Failed the NCLEX-RN 6 times - Trying fix the problems - Help needed!

[chcguy88]

Hello allnurses!

Back story:

I am trying to study for my next NCLEX-RN exam. I graduated nursing school in 2012 and have put my life on hold for almost 2 years now trying to pass this darn exam. It isn't for lack of trying to pass. I have studied this material more times than I can count. The last time I took the exam I was right on the edge of passing but just shy of it.

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Things I have done to pass:

I have done Kaplan, Hurst review, Saunders CD + studying the entire book, studying Kaplan book/cd (not the course online this time), and self made study guides based on stuff I found on here (last one was 128 pages long), countless apps for android to prep on the go, I also backed up/studied all the questions from the Kaplan qbank for reference/study.

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What is wrong:

I have horrible test anxiety. I always scored low on exams due to nerves throughout my life - even on things I know backwards and forwards. I also was diagnosed with A.D.D after the 4th exam.(As a result, I don't count those exams) With the help of adderall, my scores have improved by 15-20% consistently. I was top in all my clinicals in nursing school and anything that wasn't an exam.

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What should I do:

The areas according to a practice test I am struggling in is the following. I did this after taking a 1 month break so my subjects are a bit rusty but it is consistent when what I normally score for these areas. I am aiming for a 75% score on all of these subjects.

Client needs

Psychosocial Integrity - 50%

Safe and Effective care environment - 66%

Integrated Process

Caring - 0%

Communication and Documentation - 50%

Nursing Process - Assessment - 62%

Nursing Process - Implementation - 65%

Content area-

Fundamental Skills - 71%

Issues in Nursing - 33%

Maternity - 41%

Pediatrics - 60%

I have no clue what "Care" entails. As a guy, Maternity and Peds is a difficult subject to master. Mainly due to not being interested in those fields but I know I need to somehow get through them.

Almost all of my NCLEX exams have been 200-265 questions long with the majority multiple multiples/ alternative questions.

If anyone can help me figure out how to get out of this failing cycle, please let me know. Any sources to strengthen me on these subjects/ learn them better would help tremendously.

Thanks for taking the time to read/comment.

[Mainergal2000]

Have you done Michael Linares?

[chcguy88]

I have. I forgot to mention that one.

[Love81]

Have you done Ncsbn Nclex review?

[dbrenda1510]

Sounds like you are good on content but may need strategy help. Look up the group NURSES on Facebook. The lady that manages the site offers workshops and the one on strategy is great.

[auchiepie]

Sounds like you are good on content but may need strategy help. Look up the group NURSES on Facebook. The lady that manages the site offers workshops and the one on strategy is great.

I agree with brenda1510. Maybe you need to focus more on strategy. If you do kaplan look into the decision tree and really follow it and use the tips on how to use it efficiently. I passed by the grace of god with kaplan decision tree-on my 5th attempt may I add.

[soofresh]

Michael Linares, is he any good?

[HappyRN14]

Hey, first of all, I give you props for not giving up here. I don't know how I would have kept it up if this were my situation. Good for you, seriously. I too have horrible test anxiety. I was literally bawling my eyes out regularly because I was so nervous about the exam! I just passed last week on my first attempt! So here's my advice: I do agree with some of the above posters: you need strategy review. Honest to God, your content is probably great, but if you keep reviewing content it's not going to help you pass. If you're used to Kaplan (and Kaplan is the only NCLEX prep I used), then focus on using the decision tree, all the NCLEX "traps" they tell you about, and continue practicing using all these strategies they give you on EACH AND EVERY question. I cannot recommend this enough. Believe me, the more I started focusing on keeping the patient safe and preventing complications while using all the other strategies on practice questions, the more I started seeing my scores go up. Don't answer questions based on knowledge or what you reviewed in your content. Base them off of "what's going to cause the least amount of harm to the patient" and "who's the most unstable, acutely ill/injured patient I should see first" (meaning, who could literally die within a short period of time if I don't get my butt in there!). One more thing, make sure you're not answering questions based off of "real world" situations. ALWAYS use "textbook" thinking when answering NCLEX questions. I sincerely hope this helps you a little (if you didn't already know some of these strategies). I wish you the best of luck! YOU CAN DO IT!