HELP!!!!!!! I've failed the NCLEX-RN 3 times now...attempting my 4th try!

swansonplace · Oct 2, 2013

I passed, and tried a lot of different reviews. It was just finding one that worked for me. That is find a review that you are interested in, and has good overall results. I found that having someone to talk to about the process and just to buddy up with helps a lot, but most of my study was done alone.

Once I found a review that I really liked, I just stuck with it. I must have gone over it a million times. The trick was to take tests for each area, and then restudy areas I was weak in. When I restudied the material, I would try and find words I did not understand fully, and define them. I defined them by watching videos, looking at images, using a dictionary, drawing it out and if I still could not get a handle I would post a question. After I finished studying an area, I took another test on that area, and made sure I had my basic knowledge in.

Concentrate on med surg and fundamentals first. Take a bit of time to get this material in really well. I liked Hurst Review core material, and it helped with understanding the very basics. I backed it up with Davis RN Success questions and rationales, and Feuer for more data. ATI has med surg tests that help you to find your weak areas real fast.

My school as a review class also. Something like that may help to keep you focused in the right direciton

blessedBSNRN · Oct 3, 2013

1st : it's a MUST to know your content. ( I used HURST, Saunders)

2nd : do questions everyday for a month as much as possible 200-300/ day ( Hurst, ExamCram, NCLEX 3500, NSCBN 3weekcourse, Saunders CD)

3rd : Read the RATIONALE. If it confuses you, scan Saunders and reag through it.

4th : Read Kaplan Strategy book.

5th : Pray. Rest. Eat. Relax and Take a deep breathe, practice mantra I am calm, relax, and focus when it gets confusing and you get distracted.

6th : be positive.

7th : Answer LaCharity. MUST master your priority questions.

8th : Master lab values.

9th : Watched nursing skills, drug calculation. YOUTUBE

10th : Balance your time, Time managment.

11th : REPEAT #5. Keep on repeating.

KEEP TRYING, you'll get used to it.

BTW, I failed 3x also and on my 4th try I made it!

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Oct 3, 2013

How are you studying???

I ask this because the MOST effective way to study for the NCLEX and succeed in passing the NCLEX is based on the four areas of being a safe entry level competent nurse:

1. Safe, effective care;

2. Health promotion and maintenance;

3. Psychological integrity

4.physiological integrity.

One MUST find out WHAT the question is ASKING in choosing the BEST answer. A safety question and answer may be different that a psychological integrity question and answer.

The best way to study is question review of answers and rationales; find out WHAT you are struggling with and focus on getting comfortable with those particular questions, and review other topics within those 4 domains. One should strive for a 70% and above on practice questions; the higher the percentage correct, the chances increase in passing the NCLEX.

I think the makers of NCLEX (NCSBN) have questions similar to the exam; I also suggest trying the NCSBN learning extension and getting an alternative format review book as well. Best wishes in your studies.