Failure Failure Just another Failure....

[allabtu]

Hello,

I am currently unemployed with a A.S. degree in health science and Practical Nurse certificate. I have been unsuccessful passing the NCLEX and need serious advice from a nurse prospective.

I have made the decision to start over and challenge the CNA test, look for a phlebotomy course, hopefully find a Medication Aide course, and anything else as that will help me achieve a good job until I return to the NCLEX. It has been to long since I graduated, my family has been under a terrible burden from my lacking of provisions due to unemployment. I live in Tennessee seeking to find help from you, the professionals, who know of graduates that have had the same experience and what they did. Thank you for reading my post and look forward to your responses.

[allabtu]

Medication Aide and practical nurse... Do you feel as though medication aides are better?

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

I recommend the Sylvia Rayfield books- one on meds and one on basic nursing. I recommended them several times, to folks who didn't pass NCLEX the first time. They passed using that course. This is only good advice if there is still time to take the test, I don't remember how long they give you.

[allabtu]

Thank you Indy,

I am not sure how many times they allow a person to take the nclex pn. I know in Tennessee you are allowed 8x a yr. As for how many times I do not know. I thank you for the advise on the course and surly will look into it. In the mean time I am looking for work. My children and wife had high hopes that I would be in this profession by now but had bad luck 3x on the nclex. I do not know what is offered to unlicensed nurses so I'm looking on this blog for similar experiences and what others did in the mean time. I would greatly appreciate any advise in this area as well. Thank you again for reading my post.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

see if local hospitals have opportunities as OR tech, ER tech, Radiology tech---- some do not require licensure but the ones who do can be acquired in a short time. While working as a tech you can be providing income and later take NCLEX-PN again. The thing about hospitals is you learn while you work, and you have people with whom to network. The hospital educators probably know instructors at various schools and can offer assistance. The hospital might even assist in paying tuition. Good luck in whatever you choose.

[allabtu]

Thank you so much classicdame,

This really helps. I just returned from gathering applications and a couple surprised interviews. I was prepared with resume and documents but was so let down when they said, "we would start you tomorrow but... (No License, No experience)" I have been a wonderful employee to every employer, never late, always prepared, never rude or a know it all, always ready to dive in to new experiences, and never afraid to ask for help or advise. My clinical instructors all said I was a worthy nurse and did a good job, I just hate having to be held back by this nclex exam. I will take your advise and search for these certificates and do my best to achieve this dream. Thank you again for the advise I will take it as gold.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Medication Aide and practical nurse... Do you feel as though medication aides are better?

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Obviously, practical nurses make way, way more money and have more career opportunities. Of course LPN is a "better" career choice when compared to a medication aide.

Did your school offer study sessions for the NCLEX? Learning "how" the NCLEX works is at least as important as the content when it comes to passing.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I took a study course through NCSBN. It was cheap, computer based with lots of questions just like when you sit for your Boards. I had books, but honestly, never really opened them because the computer based site was the best. I did 50-100 qestions a day. It helped me be comfortable taking the actual exam. Never give up! Find a different path and keep on keepin on! Good luck to you

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Really, your priority should be passing the NCLEX. Becoming a CNA or a phlebotimist is not the answer. You worked too hard to pass school!

Here's some tips I found online re: the "hows" of the NCLEX:

1. Look for keywords

No matter how a long a question is, there is that one word or phrase that bears the most weight. Key words may relate to the client, the actual problem, and to specific aspects of the problem.

2. Repeated words

The same words may appear in the NCLEX question and in the correct answer. It may be the same word or a synonym of the word.

3. Opposite answers

If two choices have opposites, like increased heart rate or decreased heart rate, one of the two choices is usually the correct answer.

4. The Odd answer

The one answer that is different from the rest is apt to be the correct answer.

5. Umbrella principle

If all answers seem to be correct and applicable, choose the one that includes all the choices in it. One answer is better than all the others because it includes them.

6. Eliminate obvious answers

In NCLEX questions asking for a single answer, some choices are obvious to be incorrect. You should be able to identify some of these incorrect responses if they are/have:

the same idea- eliminate choices that have the same concept or idea. these choices are just reworded but if you analyze them carefully, they are actually one and the same

absolute answers- choices containing the words all, never, always and the like are very likely to be incorrect.

unrelated to the question- if the question asks for interventions and the action in the choice is an assessment, it is obviously incorrect.

After eliminating the obvious incorrect answers, analyze the remaining choices and select the option that best answers the stem.

7. Prioritize based on patient's needs

Questions containing the words initial, first, priority- is asking for your prioritizing skills. The choices are usually all correct but only one should be done first. When prioritizing, you should always remember the following:

ABC's- use ABC's (airway, breathing and circulation). Patients with airway problems or interventions to provide airway management are top priority.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs- remember the hierarchy and from there you will know that physiologic needs come first before safety and security and so on and so forth. This is typically used in patients with multiple problems to be addressed.

Nursing process- Assessment should always be done before planning anything or instituting interventions. Unless the question already has subjective and objective data about the patient, assessment is at the top of the list

Patient first before equipment- if a patient is attached to an equipment and sudden removal of the equipment causes problems, primary assessment and interventions should be directed to the patient and not to the equipment.

[allabtu]

Wow! That is awesome info. I just got my performance report back. I almost made it. My pharm was always the worse now its up and my basic care is down. I will continue to pursue this till I run out. Thank you for the advise I'm looking for a good review course that deals in students failing multiple times. Hopefully there is a class room study course out there.

[pebbles049]

Do many questions from the nclex books. Take a course if necessary . You got through school and you can take the test. I will hopefully be taking the nclex-rn with in the next few months. I took the nclex-pn many years ago. You can do this. Good luck.

[nursey909]

Wells My Thought is dont Give up on Passing That nclex and Becoming a nurse......from Personal Experience try assisted livings There Always Looking for medication Aids it Helped me to get familiar with Meds ..i understand where your coming from bills dont Wait for Noone :-( .......Goodluck to you keep Studying!!