Help me help my husband!!

Published

My husband graduated from nursing school 12 years ago. He did well in school and excelled in his clinicals. When he was in nursing school he took and passed his LPN boards on his first try. However, he did not pass his RN boards upon completing school. This was such a blow to him, that he waited a year to take them again and failed again on that try. He took them a third time about five years ago and also failed. He has been working very successfully as an LPN this entire time and feels trapped at this level due to his inability so far to pass this test. He is frustrated and feels hopeless that he will ever conquer this. He has taken in person review courses, done tons of questions from varying sources, and studied the Kaplan and Saunders books. He is currently registered to take it again in six weeks. Our test plan has been for him to do questions nightly and listen to a Cd covering content since he does not feel that reading material in a textbook is very helpful for him. He has been doing this and has not seen a butof improvement in the percentages he is scoring on practice tests... he is usually between 50% and 70%. Can you please suggest anything else that you feel might help us make this "the one!" I feel very frustrated because I KNOW he knows the content as I have been reviewing with him and he can completely explain his knowledge verbally and has done very well in his career, but just doesn't seem to be able to "prove" his competence in the way the test demands.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I would say his best bet is to practice questions and read the rationale regardless whether he got the question right or wrong. Reading will give him hints on what key words to look for in answering the question

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in public health.

Does he get nervous during the test? I would suggest him to take several breaks and deep breath. Don't practice the day before the test, do something relaxing and don't think about the test.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

He must take a long WHOOSAH...and start from scratch.

He need to look at the NCLEX for its four parts in order for one to enter as a entry level nurse: Safe, Effective Care; Health Promotion and Maintenance; Psychological Integrity; Physiological Integrity. Next, set up a time period to study. He may need two months to study MAX if he needs to.

Review Kaplan book and Saunders cover to cover. If you he needs other resources, he can choose resources that will help with preparing and have questions in each of the domains of the NCLEX.

He needs to make sure he is reviewing questions and rationales-even the ones that are answered correctly. He needs to look at what the question is ASKING; that helps in choosing the BEST answer. Review the sources if he doesn't understand the rationales. The NCSBN (makers of the NCLEX) also has a comprehensive study program as well. Hope this helps!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Check for reading comprehension issue with the computer, or test anxiety?

An educator, may have a way to test him to see if he is having a test taking issue.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

As LadyFree28 said, go right to the horses mouth and look at the study material on the NCSBN web site. There is some really good information there on what the test is comprised of and how it is designed. Also having a study guide from the actual people that write the test can't hurt. Best of luck to him passing this time!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion