Failed Nclex RN First Attempt 75 questions

[arianiy12]

Hi

I finished nursing school in December 2015. I was a A-B+ ,through nursing school. I scheduled my test day for 2-12. I have to be honest,I didn't dedicated as much time as I should to my studies.

I studied Saunders, Kaplan, UWorld and Nclex Mastery app. I think I did around 700 questions maybe before my test. I know not a lot. I also read like 125 pages from Hurst review.

I do work full time and long hours, sometimes 10-12 hr a day. I knew when my test shut off at 75 questions , that I failed. I was devastated the whole weekend. Checking the Pearson quick results and seeing the word FAIL was horrible.

I already submitted my re application again (I mean I mailed Fed Ex) and I also paid Pearson again.

This time I have a study plan of 45 days, with one day off from studying. Basically studying Monday/Thursday, Friday night off. Study,Saturday with Sunday off.

I am trying to do 100-150 questions a day, plus a refresher on some content. I am planning on using, Uworld, Exam Cram, La Charity and Kaplan.

Please let me know what do you think.. Any advice?

Thanks

Arianiy

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Moved to the NCLEX forum

[Kuriin, BSN, RN]

Give yourself 3 weeks and about 3-4 hours to study/day. Try and do minimally 220 questions. Study from rationales. I personally used LaCharity, UWorld, Kaplan (all of their QBanks), and NCLEX Mastery. You gotta put time and effort into it to pass.

[arianiy12]

Thanks bunches, yes this time Im giving it all I have :)

I really appreciate your advice

Arianiy

[arianiy12]

Kuriin thanks for your advice, I just started last night again

I'm using Uworld this week

I'm trying to do minimum 2 hr a day

[hpark1278]

It sounds like you have a lot of study material to work with. Everyone stresses doing questions but what's more important is that you read the rationales for all the questions you do - even the ones you get right. If you are reading the rationales, and writing them down in a notebook, then after a while you will start noticing patterns in questions. You will be able to pick out the correct answers faster because many questions have similar rationales presented in different ways.

I thought I needed a lot of different study materials when I first started. In the end I only basically ended up using Kaplan and LaCharity. Reading and writing down rationales takes a lot of time. I barely touched my Saunders book because I was busy understanding rationales and reviewing content I was weak in. I passed in 75 questions.

Also, you should approach studying for the NCLEX like it's a job. I usually studied for 5-8 hours a day, and never less than 4 hours per day, at least 5 days a week for one month.

[arianiy12]

Thanks for all of your great advice. Yes now Im studying and reading all the rationales too :)

[arianiy12]

One of my biggest problems is strategies, not so much content

any advice on that?

I will love more than anything to study 8 hr a day, but sadly like too many others I do work full time to pay bills

[Jaykalkyn, BSN, RN]

I take boards in 6 days and I tell you I am absolutely done with questions and rationales. Lol!

I've done Kaplan (mandatory through my school), NCLEX Mastery, Hurst, Saunders, and working on LaCharity now. I plan to review the Hurst packets this weekend and then let it go. I test next Tuesday, the 23rd and plan to do absolutely nothing on the 22nd (well, maybe a quick review over labs and isolation precautions). I will keep you posted on how all of this works for me.

[arianiy12]

jaykalkyn good luck

Keep us post it

[rnfostermom, BSN, RN]

I worked full time during nursing school as well. I was an A student but I was terrified of failing the NCLEX. I arranged to take a month off from work to prepare for my exam. I went to the Kaplan 2-3 day seminar, and then I went every day to the test center and did all of their test question banks. I treated studying like it was my job. I used up every last bit of my vacation time and I may have taken some unpaid time as well (can't remember). Anyway, I took my test and passed with 75 questions, so as far as I was concerned it was worth it!

[I_Am_Blessed]

Hello Arianiy. It is really frustrating to not pass NCLEX. Give yourself some time to grieve, then get back on the game ready again!

Can you ask your workplace if you can work part-time temporarily while you are reviewing for NCLEX? I agree with one of the posts... to treat NCLEX review like its a full time job. I only used Kaplan, did QBanks and all question trainers. I study very intently. I read all rationales and wrote down important notes. I study for 3 weeks, devoted 10-12 hours a day, just used Kaplan. I prayed very hard. I passed NCLEX first time.

So yeah... the best way to pass NCLEX is to study HARD! (if you believe in higher power, prayer helps a lot too *wink*). But then, you have to devote a lot of time studying. Hope your workplace will understand you, and give you some time off temporarily for your review. More power to you!