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

[erjunkie8]

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...

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

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?

Yes you need to send the pm before the 1st

[Alicia0514]

erjunkie8,

I read your post, and I do believe having experience in the medical field hinders our ability in some ways to be successful with the NCLEX - RN. I say this because I am an LPN and have been in the medical field for 8 years now, and I also did not pass my boards recently. This test does not expect the taker to pick up on details and rationalize the way we do in the "REAL WORLD." Which despite knowing this, I still think we tend to utilize our knowledge when taking the test.

The best solution now is to focus on the future. I have researched Suzanne's plan, and have read many posts where people have been successful by following her plan. I am going to participate in her plan and I encourage you to do so as well. The one thing I have to mention that many people forget, is you must follow her plan exactly and that means doing ONLY HER PLAN and nothing else. I say that because I see many posts that states people are going to incorporate other study plans with it. Suzanne makes it very clear not to do this.

Suzanne's plan is free, if it is any consolation to you, because I noticed you stated you are struggling for reimbursement from Kaplan.

I wish you the best, but most of all I hope that you will continue to strive for the end result here your license. It is very evident that you have persevered through many obstacles, and now the time has come to enjoy these struggles you have endured.

[glory_devine]

"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."

I agree strongly with that previous posting. You need to give yourself time to relax and rethink things, and then get the ball rolling. Suzannes plan I read on this site is very good so I think u should consider rolling that ball in the direction of her (Suzannes) plan.) Good luck to u on your future attempt of this Nclex.

[suzanne4, RN]

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?

I only do group mailings. And usually do them on the first and the 15th of each month, but it can vary by a day or two depending on my work schedule.

So it is always best to get in the pm several days in advance, but also be aware that my program is never sent out more than two months before the test date.

[JStyles1]

I mean this in the nicest way possible, but in your first post it sounds like you were a little full of yourself and you were a bit cocky about the test. Yes I'm sure your medic knowledge may have skewed your thought process a bit, and rightfully so. Being a medic and an RN are two different disciplines. The info presented on the NCLEX is a different world and should be the "right" information. Take "right" for what its worth. Keep your head up though and stick to it.

[erjunkie8]

I mean this in the nicest way possible, but in your first post it sounds like you were a little full of yourself and you were a bit cocky about the test. Yes I'm sure your medic knowledge may have skewed your thought process a bit, and rightfully so. Being a medic and an RN are two different disciplines. The info presented on the NCLEX is a different world and should be the "right" information. Take "right" for what its worth. Keep your head up though and stick to it.

well I can respect your honesty. I think that there is a difference between cocky and confident. I am by no means one of those "know it all" kind of people. In fact I never told any of my preceptors or instructors about my previous experience. I always felt that I shouldn't have to use that to earn respect from them. It wasn't until my last day of clinicals when it was said that I had previous experience. Becasue that was mentioned to the nurses on the unit (the unit I was going to be working in) I was treated differently and not in a bad way. The attitude I have with nursing and not acting like that is what got me the job in a very competative unit. Even the HR recruiter told me that she was very amazed that I was hired as a GN to that unit and specialty. If you are a GN they don't usually take you. Confidence will get you further than insecurity.

Since my education is in both nursing and emergency medicine it is important to know that they are different but so much the same as well. I feel that paramedics dont get the amount of respect they deserve from nurses they interact with. Paramedics are always looked down upon by nurses. I feel that to me it is only a benefit that I can compare the two based on personal experience.

Paramedics are capable of many skills a RN is not allowed to do. It is also imperative that a paramedic not be what they call a "cookbook medic". They use the same kind of critical thinking as a nurse. Where one lacks the other does not. I love nursing but I also like the Emergency stuff too. I feel sometimes that paramedics have to have more "on the spot" knowledge that a nurse would use based upon trends and results. Nurses have the advantage of looking something up and asking another coworker. Paramedics must think and treat with no time to waste. Their judgement can make a huge difference in someones life. They are different but very much the same.

The requirements for state exams for paramedic and nursing are very different. I still can not understand how it is that you can not review your nclex with reviews and rationales to see what it was you were missing. How can you fix your misteaks if you are not given the chance to understand it.

I believe that a lot of nurses dont give paramedics enough respect. They have always looked down on them like they are stupid. I can say this myself since I have been on both ends of the fence in this career. It is sad that the one who takes the highest risk (running lights and sirens and traveling into high crime areas increasing their chance of injury to themselves and the community) gets paid and treated like they do. That end of emergency medicine will never be understood and that is unfortunate.

However, I chose nursing and am glad that I have added more keys to my education. Just becasue you have a hard time with a test does not indicate what you are truly capable of. Being cocky, confident and sure of yourself is what makes you great at what you do. You should be proud of the education and accomplishments you have made in your career choice(s), you worked hard for it.

Best of luck to you all...

[Bellarubia18]

I don't know if the original poster still needs help. It sounds to me like mental health questions are the issue. There are many questions that are testing therapeutic communication. There are certain ways that NCLEX wants you to react to patients...i.e. no advice, just reflection, validation, giving correct information.

[nicolegrow]

So I read all the threads and came to a conclusion. You can't focus on skills. Lots of people in the healthcare field can peform skills. What makes nursing different is the critical thinking. To pass the NCLEX-RN that is what you need to master. Not skills.

[nurseswan]

Hi, I have failed the test 2 times already. I wanted to know are you still helping people to pass their test. I can't find any updated post.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Please read this thread Suzanne's Plan is no longer available on this site - Nursing for Nurses