Failed the NCLEX-RN 4 times! =( Help!

Nursing Students NCLEX

Published

Hey guys,

So i failed the nclex 4 times. im devastated, embarrassed, and tired to say the least. its disheartening knowing that i gave everything i had and i still come up short. I put off a lot of things in my life just to study for this and i feel like i wasted my time, especially my money. its almost a year since i graduated and a lot of my classmates have passed and are doing well. im happy for them. but it sucks that im here still trying pass. after the 4th try, i tried studying again but my mind was just so cluttered and fatigued i just couldn't do it anymore. i know i need to get this but im just so drained. it's great knowing that i have a job when i finally do pass but it sucks having to go to work and tell coworkers and my family that i didn't pass over and over again. sometimes i'd make up a bs story just because im just so embarrassed. it hurts me the most because my family and close friends have done so much for me throughout nursing school with all the support. and i can't come through for them. i've done hurst and i love it. it gives amazing content. im probably going to do it again and then do kaplan. has anyone done the kaplan 2013-2014 strategies book? how did you like it? my friend also gave me her thick kaplan rn course book. anyone have any input on that? im probably going to take it again sometime in February (or whenever im ready). i've done kaplan q trainers 5 and 6 and scored 70's on them. maybe i should just do more questions. iunno. i think my biggest hurdle is fatigue while testing. if anyone has any suggestions on study plans/strategies, tips, study schedule or any words of encouragement i'd like to hear it because i sure as heck need it. im still keeping the dream alive. im not giving up. Thanks guys.

My sources of studying:

Hurst Review

Kaplan strategies book 2013-2014

La Charity priority book

Kaplan rn course book

Saunders q&a review cards

nclex 10000

any input on these reviews would be greatly appreciated =)

This is just my two cents.

It sounds like you have studied a lot. I believe you have a vast majority of nursing content in your head. I think I would just lay off the content and only do questions. My best friend who has been a nurse for eight years told me I needed to lay off the content and practice questions because I needed to be prepared for nclex types of questions. I did just that and passed the NCLEX on the first attempt.

So my suggestion to you would be:

*Lay off the content for a while and do lots of practice questions so you can get used to them. Kaplan's Q bank would be great because those question types are most like the NCLEX of all the review materials I used...(I used, Kaplan, ATI, Saunders, Lippincott, and a couple others I can't remember)

*Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before

*Eat breakfast before going. Also, drink some coffee on the way or something with a little sugar and caffeine to help charge you up and get you going

*Stick with your first mind!! Answer the question and move on quickly...you don't want to talk yourself out of why the answer you chose is now wrong

*Once you make it to question number 76 on the NCLEX, take a break...cause that means your still in the game ;) and this can be your time to stretch and allow your brain to relax and regroup for the remaining time you're testing.

*Last but not least, pray before you go in to start the testing process, and pray while your taking the test.

These are all the things I did in preparation for the NCLEX and during the NCLEX, I truly believed they helped me!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nothing I posted was illegal or did intentionally use copyrighted material for the whole world to see. If students who had a hard time passing the nclex than offering public sites to help sort precautions would be necessary for those who had a difficult time with the exam. I'm just helping people, people who had passed their knowledge when I tool my exam so that they will better prepped for the eXam. I did nothing wrong and I don't need a lecture from you or others who may think the actions of some (those who really wanna help others pass the exam) outweigh the good of publicizing information to help students. I have never posted copyright content. I can't believe I'm even typing a rebuttAl to you. Please have compassion and allow those who passed to share their knowledge so others can benefit. Trust me...Saunders, Kaplan, hurst, lacharity are benefitting financially from our post.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Nothing I posted was illegal or did intentionally use copyrighted material for the whole world to see. If students who had a hard time passing the nclex than offering public sites to help sort precautions would be necessary for those who had a difficult time with the exam. I'm just helping people, people who had passed their knowledge when I tool my exam so that they will better prepped for the eXam. I did nothing wrong and I don't need a lecture from you or others who may think the actions of some (those who really wanna help others pass the exam) outweigh the good of publicizing information to help students. I have never posted copyright content. I can't believe I'm even typing a rebuttAl to you. Please have compassion and allow those who passed to share their knowledge so others can benefit. Trust me...Saunders, Kaplan, hurst, lacharity are benefitting financially from our post.
Maybe the staff wasn't referring to you.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

MODERATOR NOTE:

You all (meaning the collective you not you you) can share all the knowledge you wish but you may not cut and paste or attach anything that is from a txt book if that text book or paid program materials. That purchased material is protected by copyright laws in the US. As per the terms of service...

No "spreading of copyrighted Material": Please do not upload, attach or post anything that is copyright or licensed without prior consent of the owner.
Saunders, Kaplan, Hurst, Lacharity are all copyright protected materials and the people who write them want their paycheck through the purchase of the materials and the classes.

Since we are on the subject....allnurses has NO study guide, endorses no study guide and offers NO guarantee to the accuracy of the study guides posted by members (yes I am talking about the one that floats around here)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm very sorry to hear about the trouble you are having regarding the exam. I just recently took the exam in Feb. and passed in 75 questions. I graduated this past December. I took the Kaplan live online class over a four day period one week after graduation; the class consisted of 2 sessions per day each 3 hours in length. I know you mentioned that you took Kaplan as well. My trainer scores were fairly consistent and needless to say I did NOT score above 60% on any trainer. My scores were as follows:

T 4 = 54%

T 5 = 57%

T 6 = 54%

T 7 = 59%

I finished 100 % of Qbank questions which I believe comes to approx. 1200 questions. My average for the Qbank was 59%. And I was all over the map with my averages on the qbank questions, one day I would do 50 questions and get a 78% then the next day do another 50 with a score of 55%, it was not consistent by any means. I did not study content from Kaplan's website, yes I did download the e-book but (although very thorough) it was overwhelming for me. So as a recommendation from a friend that previously passed, I purchased Saunders 5th edition Comprehensive (the yellow book) for content, and LaCharity for "who do you see first", "what takes priority" and "what can I delegate to UAP's and LPN's.

And that's all I used. I covered both books cover to cover; I gave myself a 5 week deadline until the exam. To start I would review content in Saunders in the morning for maybe 2-3 hours (of course with mini breaks) along with the end chapter questions then break for lunch then in the afternoon I would do a chapter of questions in LaCharity then I would finish up with 50 Qbank questions (along with reading each and every rationale). One week before the exam, I ran out of Qbank questions so I re-reviewed the qbank questions I got wrong. But still continued with Saunders in the am and LaCharity in the pm.

Can I ask what your study plan consisted of each time you took the exam? And also what transpired on the actual day during testing, i.e. how many questions did you take each exam, any breaks taken? How did you feel while taking the exams, anxiety and/or fatigue level?

I have to admit that in the past I did have terrible anxiety throughout school and during test taking times. I actually fainted in the first semester of school during lab once! Talk about embarrassing! But once I got a handle of it, things got much better. The day before my exam I took a dry run to the testing center to familiarize myself with timing and my surroundings (to negate the anxiety haha). The morning of the exam I had a nice breakfast (protein) and drove down. I already knew where I was going so I felt okay. I got there, began the exam and literally kicked my shoes off under the table (the testing people probably thought I was a weirdo or something but I didn't care). I did NOT rush at all, at some points I put my head down and stretched in my chair. I finished in 2 hours with a 10 minute break.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Waouh I didn't know about the instagram pages. I was about to give up on social media so I can focus on studying, their daily posts and youtube will help me a lot since I am a visual learner. Thanks a lot

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congratulations!!!! Im also using Saunders book and Kaplan, and the prioritization book. I can't afford buying other books. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.

Keep your head up, you will pass!

I haven't read the advice everyone else has given you but here is my advice...

1. Relax and know that everything will be okay.

2. Take a refresher course.

3. I used the Saunders CD and did around 100-150 questions a day.

4. Buy an NCLEX study book that teaches you how to read the NCLEX questions. This book saved my life. I had questions I knew nothing about, but the book teaches you what the NCLEX question is asking you and how to rule out answers...

Example:

Do not pick answers that have: always, all, never, only, must

5. Remember the basics... ABCs, Maslows, ADPIE (go to these for EVERY question)

6. When you are studying, take time to have fun and enjoy the day. This will help you.

That's all I can think of! I really do recommend finding an NCLEX book that helps teach you how to understand NCLEX questions and how to pick the correct answer.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

Its not embarrassing at all. The test is difficult and many nurses had to take the NCLEX over 5 times. You will pass. The race is not given to the swift, but to those who endures until the end. Hang in there until the end and the desires of your heart will be fulfilled. You know the material because you finished nursing school. Good luck:cat:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for this post!!:)

I purchased Kaplan and scored about the same scores that you did but I failed the nclex pn with 180 question, but I ran out of time. I was taking my time reading through all the questions but I will try saunders. I was thinking of purchasing Hurst but I wasn't sure.... :)

Thanks!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Did you retest yet? give us an update....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello, So I used Kaplan to study for NCLEX 100%, however I also used Saunders for SATA questions. I did all the Kaplan questions without reviewing the rationales. Then, watched all the videos on Kaplan website and took notes on everything stated. Then I used a different color font and read Kaplan RN course while taking notes on everything. Then I re-did all the kaplan questions and read the rationales. Then I reviewed my notes highlighting things. And then took the exam (2 months of studying)..passed 75 questions in 90 minutes

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment