Failure In Need

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I graduated nursing school in December with my BSN. I was on the accelerated track and aced every HESI thrown my way with near perfect scores. Due to a paperwork mistake on befalf of my school, no one in my class received their ATT #s until about a month or more later. By this time I had started a new job (retail was killing me and I had bills to pay), which required a lot of education and training. I had moved from my home, into a place with roomates and incredibly annoying dogs. And the week of my NCLEX, my boyfriend (whom I live with) came down with one heck of a case of Mono Hepatitis. It got the point where he couldn't even feed himself. I had a lot of life going on around the time of my exam. Unfortunately, it got the best of me. I failed my NCLEX.

I am not someone who fails at anything and I take it very hard when I do. My family that was oh so quick to assure me that I would pass without thinking about it was shocked. Since my failure, I have not been motivated to study or re-apply for another test. I think I am too scared of failing again.

I need to know how to find motivation to get back on the horse. Daily I have loved ones and co-workers asking when I will re-schedule my exam. It is not a lack of a support group. I am living in fear of failing once again and each day I lose more of my knowledge that I worked so hard to obtain.

Any advice?

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You need to think of the bigger picture. This is what you put yourself through the last 3-4 years of studying and not having a life for. Write a plan for your studying. Check of each item and keep telling yourself that you can do it. I changed my password on my computer to a motivational phrase so every time I was on my computer it made me think about the end goal.

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Either study and re-take the test, or keep working in retail. It's that simple.

Yes, failure is a possibility ...but what's the alternative? You won't get a nursing license by doing nothing.

Good Luck!

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You just have to know that you had a lot going on and your head just was not in the game when you took your test.

Take a deep breath find a few days or weeks of quietness and study. I'm sure you will be OK next time around.

Do you know what areas caused you to fail. Study those areas the most. If you need a little help fins someone that can explain things better and then go out and take the exam... you can do this

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As my school reminds us, "You won't find your license in a cereal box." You have to go out and get it.

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Not sure how any of us, who do not know you (and you do not know us) could provide any meaningful motivation that is not of the most obvious sort: if you want to work as an RN, you will need to study for the test, take it and pass. Just that simple, really.

Easy? No. But if you want motivation.....just do it.

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Do you file your tax return only when you are "motivated"? How about paying rent? Do you only pay if you feel the motivation? Pay bills, go to the dentist, do laundry only if you feel "motivated"? No, you do them no matter how you are feeling because you must.

Don't wait for motivation. You know what you must do, and how to do it. Just get it done already.

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Do you file your tax return only when you are "motivated"? How about paying rent? Do you only pay if you feel the motivation? Pay bills, go to the dentist, do laundry only if you feel "motivated"? No, you do them no matter how you are feeling because you must.

Side note, just because I was struck funny by the above quote :)

"Sorry, IRS, I just wasn't 'feeling it' this year.....catch me next April, maybe I'll be more 'into it' then!" :D

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thread moved to NCLEX forum.

I am living in fear ...

Sometimes fear alone is a great motivator ...

As others have said, schedule a date and start studying now.

Good luck.

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So sorry with everything you had going on. You failed, now you need to focus on what you really want. Do you want to become an RN? You passed nursing school, but things happen, this is life. Best bet is to get some content review on top of test taking strategy course. Do the in class ones, that will make you do it. I find trying to do online for someone who has no motivation is setting yourself up for failure. Failure happens but what you do next is important. Don't give up! Get back up and do it again multiple times if you have to. You will pass if you have the motivation and determination! Good luck and don't give up.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

Having to start paying back student loans can become a valid motivator...got any of those?

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
Do you file your tax return only when you are "motivated"? How about paying rent? Do you only pay if you feel the motivation? Pay bills, go to the dentist, do laundry only if you feel "motivated"? No, you do them no matter how you are feeling because you must.

Don't wait for motivation. You know what you must do, and how to do it. Just get it done already.

In nursing school when you got to your first day of class, you got a syllabus/ handout that outlined the tasks to be accomplished in order to pass that class. There was probably a timeline and dates when certain things must be handed in or checked off. Same thing here.

Schedule a date to take your exam. Set a time for your boyfriend to go with you to examination venue (He can help make sure you know where it is and how to get there). Write up your own class syllabus for "Preparing to take the NCLEX". Check off reading the chapters or answering so many questions per study session. Schedule a day of rest before the exam and get a full night's sleep. Get up early enough to have plenty of time to have a small breakfast and arrive at test location.

When you complete the exam, reward yourself with a nice event, anything to keep you off the computer checking for results.

DO NOT waste a hard earned nursing education.

Now, go out and do it!

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