Failing nclex 6 times

KThurmond · Jan 25, 2016

If a person such as OP has failed many times I'd ask about their personal situation such as learning difficulties or home life or health issues before saying they shouldn't do it.

You never know someones situation, especially through a computer.

KThurmond · Jan 25, 2016

Op, if the nclex style questions are a problem have you tried lippincott alternate style questions? I think thats what it's called but im not sure. I've seen some positive things about it on here

I also read a tip if how somebody said they treated each SATA as a true or false question. So if you really know content it should be helpful.

If I were you, I'd start fresh. I'd see a therapist to discuss any negative feelings you might have, maybe find out why you've been unsuccessful, and then start studying again. I'd look at Saunders since I've read its the best for content, once you've got that down then look at the lippincott Q&A, and then do Uworld maybe. I don't know much about the NCLEX prep question banks or whatever but if you search the search bar you can find MANY threads on it.

synaptic · Jan 25, 2016

In an ideal world, everybody that wants to be a nurse or doctor or whatever would be able to become one. Kittens also fart perfume and poop rainbows in this ideal world. Last time I cleaned out my cats litterbox, i was not scooping out rainbows.

Real world is tough, deal with it, not everybody gets what they want.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jan 25, 2016

I just felt like I saw a lot of people in school who were smart as a whip and knew content and great in clinical, who just had test taking difficulty. It's not all about content but test taking strategy. I feel there may be really smart people who just really don't handle tests well. Not disagreeing completely with you but it's not s black and white subject I feel

If she is not prepared by the time she gets to take the NCLEX, there is something else wrong. It's not test taking nervousness blah blah blah because she passed nursing school. I know some people can be great in clinical but terrible on paper but in the nursing world you need to be good in both.

springchick1, ADN, RN · Jan 25, 2016

And potential employers may not ask how many times it took you to pass the NCLEX, but they will notice at you have been out of nursing school for three years and haven't had a nursing job yet. That's a huge red flag to managers.

KThurmond · Jan 25, 2016

True. Some people have kids or can't work and write that on their resume. Just saying everybody situation different. But if nothing like that happened then you make a valid point

OBwonKnewbie · Jan 25, 2016

In my state every application to take NCLEX submitted to the board is public knowledge. If a license is not issued, it says "closed" and they do not go away. So an employer could potentially see how many times you take NCLEX. I did find out recently that all states are not like this though, but some are.

Wongwise885 · Jan 25, 2016

And potential employers may not ask how many times it took you to pass the NCLEX, but they will notice at you have been out of nursing school for three years and haven't had a nursing job yet. That's a huge red flag to managers.

That's what making me nervous right now. I just recently passed NCLEX-RN after 10 years from school. I was educated in the Philippines and didn't take the boards back home. I thought that I couldn't challenge the US boards since I wasn't licensed back home until I called CGFNS and they told me some state doesn't require me to have one. I joined the Air Force and got into the medical field. Worked as Respiratory Therapist for couple years, then worked as Cardiac sonographer for 1 1/2 years. Then finally trained into Cardiac Cath Lab/ EP lab and been doing it for 3 years now. Fell in love/still in love with it. Working in the cath lab just gave me a different view with Nursing and I knew it then that I want to become a Cath/EP nurse..

Now it's making me weary that managers are going to look at the gap between school and passing the NCLEX.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jan 25, 2016

True. Some people have kids or can't work and write that on their resume. Just saying everybody situation different. But if nothing like that happened then you make a valid point

I took a hiatus from working after having my first child & let me tell you...not many people are willing to hire me after a 2 year break. Much will be the same if it takes a person a long time to get licensed.

springchick1, ADN, RN · Jan 25, 2016

True. Some people have kids or can't work and write that on their resume. Just saying everybody situation different. But if nothing like that happened then you make a valid point

Yes, everyone's situation is different. But not all managers will care if you have kids or couldn't work. All they will see is that you've been out of school for a while and have zero experience.

And it's not just managers. We do peer interviews at my hospital and all the peer interviews I've been a part of, if there are large gaps in employment or a big gap between graduation and interview, it raises a red flag.

KThurmond · Jan 25, 2016

Yeah. It's a sticky situation

Postpartum RN · Jan 25, 2016

In my opinion the problem could be that English is her second language. It is obvious from her/his posts that grammar and semantics are a struggle. I have worked with foreign educated RNs who are very smart and have great critical thinking skills, but DO NOT have very good language skills. So maybe this may be the problem here. Nclex questions are difficult and tricky.

OP I recommend doing a review with someone in person who can evaluate what your issue is. If you don't want to/can't spend the money to hire someone, do you perhaps have any nursing friends that can quiz you and see what your understanding of the nclex questions is?

Taking an ESL class would probably help.