Help! Failed NCLEX five times, out of school for 9 years

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Hello Everyone,

I am new to allnurses.com. A very long story short: I graduated RN school in May 2001. I have taken the NCLEX five times and was unsuccessful. I had tried everything I knew to do and still couldn't do it. I will admit I did give up. The last time I took it I was eight days from having my first child and she is now six. I thought for some reason I was not supposed to do nursing. I got out of nursing all together a year later. I really want to get my license, otherwise nursing school was a waste. I contacted my old school and they didn't even seem to care. I have searched and searched and the only thing I can find online and otherwise is refreshers that you already needed to have your license at some point in time. I never had trouble in clinicals or any hands on work just that test. I am very frustrated and although I want to figure out what I can do even as I write this I feel like there isn't any help out there. If the only thing I can do is go back to school and do the WHOLE program over NO WAY! I am married with two young kids and work full time repeating two years of that again I don't think I can do it. If any of you out there has any ideas you could send my way I would appreciate it. Thanks for your time:)

Hi I've been reading all the post and I am in a similar situation !!! I graduated in 2007 fall was not able to take the boards bc of receiving misinformation from my Dean!!! Which is a whole other story, so the first attempt was 8 months after I graduated (failed)!!! Again 3 months later( fail)!! And another two more times now I am so so discouraged to attempt again yet, so misiarable I can't bare watching anything related to hospital ,drive by a hospital, a college, see any body with scrubs on!!! I feel useless, I avoid people and family all in relation to failing !! I don't know what to do I did very well in school but I have test anxiety I look and brake down every question until I find something wrong then change my answer bc I say to mys of No they would not make it this easy !!!!! There is something wrong with me seriously wrong I can't get myself to just read and click an answer any word like and but all none some, make me change the answer !!!! Now I am in a situation where I need to contribute instead of living off my husband he needs help not a dependent what do I do????? I am at my wits !!! I read all of u guys finally passing I'm so happy for you and who cares if you can't find work fast you have your license no one can ever tAke that only you! Good job and God bless .......... I hear the boards are pick all that apply now??? That is the hardest one !!!!!!

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Hi, so I took my pn enclex twice. Im determined to take it again at the end of the month, and in the back of my mind , im always thinking if that will be enough studying!!! I purchased the Hurst review and doing an app on my phone.. answering questions. Also I want to reread the koplan book and do the questions from there. Im really hoping that once im comfortable with all that , I hope I will pass..not passing makes me feel so down about myself! Its sucks, makes me feel dum, its frustrating, especially when all your classmates passed the test and have nursing jobs. Do you guys remember if on the test were all genetic drug questions or a mix? Brand and genetic. I learned a buch that are brand so now its hard to go back and learn only the genetic ..ehh!! So stressed :-(

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I also wanted to ask . Does anyone have good or bad review they can share with me about the program Hurst review? ?? Im really hoping that it will help me, however, reading some comments here it seems that a lot of people have been sucessfull on the koplan program? Im starting to wonder if I should of done the koplan one instead?? You can also email me pls . [email protected] I would really appreciate some answers . Thank you

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Hi, so I took my pn enclex twice. Im determined to take it again at the end of the month, and in the back of my mind , im always thinking if that will be enough studying!!! I purchased the Hurst review and doing an app on my phone.. answering questions. Also I want to reread the koplan book and do the questions from there. Im really hoping that once im comfortable with all that , I hope I will pass..not passing makes me feel so down about myself! Its sucks, makes me feel dum, its frustrating, especially when all your classmates passed the test and have nursing jobs. Do you guys remember if on the test were all genetic drug questions or a mix? Brand and genetic. I learned a buch that are brand so now its hard to go back and learn only the genetic ..ehh!! So stressed :-(

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Hi, I would like to share my wonderful experience with you. I am a working student that juggled working noc shift and studying nursing. After graduating the program I felt that i am not ready yet to take the nclex exam despite of studying ATI and getting the greenlight from my school. I graduated july of 2015. I spent 4 months trying to study with my study buddy while working noc shift. I decided that it is not working out for me. Me and my friend looked for a review center that doesn't focus on just money and also that is very affordable. We found American Healthways Education located in Cerritos, CA. Even though i was so tired from working noc shift i strived hard to be able to attend the 8 days session. The review class is very straight to the point and very easy to understand. They taught the concept not only the trick to pass the nclex pn. It increased my confidence. I took my nclex pn last january 12 of 2016. After 2 weeks of waiting i received the letter stating that i passed with my first take. I am really grateful to the American Healthways Education for helping me prepare for the nclex and also for giving me more confidence to take it. Btw there are people that took this review even though they are from the eastcoast and they passed the nclex RN.I also saw from the reviews that people who did not practiced nursing for years and failed so many times passed after attending the review class. Goodluck i hope my story will inspire anybody needing help in preparing for the nclex.

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I know this is a old post but in Florida if you fail 3 times you are required to take a state board approved remedial program. If you are any where near Orlando Look into Millers Nursing School. They do remedial and She has BSN program as well. I love her class

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Hi, I graduated Dec. 2011. I was so burnt out after school that I wanted nothing to do with nursing for two years. My desire came back and I took a review class and failed NCLEX three times. My time has expired because in the state of Illinois you only have three years from the time you register for the test. I spoke with my former dean and she told me to apply for my license from another state that doesn't have limitation on years to take the NCLEX. I have to take another review and once I pass transfer my license back to Illinois. I think New York and Arizona are unlimited. Has any one heard of doing this. I was thinking about going back to school but it will take three semesters. vpjdcdgd

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My school had a 100% pass rate. Our director made us do 3,000 questions from this book in the last semester. Do the Kaplan thing but do this also, I feel that it's the only reason that I passed. [h=2]Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination, 5th Edition[/h]Oct 26, 2010by Linda Anne Silvestri

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Specializes in ICU.

I don't want to sound mean BUT if someone graduates school more than 2 years prior to taking NCLEX they NEED to go back to school, let alone 9 years!! I graduated 6 months ago and already a lot has changed since then. I had to learn a few new techniques plus I forgot a lot after graduation and no matter how much you study or answer questions it's not the same as school! Or maybe think of change of profession. Just being straight forward. good luck to all!

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Interesting read looking at these old posts and seeing that 99.9% of the posters who failed 4x+ or who graduated 2, 4, 6, 9, 15 years ago never ended up being RN's. As a nurse recruiter or as a nurse manager, how do you evaluate an applicant that graduated 13 years ago? and reveals to you that the reason for the long gap had been that they had failed the NCLEX 9 times and (hypothetically) just recently they where able to finally pass via a miracle with no refresher courses or practicum.

They (hospitals) tell RN's who left the work force for extended periods, that they must take a refresher course before being considered.

I know one of the largest hospital chains in the country in my area only considers you for their GN program 1 year from graduation. (Unless you had a medical or family emergency.)

Florida it is 3 times and after that it is time to go back to school. This makes you more of an attractive applicant to hiring managers then a super long gap with no formal education between.

Sorry but, Kaplan, Hurst etc etc etc only attempts to prepare you for an exam. Your school is suppose to prepare you to work and think like a nurse.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I'd be careful. Illinois might not license you with this back door approach. You've failed to obtain licensure by the standards that they have set!

vpjdcdgd3 said:
Hi, I graduated Dec. 2011. I was so burnt out after school that I wanted nothing to do with nursing for two years. My desire came back and I took a review class and failed NCLEX three times. My time has expired because in the state of Illinois you only have three years from the time you register for the test. I spoke with my former dean and she told me to apply for my license from another state that doesn't have limitation on years to take the NCLEX. I have to take another review and once I pass transfer my license back to Illinois. I think New York and Arizona are unlimited. Has any one heard of doing this. I was thinking about going back to school but it will take three semesters. vpjdcdgd
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Hello! I'm a J1 at TWU and am wanting a good NCLEX review course that lasts two years and that I can use to study for my courses throughout the next two years. What were your favorites?

Thanks!

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