Failed Nclex RN 2nd time

RNgrad5/2008 · May 15, 2008

Have you taken a review course? The rule of thumb that I have heard is you should answer 100 sample NCLEX questions everyday for 30 days. I just graduated last week. I should be taking mine in the next 2 months. I am studying a Kaplan book and plan on buying access to 3000 sample questions. This is what I hear, hopefully it will work for me. Dont give up, I know someone where it took her 5 trys. It stinks but not only do you have to prepare yourself academically, you need to prepare yourself mentally. Dont go into it thinking you will fail it, i know that is hard to do. keep trying. :nurse: :typing

rosstat2 · May 15, 2008

Dear gdschild,

I took the NCLEX on October 2007 and failed the first time. I then went on this website and found Suzanne's Plan (she has a sticky forum on this website). I highly recommend this review course. It's free and everyone who has taken it after doing her review has a high passing rate for the NCLEX.

I was able to pass on my second try (which I took on April 19, 2008). :nurse:

I passed with only 75 questions, 2 SATA, 1 math calculations, and the rest were priorities and delegations. I also went on the learning extension website and did so many questions on their review site.

I feel that following Suzanne's plan really helped me out and doing questions after questions. (That is one of the secret to NCLEX - just learning how to read questions, figuring out what the heck NCLEX GODS are trying to ask us, and reviewing the rationales) :nuke:

Also, my classmate failed 2 times and I suggested doing suzanne's plan and learning extension. She took the NCLEX for the 3rd time this May 7th and passed with 77 questions.

Don't get discouraged. The NCLEX is "heck". We are nervous, stressed, etc. when we take it (which doesn't help - LOL). Do a review course and I know you will pass it too. Good luck, you can do it! :yeah:

Gdschild · May 15, 2008

thanks for replying back and giving the information about suzanne plan. Can anyone tell me how long they waited before they started preparing for to take their next nclex rn exam. Iam so tired of studying but obviously I need to study more.

nursebabygirl 08 · May 16, 2008

hello, sorry that you are having a hard time with the nclex... it's important to remember to have a positive frame of mind... if you think you will fail then you will. Start from day one, take a deep breath and throw away the saunders, lippincott nclex books. Sign up for a review class(i recommend sylvia rayfield); purchase Mosby's delegation/priotization book. It's yellow, blue and red paperback. visualize yourself walking into a pt's room, that always helped me to understand what was being asked of me from the question. I passed with 75 on feb 8. remember you can do it!!!

Gdschild · May 16, 2008

Thanks so much for the information. I know I need to get my train of thought together, I know it can be done. Congrads to you and I will look into sylvia Rayfield. Thanks again

justme1972 · May 16, 2008

I have been on this board for about a year, and I have seen people post "Failed the NCLEX for the 4th time"....only for them to go through Suzanne's plan and post that they passed with 75 questions.

It's not how much your studying but HOW you are studying.

I remember that Suzanne posted once something along the lines of this (and this is not a direct quote):

"You have to understand what the NCLEX is looking for...you have already been to school, you have a degree, you have already been tested over and over again...what the NCLEX is looking for is what kind of decisions you can make as a nurse and if they are good decisions."

She says once you understand that....then you are well on your way.

nursebabygirl 08 · May 17, 2008

No matter what "method" you use to prepare yourself for the NCLEX it is important to understand the layout of the actual test.... if you look at the test plan for the NCLEX safety is the number one objective. The test is calculating how "safe" you are based on your answers to questions provided. Go to pearsonvue website for detailed info.

JenniG48 · May 18, 2008

I'm sorry that you are having difficulty with this. Can I ask if you have any problems like test anxiety that may be making it difficult for you to think through the questions. I just took the NCLEX-RN and found myself thinking "I was supposed to know this sh**" during the test. It really is about providing competent care and everytime I came to a question I didn't know, that is what I would look for...If I was this nurse how would I do to provide safe care. For studying, I used the Kaplan book-NCLEX-RN: Strategies for the Registered Nursing Licensing Exam (didn't take the class), Sander's NCLEX-RN Comprehensive Review, Prentice Hall Comprehensive review for NCLEX-RN and 3500 NCLEX-RN questions. Mostly I used the CD's that came with the different programs to do practice tests. Kaplan has good way of breaking the questions down and I used their way when I didn't know what the question was asking. To help relieve test anxiety, the night before the test I checked into a nice hotel (left the husband and kids at home), soaked in the whirlpool, had a nice supper, did not bring my books with me and relaxed all evening. Kept telling myself "I know this stuff, take my time and answer each question to the best of my ability." Had 75 questions. Had over 20 of the SATA questions (which I hate, I was ready to walk out of there after the 10th one of those), 2 math questions and 5 med questions (I was only able to recognize 1 of the 5 meds). Found out yesterday that I did pass (which is a good thing because I told my husband that I refused to take that test again.) You made it through nursing school, you can do this. I wish you the best. Good luck.

Gdschild · May 18, 2008

Congradulations to you. I thought I had a test anxiety problem the first time because I finished with 265 questions and was shaking when I left 6 hrs later. The second time I took my time and was extremely calm. I just knew I had passed this test the second time, so I don't think it is an anxiety problem. I the Kaplan Q trainer and bank and Iam currently working with that, however their strategies don't work with every questions. The princenton Hall book NCLEX RN I was working with that CD and found it to be extremely helpful but I didn't have alot of time to work with it. I have so many resources I could use it makes me uneasy thinking about which one is best to concentrate on. Plus Iam so unmotivated right know because I gave so much study for the last two test. I think I may start excercise at the gym this week and start my questions with kaplan. I know that Iam not dumb and I know this stuff I just think my critical thinking skills is off. Once again congradulations.

kck605 · May 19, 2008

I give up...where can I find this "suzanne's plan" ? I take the NCLEX June 3rd. I want to know what else I should be doing to study! Thanks

nursebabygirl 08 · May 19, 2008

jenny that's great advice.. i did the same thing the night before my test. It was hard not to pick up the book and study, but you have to relax. Gds, i found that what worked best for me was to visualize your self in the pt's room(with the info provided in the question),what would you do for that pt? what could you possibly hold off on doing, and if you delayed doing things what could be the consqence? for instance: you are assigned to a room with two pt's in it. Pt A is confused has a blood sugar of 700 and pt B is elderly man whom is alert and oriented and has developed a temp of 100.2 and the pulse rate is 110 over night; who would you see first?