I took the NCLEX-RN for the first time on June 25th and found out on June 29th that I failed. Obviously, I was pretty devastated. I graduated with University Honors and Sigma Theta Tau honors from a pretty decent BSN school. I consider myself a fairly smart individual. I graduated with a cumulative GPA of exactly 3.5 and I only made 1 C during my entire nursing school career. Granted, I did make a lot of B's, but I feel like that's still pretty good. Also, I scored a 98% predicted probability of passing NCLEX the first time according to my ATI exam.
I realize that the NCLEX-RN is not an IQ or aptitude test... I had to tell myself this over and over for days after I found out that I failed... because I felt "stupid." So I took about 1.5 weeks off to just be lazy and try not to stress about the test.
I went to the library and checked out the Kaplan Test Strategy book and Lippincott's Incredibly Easy Workout. I feel like the former is more helpful than the latter. I also got the Saunders Strategy book via an interlibrary loan and I feel like it's super helpful. I am using the NCLEX 4000 CD, the 2 CD's with the Kaplan and Saunders book, and the CD that comes with the Evolve/HESI NCLEX-RN Review book (I got this book last year to help me pass HESI the second go-around).
I worked for a year as a tech in the NICU at a local hospital here and got a job as an RN... and now I can't start work and the whole thing puts my job in jeopardy somewhat. I think the only reason my boss is trying to work with me to get me on the unit after failing NCLEX is because the staff and nurses have spoken so highly of me and have told me that they really want me to work with them. I have a passion and devotion to nursing and worked as hard as I could during my year on my unit because I knew after about a month that it is where I wanted to start my RN career.
I am just not sure what my weaknesses are... or how to fix them. I ended up taking all 265 questions and I will admit that once I got to question 76, I was extremely irritable. I had spoken with classmates that described the test as being a breeze and people had passed that made lower scores than me during nursing school. Before the test, I did about 1,000 practice questions... about 600 were from the Hurst practice tests and the other 400 were from the NCLEX-4000 CD. I think that my problem for the test was 1) Assuming the test would be easy based on other people's experiences and 2) Relying so much on the Hurst (it wasn't a bad review, but I should have been more objective and diverse with my resources for practice questions).
I got back my summary report and here it is:
Management of Care (16-22% of the test) - NEAR THE PASSING STANDARD
Safety and Infection Control (8-14% of the test) - NEAR THE PASSING STANDARD
Health Promotion and Maintenance (6-12% of the test) - NEAR THE PASSING STANDARD
Psychosocial Integrity (6-12% of the test) - NEAR THE PASSING STANDARD
Basic Care and Comfort (6-12% of the test) - NEAR THE PASSING STANDARD
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies (13-19% of the test) - NEAR THE PASSING STANDARD
Reduction of Risk Potential (10-16% of the test) - ABOVE THE PASSING STANDARD
Physiological Adaptation (11-17% of the test) - NEAR THE PASSING STANDARD
So, 7/8 categories were near the passing standard and 1/8 was above. How close am I? Was this related to general test anxiety (I slept horrible the night before the test, but I didn't feel particularly nervous during the test)? Do I need to use a more content based review approach, a strategy review approach, or both? I am trying to do both... but I just really want to pass the 2nd time so I can move on with my life.
Any advice, suggestions, or help is greatly appreciated.
Did you pass the 2nd time around? I sit for my second attempt at the end of October which feels like to much time to wait to retest and I could take it sooner I would just have to change my test location which I really don't think would be helpful. I just wish getting motivated to stay focused and study was easy but its not. Also getting on a schedule is something that would help but not easy either. I only hope I can figure out a solution sooner rather than later :)
Specializes in NICU, Pediatrics, Nursing Education.
I did pass the 2nd time. If you go to my profile you can see all my posts and read my post about my experience taking the test and how I studied. Good luck!
Ok, I just found I passed the 5th time. I thought I failed because I answered 82 questions. Even though I studied a lot I didn't feel so confident. I did u can do it too.
Ok, I just found I passed the 5th time. I thought I failed because I answered 82 questions. Even though I studied a lot I didn't feel so confident. I did u can do it too.
: really for the 4th time i got this books in addition to saunders; prioritization, delegation and assignment by linda a. lacharity, kaplan 2010-2011, and hesi book. purchase a 5 week course -the national council of state boards of nursing (ncsbn) n did all the tests. i read the whole book for kaplan, 80% of linda and some of hesi. can be overwhelming but focus on one at a time. besides i read own notes. i used to do questions n used index cards. i used to list 2 diseases only n described them. for instance addison's desease- and cushings disease. then i would get my own ideas on how to remember things, n will use a red n black pen. an example of an index card..
addisons disease (adrenal insufficiency or ↓cortisone ). my idea to remember (add...=subtract).
addison is the subtraction of cortisone, therefore i will know cushings disease is the apposite.
causes:-result of long tx of steroids,
abrupt cessation of steroids,
sepsis
surgical stress
sx: hyperkalemia,
hyponatremia (↓na) bc decrease aldosterone
↓bp, polyuria, dehydration, anorexia, skinny looking person
true addison's disease: bronzed or hyperpigmentation of the skin
tx: cortisone lifelong tx, decadron, im prednisolone
here i will list things that i got wrong when doing questions, base on these disease only, n whenever i get a q. on this disease from practice questions of any book i can always look at this index card. in the opposite side will be cushings.
then i will draw on a note book or index card how to picture things as well. for instance pneumothorax is a collection of air in the pleural cavity. i will drw the lung n pleural cavity space........
then i will remember hemothorax, hydrothorax......
:o:o:o:o:othe last book i bought was lippincott's 10th edition, n did like 400q only is good bc is updated with the new x-clex style questions. i din't like the fact that i couldn't chose a particular subject on the cd, but only in the book. i liked doing q on the cd b/c it gives u a % of what u got wrong. besides the content, finding strategies of how to answer nclex style q is main.
:yeah::yeah:besides everything else, when i failed the 2rd time, i felt like god had forsaken me. i was angry, devastated, cried, i was embarrassed, confused. it was so difficult b/c i never failed something twice, i considered my self an smart person, not a genius but always b/w a n b. always did good an school got a c in one class only, then i found out other classmates who were struggling in school, passing classes had passed the nclex, i didn't want them to go through what i was going through but i couldn't understand why r they passing but me. so i tried to find ways to decrease my anxiety n be able to sit down n study again. i pray, pray, pray, and read this scriptures:
psalm 23, 91, 31,46, 37:3-8. then i put post its in the bible too. when i felt down i would read them n it brought me up in my spirits. when i took the test i asked jesus to sit with me during the test and guide me, and i asked him to bless me with the ability to answer just enough q. correctly so that i could pass. be specific in your prayers n believe in him wholeheartedly n he will do it for u. you will pass. see i'm 9mo pregnant n have a 2yr old just took the test, n passed. you just need to believe in yourself that you can do it. take care. i wish i could send u this prayer i found online to read just b4 the test too, but need to look for it, i will do it later if ur interested.
Not sure if you still need suggestions, but what worked for me was using a multitude of sources for practice questions. I used Saunders, Evolve, ATI, and also NCSBN. NCSBN, if you don't know about it, is put out by the same folks who write the NCLEX exam. The questions were ridiculously hard and maybe even unrealistic, but the review material was good. You can purchase a 3 week access to the course for $50 or longer for additional money. I only used it for about 2-1/2 weeks. I didn't get to all of it, but I still felt I got my $50 worth out of it.
Another thing that's worth trying is a review of test taking strategies. There were questions I didn't know anything about, but was able to use strategies to help answer questions. For example, if you get a question that puzzles you, look at the answer choices. Let's say they give you a bunch of lab results that you might be watching out for with a particular condition or medication, just pick the lab that's the most abnormal. Also, leadership principles & delegation helped me rule out poor answers with several questions that focused on prioritization of care.
I came on here to help a friend in a similar boat as you. She's so bummed. Try not to overanalyze...just get back to studying and start all over! It looks like you were so close. A couple of my friends from school didn't pass 1st time either, but they did much better 2nd time around. I think you should just do as many questions as possible... I spent about 2-1/2 weeks reviewing material, then spent 10 days doing about 200 questions/day. I truly believe the practice questions helped more.
great post!i may follow this advice....can u send me a link regarding the questions from NCLEX 4000???i am so stressed right now coz i took the exam last 3/7 and tried the PVT and it lead me through the CC hope u could help me have some resources in doing my review again..but still i am hopeful that i could pass the exam...
I too failed the NCLEX but I'm not nearly as smart as you. But reading your post motivates me to try it again. I too felt stupid after the exam, but again, thank you for clarifying that we are not stupid because we failed. I guess we just need to do more content and questions. When I took the test, there were only some questions that I can use the strategy approach. Most of them were stuff that you just have to know the answer to.
WOW Irish rainbow...your story sounds so similar to mine! I failed June this year at 265 questions and I work in the NICU was supposed to start as a RN July 15th but my job has pushed my start date back to Sept since I can't retest till mid Aug. No idea what to do differently yet...plan to do lots of practice questions and not so much knowledge because I think I have the overall concepts. I did get quite a few strips and alot of management delegation and priority
then i will draw on a note book or index card how to picture things as well. for instance pneumothorax is a collection of air in the pleural cavity. i will drw the lung n pleural cavity space........
:o:o:o:o:othe last book i bought was lippincott's 10th edition, n did like 400q only is good bc is updated with the new x-clex style questions. i din't like the fact that i couldn't chose a particular subject on the cd, but only in the book. i liked doing q on the cd b/c it gives u a % of what u got wrong. besides the content, finding strategies of how to answer nclex style q is main.
hope u could help me have some resources in doing my review again..but still i am hopeful that i could pass the exam...
FairyPrincess06
35 Posts
Did you pass the 2nd time around? I sit for my second attempt at the end of October which feels like to much time to wait to retest and I could take it sooner I would just have to change my test location which I really don't think would be helpful. I just wish getting motivated to stay focused and study was easy but its not. Also getting on a schedule is something that would help but not easy either. I only hope I can figure out a solution sooner rather than later :)