Failed NCLEX 5 Times! Am I The Only One Who . . .

[Ruby Vee]

Am I the only one who is concerned about someone who has failed multiple times, finally passes and then wants to share their experience with everyone else? Am I the only one who is concerned about working with nurses who finally pass on their eighth try? Granted, I'm so experienced that I took my licensing exam on paper eons ago when it was offered only twice a year, everyone answered all the questions over a two day period and it took six weeks to get the results. In those days, you only got two tries. That was it. So I could be someone biased and/or out of touch. I just wonder, though, about the knowledge base and learning capacity of a nurse that took the exam eight times to pass. Although perserverence is a virtue, and those folks obviously have plenty of that. Is nursing so different now that it's OK to take eight tries to get your license? Or is this a development of the "everyone gets a trophy" mentality? Keep trying and everyone gets a license?

[risuzy]

Hi `there, I have to take a preemployment test for the first time in ten years. Are there any practice examples out there? I feel silly, but i'm actually nervous.

[macgirl]

i don't know if this helps, risuzy. my mom took one, it was basic math calculations for meds and drug questions related to common meds for the floor.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I totally agree with you on this. Nursing shouldn't be something anyone can become, even if that means taking the boards 25 times.

But what if it's someone's DREEEEEAMMMMM????

We'll never get respect as a profession until we have legitimate standards. Standards that don't allow just anyone in. I know a few people that it was their dreeeeeammmmm to be a physician. They didn't get into medical school. So time to get a new dream. Grandfather everyone that's in, they're officially in now. They don't have to jump through any hoops to stay in. As their experience should be respected and rewarded. But then make legitimate standards that equate with what other healthcare professionals have to do to be able to touch patients. Right now, our standards are lower than most anyone else in the hospital, and we have to know what all those other people are doing. And yet we're getting paid less than most other disciplines. Why? Because of ridiculously low standards. In education. In licensing. And most importantly, in expectations. Being warm and fuzzy and "caring" isn't enough in the current healthcare environment. We need to be smart and educated as well.

[MPKH, BSN, RN]

I've never met or heard of anyone who recieved the mythical fourth attempt. That theory has only appeared recently on our side of AN with people complaining that three tries .

I guess I have read a few too many posters who claim that they got a fourth try on AN! I apologize for the misleading information...should've double check things before posting!

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

This is whats wrong with the nursing profession, nurses want to or looking for things to brag about. Who cares how much times one takes the NCLEX. Passing the NCLEX does not make you a good nurse. And does older nurses always think they know it all. Well, I have news for older nurses, simple things like computer charting pose a challenge. For the OP, there are better things you can do with your time. And yes,I did pass NCLEX on my first try.

Umm, don't generalize on older nurses and computers. I teach new staff our computer system and help build screens.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I think it's obvious here that old nurses don't know how to use computers. Aren't all of the old nurses' posts sent via the Pony Express?

[radgey]

I didn't pass the prenclex exam that was given to us in nursing school and they said i had a very slight chance of passing boards on the first try but i proved them wrong and i did pass on the first try. I do believe there are students who have to work very very hard to get through school and are not that great of test takers but make awesome nurses and on the other hand some are students who are great test takers but do not make good nurses. A test is just to get your license you learn real world nursing on the job. I am new a nursing and my goal is to learn as much as possible and do the best job I can and feel good about what i am doing knowing that i am making a difference in ones life.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I think it's obvious here that old nurses don't know how to use computers. Aren't all of the old nurses' posts sent via the Pony Express?

Pffft. The pony wasn't even invented when I went to school.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Now where did I put my abacus?LolPlease keep this civil.

[Frankie Slade]

I know plenty of nurses with a 4.0 that are terrible at their jobs. They spend more time charting than actually taking care of their patients. I would give this person a chance, and try not eat her, it's hard enough out there. Take time and be patients with this new grad. Maybe you can bestow upon her your great nursing experiences. If we are good to each other, that is always good for the patient. So, try not too be to hard on her for God's sake, lighten up just a bit and remember when you were young, fresh, and just starting your nursing career.

[nightengalegoddess]

Well, I passed the NCLEX with the 75 questions. Of course, I thought I had failed terribly. I still have a hard time with the psycho-social aspects of nursing. I may be very intelligent and able to pass the NCLEX more easily that 36% of my class that did not pass on the first try (uh....look to nursing program instuctors with that kind of percentage).....But I still have challenges dealing with my emotions at work. So....some may be good test takers...others good reality learners.......maybe the 8 time test taker has dyslexia or is misenterpeting the confusing nature of the questions......some nurses think more like physicians than nurses and they do well on the NCLEX....while some who are pefectly intelligent emotionally and intellectually and creatively can't pass a test ever. I don't know what the remedy is.....but this is an interesting thread.

[Epic_RN]

Well, I passed the NCLEX with the 75 questions. Of course, I thought I had failed terribly. I still have a hard time with the psycho-social aspects of nursing. I may be very intelligent and able to pass the NCLEX more easily that 36% of my class that did not pass on the first try (uh....look to nursing program instuctors with that kind of percentage).....But I still have challenges dealing with my emotions at work. So....some may be good test takers...others good reality learners.......maybe the 8 time test taker has dyslexia or is misenterpeting the confusing nature of the questions......some nurses think more like physicians than nurses and they do well on the NCLEX....while some who are pefectly intelligent emotionally and intellectually and creatively can't pass a test ever. I don't know what the remedy is.....but this is an interesting thread.

There is a man who graduated the semester before me. He works as a surgical tech, has for years, and is well known for his abilities and intelligence. Last I knew, he was going for his 4th attempt at NCLEX-RN. This man will make an amazing nurse, he just struggles with leaving his work experience at the door and focusing on "Hospital Utopia of NCLEX-land". I also know LPNs (LVNs for us here in Cali) who have a similar struggle -- their experience tells them one answer but the "right" answer for NCLEX is totally different. Does this mean they should give up? Honestly, I have no idea. I do know that it is statistically proven that your odds of passing decrease with each subsequent attempt as a result of lower confidence levels. I will be interested to see how this plays out over the next few years and what changes (if any) are made.