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.

Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.

The NCLEX-RN tests for MINIMUM competency. If you cannot pass after 10+ times then you have to stop and move on.

Hopefully they change the laws per each state board of nursing on the number of times you are allowed to take it because this is just ridiculous. It is scary and very concerning.

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@Sour Lemon 5 years, advanced practice nurse. Good enough for you? I don't care how old this post is, yet you are here commenting. Again, I speak from experience anyone in their right mind, including instructors like myself, know that the NCLEX is similar to many other state board exams, including the bar and on can fail for many reasons. It isn't only a content based exam. It also is a strategy exam. Some people can fail due to anxiety. So again, the amount of times a person takes and exam to pass doesn't make them a better nurse than anyone who passed the first time, any instructor or professional will tell you that. We all know that real life nursing is different than "the nclex" nursing so it's all real life practice when you are actually on the floor. Only idiots discourage a person from trying, especially when they know the test isn't how it is in real life working as a nurse. How many times have you heard "this is the answer in real life, but for nclex purposes you would choose this answer." in nursing school? Well I've heard it a ton in my MSN program. So stop downing people because they haven't figured out what it is exactly that hasn't allowed them to pass yet.

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12 minutes ago, tobeanurse1 said:

@Sour Lemon 5 years, advanced practice nurse. Good enough for you?

...better than I expected, for sure. Your passion and anger suggested that you might have failed 11 times, too. ?

I strongly disagree with most of the other stuff. In some states, it's not even possible to take NCLEX 11 times- even with a fully fledged & encouraging fan club. It is sometimes more kind to encourage people to cut their losses, IMO.

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Not at all. Passed first time with 75 questions. Doesn't negate the fact that the other two I mentioned failed many times and are praised in their profession, so if you can't speak from experience, then don't speak at all.

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Just now, tobeanurse1 said:

Not at all. Passed first time with 75 questions. Doesn't negate the fact that the other two I mentioned failed many times and are praised in their profession, so if you can't speak from experience, then don't speak at all. 

Experience failing? I'm happy for the two you know, but they may not be typical. I only know one multiple failer ...seven times. She just gave up and moved on. I don't think passing after 11 or 20 times is likely, although it may happen on the rarest of occasions. I think it's even unusual to be personally aware of multiple people who have failed so many times.

I'm now curious how many times your people failed, but I also don't want to get willfully tethered to a never ending back and forth. I would rather go out shopping.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.
6 minutes ago, Sour Lemon said:

I'm now curious how many times your people failed, but I also don't want to get willfully tethered to a never ending back and forth. I would rather go out shopping.

Willfully tethered would be a good band name lol

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@Sour Lemon actually none of mine failed anywhere near that many times but the two I speak of are ones I've worked with and are now DNPs, both of them. So, again, if you are clueless about what you are saying don't discourage others. Please go shopping or pick up another shift... Toodles.

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Just now, tobeanurse1 said:

@Sour Lemon actually none of mine failed anywhere near that many times but the two I speak of are ones I've worked with and are now DNPs, both of them. So, again, if you are clueless about what you are saying don't discourage others. Please go shopping or pick up another shift... Toodles.

Another shift? Now you're talking nonsense.

I will probably continue to discourage the eleven time failers, because I think it's the kindest thing to do. I figured that yours were not anywhere near that.

Optimism does have its place in the world, though.

Toodles to you, too. ?

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Specializes in PICU.

I do think this notion of unlimited test taking is getting out of hand.

Passing the NCLEX is not a predictor of the type of nurse one will be once practicing, it is an indicator of being ready to practice. There is no correlation between number of questions or attempts that equate good nurse or bad nurse. However, those that struggle with the passing the NCLEX are lacking either content knowledge or critical thinking, both of which are essential to the nursing practice.

11 times is excessive, 21 ttime is extremely excessive. There is a reason for having an NCLEX and that is to ensure those that enter into practice have met the minimum standards.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Closing for staff review

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