Failed NCLEX-RN with 85 questions, too much experience??

Published

Specializes in ED, OB.

Well.. my story is a little unique. I have been in the healthcare field since 1998. I started off as a secretary in the ER and from there went on to get my EMT. After my EMT I went to Paramedic school since my GPA wasn't good enough for the requirements for Valencia Community College, Orlando. I was sucessful in Paramedic (I mean why wouldn't I be? I had worked in the ER for many years. Doing hospital clinicals was like work and no pay). My skills were top notch. I had the ability to improve them at work and school. Even when I went to nursing school I floored many instructors with my advanced IV and patient care skills. Anyways, so after paramedic school I struggeld with the state exams. I failed the medic exam 3 times (last time I scored a 79 with only needing an 80 to pass). There was no refresher course - I had to redo all of paramedic school from the begining. I was devistated. In the back of my mind I said it's okay... nursing was the goal anyways and now the GPA is high enough (since I made all A's in EMT/Paramedic school). Well, long story short. Struggled through nursing school, but I made it. I did HURST, I did Kaplan which by the way was a waste of time. KAPLAN gave us an international instructor who passed her NCLEX in November (and this class was taken in January). Kaplan's excuse was "well her scores were very high and she is very knowledgeable". I am still fighting with them to get my money back. I was offered a job in Labor and Delivery as a RN, all I had to do was pass my NCLEX. I found out this week that I failed my NCLEX. I have not been able to even function, let alone stay awake long enough. I have had other stressors that may have played a part but I studied and was glued to my laptop with questions and reviews. I had many questions on mental health, prioritization and diabetes. I knew when I left it was a hard test and by seeing what others had writen in forums and classmates that I spoke with, I felt more confident. Now as it stands I have been removed from the GN program and have to wait 45 days to retest. I have had doubts about even retesting. I mean why? The paramedic things weighs heavy on me. I look and see my AS Emergency Medicine and now AS Nursing and no license. I jsut wondered if anyone else has noticed that sometimes having more experience hinders you in the long run. I felt I needed to share my story. Maybe it will help me and someone else in a time where you just really don't know if you should go forward or just stay put...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Welcome to the site

I would seriously suggest you do not rush to resit the exam, take a week of to regroup your thoughts and then consider Suzanne's plan. All information can be found on the main NCLEX forum page in the stickies, there are 2 threads you need to read. Whatever you do DO NOT GIVE UP. You have made it through nursing school and many fail NCLEX but with determination and the right study plan you can pass it. I passed on my 3rd try so do know what it is like to fail

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, OB.

what is Suzanne's plan? How long would you suggest I take until I resit? I have been told over and over that the longer the wait the lower the pass.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

read these 2 threads. Her next date for posting is the 1st and you need to have completed the first tip, she does request you take a week off from studying before starting her plan so you may be looking at the 15th March to give you time to do her first tip. Then looking at 49 days to do her plan so not asking you to wait too long but consider giving her plan a good try

https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/suzannes-plan-please-326121.html

https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/07-08-revision-314448.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you think your experience hindered you, it probably did. Do you recall going back in your mind to EMT ways when you were doing the test? You know you should be accessing the material in nursing texts and nursing review books for the NCLEX. Start over as if you have never tested. Take the advice to use Suzanne's plan. Many are successful using it. Give yourself time to thoroughly review the entire Saunders text and make conscious efforts to keep on track during the test.

Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i'm so sorry that you failed; i understand how you must be feeling right now.

as far as whether or not your experience hinders you, i think it did. i have a friend (lpn) who finishes her nursing school 5 years and can still not pass the nclex. she just went last week again, had 78q and failed. she is a very good and knowledgeable nurse has been an lpn for many years and she has helped me through nursing school. i believe her greatest problem is when she reads a question she answered it base on what she would do in real live. what is doesn't understand is that there is an nclex and the real world and when taking the nclex we need to answer the q base on the nclex world.

it is very hard for someone who has the experience (skill) not to answer according to the real world.

my advice to you is do not give up!!

do as many questions as you can and always read the rationales whether or not you get them right.

please don't give up!:up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, OB.

I have always kept in mind to not think about the other stuff. Now I did have a question about amputation and care of the amputated part and I was like.. Oh good, I've had that question before!! (in EMT school). It's helpful to have the knowledge. I can read a 12 lead EKG like it's nobody's business. I have told myself that this is NCLEX and the perfect little NCLEX world. I have told myself that through every question.

I have decided to retake Kaplan (since I had issues with them having an instructor teach us who passed her NCLEX in November!! I was so mad!! The instruction was awful I never completed the class and did Hurst instead).

I believe that my problem is not the content or pathology but more on the lines of how to read the question. So from now until my 45 days... that's all I can do. I thought that the Hurst review was WONDERFUL!! But it's not the knowledge of medical stuff that is hurting me. I seemed to have a lot of Q on mental health which is my weakness. Yes, I know safety safety but I have a different point of view I guess. MH is a lot of "opinion" based answers..

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I hate mental health. I almost failed it!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, OB.

how did you get through mental health? Is there maybe a different way you could suggest I learn it? Again, it's such a matter of opinion. MH is one of those things where the patients are just very unpredictable! I need help with this subject!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Whatever you do DO NOT GIVE UP. You have made it through nursing school and many fail NCLEX but with determination and the right study plan you can pass it.

Quoted for truth!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am going to be very up front with you.

Worst thing that you can possibly do is to focus on retaking the exam as soon as you can. That is where we seen the most failures happen as well. Like when you see the people that have tested 8 times in a year or two and cannot seem to pass the exam.

This exam is also dealing with nursing issues as well as what a nurse can do and cannot do. There are significant differences as to what a paramedic can do in the field as well as what a nurse can do. Roles work side by side, but can be quite different as well.

You have to draw the lines when preparing for this exam and focus on only what the RN can do in that role. Take the paramedic out of the equation.

I will be more than happy to help you prepare, but you would have to do it my way and without anything else, including any other review programs.

Your choice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am confused. I will be finished with the saunders part of suzanne's plan within a couple of days. There is a posting that says she sending something out on the 1st. does this mean I have to pm her by then?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion