Failed nclex 11 times.

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Hi all.

Just want to share my experince. I graduated in 2011 and have taken nclex for 11 times since then and still failed. I've tried saunders, hogan, and also took Kaplan course but still failed. I feel like a failure. This is all I want to do is to become a nurse that's why I keep trying. I want to retake it again but then this time application process required school transcript and the school want me to take another Kaplan course. I'm devastated. I can't afford the money for another course and the exam. I don't know what to do. I got all the resources from books to cd from previous courses. I'm tired of lying to people that I work in the hospital and feel ashamed of myself of where I am today. Still struggling to pass the nclex.

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Specializes in ED, Critical care, & Education.
Mtng said:
Hi all.

Just want to share my experince. I graduated in 2011 and have taken nclex for 11 times since then and still failed. I've tried saunders, hogan, and also took Kaplan course but still failed. I feel like a failure. This is all I want to do is to become a nurse that's why I keep trying. I want to retake it again but then this time application process required school transcript and the school want me to take another Kaplan course. I'm devastated. I can't afford the money for another course and the exam. I don't know what to do. I got all the resources from books to cd from previous courses. I'm tired of lying to people that I work in the hospital and feel ashamed of myself of where I am today. Still struggling to pass the nclex.

I am sorry to hear how you are feeling. I can only imagine how many emotions you must be going through.

I want to share with you. I have a friend who wrote a nursing morificecript that she wanted to get published with a publishing company. This person develops high quality work but for whatever reason she was declined again and again and again. The TWENTY-SIXTH time she submitted the morificecript it was finally accepted. She went on to not only publish that book but many more to come. This story always reminds me of what perseverance is.

I love the saying "Fall down seven times, stand up eight". Chase your dream. If being a nurse is what you want, DON'T GIVE UP. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

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I wouldn't call yourself a failure, I think you might be overthinking it all . There is a high percentage of first time passing rates for the NCLEX, something over 85%. Getting through nursing school is a much tougher task than passing the NCLEX, as you can see by the passing rates. From my experience, out of my initial class from 1st semester of 40, about only 20 of the original graduated. You've already gone through the tough part, you know the material, you might be letting it get to your head.

Failing 11 times is rough, but there's a lot of resources out there, and they all have their own qualities. It mostly depends on what you feel you need the most help on, either content review, or test taking strategies, or etc. I suggest you stick to one or maybe even two, because you can overwhelm yourself with information and end up studying for much longer than you needed to, and just plain confuse yourself. You will never feel fully prepared to take the NCLEX. Go in there with the mindset and goal to answer 265 questions and kick ass. There's a good free app on the mobile stores to help you with pharm and labs if you need help with that. Check it out, its called NCLEX Drug Study Guide or the website nclexessentials.barcalabs.com. Best of luck!

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I graduated October 2014. I'm still struggling to pass the Nclex. This is my 13th time and I plan to retake it in March for my 14th times.

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Specializes in NICU.

How well did you do in nursing school?

What is your school's NCLEX pass rate?

What type of school (public, private, for-profit)?

What have you done differently after failing each time? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing in the same way and expect different results.

It may be a content issue or understanding rationale for NCLEX type questions?

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The passing rate of my school was average. It was a private school. I'm having problems with content, it seems that I think that I understand and I don't understand and comprehend the material. I'm currently using UWORLD, pigmonic and youtube

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I'm also looking for a job as an assistant. I think If I work in the field I probably have a crash and understanding of what they are asking for. This is what I'm going to do different now. Working in the medical field because I don't know what to do anymore

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

There is just something so scary about someone having to take the NCLEX 5+ times.

We have people's lives in our hands. Taking multiple years & tries to pass the NCLEX is mortifying. The old adage fall down X times get up X really doesn't apply here. If you can't grasp the material (very basic test to become a nurse) after 3 attempts, I believe you should have to go back to nursing school or find a profession that better suits you.

I wouldn't be a nurse if I couldn't pass the NCLEX by the third attempt. If I don't pass the NCLEX-RN in 3 attempts I will just stay an LVN.

This scares me for the future of nursing.

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OrganizedChaos said:
There is just something so scary about someone having to take the NCLEX 5+ times.

We have people's lives in our hands. Taking multiple years & tries to pass the NCLEX is mortifying. The old adage fall down X times get up X really doesn't apply here. If you can't grasp the material (very basic test to become a nurse) after 3 attempts, I believe you should have to go back to nursing school or find a profession that better suits you.

I wouldn't be a nurse if I couldn't pass the NCLEX by the third attempt. If I don't pass the NCLEX-RN in 3 attempts I will just stay an LVN.

This scares me for the future of nursing.

My goal is not to become a bed side care nurse even though I need to work in bedside care before I can advance to what I want.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
sianee said:
My goal is not to become a bed side care nurse even though I need to work in bedside care before I can advance to what I want.

This also scares me for the future of nursing. No one wants to work at the bedside any more. Who is gonna take care of all the Baby Boomers?

I won't even get into how you shouldn't be picky because you haven't even passed your NCLEX yet (after 10+ tries). Because that thread needs to die.

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OrganizedChaos said:
This also scares me for the future of nursing. No one wants to work at the bedside any more. Who is gonna take care of all the Baby Boomers?

I don't know

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sianee said:
I don't know

The liability is too much to be a bedside care nurse.

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