Foreign Nurse failed NCLEX twice (Need your excellent advice)

lalita Bhandari · Oct 16, 2012

Hi Everyone,so this is my story with regards to NCLEX...
I have graduated year 2009 back in the Philippines, i worked for about 1 year at a District hospital until got married then migrated here in the US. This March 2012 I started processing all the necessary documents in preparing for the NCLEX, since i want to pursue the nursing career i always dreamed of. I was really happy that i didn't have any problems with my papers & was authorized to take the test in the State of Arizona. Except i kept failing =(
I paid the HURST review online, it was really excellent and eye opener for me
after about month of review i took the test June 4. following days i found out that i failed the test, i was really devastated. I told myself on my next try i'm going to take my time and study some more. I bought the Kaplan book 2012, Saunders 5th edition & La Charity book. Studied almost 2 months. I committed myself 5 days a week 6-7 hours of review. i took Nclex second time around Oct, i made it to 265 questions & i got 20 SATA i was really confident compared to my first try but then i failed again.
Right now i don't know where to start =( Please help. BTW the 7 OF THE Content areas says near passing rate..
I NEED YOUR ADVICE PLEASE. tHANKs

I took the exam from california board . I come from a different country. Our education system is abit different. We used to have subjective questions rather than objective. So for us even the question pattern is different and new. But still passed nclex for the first time with 75 questions on oct 6.
I found Saunders best for content and Kaplan best for question practices. I had Maryann hogan as well la charity PDA but in comparison I found Saunders n Kaplan classroom review more useful. While I was in the exam I felt as if I was doing Kaplan questions.
Kaplan questions are more difficult than the real nclex questions I felt that way. I practiced Kaplan questions like crazy n it made me a good critical thinker which really helped me in the exam.
In the exam I followed this strategies:
Safety, ABC, Maslow, Assessment Vs Implementation, acute Vs chronic, stable vs unstable, expected vs unexcepted, finally the odd man out .
All the best

Inha1 · Oct 16, 2012

I am also a foreign nurse i took exam from MD board after 2months of preparation and passed in first attempt, i didnt take any of preparation class just went through focussed self study. saunders and marry ann hogan for content and nclex 4000, kaplan question trainer and exam cram for question practice is what i followed. the theme of my study was corelating whatever i studied and understanding every rational.... just believe in yourself and give your full time to study for some time... you will surely pass goodluck!!

nanajin · Oct 18, 2012

Thank you so much for spending time reading my post & advice. I just feel horrible & unmotivated. Now, i feel so much better that i found this site & can relate to alot of post here. I am planning to take the Kaplan course one of my friend in Cali is taking that one too. GOD BLESS

nanajin · Oct 18, 2012

Thank you so much Inha1

After almost 3 weeks break from heartbreaking news. I am ready to take the challenge of NCLEX. I am not going to schedule the test soon but I am gonna go back to my study routine, i'll probably focus more on Questions&rationale. I already read the whole chapter of Saunders,except the medications didn't focus on it, just listened to the Audio & did the medication practice test. I really don't know where to start

Yownyown, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2012

nanajin,

I am sorry to hear that kababayan. I feel you and i do understand what you are going right now as I have experienced failing nclex before. I also graduated 2009 (batchmates huh?!) and i failed my first attempt last Dec.2011. I literally experienced the DABDA stage. I took myself a break and gather all my thought and i ask Lord to show me the right path to success, where did i go wrong. I also assessed myself, my strengths and weaknesses on the said topics. i really shutdown myself for 5 freaking months and voila! =) its all worth it, i passed for the second time just recently. i made plans, i wrote it in the paper, i stick with it and followed my plans religiously and also I prayed every night and said novenas.

On my report card on my first try, i only have 1 above passing, 2 near passing and the rest below passing. don't lose hope. I dare you not to give up on your dreams because i know that this too shall pass and you can do this. The fact that you are writing/creating a thread like this, asking for tips/suggestions, its a good sign already! You have this awareness and it means that you are ready to the next level. May GODbless you and goodluck on your study and for your upcoming NCLEX.

nanajin · Oct 22, 2012

Hi Yownyown

:cry: , I am just an average student but i work hard on my review .

Anyway i am so happy for your successful NCLEX accomplishment. God Bless you & your family.