Failed NCLEX 2 times, HELP!

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Hi. I took the NCLEX for the first time in March and failed at 75 questions. I did the pearson vue trick and it led me straight to the cc page. I was devastated. This first time I relied on HURST REVIEW for it's core content and did practice questions on NCLEX 3500. I took about 2 weeks off from studying and buckled down again for my next attempt attempting to use other sources.

For about a month and a half I dedicated all my time to studying. I went from full time to part time at my job. Dedicated about 7-8hrs per day in the library on my days off and about 4hrs after work at starbucks. I used NCSBN which helped with related style type nclex questions. I finished reading the entire Saunders book and doing questions at the end which helped with core content. I used and finished PDA, La Charity which really helped with prioritization delegation assessment questions on my 2nd attempt.

But still, I failed and got the "bad pop up" after 260 questions.

Can anybody please give me advice on what I should focus on or how I can better take the NCLEX-RN. I really do not want to fail the third time. I honestly thought I was going to pass the second time and had a really good feeling walking into the testing center. I was more relaxed but when I was done with the test and did the pvt I was just miserable. So any advice would be much appreciated.

I'm thinking of using KAPLAN but i have heard 50/50 reviews about it. Any suggestions comments or advice would be meaningful. Thank you and God bless.

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I think you're asking the wrong question, which is "what review course should I take?" No one here knows where your weak areas are, what you are having trouble with, so of course no one can tell you what review course is best for you. Fact is, the review course itself has precious little to do with why you keep failing the exam.

Take a good look at the report that tells you your areas of weakness, where your knowledge is lacking. Then study up on that! There's no 'good' review course or 'bad' review course. One person will tell you Hurst was amazing, another will tell you it sucked. See the problem?

Learn WHY you failed the first two, and work on improving knowledge, or critical thinking skills, or....whatever it is you were missing.

Good luck.

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Check with your school and see if they know of a good NCLEX tutor. There is a website called caring4you sponsored by a nurse who tutors long distance and she works only with people who have failed. I don't know how good she is though, but if your school can't help it is someplace to start. Working with an experienced tutor would be your best bet because she can help you identify what is going wrong and correct it.

As for Kaplan, I think it was what got me through it, but it isn't for everyone and you really may need help finding out what is right for you.

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I'd definitely look at the report they send, identify your areas of weakness, and focus on those. I love Saunders for the "how to understand NCLEX questions" section. Knowing what the question is asking and knowing how to eliminate distractors is half the battle. Focus on the patient presented: what could possibly present with this patient? What is the worst that could happen to them in this scenario, and how could you prevent that? NCSBN has a great review which gives good reminders as well on typical scenarios and why you would choose to do one intervention over another.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I totally agree about looking at YOUR weaknesses and going from there. What works for us may or may not be what works for you, and you need to examine yourself and focus on that.

The only prep course I am familiar with is Kaplan, which is good if you need to focus on strategies, rather than content. I've heard good things about Hurst for content. I felt like the Kaplan strategies were very helpful, and I liked the Q Bank and Q Trainers. The Kaplan questions were harder than the NCLEX. If these are your areas of weakness, Kaplan is a good way to go. If not, then you'll need another approach. :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

The issue may not necessarily the source of the review, but how one approaches the NCLEX itself: understanding the four concepts of becoming a competent, entry-level nurse:

1. Safe, effective care;

2.Health promotion;

3.Physiological Integrity;

4.Psychosocial integrity

Will determine WHAT the question is asking you; the question may be Respiratory related-but is it a Health Promotion or a Safety, or a Physiological or a Psychosocial one? Would you know the difference and choose the BEST answer?

Once one understands the concepts of NCLEX, they can do so successfully.

NCSBN provides core content and questions similar to NCLEX; you can review rationales to the questions and they have the links to the sources.

I have answered questions during NCLEX that were VERY similar to the NCSBN. I known cohorts who ONLY used NCSBN and passed the first time.

Best wishes.

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Wow, I never looked at it from this perspective. How will I know if for example I do get a respiratory question... what the difference is in the question based on the four concepts?

I used Saunders Q & A and it is divided between the four concepts but I found the questions fairly easy than that of the NCLEX. I'm still waiting on my results to come in the mail so I can find my weaknesses and work on them.

Thanks for your input! :)

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Thank you! I'll definitely look into this for strategies. I believe that I got most of the core down.. maybe it's just applying it to find the BEST answer. Once I find out my weaknesses in the mail I'll try to find ways to improve. Thanks a lot! :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Wow, I never looked at it from this perspective. How will I know if for example I do get a respiratory question... what the difference is in the question based on the four concepts?

I used Saunders Q & A and it is divided between the four concepts but I found the questions fairly easy than that of the NCLEX. I'm still waiting on my results to come in the mail so I can find my weaknesses and work on them.

Thanks for your input! :)

The best sources in describing in detail the information are two links; one is Kaplan, the other is NCSBN-the makers of NCLEX:

http://www.kaptest.com/NCLEX/Learn-About-NCLEX/About-NCLEX-RN/nclex-rn-clients.html

https://www.ncsbn.org/2013_NCLEX_RN_Test_Plan.pdf

That should guide your way in terms of what questions the NCLEX generally ask.

As for Saunders, I think they do a great job in splitting up the concepts; I used the flash cards and thought that they were very similar to the NCLEX; along with Lippinicott questions and NCSBN-the makers of NCLEX.

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