GN, failed nclex once, retaking but having doubts....

[bjy26]

Hi all, i failed my nclex the first time, im retaking on oct 25 but i am having doubts....not only about the test but about being a nurse at all....and its terrifying me. Nursing is all i ever imagined myself doing, but im concerned im not cut out for it. Every Timetime i think about being responsible for a life, i get really bad anxiety. Im sure a lot of it is lack of confidence after failing the nclex. But i did good all through nursing school and i still had anxiety about lives being in my hands. Ive caught.myself making stupid.mistakes and it scares me to death. Ive always had a horrible memory, even before nursing school and it gets worse when i am nervous, of course. Im beginning to wonder if i want to do this anymore. Do i have any other options within the medical field? I dont want my education to go to waste. Im still going to try to pass the nclex this time but i dont know where i want to go from there . Help!

[loveSBK]

Hey. Im in nursing school now but I can only imagine the pressure that you must feel. If nursing is all you ever wanted to do then you shouldn't let your fears get in the middle. You are a new grad, don't have any experience, so you're going to be nervous about taking care of patients. If you know you have bad memory, you can always carry a book with little notes around to trigger your memory until it becomes second nature. You finished nursing school and you're going to give it up now? I don't think so. Nclex may have destroyed your confidence but once you pass it this time around things will change for you. Keep calm and keep going. Eventually you're going to feel comfortable being a nurse and everything else wont matter. Good luck to you!!!!

[swansonplace]

I am a new grad also, and I am nervous about the whole thing. Have you heard of residency programs for nurses. These are programs that bridge students from being nurses to being professional nurses. Also, my school has in the continuing education department clinical classes for those that did not pass the nclex, and also, for those that just need to brush up on skills. They also have a skills and simulation class that should help. Another school has a med-surg cert which may help.

Also, I use to carry an mp3 player with me during clinicals. It had my drug quide, med surg pdf, and any other information I needed at my fingertips that I may have forgotten.

The trick for me to the nclex was not memorizing all the facts, but understanding the basic concepts. It would be impossible to memorize every little detail. The worst thing about getting ready for the NCLEX is not having a blueprint, and each review had different information on it. So it is hard to pinpoint what one has to focus on. For me, understanding "core" concepts was key.

You made it through nursing school. You can make it through the NCLEX.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

No!! No giving up!! I failed my first time, too, after my predictor said I had a 94% chance of passing. The predictor I took tonight said 90%....but hey, it really isn't the end of the world! I take my retake on Friday.....THIS Friday. Next Friday.....the day you take your boards, is my birthday. WHEN I pass in Friday, my license will be issued on my birthday. So, go do it, pass it, and celebrate for both of us!! In the meantime, don't stop studying!!!