Failing nclex 6 times

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I graduated in July 2014, I failed the nclex 6 times. Did everything Hurts, kaplan, remar review. Ncsbn. I I used the kaplan strategy and study and listen to remar and hurts. My Kaplan average test score between 60 to 65. When I used 50 questions with kaplan I average between 60/65.I am going insane. I don't want to give up coming too far to let go.Please any advice.

I would probably try to improve your english first. I mean, I am far from a great writer, but in order to understand questions you need to be able to read them.... nursing questions are notorious for having difficult wording. You cannot do calculus if you do not understand numbers first. If you aren't an ESL, then you probably need to choose another career.

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Yes I did went to school over here in the USA.Unfortunately English is not my first language, I was born and raised in another country. I'm not in denied with what going on, I have seen people that was born and raised in the USA couldn't even make it to nursing school. Not like I was an A student I had struggle but I did it.The nclex board has become a night mare I have take it 6times 5 times I run out of times and I'm not sure if you know the rules for that. .....anyway not like I'm upset with what people have to say. It's just for me to see how easy people are to come conclusion if having a difficulty even if the only know half of the story. I also have a friend that went to school together was born and raised here financially stable less drama then me still have to go trough the nclex board 5 times. It's ok for people to judge but quitting I'm make this my decision.

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A refresher course maybe, even I don't have a content problem. Just to be on a safe side before I take it again. Quite trying it's definitely not going to be in option.

So you are going to end up spending hundreds of dollars on a test you may or may not pass? Other people have offered some great advice as well. At some point, the BoN should put a restriction on how many times a person can test.

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You know what thanks for all your advice. And YES IT'S MY descion to take it it as many times that I want. I saw you put ADN by your name just wondering when those pt around you how much patience you have for them

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You know what thanks for all your advice. And YES IT'S MY descion to take it it as many times that I want. I saw you put ADN by your name just wondering when those pt around you how much patience you have for them

I'm sorry you don't like the advice that's been given. That's what happens when you come to a public forum and ask strangers for their opinions.

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Specializes in Telemetry.
You know what thanks for all your advice. And YES IT'S MY descion to take it it as many times that I want. I saw you put ADN by your name just wondering when those pt around you how much patience you have for them

What does having an ADN have to do with anything?

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What does having an ADN have to do with anything?

I'm guessing her point is that since I'm a nurse, I should be nicer. And in guessing that means she wants me to tell her exactly what she wants to hear, not the truth.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

OP, what type of program did you attend? A for-profit private program or non-profit school? I am wondering how you made it through the program yet can't pass boards when most reputable schools teach you how to pass and many won't let you graduate if they don't think you are likely to pass.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You have spent $1200 on nclex registration fees alone. Plus BoN application fees & test prep costs.

You need to consider a refresher course or an in person review. Clearly what you have done this far has not worked. You need to take the CPR from all 6 exams...are you improving? Are you deficient in the same areas all the time? You need to develop a targeted review plan to pass the basic entry competency exam. Are you weak in content or test taking skills?

Test taking skills are often best taught by Kaplan. They have several you tube videos explaining the basics.

A fully US educated (not just nursing school as semantics & basic test taking strategies are taught in grade/high school) candidate statistically passes the NCLEX first attempt >80% of the time with the likelihood of passing dropping dramatically with each subsequent attempt---especially if the candidate does not change what they are doing to prepare.

Do the same prep and guarantee failure

Use your CPR to create a targeted review plan focusing on your weakest areas and strongly consider paying the$300-$500 for an in person review for hands on assistance (after all you likely already spent close to $2000 so far sans success). A refresher class won't teach you test taking skills but content and nursing process. A test prep class will teach you how to approach the exam and test taking skills if you already have the core content mastered

If you want to achieve success change your approach

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
You know what thanks for all your advice. And YES IT'S MY descion to take it it as many times that I want. I saw you put ADN by your name just wondering when those pt around you how much patience you have for them

It really is very rude to cast aspersions on others' nursing abilities simply because you don't like or appreciate the advice that you have been given. I'm surprised, actually, that we keep trying to help you.

Fact: I work with a foreign-born Advanced Practice RN. She has yet to pass the NCLEX-RN due to language difficulties. That's all I'm saying. And that will be all that I attempt to help you.

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Specializes in ICU.
You have spent $1200 on nclex registration fees alone. Plus BoN application fees & test prep costs.

You need to consider a refresher course or an in person review. Clearly what you have done this far has not worked. You need to take the CPR from all 6 exams...are you improving? Are you deficient in the same areas all the time? You need to develop a targeted review plan to pass the basic entry competency exam. Are you weak in content or test taking skills?

Test taking skills are often best taught by Kaplan. They have several you tube videos explaining the basics.

A fully US educated (not just nursing school as semantics & basic test taking strategies are taught in grade/high school) candidate statistically passes the NCLEX first attempt >80% of the time with the likelihood of passing dropping dramatically with each subsequent attempt---especially if the candidate does not change what they are doing to prepare.

Do the same prep and guarantee failure

Use your CPR to create a targeted review plan focusing on your weakest areas and strongly consider paying the$300-$500 for an in person review for hands on assistance (after all you likely already spent close to $2000 so far sans success). A refresher class won't teach you test taking skills but content and nursing process. A test prep class will teach you how to approach the exam and test taking skills if you already have the core content mastered

If you want to achieve success change your approach

This is the best advise you can get imo. Thanks for posting.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Informatics.

I read pretty much all the comments and here's my take on what I think...you can take my advice or leave it, but at least think long and hard on what I have to say. Now we all have various reasons for becoming a nurse, so if you want to really be successful, I need you to be honest with yourself. You say you've taken pretty much every prep course and re-read anything you got your hands on. That's all find and dandy, but have you really been studying?? Nursing school is tough but there's time and it builds on itself. But studying for NCLEX is not a little bit here and a little there. It's a lot right now and the moment after that and the moment after that. You want to constantly keep concepts organized in your head, while remembering to pull out, "what is this question really asking me?”, and nullifying everything else and all while remaining calm at the same time.*

Now at one point you said you have a family and that is always a priority. But how balanced is your family life and allowing yourself time to really study? Are you doing a prep course over the weekend and just immediately scheduling your exam within the week or two? When you test yourself, are you in a controlled environment, similar to taking the real NCLEX? Do you review the rationales of every question, even if you got the question right? A few posters brought up the topic of the language barrier. I am not going to put much into that, but that going old school with a dictionary in tow with your medical dictionary is a good resource. If you come across terminology or just the use of some words to be a bit confusing, looking the words up can help you understand what it means and how it's being used. Sometimes just the lack in knowledge on the meaning of a word, can cause miscommunication and in turn, you may answer incorrectly. So don't be afraid to use it while studying.

At this point in the game, re-reading your textbooks is kind of too late. If there is a concept you didn't fully grasp or a chapter you didn't focus on, then it doesn't hurt to review. But right now, it's QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS and then more questions. Theory questions, Scenario based questions, Basic Skills questions, Select all that apply questions, Pharmacology questions, Fill in the blanks questions, Hot Spot questions, Audio questions…you see where I am going with this. If you are following me here, the key concept may seem to be questions. But guess what, it's not! The KEY concept here is P-R-E-P-A-R-A-T-I-O-N.

How prepared are you? That is the real question.

-Prepare yourself by prioritizing the time and effort you wish to focus on effectively studying and passing NCLEX.

-Prepare yourself by taking as many (THOUSANDS) questions, which also include topics you know and really don't know, with more focus on the ones you don't know.

-Review the rationales for everything!!!! Sometimes the question you answered correctly, may list the rationale to be opposite of what you even expected.

-Prepare yourself to take the exam for 1 hour or for 6hours (which is the maximum allotted time)

-Prepare how to meditate or the use of other techniques when anxiety hits you

-Prepare how to tackle a question when you truly have no idea, because you can't click and go back on the exam. You answer and move forward. That's it.

-Prepare how to trust yourself and not second guess

All of these things you already know, or maybe you didn't. It's a lot to take in. I also want to remind you that when you've done these Kaplan and other assessments, at the end of the day, it's not an exact assessment of how you'll do on NCLEX. Those assessments are for knowledge only, in my opinion. They do not assess YOU while taking the exam. NCLEX assesses how you think. As you answer questions, NCLEX will give you questions based on performance. Answer a concept incorrectly. Did you notice how you can get another question that was almost like the questions 2-3 questions back? Or you're doing well on drugs, so it seems like that next 75 questions were all about drugs? That can be pretty draining on the mind.

So to close, if you're going to take another swing at the NCLEX game, make sure you really come prepared to play.

And after mulling over this information and any other advice you receive, if you decide you're done with the nursing field, don't think of it as a failure. I know that would be hard to believe, but everyone has a calling and if your calling is to be in corporate or culinary, the nursing track has definitely prepared you to take on stressful environments and situations. There are MANY individuals who couldn't get past their first quarter of nursing school before the nursing program ADIVSED them to quit. I'm sure many in the allnurses community had a classmate or two that can attest to that. So for you to have made it this far is still an accomplishment.

Much luck to you!

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