Failed 1st time, motivation gone

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Hey everyone - so I failed the nclex on my first shot at 75 questions (ouch). I don't know exactly where or how to start studying and I already feel like I'll fail the next time since I've been slacking.

To give some background - I studied for hours upon hours a day using Kaplan the first time around, doing all the test banks, question trainers and remediation. I also used the 35 page review that's floating around on here. I don't know if I fully learned how to think like a nurse. I definitely didn't learn anything of the sort in my nursing school.

Where should I start again? I feel so lost, tired and overwhelmed.

:down:

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Have you received your candidate performance report yet? It can guide you to determine whether your weaknesses lie in certain areas or are an overall issue.

Candidate Performance Report- NCSBN

The second page (backside) of the CPR provides information regarding your performance within the 8 NCLEX Test Plan content areas of the exam. The content areas are grouped by the quality of your performance (ability): "Below the Passing Standard," "Near the Passing Standard" or "Above the Passing Standard." Next to each content area (called "Client Subneed") is a description of the content area, its percentage of the test, and a list of topics related to the content area. These descriptions can be used to determine in which areas of the Test Plan you have shown the greatest weakness and as a guide to prepare you to retake the exam. You should concentrate first in those areas listed under "Below the Passing Standard" and work up to those areas listed in "Near the Passing Standard." Furthermore, even though your ability for a given content area may indicate that it is above the passing standard, these areas should be studied as well in order to maintain proficiency.
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The process of beginning to study again was the hardest part for me after I did not pass after 75 questions too. I took some time (actually a whole lot of time) to think about what I should do differently. The first thing I did was to have a strategy on how to answer questions and applying my knowledge to eliminate answers that made sense to me. I used Kaplan and Hurst my first time studying. They were helpful but for some reason Kaplan was not enough for me. I remediated Kaplan questions but it just didn't stick. Understanding disease processes step by step is the best way I learn and retain information so this is what I am doing. The first time, I wrote down rationales in a notebook but never went over them. Now, I try to go over my notebook once a day. Uworld has been AWESOME and I highly recommend you try it out. I'm also going to be using NCSBN qbank once my uworld expires. When one method doesn't work, change the plan but never the goal! Good luck!

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I'm going straight forward with this. Self-studying is HARD... It might work, yes, but it will be hard (i used to believe i can do it alone too). So, try looking for an In-classroom review course. The one i took was the Rachell allen review (10 days in-classroom review). I only relied on their lecture... No saunders or any other info sources. I just used what they lectured kept up my attitude level to max (they will teach you how to) and used La Charity for questions only. I answered and finished the La Charity book consecutively over and over again until i was able to get 70-75% average on scores there. Then i took it. Passed at 75 on my 8th try(was not expecting this... believe me). I'm not ashamed to say that i took the nclex that many times because this might inspire people who are losing hope for failing over and over. So try in-class review courses, im not saying try Rachell Allen only... i'm just saying that its the one that worked for me. If i can do it... you can do it...

by the way... I graduated way back in 2007 and its the first time i did a review course.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Have you received your candidate performance report yet? It can guide you to determine whether your weaknesses lie in certain areas or are an overall issue.

Candidate Performance Report- NCSBN

^This.

Also, how are you studying?

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 content for reference.

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