Failed NCLEX 3 times

[Tamatha Deucher, BSN]

So I decided to share my story because everyone on here has a little bit of the same experience and a little of a different experience. I took my first NCLEX in March 2020, just graduated, had a job lined up with a sign on bonus expecting to start the following week. My test cut off at 75 questions I walked out of there thinking that wasn’t so bad seemed kind of easy to me. Did the PVT and it took my payment eventually got the letter of a confirmed FAILED. 2nd time I went in on 2hrs (not from studying) of sleep and still heavily under the influence from my husbands birthday celebration the night before, I think I knew walking into it I was going to fail which I did and I don’t recommend anyone tries this out themselves. I FAILED at 60 questions.

My 3rd attempt I said I’m going to just slam questions after questions. I did nothing but questions and really focused on my pharmacology cause I told myself if I know my meds I’ll know majority. Went in and expected the minimum amount and no I took the entire test up to the last question, my brain was done after question 80 I remember letting the time influence me so I kept answering and rushing and with 15mins to spare it shut off finally. I honestly don’t recommend you rush through the exam either I think I self sabotaged by rushing through all the questions so I wouldn’t run out of time. I walked out not feeling confident at all but told myself I must have done better since it didn’t shut off at the first 75. Did the PVT and got the “your test is on hold” response. I was so nervous thinking maybe I had a shot and I finally passed, a few hours later I tried the PVT again and it took my payment so I FAILED. 

After failing 3 times I felt so lost and confused I questioned my place in the world, why I did nursing school why I was still struggling in my 30s. I had already paid for the 4th exam but I just pushed it off I should’ve taken it since December of 2020 and kept pushing the date back because I didn’t want to handle rejection again. Finally I faced my fear and took my NCLEX yesterday April 2021 (a year from my first attempt) and decided to just go back to the bare basics. I did the Hurst review and just listened to lectures over and over again repeating material. Mind you I have a job and kids so this wasn’t consistent but I tried to make it consistent especially the last week. I learned the material until I filling understood it. Took my NCLEX and it went past the 75 once I was at 100 I knew I was going to the end but my brain was done so I was done. I spent at mins on each question and ran out of time at 102 questions. All the the PVT kept showing your test is on hold and after 24hrs the PVT gave me the good pop up. So relieved and so glad this is over and done with.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

24 minutes ago, Tamatha Deucher said:

All the the PVT kept showing your test is on hold and after 24hrs the PVT gave me the good pop up. So relieved and so glad this is over and done with.

Did you get the official results from your BON or are you believing that the PVT is 100% accurate?

[Tamatha Deucher, BSN]

6 hours ago, NICU Guy said:

Did you get the official results from your BON or are you believing that the PVT is 100% accurate?

No I haven’t received official results Texas doesn’t update until Tuesday and Thursday. Are you about to rain on my parade??...

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

The PVT has been around for many years. It was originally based on scheduling software for Pearson Vue. The trick ended when you were unable to schedule another test after finishing your test. That changed in 2013 when you had to enter your credit card information before getting the Good/Bad message. The problem is that adding the payment processing into the "trick" adds a variable that makes the "trick" highly unreliable. There is no way of determining how the payment processing effects the messages you get. Did you enter the correct credit card information?, was your test scored before you attempted payment?, does the payment processing software accurate talk to the scheduling software? The problem is that Pearson Vue never intended to have their scheduling and payment processing software to determine Pass/Fail for NCLEX otherwise there would be no need to pay them for your Quick results.

The intended route is for you to wait for your results before rescheduling your test, not attempt to reschedule 5 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours after completing your test.

Graduates are lead to believe that the PVT is as accurate as it was pre-2013, which it is not. There are many people who had the "good" popup and passed. There are many people that had the "bad" popup and failed. But there are just as many people that had the "good" popup and failed and had the "bad" popup and passed.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I really hope that you passed and this is moot.  Sounds to me like you probably know the material, you just haven't gotten the hang of taking the test.

You probably know by now that you need a good night's sleep and you need to be mentally prepared to answer all of the questions if the test requires it.  When you read the question, before you look at the answers, does anything immediately pop into your head?  If that is one of the answers, mark that and move on.  Try not to ponder too long if you don't know the answer; go with what answer seems the least out-to-lunch.

Resist the urge to second-guess yourself and change answers unless something definite comes to mind and you know you made an error.  Just calmly move from one question to the other until you are done.

My fingers are crossed that you are finally done with all this.

 

[espo1007]

I sure hope you passed!! That would give me some faith in myself doing it again!! Fingers crossed ?

[Tamatha Deucher, BSN]

Quick update all, I am officially a BSN, RN. I saw my license posted on the Texas BON that Saturday after testing Thursday. I did the PVT all 4 separate times and it was correct all 4 times. So happy my new path has begun!! Good luck to any graduates reading this and never give up.

[jennifer waquie]

hello, I just found out I didn't pass the NCLEX and it was my 3rd time taking it! The state I am in only allows you to take it 3 times and then you either have to go to another state and take it or just do something else.

I am reaching out to you because I truly do not know what to do at this point. I was reading some of the other comments on this blog about wasted time! another RN wrote that maybe it's time to throw in the towel and enough is enough; especially when you are spending a lot of money and resources when you could be doing something else. I am kind of at that point! I am really lost... 

[Lexus L.]

14 hours ago, jennifer waquie said:

The state I am in only allows you to take it 3 times and then you either have to go to another state and take it or just do something else.

What state is this?

[KittyLVN2]

Are u allowed to take NCLEX in different state if you already passed the 3 tries limit for your state?

I m wondering if anybody here has done this?

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

52 minutes ago, KittyLVN2 said:

Are u allowed to take NCLEX in different state if you already passed the 3 tries limit for your state?

I m wondering if anybody here has done this?

You can apply to be licensed in another state that does not have a limit on the number of attempts. If your intention is to get licensed in another state, then apply for a license by endorsement in your current state, call you current state and see if they will allow you to endorse. It serves no purpose to have a 3 test limit if the graduate can go to another state, get a license, and then endorse back to their original state. 

[jennifer waquie]

I live in New Mexico and I just called the board in Colorado and they said I have to move there and New Mexico Board stated that they can take an endorsement license.