Gearing Up to Take NCLEX for 5th Time

lisahb13 · Jul 17, 2011

Hi murphyal,

I too am gearing up to take NCLEX for the 5th time... I completely understand about your anxiety, and am like you. I've done Hurst online, in class, kaplan, and NCSBN online, as well as working with a tutor. I think this has now become more of a psychological thing than knowledge. Keep going!!! this is about taking the NCLEX test and not about any other abilities as a nurse. It is definitely a blow to the ego, as 75% of my classmates passed on their first time and almost everyone else has passed also. HOWEVER, you went to nursing school for a reason, and you have to keep that in your sights. Not everyone can survive nursing school - so keep trying!!! I know I will not give up until I have that RN behind my name and move on to working with patients. People really don't care how many times you take to pass your boards, they still believe in you and know that you are going to be great as an RN. Just hang in there and do it!!

LuxAeternaRN · Jul 17, 2011

Best of luck to you both!! You've both passed nursing school, taken the classes, and practiced - believe you can do it and you will! As lisahb said, it doesn't matter how many times you've taken it. Don't even think about that when you go into the exam. All the best. :redbeathe

linsmirn · Jul 17, 2011

You can do this, we all go into this test with anxiety but if you know your content you will pick the right answer, of course SATA will be hard but just concentrate on what you learned. Take deep breaths and take your time, you dont have to answer every question. You can be there for the whole 6 hours and only answer 110 questions and still pass, just make sure you put your all into the 110. Good luck and take the exam when you feel ready.

BrittersRN · Jul 17, 2011

Good luck! You can do this...Pray to God for peace of mind and calmness and you will succeed!! Go for a walk before you take your test to clear your mind, eat healthy...and try some yoga the days leading up to your test. I never really did yoga until it got close to test time for me because I really needed to relax and it did help me.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2011

Have you practiced any relaxation techniques to use during the test? Deep breathing, imagery, singing (silently) in your head, anything you think might help you relax? Since your issue seems to be test anxiety, perhaps you should explore relaxation and anti-anxiety techniques and practice using them. So when you sit down to take the test you know you have some tools that will help.

srna28 · Jul 17, 2011

Definitely practice relaxation techniques and positive self-talk. When you get to a question you think you don't know, pause, close your eyes and just think "relax. I know this. I'm not going to fail". Don't sit there in the exam telling yourself you're going to fail- negative thinking won't help. I am an anxious test taker as well, and now through my advanced practice degree I still find myself using these techniques during my exams. It never fails. Be positive! And good luck!

caliotter3 · Jul 17, 2011

Sounds to me like you need to do some serious work on relaxation techniques. Good luck.

RedDogs · Jul 18, 2011

Hi murphyal , I too will be taking the boards for the 5th time. I was so dead set on picking a different career after i failed the 4th time. Like many people have told me," you have worked so hard to get where you are, do not let this test hold you back from what you want to do". I turned to AN and have found lots of support and inspiration. I want to take them again. I know, I have worries too (the what ifs).As your tutor told you, and you know in your heart, you have the knowledge within you. YOU CAN DO THIS !

murphyal555 · Jul 19, 2011

Thanks for all the advice. It is just so hard to keep positive, calm, and not just have a total freak out.

murphyal555 · Jul 28, 2011

Finally after two years of trying...i am official an rn!! Thanks everyone for their support!! It really helped me out!

RedDogs · Jul 28, 2011

Congratulations !!!!!! I am so happy for you. I just failed the 4th time,so I have to go through the waiting period before taking it for the 5th time. I have so much doubt about my intelligence and if I should even try again. Hearing that you passed and you kept up the fight, gives me hope. Thank you!