First attempt at the NCLEX... not so hot...

Published

hey peeps!

so... i've seen this website for several years but i just now signed up today and here's my first post. please, be kind to a newbie! :sniff:

so, august 18, 2010 - about the worst mistake ever! august 20, 2010 - about the worse day ever... and it is not even 11:00 yet! anyways, i took the nclex on wednesday, did the pearson vue trick later that night (yes it worked... unfortunately), have hardly slept since, and found out today that i definitely failed. oh, the joys of nursing... so? what's next? i don't know what to do or where to go from here... help? :sstrs:

love, peace, and chicken grease,

ev40901

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adolescent & Adult Psychiatry.

Good Morning and Welcome To ALLNURSES!!!

:grpwlcm:

First of all, congratulations on finishing Nursing School and making it this far! Now, as for the test, take your results and use it to your advantage. Now you truly know how the test works and soon you will know your weak spots when they send you the packet.

I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but the test is not so much about remembering every page of your nursing books. Instead, it's about utilizing the basic skills and information that you've learned throughout your classes and clinicals, remembering the importance of prioritization, and from there tricking the NCLEX before it can trick you!

From this point, I'd recommend just buying a small, comprehensive book that will help you review the labs, basic techniques, signs and symptoms, and a little of pharm. A lot of people are also starting to use the Exam Cram CD that's available at any book store and this will help you again since it mimics the test almost directly. When you've mastered that then you've got a much better chance at tackling the real test.

Stay focused and utilize your time wisely as you wait to test again. Don't waste it with over-analyze your mistakes, but instead review the material and remind yourself that it isn't important to know everything, just the basic concepts.

Good Luck and Happy Studying! You Can Do This and everyone at ALLNURSES has got your back! Woot! :nmbrn:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Give yourself a couple of days to be upset and sad, then get things together to take it again. You will be successful as long as you don't give up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@nursethis21 & @caliotter3: thanks for the advice! :rolleyes:

i'm just so devastated! i studied as hard as i could, given it is the summer. i know i could have studied more but that would have required me to have absolutely no fun or sleep. also, i knew going in that i wasn't prepare but i let time (it is august already!) bully me into taking the exam before i was ready. and now i'm stuck with a fail and $280 in the already gaping hole of debt. i just don't know what to do!

i did review classes. i took kaplan: i had pretty decent scores - not all of them 60% but i only had one lower than 53%. i also did the martin review in chicago. i intend to get the lacharity and exam cram books this time around but what else can i do? i definitely cannot afford another review session!

also, how do i even retake the nclex? i know i have to register for another test on pearsonvue.com but do i have to go through all the paper work again?

love, peace, and chicken grease,

ev40901

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Here in California, I know we have to reapply to sit for the exam and pay another 75 dollars and pay 200 dollars to Pearson Vue again. I know that is quite a lot of money, but you really need to pull yourself together so that you can pass the second time. I took my exam last Saturday, and now I am over the grieving phase. I have to brush it off and keep on moving, because this test is passable or we would not have made it this far!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't let it get you down. My husband didn't pass on his first take, and he was devastated. He paid for some private tutoring and passed the second time. At least I know when I graduate next May that he will understand if I don't make it on the first try. :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

I would suggest using your local library if you want to save some money. Check to see what NCLEX-RN review books are in their catalog. Also, if you wanted you could ask for books they don't have via inter-library loan. It usually takes about 2-4 weeks for them to get books in, so I would do this as early as possible. This is what I did/am doing to prepare for my 2nd attempt Aug. 31st.

You need about a week to grieve and handle the disbelief that you failed. Then, figure out your study plan and attack!

Make sure you check with your BON about fees... I paid for a 2nd background check because they sent me the fingerprint card and instructions and it's good for a whole year... so I lost $41.25 AND my BON thought it was humorous. :smackingf

Anyways, there are a multitude of books out there all focusing on strategy, content, and both. A little research and some reading within this forum and you will have plenty to choose from.

Good luck!! Like everyone has said before... you are not alone and it does get better. It's not the end of the world... it feels like it now, but you will heal.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
hey peeps!

so... i've seen this website for several years but i just now signed up today and here's my first post. please, be kind to a newbie! :sniff:

so, august 18, 2010 - about the worst mistake ever! august 20, 2010 - about the worse day ever... and it is not even 11:00 yet! anyways, i took the nclex on wednesday, did the pearson vue trick later that night (yes it worked... unfortunately), have hardly slept since, and found out today that i definitely failed. oh, the joys of nursing... so? what's next? i don't know what to do or where to go from here... help? :sstrs:

love, peace, and chicken grease,

ev40901

i took nclex rn on aug 7 and tried the pvt and it does work. i failed. i have been a lpn for 9 yrs and i studied also. it took me a couple of days to accept the fact that i did not pass. i was devestated and really can't afford to chump out another 300 dollars to retest. i got a hurst review book from one of my class mates and studied that. i thought i was prepared but the type of questions i got were nothing like the hurst questions. so now i am studying the kaplan and those practice questions are more like the nclex style questions. im just trying to think positive and trust in god cause @ this point thats the only thing i know to do. :) stay focused and think positive. we can do this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

I think LaCharity and MosbyRN are realy helpful books, they have amazing easy to understand rationales and I think they were way harder then the test, I could not afford any reviews... With these 2 books, and he infection mneumonics one would have the tools to destroy the nclex.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i failed the first time taking the NCLEX too, so desapointed:mad:. have pass the Hesi exit exam at the first try, being an A student. that this where i ended. don't know what to do either. i get my report today only after 4 days of taking my test telling me "near passing", but they gave me only 75 questions, l was saying my self why they did not let me do the 265 question, why they cut me at 75 questions if i can do the all 265. i started not trusting the pearvue testing. did anyone has that kind of experience?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

Don't give up.. Just take you a small break and get back on it.....Take your time and study a little harder.... Good Luck. You'll be a nurse in no time.:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have exam cram, is this book almost the same kind of test in Nclex??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion