Graduated as Top Student of BSN Class and Failed NCLEX at 75 questions.

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Please help me. I'm so devastated. I failed my NCLEX at 75 questions. I don't know how to stand up again after this downfall, I aced my CGFNS qualifying exam with flying colors but failed my NCLEX :'( I'm studying everyday so hard. Focused and have always faith. How can they fail a person if he only wants to care for people at their weakest and most vulnerable moments :'( Help me please.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

What did you do to prepare for the NCLEX? The best thing I did to prepare was to buy the prep books that exactly matched the real thing and just take practice test after practice test. I am not a good test taker but I passed in 75 questions and when it was time for my Boards for my Pediatric Nurse Practitioner exam, I again prepared the same way and did really well. Don't try to just memorize a bunch of information, practice taking the test.

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I read the books for concepts and another book for practical questions, I did it every day. I answer 75-100 questions everyday. I work hard for this, maybe it's not my time yet :'(

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I have moved your post to the NCLEX forum to ensure maximum responses.

I am going to be blunt: you need to own this failed attempt. "They" didn't fail you, you just didn't pass this time. Often class standing has little to no bearing on whether or not you have the requisite test-taking strategies nailed down to pass the NCLEX. Have you considered a review course? I promise, it is not the end of the world! You can take the NCLEX again.

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Thank you Pixie, I need blunt and encouraging comments that will get me back to reality and game again. Sorry if my ego is defending himself right now. I appreciate this kind of response. And yes you're totally right I should own this failure and it's not the end of the world. I'm considering a review course, any recommendations? Please. And thank you.

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Specializes in NICU.

You are a foreign trained nurse. Is English your first language? If it isn't, then I suggest a tutor that can help you determine why you may be answering questions wrong. It may be a language issue rather than a knowledge issue. Many US trained graduates have a hard time determining what the question is asking, so understanding the question when English is not your first language can be difficult.

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Thank you for the response. I am fluent in English too. So language barrier is not a really a shortcoming.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

The NCLEX is generally pretty straightforward if you take your time to read the question, read the answers, go back and re-read the question (look for key words/phrases associated with the answers you just read) and then re-read the answers. Don't overthink it. A "true" answer that needs to be selected always answers the question using info that's presented by the question and what you know of the nursing process. If the answer you select would answer the question because you added something to the question, it's probably not the correct answer. If I passed in 75 basically by being careful about what the questions actually asked. If you misread a part of the question, there will likely be an answer that will be "true" for that misread. I have lost out on a few percentage points of many of my exams in school just because I misread a question.

OP, since you're the top of your class, knowledge shouldn't be an issue. It very well could just come down to being super nervous and misreading questions. The NCLEX is always an "Ivory Tower" type of nursing situation where all is done correctly within the very closed confines of the NCLEX Universe. If you're asked something about what you'd do, it's always good to remember that.

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Thank you for the response. Such a helpful insight. Now it makes me reflect and evaluate myself and my ways. I shake this off, dust off my shoulders and will try again :)

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It's allright ro fail. U learn when u fail. Try again. Be strong

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Specializes in Post Acute, Med/Surg, ED, Nurse Manager.

uworld has a great online test bank of questions with good practice tests. There are tons of test banks, it isn't the only one. But it is one I have been using, and like it. Did your school have HESI tests or other practice tests you can use to review?

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Yes. There's a lot of lesson you will learn when you fail, and one of those is to pick yourself up and try again :)

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