failed nclex

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I recently graduated in May and failed the NCLEX. Currently I am preparing again to retest in 45 days. I am fearful of the testing experience again! When I tested the first time I expected the test to shut off at 75, when it didn't I freaked out. I was freaking out for a long time cause I took the entire 265?s. After the test I just knew I failed, and two days later I got the results and my hunch was right, I failed. I had already had a job lined up for me and had to tell them I failed the exam. I have never felt so humiliated, ashamed, embarassed, dumb, etc. in my life. My job offered me a position to work as a tech and I declined out of embarassement. I knew failing the NCLEX was a horrible downer, but having to face many of the people I went to schoool with on a regular basis and explain why I was working as a tech was just too much. So now I am trying to build confidence in my ability to pass and remind myself I am smart, I just underestimated the test. I guess I was one of the few who expected the test to be a breeze like nursing school. What an idiot I was! This message is posted for anyone who is in the same position as me or has any pointers on building confidence. I honestly believe I failed the first time cause although I thought the test would be easy I had so much anxiety especially after the test failed to shut off at 75. I was thinking the whole time I was taking the test that I was gonna fail. So this time I'm gonna make sure I fee like I'm gonna pass.

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Did you sit down at your computer and do any CD's? I really believe that anxiety is the biggest causer of failing the test. I did over 3000 questions on my computer and just got use to reading them. I had no anxiety at all when I took the exam and I feel it is because I sat down for that test the same way I sat down at home. Practice with the CD's do a hundred or so a day and read the rationals of the ones you get wrong.

Good luck, attitude is a big factor too!

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don't let one bad test get you down. there are many good nurses who don't pass on the first, second, or third times. i just took the exam on friday. it shut off at 75 questions. i thought it was extremely vague in manner and all choices to questions were potential good ones. if you ask me, i don't think it is even a good assessment or predictor of what kind of nurse one will be. you sound like you know what you need to do for the next time. i thought the kaplan trainer cd was exactly like actual nclex exam. maybe do the series of all 7 test(kaplan trainer) 3-4 times just so you can get used to that sort of questioning. One test per day is more than enough. And most of all, don't let this get you down-you are a smart person who just underestimated the nclex. you will pass with flying colors next time. good luck and congratulations, because you will be a RN in 45 days!:)

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Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I have actually been using the Kaplan Trainer CD and Saunders 4-wk online review, and F.A. Davis questions cd. So far the studying is going great with the sources I am using. I am taking my studying more seriously and haven't gotten a grade below 70%, but average scores of 80% on the questions I've been doing. Thank goodness, cause I really need a confidence booster. I look forward to joining you in the ranks as a RN in 26 days. Wow the 45 days is almost over! I'm assuming you passed your test. Let me know your results if you feel like sharing. And if you haven't gotten them yet, be sure to go to PearsonVue online to get them. And relax because once the test is over there's really nothing more you can do than relax.

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don't let one bad test get you down. there are many good nurses who don't pass on the first, second, or third times. i just took the exam on friday. it shut off at 75 questions. i thought it was extremely vague in manner and all choices to questions were potential good ones. if you ask me, i don't think it is even a good assessment or predictor of what kind of nurse one will be. you sound like you know what you need to do for the next time. i thought the kaplan trainer cd was exactly like actual nclex exam. maybe do the series of all 7 test(kaplan trainer) 3-4 times just so you can get used to that sort of questioning. One test per day is more than enough. And most of all, don't let this get you down-you are a smart person who just underestimated the nclex. you will pass with flying colors next time. good luck and congratulations, because you will be a RN in 45 days!:)

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I have actually been using the Kaplan Trainer CD and Saunders 4-wk online review, and F.A. Davis questions cd. So far the studying is going great with the sources I am using. I am taking my studying more seriously and haven't gotten a grade below 70%, but average scores of 80% on the questions I've been doing. Thank goodness, cause I really need a confidence booster. I look forward to joining you in the ranks as a RN in 26 days. Wow the 45 days is almost over! I'm assuming you passed your test. Let me know your results if you feel like sharing. And if you haven't gotten them yet, be sure to go to PearsonVue online to get them. And relax because once the test is over there's really nothing more you can do than relax.

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In reading your post,it sounds as though you are going through a very normal process. As soon as you are finished beating yourself up, you'll pick yourself up, dust yourself off and begin to hold your head up high again. If you found nursing school to be a breeze then you're obviously no dumb bell. You've recieved some excellent advice from the posters above ^^. Even though I'm among the top students in my class, I fully intend to take a Kaplan type course before I attempt the NCLEX. You'll see, you'll work through this. You are driven - I can read it in your posts. I know you'll pass it the next time around. Best of luck!!!!

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I recently graduated in May and failed the NCLEX. Currently I am preparing again to retest in 45 days.

Wow. Can you retake your test earlier or is there a time period you have to wait to retake the test? 45 days seem so long. And did you take RN or PN test?

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

you sound like you are very hard on yourself and your expectations. you mentioned that nursing school was a breeze so you thought that the test would be too. the one thing that some people fail to realize about the nclex is that it is a test to be respected. it is your career and livelihood. i am not saying that you didn't feel this way, but it sounds like you may have slightly taken for granted that you didn't need much preparation. with all that said, your response is normal. it is especially hard when you have a job lined up already. i passed at 265 the first time and my friend failed at 75, so that is not a factor. you are doing the right thing by studying the cd roms. do at least 200 questions per day and you will be fine. look at the bright side....at least you don't have to wait 3 months to retest like before. i know you can do it. think positive. post your name on your refrigerator with RN behind it, that way every day you can be encouraged and motivated. god bless and keep your head up!!

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TO ALEXANDER:

You are right, I don't know why I underestimated the test. I should have taken it more seriously. I've never been that great in a classroom setting, I've always had to teach myself so I did not sign up for Kaplan or any test prep course. You are right, it doesn't matter how smart you are, you need to go into the test prepared. Especially when you have NCLEX questions to look forward to. Man are the questions so akward. I'm finally beginning to get use to them. It has helped me to study the categories the NCLEX tests you on like Management of Care, Physiological Integrity, etc. I've found that just knowing what category the question belongs to helps me to figure out what answer they want. I'm proud of you for not being cocky and enrolling in a test prep class despite you high performance in school.

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TO graduatenurse vbmenu_register("postmenu_856753", true); :

In my state, KS you can retest in 45 days. My original test date was on the 15th of July, I will be retesting on the 30th of this month. So that's not too bad, it's much better than having to wait 90 days like it is in 8 states( I think it's 8 states with that policy). Honestly although I am missing the money, I'm happy they make you wait a bit because I was so distraught at first, if I would have gone back so soon I would probably have just failed. I feeling great this time around and look forward to testing so I can call myself an RN. Oh I guess that answered your question, I took the NCLEX-RN.

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TO ANGEL337:

I agree with everything you said. I am very hard on myself, I always expect the best. There has never been room for failure for me, and I am learning the hard way how to cope. However I am doing fine now that there's been some time and because I can vent on this post. I must say this post is very therapeutic and your comments are as well. I can tell you are a nurse and a good one, you comments are positive, constructive and therapeutic! And I guess saying I did not have respect for the test might be a little inaccurate, I think I was too busy carrying the weight of my BIG HEAD to even respect or disrespect the test. I am happy I can retest at the end of this month. And I'll do what you said I'll post my name on my fridge with RN behind it to remind me of what I am aiming for and what exactly I have been working for the past 4 yrs. Congrats on passing too. I hope to join you soon. Thanks for the advice.

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I am right there with ya... Breezed through nursing school while working full time - I studied some to make A's and B's but it wasnt a big struggle. I had some anxiety before the test about FAILING, and I got 265 questions... I had a major anxiety attack after 140 and the rest was mainly a blur..... I also attended the Kaplan course when there was a lot of stuff going on in my life and the teacher wasnt very good. I have since taken a break, sprained my ankle, quit working, and going to take the Kaplan Course next week. Have you used the Saunder's Review book? I havent opened it yet but have heard many good things about it. I am scheduled for the NCLEX on August 31 for the 2nd and LAST time!!! GOOD LUCK to you!

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