Failed NCLEX twice, any advice?

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Hi everyone! This is my first time writing a topic here in allnurses.com but I have been following a lot of the topics for a while now. AS you can tell from my subject heading, I am writing to ask for whatever piece for advice to conquer this beast of a test!

Lets backtrack... I first sat my exams back in September. Back then I have only studied probably three weeks. Used Hurst (all their videos and probably two qtests), around 500 questions from UWorld, and a chapter from LaCharity (because I found out about it quite close to my exam date and wasn't able to use it fully). I used up all 6 hours of the exams and ran out of time, I did 205 questions. I knew right away that i failed that exam. I wasn't prepared, So I picked myself up, took a week off studying and made a study schedule.

For my second attempt, I was able to follow through 80% of my study schedule. This time I used UWorld (1300 questions), Kaplan (QTrainers 1-7 and about 500 questions from the Qbank, never did the videos), La Charity book (about 16 of their chapters), Mark K notes, and the 35 page floating around. Also, I put emphasis on my time management since I ran out of time on my first attempt. I was pretty confident sitting the exam. I thought I knew and was more prepared that the first time. I took it for 5 1/2 hrs, all 265 questions. Found out today that I failed again! I am pretty devastated here. I haven't even told my husband yet. I feel like such a failure more than anything.

My greatest problem is that, while I knew where I went wrong the first time i.e. I was largely unprepared, I did so much for the second time and I still failed!!! I do not know whereto begin from here to be honest. I know that I want this and I want to be a nurse. I am really frustrated! I could use any advice...? I am looking at the Saunders comprehensive book for NCLEX right now. Anybody here have used that and found that useful. Perhaps I have to focus on the content? I really don't know... :cry::cry::cry:

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Sound like you are studying and may even know the content.

Taking longer on the test is not better. For those who know the content, or at least feel confident that they know it, I recommend that they take the test as fast as they comfortably can while accurately reading the content. As you take your practice tests time yourself. If you cannot answer 100 questions in AT MOST 100 minutes something is wrong.

What I mean is, read the question but pick the very first answer that comes to mind and move on and do not go back. I have found that most of the people that fail standardized testing like this do so because they second guess themselves out of the correct answer. I have always taken tests like this, sometimes I will even have a beer or two before to relax myself if I feel jittery. This has always been a successful strategy for me through school and through my career with now 3 professional certification tests behind me. I may be weird though.

NCLEX is not just a test of facts you have memorized, it is a test of your nursing instincts and critical thinking/common sense. Listen to your instincts.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Thread's been moved to our NCLEX forum for more feedback.

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I get what you mean... and thank you for the feedback! I have read elsewhere in the website that some people are failing at like 75 or less than a 100 questions, and some interpreted it as a lack of content more than strategy... I am not sure though what it means if one is getting all the answers but is still failing, which is what happened in my case. Could it be that I am having problems with strategy?

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Hi there,

my sympathies go out to you! I know how hard it is to fail. Just keep focused on your goal and on yourself- not what anyone else is doing. Your journey is for you only and everything happens for a reason, it just isn't your time yet. My failure brought me closer to my family and I also got an amazing opportunity because I failed and later after I passed great things opened up for me that I wouldn't have had the chance to take advantage of if I had passed the first time and began working.

I really agree with not second guessing yourself! on my failed exam I took SO long debating my answer before selecting in each question. Once I went in there telling myself that I am ready and to trust myself, I selected my first instinct answer, hoped for the best, and moved on. positivity is essential in this test.

Also just to let you know what I did: i did a Kaplan review course which wasn't all that helpful EXCEPT for the decision tree. It doesn't help on all questions but I did find it helpful with some. For me strategy wasn't my weak point. i knew I needed content review. So I read just about all of Saunders and took notes, highlighted, did every quiz. I also supplemented that with PDA. Finally, my life saver, was UWorld. I binged on UWorld the last 3 weeks before my test. I would use it in tutor mode and write down each rationale of anything I wasn't sure of. Then at night before bed I would review the rationales I learned that day. I also had tables of lab values and other key things to memorize which I reviewed before bed each night.

Bottom line- if you don't feel yourself improving while using one resource evaluate what it is that isn't working for YOU, even if it works for everyone else. Then move on or use it in a different way. And if you can't identify what you've learned that day then something isn't right.

I wish you all the best. you can and will make it through!

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KEEP GOING! Keep changing your study habits around and ask for help when needed. When I had my test anxiety I invested and enrolled in a 12-week NCLEX review class. Mind you, it's not cheap but passing on first try was worth it. Good luck and please never give up!

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So sorry to hear that you failed it twice. I know the feeling as i failed myself once. Please never give up and keep believing in yourself. Study hard, do as many questions as possible. God has a plan for you and all of us. Please let us know once you pass. Dont worry about the scores you get, just practicing questions

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I did use Saunders 6 th edition and 5th also. Best of luck. Stay positive and strong!!!!!

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I sent you a private message because I did not pass the nclex too on my first try! I really need your advice and help. Please could you get back to me? Thank you so much

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That lacharity book was probably most like the exam in my case, thats what I did along with free nclex flashcards off quizlet. I did read all i could about nclex test strategies and knew a few lab values. Dont study the day before the test except for a basic list of lab values, and hit the strategies more. Remember, the nclex is all about picking whats safe and who to see first based on your total nursing school knowledge combined. I would hit the safety and intervention flashcards along with fundamentals hard. good luck.

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