Going on 5

Sorry my friend. I know the feeling. What state did you take your NCLEX exam for?

NEW YORK

NEW YORK

City or State?

Sorry to ear you failed. It is hard especially when failed more than twice. I passed on third go. All I can suggest is practice questions and make sure you understand both the question and the rationale. Don't over study as that can be just as bad as not studying enough. I aimed for 2-3 hours a day and up to 4 when I wasn't working but didn't do more than that. I also preferred Saunders and NSCBN learningext.

I am so sorry to hear about your trouble with the NCLEX. It makes no difference how many questions you did or didn't get nor does it matter what state you are in.

Surely you know everything you need to know from studying it 4+ times. I think maybe you need to focus on how to take a multiple choice test. They can be tricky. I can send you some hints if you want me to.

Is it stress anxiety? I really don't see it as a problem with multiple choice because if you did Suzanne's plan you should know how to answer those questions. Did you do every single step EXactly as she tells you? When I got to step two on her plan, I would take about 5-6 hrs a day to do them with breaks. That is with reading both the rational and the strategy for figuring out the answer when you don't know answer for sure. I did the same for step one and it took me about 3 wks to just get that done because you have to read the rational for them to., even if you get them right because the rationals will help you with other questions as well. Sometimes, I found myself reviewing a certain chapter three times to get score she wanted before going on to the next chapter! It is grueling but it works. If you did it exactly as she said then it has to be something else. Some people have horrible test stress. My friend is like this...she had the Dr. prescribe something to relax her just enough to get thru it. Hers were so bad that she would get hives. I felt so bad for her. Take some time and allow some reflection on the matter and redo Suzanne's plan and only use the Saunders book. When I started the plan, I told my family that these hours would be my study time and nothing was going to pull me away from that. I turned off my cell, told them to take messages and goodbye, I would see them when I was done. I got ear plugs to block out the noises and sticked to the plan the same way everyday. I took two days off before the test and walked in confident I understood how to take this test....I was throwing up questions after doing so many of them but I was prepared. Good luck, you get there.

BroadwayRN, I would love some tips if you could send them!

The only positive thing I keep telling myself is that I keep learning more each time i study and it sticks! So I am getting smarter and that can only help,not harm. I try not to let the test get to me, because then I would never be able to pick myself up and retest. this 4th time, hit my heart. I know I put in the time, energy with the Saunders book and made it positive studying instead of being mad that i am studying again!

I will never give up!!! Once I pass this exam, I am never going to let my license expire!

I am already considering going back to school for MA but I want this license so I can do an accelerated program.

NYCgirl i completely understand what u are going thru as i am currently preparing to take my exam for the 5th time as well. After the 4th time i felt so depressed and was wondering why bother to study again, but i dusted of that feeling and started doing questions and refreshing my knowledge of areas that i fell weak on and reading other folks experience on here has given me a lift.

But with that be strong and we will pass the 5th time around. KEEP THE FAITH

Try to include Prioritization, Delegation, & Assignment on your study books. Answer practice questions and read there rationales..

Maybe you are over thinking some of the questions. Most of the priority questions you should look for the patient experiencing an unusual symptom that may not be asociated with their diagnosis instead of a pt with COPD with breathing problems

I am fully aware that COPD is a chronic condition.

I did not make any COPD pts a priority because there were more unstable patients in my choices that must be seen before a chronic condition.

Maybe I am thinking too hard! I wish i was able to see my test. I want to see how horrible I did. Because out of 265 questions I did not get at least half right??? That seems odd because when I do practice questions from Saunders or Kaplan I am getting higher than 60%. I have been studying for this exam for over 9 months and i feel I am learning more so i am aware of the wrong choices!

I inquired about private tutoring but was told there is really nothing they can do for me that I cant do for myself. Go over the right and wrong answer choices and i should be fine! Never in a million years did I think I would be the only one left in my class to pass this test!! That makes me feel horrible!

Its hard to be positive but I keep forcing myself to be positive and I know I am going to be a good nurse that is why I havent given up!

There is a luck factor as well, luckily I was given the areas I knew and not labor and delivery. From your post it says you took Kaplan so I assume you know the assessment/implmentatation and ABC technique they teach. I found out that knowing my labs and really understanding what high and low mean paid off since I was able to eliminate some times a lab in the correct range or be suspicious of one in the bad range. Good luck, you will pass it, I know how hard it is, I failed my first time at 75 and luckily passed my 2nd attempt