Failed NCLEX

[bsn3332, BSN]

Hey, I graduated nursing school last year and since then I have taken my exam 4 times (which my last was just June 7th). I didnt pass that one either. I have tried everything from hurst, kaplan, saunders, ati but im still not passing. I wanted to know does the NCSBN work? Im so frustrated with everything I want to give up on this nursing nclex thing maybe it wasn't meant to be for me.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I found the NCSBN relatively unhelpful in terms of content (it was a brief and more of an overview of stuff you might still have to look up because the info was not there), but the questions were great. They were very difficult and it helped a lot to understand the rationale behind their answers. I hope that helps.

[Clubsingr28, ASN, RN]

BUY IT!! Forget the "overinflated" lengthy wording of the Q's in the study guides, I have dozens of NCLEX study books but ncsbn was the best $50.00 I spent. I bought the 3 week program right before my NCLEX- They are the writers of the NCLEX. There's tons of content (if you feel like reading it all). But it sums up everything you need then there are great practice questions. It teaches you "how" to answer the questions. NCLEX is all about the "art of test-taking" and less about true nursing knowledge. Good luck to you. I just took the exam yesterday so now I wait...

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

One more for NCSBN...the NCLEX is about 4 key concepts you need to become a licensed nurse:

Application of Safe and Effective care, Health Promotion, Psychological Integrity, and Physiological Integrity. It IS about nursing care, and combines knowledge and nursing process.

NCSBN is a great source, and their questions will adequately prepare you for the NCLEX.

[nyteshade, BSN]

You passed nursing school...don't give up now. Maybe it is time to re-evaulate your study habits? Good luck.

[grad.rye.2012]

If you have made 4 attempts, it means that you know your stuff because you have actually studied all 4 times. I would highly suggest you take learningext.com course from NCSBN. They have some questions that were somewhat similar to the actual NCLEX-RN exam. I took 8 week course and I am an International Nurse from Toronto, Canada. I wrote my exam yesterday and got a good pop-up on Pearson Vue, so looks like I passed. For you, I think even 3 weeks is enough (will save you money). Use the course only for questions, because the course content is too much to absorb (a normal person can't actually sit and go over it all... I did it initially, but couldn't keep up with the load later). So do all the practice quizzes, tests etc. and read their rationale. Sometimes, it may make you angry to not get some questions right, and their rationales do not tell you why you were wrong; they only explain the rationale for the right answer (which is their drawback). But practice makes you perfect; keep practicing! Do lots of practice questions!! I found Kaplan and all other practice books to be much easier than the actual exam. NCSBN was very much comparable with NCLEX-RN. So make your decision wisely. I am not saying don't do practice questions from Kaplan, Saunders, Lippincott; but I am suggesting you to be mindful of the fact that their questions are a bit easier. But practice from every resource possible.

When I was doing the exam, I thought I was failing and almost gave up. I couldn't imagine myself studying again for this exam because I put a lot of hard work and efforts into this. So I somewhat know how you may be feeling. Please don't give up!! Do this for yourself!! You finished nursing school for a reason... and remind yourself that reason everyday to motivate you to study. Failing NCLEX doesn't mean anything; it simply means you have to change your strategies of studying. So good luck!

[bsn3332, BSN]

And all the 4 times i have taken it I been getting all 265 questions.

[Beelady]

Pray!,,,,,,

[tiss]

Getting all 265 questions means you were close to passing each time, like the othe people have said, try something different this time like NCSBN. Please don't give up; pray for God's guidance as you prepare to take it again. Good luck

[ONELUV-RN]

If you have gotten all 265 questions each time that means that you were almost at the passing mark. You have to remember to put each question you are asked in your own words. In most cases you will have to assess before you do anything else. Remember also, Maslow's Hiearchy of Needs (physiological before pyschosocial) and your ABC's. You are not the only person who has trouble with taking tests (extreme anxiety is usually the cause). I am the same way myself. The thing is that you have got to pick yourself up and learn the needed strategies in order to pass the test. I can attest to that.

Do not focus on the time or get bogged down too long with one question. You still need to take your time and ask yourself what is this question asking me (in fewer words than what is in the question itself). I do believe that if you survived nursing school you will be able to conqueror the NCLEX.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

Don't give up!!! You worked too hard to get where you are! As a nursing student about to begin in the Fall, I don't yet know what you have gone through, but I know when someone needs encouragement and you do! Pray, RELAX, I would say take the practice ones I see online a dozen times! Good luck!!!! You can do it!

[777RN, BSN, RN]

Hi!

If I were to use only one resource to prepare for the NCLEX it would be NCSBN's learningext.com. A friend of mine used it as her sole resource. I used it along with the Kaplan book for strategies and a brief content review (Davis's NCLEX-RN Notes) to pass last week. It's easy to become bogged down by too many study resources. Really, NCSBN's program is all you need. In fact, I would completely skip the content review (it's way too time-consuming) and go straight to the question banks at the bottom of the screen.

Also, as I mentioned in another post, the instructors at my school strongly suggested that we tell NO ONE our NCLEX dates. I took their advice to heart and didn't tell a single soul (not even my husband). I was able to relax, knowing that I was the only one who knew I was taking the exam that day. If I had failed, no one would have known but me and that really lessened the pressure!

Finally, in addition to mrslab's helpful points, on prioritization questions you'll often times be asked who should the nurse see first. In such cases, you're looking for the most unstable patient. So, you're looking for the unexpected (sudden changes, unexpected responses). Expected responses (such as pain after surgery, in general) do not warrant top priority, whereas a steep drop in blood pressure would!

You made it through nursing school, which some say is worse than combat, so there's absolutely no reason that you can't pass the NCLEX. Good luck!