Failed Nclex

RnSimmi · Feb 3, 2019

sorry to hear that! what did you study and how long did you study ? what questions you had hard time with /?

Vidia_08 · Feb 4, 2019

Hello! I understand and know how you feel. I've failed before too. But don't lose hope. You're almost there. I took Kaplan live class and based on our instructor's explanation when the computer keeps on giving you questions it means you were doing fine but the computer can't make any decisions yet. Since questions are Computer Adaptive Test type, the next question you'll get will be based on your answer to the current question. You have to get a string of correct answers before the computer decides that you pass. It was giving you more questions because it can't identify yet your level of competency. You're so close.

Answering 265 question is so stressful. I got 265 questions too when I passed but I made myself prepared for it. Every other day I'm answering 265 questions. And I'm doing it like a real exam set up. For example Monday I answered 265 questions. Next day I reviewed those questions. And look for those topics I didn't understand or know to other resources like Saunders & Hurst. I stopped thinking about the possibility that it can stop from 75. It helped me and didn't feel pressure when I reached question 75.

First thing you can do is relax. And start reviewing when you feel you're ready for it. Then evaluate yourself if which area you're lacking. Is it knowledge or is it strategy? Then focus more on that.

Kaplan helped me a lot on strategies. Specially on topics I don't know much about. Hurst helped me knowledge wise. Helped me understand well the important information you need to know. Saunders is good too, but it gives you so much information, and some of them are not really important. But it's a good source if you just want to look and understand a certain topic. UWorld is fine too, but I didn't use it much. It has better explanation though about each choices. At the end of the day, it's still depends on what type of learner you are. Kaplan and Hurst were the ones that worked best for me.

I hope this helps. Just keep on trying. God will give it to you at the right time. Good luck!

RN_Lady · Feb 4, 2019

Hello All

heres a little inspiration I’m hoping will help others .

unfortunatly I failed NCLEX-RN the first time. I had only used Uworld. I immediately started the process to retake and jumped right back into study .

the mistakes the first time I wasn’t clear on content also there is a special technique to answering NCLEX questions .

1) remember safety

2) emergency situations come before chronic illnesses

3) Maslow’s hieravhary of needs ( memorize them !)

4) know your labs . It’s amaxing how one lab will help you answer a question correctly.

Second Time I passed ! Computer shut off at 173 questions.

what I did to prepare.

i completed the hurst review online

i completed Kaplan qbank

i also completed uworld again.

my quizzes would range from 58-70%

firdt time around was 38-55%

when do practice quizzes I did questions in 25 increments to equal 100

i wanted to be able to focus on the rationales .

One week before the test I completed 75 question quizzes and did simulation tests

it worked wonders for me

when I finally arrived to take my NCLEX again

before each question I took a deep breath

my reasoning : keeps oxygen circulating to the brain . Your taking your time . Relieved all anxiety .

i hope this helps !

pat.calixto · Feb 4, 2019

Hi! I have taken the NCLEX 5 times in a row, the last one was just last month. I have been taking the exam since 2016 and I never stopped since. My review tool at first was saunders and kaplan then I switched to UWORLD and even took a sit in review class, but unfortunately the outcome was always negative. ? I have read and practiced different study approach but could not seem to get the right line of attack. I hope to get some feedback from all of you and I would really appreciate your advise. I sometimes think and feel that I should just stop pursuing my dream to become a RN.

allnurses Guide · Feb 5, 2019

If you have had to take it five times, unfortunately my advice would be to consider doing something else.

OP, consider taking a review course. Kaplan tends to teach you how to read the questions and learn how to eliminate wrong answers based on wording and inflection. Hurst focuses more on content. One or both of these could make a huge difference for you. Good luck. I know this hurts right now, but there is no reason why you can't go on to succeed.

Lololololoollkkgddfuih · Feb 6, 2019

The secret is mostly just doing practice questions over and over with most of these standardized tests. Compile you a question bank and just keep testing on them over and over. Try not to waste your time on what you already know. If you just give it a little more effort you will be done. The majority of the crap you won’t even remember 3 years into the job. Just take it day by day.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Feb 6, 2019

On 2/4/2019 at 11:54 AM, pat.calixto said:
Hi! I have taken the NCLEX 5 times in a row, the last one was just last month. I have been taking the exam since 2016 and I never stopped since. My review tool at first was saunders and kaplan then I switched to UWORLD and even took a sit in review class, but unfortunately the outcome was always negative. ? I have read and practiced different study approach but could not seem to get the right line of attack. I hope to get some feedback from all of you and I would really appreciate your advise. I sometimes think and feel that I should just stop pursuing my dream to become a RN.

You need a tutor to find out what you are not understanding. It could be not understanding the material or applying the knowledge or it could be not understanding what the question is asking you and how to eliminate 2 incorrect answers. Google NCLEX tutors and find one that is in your local area or one that can tutor via skype.

SN2432, RN, NP · Feb 7, 2019

I did Uworld only but i am switching to Kaplan and focusing on strategy more. i believe i freaked out and could not concentrate after a certain point was my big issue. alot of personal stress.

inthecosmos, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Feb 7, 2019

12 hours ago, SN2432 said:
I did Uworld only but i am switching to Kaplan and focusing on strategy more. i believe i freaked out and could not concentrate after a certain point was my big issue. alot of personal stress.

I would recommend Sanders as well. It was wildly helpful. Lippincott has great questions.

NursePatches · Feb 7, 2019

I don't mean to be rude, but near passing in every category kinda sounds like failing every category?? Haven't taken the test yet just looking for some clarification as to how it'll be scored, best of luck on the 2nd attempt

vaishnavee · Feb 26, 2019

Hello,

I am writing this post mainly for those who failed the NCLEX on the first try and preparing to sit for it again. There is nothing different than what others have already said, but I am going to say some specific things that I personally did to pass the NCLEX the second time around.

Hx:
I have been a practicing RN for about 12 years in Canada and wrote the CRNE in 2008. Made a huge decision try nursing in the States which requires the NCLEX. So I was advised to go through the Minnesota Board of Nursing to expedite the Licensure by Examination process. Received my ATT in Jan 2018, wrote the NCLEX for the first time in Apr 2018 and failed. Then took a whole year for me to recover from the failure and get back to serious business. Minnesota BON required me to take a review program and I chose HURST (after doing extensive research). SO I completed the HURST review program and this time I also purchased the UWORLD question bank. Sat for the exam again on 25/Feb/2019 and got my license number the next day!

Do NOT waste your money on anything else! SERIOUSLY! The only 2 things I will recommend are:

1. HURST Review

a. I recommend the self-paced videos as opposed to the live review because the live review is pretty intense. The recorded videos is the selling point because you get to watch them over and over and over again! (Notice how many times I said the word “over”?)

b. Yes, that’s exactly right! Watch them over and over until you memorize the lectures and I kid you not!

c. Watch those videos (IN ORDER) like Aunt Marlene says because there is a reason why they designed it that way.. and it WORKS!

d. The videos touch on key things that you’ll be tested on NCLEX.. period! You can’t possibly know everything that’s on the thick nursing textbooks and you’re not expected to! Remember that this is an entry-level exam that tests your basic nursing knowledge/skills and it would be wise to focus on common Dxs, S&Ss, practices (HURST) rather than an unheard illness (textbooks) that you’ll probably NEVER come across in your entire nursing career J

2. UWORLD (Question bank)

a. Now picture yourself walking into a room, dressed casually only to see others dressed so formally? I MEAN it! Picture that for a moment and what would your feelings be? Embarrassed, intimidated, feeling stupid etc… Well, that is how I felt the first time I wrote NCLEX. I did not feel the need to do practice questions before the exam and heavily relied on just watching HURST videos. HUGE MISTAKE!

b. NCLEX is not all about what you know. It is also about how you’re going to apply what you know. A good analogy is that you know that bananas and cantaloupes are foods high in Potassium. Now, just knowing this fact is not going to do you any good bc what if you’re caring for a client who has too much of it in their blood (Hyperkalemic)? You’re going to have to know that these foods are contraindicated for those hyperkalemic clients…(Connecting the dots). That’s what NCLEX tests you on. It tests you how well you can apply what you already know. So, that’s where UWORLD comes in.

c. Use UWORLD to your advantage from the very first day you’re preparing for your exam. The advantages of UWORLD are:

i. First of all, the layout and design mimics the ACTUAL NCLEX. This is a VERY important factor in reducing anxiety. When your testing environment test format is exactly the same as your daily, home test format, you will feel very comfortable during the test. This one, I can guarantee you because I experienced it.

ii. The “timed-tutor” feature gives you the option to read the rationales right after you answer a question. I highly recommend this because UWORLD gives you in-depth rationales for a question, right after you answer it. So, even if you get a question right, make sure you read THEIR rationale because it may be totally different from your rationale for choosing that answer. (This is a MUST because that’s the only way you’ll start looking at a problem from many different angles).

iii. UWORLD gives you the option to re-test yourself on all the questions you got wrong. This is a great option because you’re testing your critical thinking skills and ability to provide the same rationales that they did when you first got that question wrong.

iv. The flashcard feature is also another great tool that allows you to save pictures, charts, diagrams and anything else that is important to you. USE it to your advantage.

3. Additional resource

i. The only other resource I used was the comprehensive notes by “The Black Nurse”. I sincerely thank her for putting the time and effort to compile this. She has made this available here: https://theblacknurse.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/nclex-study-guide-2.pdf

One final advice… one day before the exam:

1. Do NOT study anymore. Do not even mentally quiz yourself because you don’t want to induce panic.
2. If you believe in the Supreme Almighty, go to HIS sacred house (church, mosque, temple, synagogue etc) and speak to HIM openly. These sacred houses have lots of positive energy.