Failed NCLEX-RN 3rd time :(

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So I just found out a couple of hours ago that I failed my NCLEX-RN for the third time with 265 questions. The graduated nursing school in October of 2015 so the fact that I am not an RN by now leaves me feeling so embarrassed beyond words. I know that I am more than capable and I know that I know my material but for some reason this exam is something that I cannot overcome. When I took it for the first time in March of 2016 (I know I waited a long time after graduation I just have really bad anxiety) I knew that I was just ready, I failed around 93 questions, I flew through the exam and just did not feel like it was normal for me to have blown through it. My second time was taken 6 months later in September, I sat there for 6 hours and DID NOT COMPLETE THE TEST IN TIME, I know how crazy 6 hours and I couldn't even finish, when I realized how much time I had left and how many questions I had left (this time I knew it was taking me all the way to 265) I started to rush because I knew that running out of time was pretty much a FAIL. I failed, again, second time I was crushed but I had to hit the books, from these two times I did Kaplan, ATI, UWORLD, had a private tutor. Honestly I love UWORLD, I have probably given them thousands of dollars by now. Anyways I left 2017 go by and all I did was study, I didn't even attempt the exam in 2017 because I was too scared. Now 2018 came along and I took the exam Monday March 5th with the FLU (which I currently still have). I started the exam at 8 a.m. and finished at 11:30 a.m. completing all 265 questions. I left the exam uncertain I had no idea but most of me felt like I failed because all I've ever done was fail this exam. I checked around 10 a.m. today and saw FAIL and immediately started to cry. I felt so stupid even though I know that I have knowledge within me. I am trying my hardest not to let this get me down, I know that I am more than capable and all I want is to see the word PASS and finally be an RN. The thing I did differently this time was NOT TELL A SINGLE SOUL about my exam other than my boyfriend who I live with, this makes me feel a lot better because I don't have to tell anyone about my failure and I can just hit the books again and take it mid April (which I am going to I will not wait longer than I have to again). I am reaching out for not only support but for suggestions about which review route I should take now. I am not completely over UWORLD but I am going to just use that as doing questions here and there if I decide to tackle it again, but I wouldn't just do UWORLD alone. I am completely against doing Kaplan again I did it twice once in the classroom and once online and it just doesn't provide me with what I feel I need. I heard about HESI I heard about HURST (I am sorry if I have those two incorrect I don't know much about them) but I really am looking for help about which road of review I should go down. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LEAVE ALL THE FEEDBACK ANYONE AND EVERYONE CAN! I AM WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PASS THIS EXAM AND WILL PAY FOR ANYTHING THAT ANYONE FEELS AS THOUGH IS THE BEST PREPARATION. I am trying so hard to keep it together and not come completely crashing down. Also, I feel like where I went wrong was the put in order questions where you drag them in the box, I felt as though I had a lot of them popping up and would love to know if any reviews focus on them more than others but like I said I just want to prepare the best way possible. PLEASE HELP! and thank you for reading and listening.

- keliz (who really wants to PASS)

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im sorry i know what you're feeling, i am a repeat test taker too. have you tried the PVT trick by chance? im waiting for my results too. and what study materials did you use this time? just hang in there dont give up, just keep on trying, next time maybe change your approach and study materials. i did uworld as well, i love it! its more harder than the actual nclex test. im still praying that i passed the test this time, i tried the trick and i got the good pop up.

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I used uworld and saunders together and I felt like that combo was amazing. The Saunders NCLEX book gives awesome straight to the point reading material and over 2000 questions. As far as uworld, I finished all the questions and printed out their images to have something to actually highlight and look at as well as flashcard the info I didn't know. I was below overall average but made sure I understood the rationales and even though uworld told me I was borderline to pass, I passed my first time with 75 questions. When you do uworld, do the quizzes with the timer and test mode. If you do automatic feedback and get a question wrong, it'll throw you off the next question and you'll see a pattern. I did all uworld questions and a good amount of Saunders. Just try to understand rationales and go with your gut instinct, even if I was right on a question, I would read the rationale. I was your average B nursing student and those materials really helped me.

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May I ask how you were studying? How many hours you studied, did you take notes, etc.? I personally used only UWORLD on and off during my final semester but a month before the actual NCLEX, I took 50 or 75 questions mocked exams every day and really studied the rationales. My school also forced us to get 900+ on the Hesi RN exit exam before graduating and I think that somewhat helped. One tidbit is never change your first choice of answer unless you're absolutely sure you're wrong.

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I definitely failed, I live in ny so I can find out within 48 hours. I did uworld and am in the 98th percentile on world, above average on pretty much everything so thats why this is so hard for me to digest because I am doing so well on everything. Wish you all the best thank you for your response. I am going to try everything I can to to pass in April. I am going to continue to do uworld because it's always great to just continue to do questions but I am definitely going to incorporate more things. I have the Saunders book but it is from a couple years ago so I definitely want to get a newer one. I am so saddened by this I did about 200 questions a day, made a notebook and would write down everything I got wrong and would read it and then would have my boyfriend quiz me on it and star the ones I didn't know and then we'd go back to them. I really thought I had it all figured out but I guess I need to just dive in a little more, maybe set aside separate hours some for just questions and some for just rationales and things I do not understand or am getting wrong. Do you think it is worth it for me to do the HESI exit exam and the study material they offer on top of uworld and a new Saunders book? I emailed someone from HESI to get more information and they said that pretty much if you pass their exit exam then you will pass the NCLEX. I just want to do everything I can and devote my life to this because this is truly my passion and I want to take the exam ASAP so that I do not let as much time go by like I did last time. Thank you all for your responses it truly means a lot. It also doesn't help that I am reading NCLEX-RN failed blogs posted by other people and reading horrible comments that people leave stating if you fail more than 3 times than you aren't good enough to be a nurse and you should decide on another career path, it's really hurtful and I am trying not to let that get to me.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, Peds.

What really helped me was changing the way I approach questions. I love TootRN videos on youtube. I also used UWorld and LaCharity Delegation, Prioritization book, and Lippencott's Alternate Format Questions. I felt those really prepared me for the exam. I started using them in my second semester. For me I also did maybe between 50-100 questions a day. I didn't bombard myself. I did however focus on the rationales for the questions I got wrong and skimmed over the ones I got right to make sure I got it right for the right reasons. I hope this helps in some way.

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Thank you for sharing this Keliz. You are an amazing individual and it is clear that you have compassion for nursing. Your ambitiousness will take you far in life. You WILL BE A WONDERFUL NURSE.

Just like you, I also have anxiety, and I know how awful it feels. That being said, I think you should simplify your NCLEX study habits and focus on the important details. With my anxiety, I felt like I needed to know every little thing, spending thousands of study materials that I never used--however, I realized that trying to do all that would hold me down from remembering the important details and stress me out from performing my best.

Personally, I just used 1 Saunders NCLEX study guide and UWorld. Read through and internalize the rationales for the answers.

Best of luck, please post any questions you have. We are all rooting for you

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Thank you for sharing this Keliz. You are an amazing individual and it is clear that you have compassion for nursing. Your ambitiousness will take you far in life. You WILL BE A WONDERFUL NURSE.

Just like you, I also have anxiety, and I know how awful it feels. That being said, I think you should simplify your NCLEX study habits and focus on the important details. With my anxiety, I felt like I needed to know every little thing, spending thousands of study materials that I never used--however, I realized that trying to do all that would hold me down from remembering the important details and stress me out from performing my best.

Personally, I just used 1 Saunders NCLEX study guide and UWorld. Read through and internalize the rationales for the answers.

Best of luck, please post any questions you have. We are all rooting for you

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Hi,

By reading your story I do believe that you already know your material. This time, try to approach and answer the question with different strategy. I am not saying Im genius or whatever but honestly I didn't study as much as I supposed to for my NCLEX RN, i just learned how to answer question that I do not know of. I'm a C+ to B student and I manage to pass NCLEX RN with 75 questions on my first attempt. I used Saunders (to review my weakness), Uworld (mostly used it every now and then) and Lippincot alternate format book (just a couple of pages). Whenever I use Uworld, I set it in test mode with 75 questions and scored around 60's. Set a goal on your daily practice, I suggest do to 75 questions every day and aim for 50'-60's. Read the rationale after and try to understand it. Goodluck and hopefully the next time you'll take NCLEX would be your last. Take a rest the day before your test and try to keep calm during the exam. The first 75 questions is crucial so try your very best for it! Best of luck!

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Heeeeey!!! I'm from NY too and I just took my nclex exam on March 9th and got my results today and sadly I also failed. I'll be taking the exam again in April and praying that I will pass! The comments here are really awesome and gave me some tips. I pray that you will also pass next time. Here's to us and passing!!!! G oodluck with the studying!!

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I'm in the same boat as you...took mine for fourth time and failed..I took mine March 9th. I feel so defeated but I know I can't give up. I'm also planning to take mine again in the next 6-8wks. I've been searching so many blogs/support groups for help. I feel like I know the content but I just haven't mastered answering the questions. I'll be definitely taking the tips a few ppl left on here! Thanks to you guys! All feedback helps..

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I took mine march 9 and found out sunday i passed. I have really bad anxiety but i think what helped me was taking testing questions. I got 75 questions and finished in a 1 hour. Lacharity and Uworld were best. I did most of uwolrd (more than 50% questions then 1 assessment then 1 week before i did the second one). i finished all of the test bank. I spent 5 hours a day at the library and 12+ on the weekends. I was b/c student and repeat pedi/maternity student. The key is to do 75 from uworld and really look at the answers to why you got them right or wrong and like 2 case studies from lacharity. Then id go back and reanswer the ones that i got wrong in uworld but id use the abc first then if that doesnt narrow it down id pick using maslow. But i felt like the nclex wasnt bad at all for me which is crazy cus i literally had an anxiety attack a few days before and was givie ativan for a few days.

Abc

Maslow

kaplan stem

Look for opposite choices like hot vs cold or up vs down

If all else fails like you really dont know look at the answers and see which would correlate best with what they are asking. The 1 med that i got i answered it based off of the answers 2 were very similar choices.

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