Help! Just found out I failed NCLEX-RN

Published

Hey guys, I am new to this site. I've been reading all sorts of things on here about NCLEX. I just took NCLEX on Friday July 2nd, and tried the PVT and it took me to the credit card page. I was so bummed :( I had 199 questions, which I think means I was borderline. I think my nerves got the best of me because I could not focus at all. I did the quickresults on Sunday and found out that I "failed". It's such a bummer because all of my friends around me are passing, and here I am being one of the first out of our 200+ graduating class not passing. I don't know how to study again! PLEASE HELP! I did over 5000+ questions, did Kaplan, Saunders and learningext.com. Any suggestions???

Thanks for the support everyone! I too graduated with high honors, and everyone is in disbelief that I didn't pass, along with myself. Yesterday my friend told me something that kept her going through the test, she practiced signing her name, RN. Also, I took my test at 8AM which was probably a bad idea, since I am so NOT a morning person. I started studying on Friday and so far, so good. I bought the delegation book that someone (forgot the name) recommended, and it is really good! I also bought the kaplan 2010-2011 edition, and the questions seem more on target than the other edition I have. PRAYING to pass this time around and also praying for everyone else to pass as well! We made it this far..we can do it! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I too failed the exam according to PVT trick,i took the test July 16 and i have to wait for the official result..My story is somewhat different--i am a foriegn graduate nurse i graduated 1998 and i work in OB units for 5 years in singapore then came here in the US to get married,i worked in OB floor here as well for almost 4 years now since singapore so i dont have much of experienced in MED/SURG.. I am contemplating what to do next--if i will take a refresher course which i dont want paying the big bucks or just get a good book to study and start studying all over again. I dont know what book that is really best and similar with Nclex--i need some advices folks on what to do next.I did Lippincot answer questions and borrowed Kaplan study guide as well. I workd full time nights with little sleep and take care of my 2 yr old and 9 months old after work--thats why i get 4-5 hrs sleep after my night work. I really want to be a Nurse here even though i am already in my own country and singapore.. I keep thinking that i cant do it- i am so negative,all along my feeling was i am afraid to FAIL the test and yes i did. Please help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hugs to you! Please do not give up! You made it through nursing school, you can do anything! I would suggest taking a break for a week or two and then getting back to it. I would really suggest getting the LaCharity book about Prioritization & Delegation, it was a great resource.

Did they send you a report of what areas you need to work on? Hang in there! You will get through this! Maybe try a different review course? Did you take one of the ones that has a money back guarantee (at least you can put the $ toward another one)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi everyone... I will try to act cheery. According to PVT I failed.. went straight to credit card. I took the exam yesterday.... Someone on the forums shared that I should check 48 hours later with pvt. I am very upset about this and had graduate school lined up and possible job upgrade. I had 265 questions and started the exam with a migraine which I had to receive meds for. :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi,

I hope you are studying well for your next attempt at the NCLEX. Everyone here is so supportive and encouraging. I just wanted to add that you have to try and learn to stay calm and be positive. That was a huge hurdle I had to work on, and it truly worked in my favor when I was testing. When you focus on all that nervousness and negativity your mindset loses focus, therefore you can't concentrate and end up making wrong choices on the exam. Take deep breaths and close your eyes and think positively. I know its hard but learn to remain calm, and it will help you concentrate and make the RIGHT answer choices. Keep up your studying and good luck the next go around! :)

All the best,

jadu1106

Up Vote Up Vote ×

According to PVT I did not pass. anyone know about NY State and delay in pvt? This is a hard pill to swallow.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i answered 265 questions and i passed, finally!!! i took the nclex 9 times before i finally made it. i have answered anywhere from 75 questions to all of them at one point or another. so the amount of questions you answer really has no bearing on if you passed or failed. and for the record, it took me 17 years to pass it as well. i gave up for the longest time and my oldest daughter just started her nursing clinicals and she gave me the inspiration to go back and try it again. i took the sylvia rayfield review course 1 week before my exam and it was the best thing i could have done. i also had a transcription job at the hospital and that tremendously helped with drugs and lab values. so hang in there and just remember, just because the computer does not shut off at 75, does not mean you have not passed. you just have more time to demonstrate how intelligent you really are!!! as long as you are answering questions, you are still in the game. good luck to you all!!!:nurse:

:yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

angela93,

wow you passed on your 10th attempt!! that is amazing and so incredible that you did not give up! i know exactly how you are feeling! i also had different number of questions each time, and you are 100% right, the number of questions has no bearing on your results. i also took the sylvia rayfield review course (offered by my employer) and i have to say by far the best review i have taken!! my instructor was phenomenal and i messaged her on facebook as soon as i found out!!! :D i am so happy for you and i know you will be a great nurse! :nurse:

jadu1106, rn!

:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would like to share with you my strategies that proved very effective for me. I am a foreign educated RN and NSCBN say that the passing rate for first-time takers for foreign graduates is only 46% compared to 86% for US-educated nursing grads. I passed NCLEX at first attempt, 265 questions in all. I felt so mentally drained after 4 grueling hours spent at Pearson Vue. I didn't even take the mandatory breaks because I just want this exam finished by all means. Hopefully the following can help you and other test takers, whether first time and repeaters.

1. TIME MANAGEMENT. If you plan to take NCLEX in 2-3 months, then you should arrange your schedule. Spend 3 hours a day reading the basics. Or attempt to finish 1 chapter/topic in 2 days (e.g. It took me 2 days to finish reading Pediatric including diagnostic test). If there are 20 topics you need to brush up on, that means you should target to finish all in 2 weeks or 1 month, it all depends on you. The point is you should have a defined objective to finish the book by hook or by crook.

2. START WITH THE BASICS, DON'T JUST ANSWER TEST QUESTIONS. You need to understand the background of a disease condition, process, etc. before you can implement nursing measures or the nursing process. I used Sandra Smith, Dr. Karrenberg's & LaCharity. After each topic, answer the diagnostics to assess your level of knowledge.

3. GOOGLE OR YOUTUBE PROCEDURES, EQUIPMENT, TERMINOLOGIES THAT YOU ARE UNSURE. I am a highly visual person, I need to see actual image to refresh my knowledge and skills. I have watched how to instruct patients using MDI, insulin, enema even if I "think" I already know the procedure. Plus, a little "movie" can break the monotony of book reading.

4. KNOW THE NORMAL AND ABNORMAL. Memorize Lab values, drug therapeutic levels (major ones like Lithium, Digoxin, Theophylline, etc). Know basics of EKG reading.

5. ALWAYS APPLY KAPLAN'S STRATEGIES ON PRIORITIZATION. ABC's, Maslow's Nursing Process. Before I answer each question, I ask myself if it involves any of these steps.

6. MASTER DELEGATION PRINCIPLES. You cannot delegate TEA (Teaching, Evaluation, Assessment). LPNS can only REINFORCE teaching. Assign unstable patients to experienced RN. Assign stable patients with unchanging procedures to LPN, CNAs, new RN. CNAs' roles are limited to give the following only to stable patients SAFET (Specimen obtain, Ambulation/positioning, Feeding, Elimination, Take vital signs). LaCharity is a good resource book to master the art of delegation.

7. MASTER INFECTION CONTROL. Universal, Contact, Droplet, Airborne. Room-in patients with same causative or type of infection.

8. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. 2 weeks before your test, take as much questions as you can. It's not in the number but how much you understand the process. I probably took 2000 practice questions only, at 200 questions a day.

9. TRUST YOUR GUT. We are not Einstein. An educated guess/ gut will not harm.

I hope these can help you. I took NCLEX 2 wks ago, I am now waiting for my license to come in the mail so I can start applying. Good luck to you and it never hurts to try one more time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i in the same boat I took so many I cant remember

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I answered 265 questions and I passed, finally!!! I took the NCLEX 9 times before I finally made it. I have answered anywhere from 75 questions to all of them at one point or another. So the amount of questions you answer really has no bearing on if you passed or failed. And for the record, it took me 17 years to pass it as well. I gave up for the longest time and my oldest daughter just started her nursing clinicals and she gave me the inspiration to go back and try it again. I took the Sylvia Rayfield review course 1 week before my exam and it was the best thing I could have done. I also had a transcription job at the hospital and that tremendously helped with drugs and lab values. So hang in there and just remember, just because the computer does not shut off at 75, does not mean you have not passed. You just have more time to demonstrate how intelligent you really are!!! As long as you are answering questions, you are still in the game. Good luck to you all!!!:nurse:

I took mines i think 9 or 10 i keep getting 265 and failing i ready to give up.........at least im an LPN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, in my state you can only take it 3 times. Period.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Wow, in my state you can only take it 3 times. Period.

im glad im in missouri

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion