it up to 4-5 days per week, 6-8 hrs per day.

3rd month or a month before the test, 5-6 days per week, 8-10 hrs per day.

My sources:

I did Saunders studied the hard copy book from cover to cover, did the questions at the end of the chapter, and about 1000 q in the CD. Scores are in the 80%'s. This iwas my base for content.

I did Kaplan all the qtrainers, scoring 60-68%. This was for critical thinking.

I did PDA, all the chapters, twice. Scores in the 70%'s. This was for critical thinking.

I glimpsed over cram exam, and did the questions in the CD. More study questions.

I did the allnurses tips of tricks (ie: spiderman, down down up down, etc).

I did the infection control info.

I did HURST review book and audio.

AND the Feuer audio - listened to it twice.

I got the resources, I think. I scored well on the practice question....

Still...

What am I doing wrong? :(

Any word of advice is appreciated and thank you in advance!

HI i failed also in my 3rd attemp now im studying again for my 4th attemp. Hopefully i will pass this time.

Specializes in Medical Surgical, PHN.

@daddyangel-

You can do it! Dont give up! I didnt. It is very tough emotionally. But we got through nursing school, so we can get through this stinkin test.

You should read my previous blogs of my journey through this. I was discouraged, depressed, and challenged in many ways. In fact, i was embarrassed to start this thread.

But i was hopeful. And maybe one day, i was hoping one day i would pass - and i did; and with that i would help someone along the way.

I took my nclex 12/27/2012.... Two days after christmas. Yes, with the busyness and the holidays. But you know what? Thats life. Life will get busy. And a few days later, my name was on the BRN on new years day! 1/1/2013!!!!

Emotionally - i was a rollercoaster??

Through it all - there was hope.

Have faith!!

Let me know if i can help! Know that youre not alone! ???

Good luck!

Hurst!! And they have a money back guarantee. And if you don't pass (which you will!!) they work with you. It was amazing. If you can do the option where you go to class. I know it's the reason I passed. Best of luck!

@Lizzyxpooh : I failed my nclex twice and was such a mess afterwards, especially the second time. I had a high gpa and always did really well in school and so I saw this as a major defeat and my confidence in nursing really took a dive. I read all of your posts and I can say that they gave me more motivation than anything else. It's weird how certain things just hit a cord. Anyways, I took it for the third time last week and passed! Thanks for your honesty and encouragement. You'll never know how much it helped.

Specializes in Medical Surgical, PHN.

Hello @ksef.

Thank you for your comment! I am so glad my posts/threads have helped someone.

Sometimes I wondered if my threads/blogs were helpful at all, I hope that it's not annoying! lol. During the time being of writing those posts, I figured that maybe if I had I shared my thoughts and emotions of what I was going through... maybe someone can relate? bc something was telling me that I wasnt the only one who was struggling through this...

That was my motive - to share, to encourage, to let others know that you're not alone!

That we are all human and yes, life threw me a curve ball and life will ALWAYS throw you curve balls. It's HOW you take it, and roll with it.

It really hit a cord for me as well, however, I was strong-willed and continued to move forward in anyway that I can. And so did you!

Congrats my friend, we did it! You are officially an RN! A Real Nurse! Whee!

We official have an identify now! AN RN. :) Now the next challenge is... finding a job! lol.

Good luck to you.

I second this post @ksef ! CONGRATULATIONS !!

and a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU @lizzyxpooh !!!!!!!!! :)

I ironically came across your post just from searching "heart defects for nclex" haha

little did I know I was stumbling upon your remarkable success story as I am currently studying for the nclex my third time around.

I have let major life changes defeat me during nursing school in the past...I never realized I was being defeated as I kept a positive attitude and my FAITH IN GOD through it all though...until, I realized I just was not retaining all of the lovely nursing content that I know I know !! lol I let anxiety and stress take over my body and that definitely did nothing good for my memory come exam time!

I have been fully dedicated (not that I wasn't before) and am putting all off my TRUST IN GOD to know I can do this!! This website guides in so many ways from catchy mnemonic devices to such INSPIRATIONAL, COURAGEOUS people going through similar struggles.

Thank you for being willing to put your experience out there to help so many others. Your story reminds me so much of myself! I promise I went through one crazy ride as well and the people I met and helped along the way make me so grateful for the experience, even when I look back at the worst days! I pray for all nursing students and all students every day!!! To NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!

We all have a purpose. God also puts us through struggles to draw us closer to him and to OPEN UP OUR EYES to so many things we could never see without him! The time that takes us to see these things is all that it is...God's time...not failures.

"SUCCESS IS NOT FINAL, FAILURE IS NOT FATAL: IT IS THE COURAGE TO CONTINUE THAT COUNTS."

-Winston Churchill

When I read all of your posts, it reminded me how truly compassionate nurses are and why we are destined to be in this field to touch the lives of others.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU AGAIN FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR SHARING WITH US! I AM SURE THIS THANKS IS ALSO ON BEHALF OF SO MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE READ THIS POST ! YOU HAVE A PURPOSE AND YOU ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB ALLOWING GOD TO WORK THROUGH YOU! KEEP SHINING ;)

"AT THE END OF A 12-HR SHIFT, YOU TOUCHED A LIFE OR WERE BLESSED ENOUGH TO HAVE A LIFE TOUCH YOURS."

I am about 2 weeks away from my schedule exam date. I have also worked with many different recommended books, etc. Kaplan was not for me either...although my good scores proved otherwise.

My mind is much clearer this time around. I took time to myself and this CLARITY AND FULL TRUST IN GOD'S TIMING is what I believe is going to make the difference this time around.

PRAYERS FOR ALL!

GOD BLESS !!!!

@LIZZY !!!!! (or anyone else who can offer their much appreciated suggestions)

in regards to material though...many of the tips people have posted on what to focus on have been sticking with me and I have been focusing studying content material on that...which has been making me feel good so far. my memory was definitely jogged on important things to know from the previous 2 attempts.

As far as practice questions, I will be doing more of the exam cram, the last hurst review readiness exam, ATI exams and the saunders at the end of chapters....

i have been contemplating purchasing the 3-wk NCSBN review since reading your post last night...I see this is what worked for you, if I am scoring well so far.. do you think this additional resource is worth adding on?? I'm not sure it is necessary. I know it worked for you though so I am stuck on whether I should purchase it...I know if I do I will most likely not go through all of the material or exams because I have already touched based on so much from other resources...

I am now focusing on what I haven't completely mastered yet (such as, heart defects, ECG strips, sequences of procedures, catheter types, pharm, etc.). I planned to keep going with Saunders for this material....and all of the helpful notes from others on this website.

I would also like more practice in SATA questions and sequencing....does NCBSN provide this?

(I cant find my saunders CD but can ask a friend if needed).

please, let me know your thoughts! they are VERY much appreciated!!!!

HOPE ALL IS WELL AND YOU ARE ALREADY OR ON THE PATH TO WORKING IN THE FIELD WHERE YOU ARE DESTINED TO BE!! :)

looking forward to hearing back from you!

is that the only thing that you used the 4th time? I am currently working on taking my test the 4th time. Please let me know exactly what you did differently please???????

@daddyangel

did you pass the 4th time? what did you differently????

Specializes in RN BSN.

While I can surely appreciate all the encouraging advice here, no one truly knows the gut wrenching pain and heartache that results from repeated failed attempts at conquering this test! I am an adult learner, successfully raised three intelligent college grads and this is my second degree. I passed my ACCELERATED nursing program LAST summer(!!), (while working over 20 hours/week) and I am the ONLY person still waiting to pass my NCLEX and find a job! Although I did succeed in school, (just shy of a 3.5 GPA), nothing makes me feel like a failure as much as this. I am starting to question my reasons for starting on this journey over a decade ago, and even considering a new career path.

Yes, I have taken review coursES, tried a recent online review, before the last test, and nothing has proved helpful yet! All of my prior classmates are younger and have moved on. Since I am one of only a few adult, second career learners, I have been "on my own". I cannot fathom going through another heart wrenching waiting period now and then giving it all I have left inside of me to study again, only to anticipate failing, once again. I have begun to doubt anything I do and confidence has plummeted! My own grown girls (3 successful grads) and husband don't really have a clue where I'm at, which doesn't help matters! I haven't quit yet, but am very close! Open to suggestions for help!

P.S. My resources are very limited since I am the only one working...

Specializes in RN BSN.

While I can surely appreciate all the encouraging advice here, no one truly knows the gut wrenching pain and heartache that results from repeated failed attempts at conquering this test! I am an adult learner, successfully raised three intelligent college grads and this is my second degree. I passed my ACCELERATED nursing program LAST summer(!!), (while working over 20 hours/week) and I am the ONLY person still waiting to pass my NCLEX and find a job! Although I did succeed in school, (just shy of a 3.5 GPA), nothing makes me feel like a failure as much as this. I am starting to question my reasons for starting on this journey over a decade ago, and even considering a new career path.

Yes, I have taken review coursES, tried a recent online review, before the last test, and nothing has proved helpful yet! All of my prior classmates are younger and have moved on. Since I am one of only a few adult, second career learners, I have been "on my own". I cannot fathom going through another heart wrenching waiting period now and then giving it all I have left inside of me to study again, only to anticipate failing, once again. I have begun to doubt anything I do and confidence has plummeted! My own grown girls (3 successful grads) and husband don't really have a clue where I'm at, which doesn't help matters! I haven't quit yet, but am very close! Open to suggestions for help!

P.S. My resources are very limited since I am the only one working...

Congratulations! I'm in the same boat right now. I'm trying to pass NCLEX

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