Failed NCLEX three times

AVSRN · Jan 13, 2010

Kaplan and Saunders is what helped me! I answered 100+ questions per day (religiously)! Kaplan questions are better for critical thinking and Saunders content helped me understand the questions and why I missed. But I would suggestion to do less reading and focus on critical thinking with answering questions. The computer stopped at 75 questions and I promise the exam was so much easier this time.... than previous attempts.

RUBIEGIRLRN · Jan 22, 2010

:idea: :redpinkhe Hi ! What worked for me at the first try was this:

Get the nclex nursing made incredibly easy and just go through that book at least 100-200 questions daily.

Exercise every morning or whatever learn to breath and do something that you really enjoy every day even slowly enjoying a cup of warm tea or coffe or whatever you like, walk your cat on a leash if u got no dog gurl ! :yeah:That will help u get over the depression because I know u cant get urself to do anything:confused: .

Obviously the problem is not that you dont know the material, some things we forget like EKG that you need to study a lot. Cardiac stuff like heart valves, ekg patterns , medications etc, Especially Blood pressure meds and complications a mean side effects:lol2:. Diabetes, of course, Pregnancy problems related to diet. Some hormonal diseases no much. Usually your test the next one will ask you a lot of what you dont know or knew how to answer last time you took the test.

Say that Blood pressure meds you knew a lot they might ask you more and if you didnt know anything then they will ask you more.

Psych cases Alcoholism, Addiction, Borderline, schyzophrenia of course. and meds, Mileu type of questions, MARSA ,VRSA,

Usually what you are asked are the main medical problems because thats what you will see. Peds about weight gain and fevers . Blood pressure meds, Insuline when goes up reaching maximum level and super low. Know all types of insulin.and the schedule and duration of action.

But yeah Get the idea? Buy that book gurl . Another one take questions, many of the kaplan trainer CD has all the possible questions with a twist.

Think ABC

Read the guide of how to answer questions is very helpful some questions are just weird or bad worded but hey!

I think the problem is that you are afraid to fail : Dont be get that NCLEX out of the way u already know everything. I dont care if u didnt pass before this next time u are going to pass it I swear I can see how happy you are going to feel. Then when you get your license you are gona get that job u want make more money and buy yourself a nice car, pay your bills buy what you need and want and not even worry about it.

If you feel all panicky go first of all to a different place to take the exam , be there 2 times before the exam drive there park imagine going up take the exam pass it. do it 5 times better. Then go home do it again until is like your best friend address or something. The day of the exam go there all cool, and happy because you know that this nclex thing is eaaaaasy. Most likely u are going to get 75 questions and that it you passed. or more just to make sure you are awesome.

Yoga helps a loooot, also Hip Hop ABs video, swimming and talking openly with someone about your worse fears right it down pray each line and throw it away or burn it, do it until is like nothing. Remember u are so valuable that JC came just to show u that you are good enough and you can do everything you want. Let him help u. The best for you. With your first check buy a pink t-shirt and wear it means u love yourself !:heartbeat

CariNS · Jan 24, 2010

i have failed the nclex three times and i find myself extremely hesistant to start studying again. it's been over a year since i have graduated and my personal life has taken a turn for the worse. i'm afraid of failing again. i don't want to give up, but everytime i think about the nclex i get so anxious. it's almost like i'm having panic attacks. i just don't know what to do anymore.

i can understand how this happens, i will be taking the test sometime this summer and i tend to let the nerves get the best of me take over, you may need some short term help fromyour dr just to get through your situation. i usually dont recommend a quick fix med but something for short-term may be just what you need to calm down enough to get through this and most likely do very well! hang in there, you work to hard to get to the point and it will pay off

CariNS · Jan 24, 2010

:nurse: I need help preparing for the NCLEX test... Does anyone suggest anything inparticular??? I am a good student and work hard but testing is my downfall so I need to find a way to stregthen up and do well, my entire family is depending on my success and I cant let them dowm

Thanks!!!:heartbeat

svalico · Feb 9, 2010

you keep trying ...

you will pass .... I DID ON MY FIFTH TRY

Finally_RN · Aug 23, 2010

Hi all! I recently passed the NCLEX and my best advice to all who are taking it the first time or the tenth time is to do practice questions, go over the rationale and understand why the answer is the correct one. I did Kaplan---all the question trainers and 300+ Qbank questions 3 weeks before my test and after 75 questions, I'm finally an RN. And don't forget--prayers! Best of luck to all!

KBBB · Sep 9, 2011

Hi Everyone,

My name is Kristina. I'm new to allnurses.com and this is my first post. I graduated nursing school in 2009. I'm going to be absolutely honest with all of you. I have taken the NCLEX 10 times and have not passed yet. I have to tell you, it hasn't been easy..feeling like a failure. I did very well in nursing school, got good grades and excelled in my clinicals. This is what's going on with me right now. I have a great full time job in my family business, have a wonderful family and a great boyfriend..and I've also scheduled my 11th NCLEX exam. I'm devastated that I haven't passed yet, but I'll be damned if I give up. I've thought about it..trust me, I've thought about it. I haven't heard of anyone who has taken this test 10 times. But, everyday when I wake up, all I can think about is one morning, I'll be waking up and going to work on a floor with my other fellow nurses. I'm NOT giving up on my dream. I've worked way too hard. I admire all of you who have the guts to keep taking the NCLEX and all of who post comments encouraging those who haven't passed yet. There's a reason why we all chose this profession. We're extraordinary people and we were born to be nurses.

ladside, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Sep 9, 2011

Hey there! Where do you think you're going wrong on the exam? Is it test anxiety? Maybe your NCLEX review material is not in sync with the changes made to the NCLEX? Are you rushed with the exam? Is is PN or RN NCLEX that you are studying for? :idea:Give us an example of a question that you remember and the answer that you chose and let's see what the response here will be and why. We're waiting to help.......... :yeah:

KBBB · Sep 9, 2011

Hi! Thank you for responding. I'm studying for the RN exam. Where do I think I'm going wrong?..well let's start with the fact that I get so nervous taking this test. You'd think after having taken it so many times, I wouldn't get nervous. But I do; I get very nervous and very anxious, and I'm not an anxious person at all. I'm never anxious with anything except taking this exam.

I do want to go out and buy the NCLEX-RN 3500 Q & A Book.

Here's an example of a question: "You're the Home Health Nurse for a patient with Alzheimer's Disease. You visit the home of your patient and observe your patient's spouse. Which of the following actions would cause you as the nurse to intervene. (I could only remember 3 of the options) Option 1: Let the client smoke with the spouse present. Option 2: Let the patient walk to the neighbors house (I'm guessing this means alone) Option 3: Give his wife a cold sandwich for dinner.

This was from the last exam I took. I can't remember what I chose, but I think I chose the "walking to the neighbors house.

These are the type of questions I get confused on..along with others.

Claudiabrn · Sep 10, 2011

Review and dedicate your time to studying. Then visualize yourself passing. =)

ladside, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Sep 10, 2011

Hi! Thank you for responding. I'm studying for the RN exam. Where do I think I'm going wrong?..well let's start with the fact that I get so nervous taking this test. You'd think after having taken it so many times, I wouldn't get nervous. But I do; I get very nervous and very anxious, and I'm not an anxious person at all. I'm never anxious with anything except taking this exam.
I do want to go out and buy the NCLEX-RN 3500 Q & A Book.
Here's an example of a question: "You're the Home Health Nurse for a patient with Alzheimer's Disease. You visit the home of your patient and observe your patient's spouse. Which of the following actions would cause you as the nurse to intervene. (I could only remember 3 of the options) Option 1: Let the client smoke with the spouse present. Option 2: Let the patient walk to the neighbors house (I'm guessing this means alone) Option 3: Give his wife a cold sandwich for dinner.
This was from the last exam I took. I can't remember what I chose, but I think I chose the "walking to the neighbors house.
These are the type of questions I get confused on..along with others.

Hi KBBB,

That's the answer that I would have chosen. The thing to remember is that the NCLEX mainly focuses on rationale instead of basic facts and you always want to go with whichever option poses an immeditate threat to the patient's well-being. Even when the question pertains to lab results, you should know which lab value is more detrimental, for example, a person with a very low hgb v/s a patient with a very low potassium means that you need to tend to the patient with the low potassium level first due to cardiac-related issues. Unless you can visibly see that the patient is bleeding uncontrollably, then the low hgb is stable as opposed to the other patient. The Kaplan 2010-2011 edition of Strategies, Practices, and Review reflects these rationales as I'm sure others do as well. Kaplan is the one that I used and it served me well. The thing to do is review the rationales and think about what they are saying as to why their chosen answer is correct. Don't just memorize it. If you can 'LEARN' why the answer is correct, then you are on the way to being able to change your train of thought. With every answer that you chose, patient safety should be first in your thoughts: "which of these options will keep the patient safe?" If you can, go ahead and eliminate the answers that you KNOW are not correct and then make your decision. On one of my nursing theory exams, I had to answer then entire exam using the process of elimination because I had not prepared thoroughly. I passed it with a C, but I passed. Make sure you take the time to know why you are selecting the answers that you do, even the ones that you get right, because you may get that same question in a reworded version and will need to be able to identify it as such. Good luck! Keep posting as your prepare. I don't have all the answers but I always have an opinion!:twocents:

tucker144 · Sep 13, 2011

Mornin failed 3x. sounds as if your under a crap load of pressure, (as am I). Do you think in pictures? if so your not alone. I am in hopes by dropin you a line maybe someone elese out there will have a cure for the both of us. If this is not your problem area maybe I can assist with what is?. Let me know ok..

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