Failed NCLEX 2 Times-Help!

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN · Jan 25, 2015

Well...wait and see. It never "feels" good. It's not supposed to make you feel good. I had been doing good on practice exams for weeks and still felt like there was a chance I failed.

Most of the medication related questions aren't necessarily about the medication but about safety and medication administration. I had a ton of chemo questions and we didn't cover much chemo in my BSN program...but when you look at the words on the screen you could sub nearly any drug name and not change the question - it was ALL about what was safest and things about like medication administration via that route and not the drug itself.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 25, 2015

Until you know whether you failed, you would look for your performance review and compare both of them.

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.

Don't look at content; you know most of the material because you passed nursing school; begin to do questions related to each concept; review all questions and rationales; ANY rationale you struggle with, THEN review content. Lather, rinse, repeat.

When practicing the questions, prepare the questions like a mock NCLEX exam, review the minimum and then work up to the maximum for endurance purposes.

After looking at your report, focus on the weakness and review questions and rationales; make mock NCLEX tests and start with the minimum and gradually until the maximum; you have to have an endurance in answering application questions.

After each "exam", make sure you are reviewing the rationales; any rationales you are not clear on THEN look up for content.

jst4layne · Jan 26, 2015

Thank you for your recommendations! I did get my quick results and did find out I failed. But I am motivated to keep going and attempt this again. I am definitely going to do the mock nclex exams like you said-I think that's a great idea. I made a list of content from questions I had on the nclex that I needed to refresh on and just made a small study guide of those. My biggest fear is I've been out of school for over a year and I'm forgetting my content. But I cant and wont give up. Just going to keep tackling it until I become an RN. Glad I found this community. Thanks again to both of you for your advice! :)

ksidhu · Jan 28, 2015

I tried leaving a comment and it didn't post? Hope it doesn't double up on me. Anywho, I graduated 09/2012, life got in the way for me as well and I didn't test my first time until 11/2014. I am using Kaplan, Hurst & Saunders. Just for reviews. I was planning on purchasing NCSBN but I don't know how much more helpful that will really be. What I've come to terms with is that I already graduated, it's been a while, and I no longer have interaction with nursing students. That makes it harder for me to retain info because it's not as interactive. I am a kinesthetic learner, so I have to talk it out or actually do it to fully embed information to my brain. I think having a study group is a great way to connect with other people, work through kinks together and make the material more 'real'. If you're interested in a Skype study group, that is something I'm working on getting set up. Good Luck! And remember... I've been out of school for over TWO years, and I'm still working on it. And I know we will pass soon!!!

jst4layne · Jan 29, 2015

Hi kdishu! Thanks for your comment :) it definitely helps to know there are other people out there in similar situations going through the same thing. Like I said, I did do the 5 week course through NCSBN and I don't think it helped me. I am also using Kaplan, hurst and Saunders too. But I would definitely be interested in a Skype study group! That sounds great. I'm the same type of learner as you. I know we both can and will pass. My email is [email protected] if you want to let me know about the study group. :)