failed nclex-rn

AcosmicRN · Jun 5, 2004

Man, that sucks. I'm sorry to hear you have to wait until Sept. Can I ask you a couple of questions, though? It's not really for me (I take the NCLEX on Monday) it's for all the future nursing students I know who are going to ask me about the NCLEX (on our floor we have a lot of nursing students). Were you in an ADN program? If so, what were your grades in Level 1-4? How long did you wait after graduation to take the exam, or did you just graduate this May? What did you do to prepare for the NCLEX? And most of all, do you think your school let you down?

Good luck to you. If you don't want to answer me, I understand.

Acosmic

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2004

Man, that sucks. I'm sorry to hear you have to wait until Sept. Can I ask you a couple of questions, though? It's not really for me (I take the NCLEX on Monday) it's for all the future nursing students I know who are going to ask me about the NCLEX (on our floor we have a lot of nursing students). Were you in an ADN program? If so, what were your grades in Level 1-4? How long did you wait after graduation to take the exam, or did you just graduate this May? What did you do to prepare for the NCLEX? And most of all, do you think your school let you down?
Good luck to you. If you don't want to answer me, I understand.
Acosmic

i was in the ADN program. ill answer.

i never made less than a B. my GPA was 3.6, i waited 3 months to take the exam, i did nothing to prepare for nclex, because i heard that either you knew it or you didnt, i passed w/ 91 questions ( :sad: ) and my school adequately prepared me for sure.

vmburg · Jun 6, 2004

Sorry to hear about your boards. Suggestions: Take a review class, get an NCLEX review book. Most books have a cd in them. Test on the cd until you consistantly score 80% on all test. You will probably pass next time. Preparation and good test taking skills mean everything. :coollook:

CA CoCoRN, RN · Jun 6, 2004

I am also a previous grad of an ADN program. I graduated that February, began to work with my IP, while training in Critical care. Finished my Critical care course successfully that April, then, since that pressure was off, I took my boards. I was scared because I was already working as an RN and if I failed I wouldn't have been employed.

I took the exam on a Friday, and received my results that next Saturday. I passed with 75 questions, in just over an hour of exam time.

I did not "study" to pass the test. Prior to graduating my college administered the Mosby's Assess test, a sort of predictor of approximate pass/fail rates. It predicted with a 98% "certainty" that I'd pass. My college is known for turning out a superior quality of nurses (not bragging, that's what other folks say 'bout us), and I was well prepared by all of my courses.

loerith · Jun 6, 2004

The fact that they licence people based on that mutiple choice test is ...well....scary. You could be the best potential nurse in the world and fail it.

Regards,

loerith

vmburg · Jun 6, 2004

The fact that they licence people based on that mutiple choice test is ...well....scary. You could be the best potential nurse in the world and fail it.
Regards,
loerith

You are so right!!!!! I have worked with RNs that I just couldn't figure out how they passed. I do realize that this passing is to represent a basic knowledge, enough to keep from killing someone. :rotfl: But some don't have it after years of floor work. LOL Then again there are some that definitely should continue there education because they know it so in depth.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 6, 2004

Try to do 3000 to 4000 of the review questions on the various CDs that are about, such as Saunders,Mosby,Lippincott, etc.

Also understand why the incorrect answers are wrong. There is also learning how the questions will be stated, and remember what you are going to answer in that exam may not be what you have been doing.

shodobe · Jun 6, 2004

Try to do 2 days of testing and take 5 sections of 200+ questions in each and have to wait 8 weeks or more! This what I had and many others had to do 28 years ago. I think it is great that you can take your test on a computer, without hundreds of others in the same room, and be at least a little more comfortable. There are no "storm troopers" breathing down your neck, you don't go out in the parking lot at lunch time and find out your answer to a question is different than 20 other people. Then you have to wait. I had to wait at least 8-10 weeks before I got that letter in the mail and was afraid to open it fearing the worst! You, on the other hand, find out in sometimes a week. All of these new innovations are great, but I think the old ways are the best, you have to take the mandated number of questions instead of the computer determining the number of questions you are allowed to take. This has never made sense to me. Like one poster said, either you know it or you don't. I also can't see how some nurses passed their boards, I guess they just were the luckiest person in the world on that particular day. If they took it again they would fail miserably. I just wish everybody luck on your boards because I know how stressful it can be. I HAD to pass, no two ways about it. I didn't want to wait another 6 months to repeat. In my time you only had to retake the section you failed, ie-peds, M/S. Today do you have to retake the entire exam? Just curious. Good luck to everyone, I wish you all well and remember alot of people do pass on their second try. Mike

AcosmicRN · Jun 6, 2004

One of my goals as I enter my 40's is to always resist the urge to tell younger people how easy they have it--especially when they just failed the NCLEX. Just a personal goal I have set for myself.

Acosmic

featherzRN, MSN · Jun 6, 2004

Heh I only WISH they tested like this when I did my NCLEX. I had to take the two day, sit down, scantron (#2 pencil anyone?) type. I am one of those people who loves multiple choice (meaning I am a good guesser) so I would have loved to take a test that would get me home in an hour or two instead of two whole days inside a hot auditorium in Las Vegas. :) Plus we had to wait two months for results.

When I was your age I walked two miles in the snow barefoot.. etc etc etc.. :)

Seriously tho, I am sorry to hear you failed. I am sure you will get it next time! :) I didn't study much for mine-the test was only held twice a year back in 'the day' so I had 6 months working on an interim permit before I took it - I just crossed my fingers and went ahead after going through the limited study guides I had at that time.

shodobe · Jun 6, 2004

I am sorry if I sound like an old geezer. I just feel bad for all who have to go through that kind of test. So many have sat down and started the test only to have it stop after 75 or slightly more questions. Must be down right demoralizing and frustrating. Everyone knows they will probaly pass it the second time. Either you know your stuff or you don't. Hang in there things will get better.