HELP! TOOK NCLEX-RN 9 times!!!!! Keep failing!

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Hello all! So I am so bummed. I graduated nursing school in 2011. Just took my boards again for the 9th time and failed. I went to 265. I don't know what to do. I did improve if that makes sense. (I know what you're thinking improved after 9 times.) well yes I am a HORRIBLE test taker. School was a challenge for me but I made it. Do I try it one more and final time? I have a tutor and she's awesome! She helped me improve. I feel like I am right there. I can see it and I can feel it. But what should I do?!

Someone on UWorld simply said, just stop it. You went to nursing school, you are a nurse, you will take again and PASS.

A nurse is someone who holds a nursing license. Passing nursing school makes one eligible to take the exam but no one is a nurse until he or she gets a license. You have no way of knowing if the OP is going to pass, so telling her she will pass smacks of giving false hope, something you have been taught in nursing school to not do. Passing is an unrealistic expectation for someone who has failed the same test 9 times and pointing that out isn't being negative, it's being realistic and honest. The truth sometimes hurts but facing it now and finding an attainable path to happiness is much better than her continuing to live with failure hanging over her head day after day, year after year.

Everyone neglects to realize this is still a cat exam so the only person you are battling is yourself and your knowledge.

I don't think anyone who passed the test neglects to recognize how the test works, but maybe you are neglecting to realize that failing this many times shows that the battle is probably lost. Recognizing that would be an important step to finding a way to be successful instead of continuing to fail. People are telling the OP that she should do something where she can be successful, and that is a more positive message than telling her to just keep repeating the same process and keep failing.

Life is hard, this doesn't give you the right to put others down, all of you that went to nursing school know how hard it is.

No one put anyone down. We know how hard nursing school is. And we know how hard working as a NURSE is. Telling the OP that she should take some time to figure out a better career path now isn't putting her down, it's answering her question from the standpoint of those who already work in the profession. She asked what she should do, and people gave good advice.

So as people who once struggled or even excelled you should only push fellow nurses to succeed. It's your job to be that smile even when things are doo-doo. It's been sometime now since the person that created this site and took his families life and his own. Learn to be positive!

Pushing people to succeed is important and that happens all the time here. But if we see someone pushing themselves in the wrong direction it's cruel to NOT say that and let the failures keep piling up. It's not anyone's job to smile when things are doo-doo, whatever that really means, because just telling people what they want to hear isn't our job. Telling them the truth in a kind manner is what we do, we don't give people false hopes and false expectations. That is not helpful to anyone. I have been thanked more times than not when a patient or family member asks me questions and I give them straightup answers, they thank me for being honest with them and telling them the truth when others wouldn't. They knew deep-down that they weren't hearing the truth before, and hearing it from me has helped more people than I can count. I don't blow smoke up anyone's skirt and lie to them because it's the more smiley thing to do. It isn't fair to patients and it isn't fair to the OP to do that. That IS being positive.

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Original poster-Do not give up!Am in the same boat as you are and I work as an lpn now.I will never stop taking the exam.I have to prove that I can do it.We were taught health promotion in school and some of you nurses forgot the cultural dynamics.Some part of the world cast spells to delay others progress in life and am a typical example of it.does that exist in nclex world?No!!!does some of you people believe in that rubbish I just spill?No,but wait till you find yourself in that shoes.what can I do?Do not give and keep studying until God favor me.It is very draining and mind bugging to see fail over and over but,God knows the best.I take skilled exams at work as LPN and pass it in fly colors except NCLEX.For those that can pray,please pray for me.For those that are good at talking down on others with analysis gathered from evidence-based practice,good luck telling all that nonsense as to why I need to quit nursing and perhaps give up my lpn license.I rest my case.original poster,inbox me!we can help each other out and pray that we pass!

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Hi,

It took you a lot of courage to ask for help and hopefully this forum will help you get closer to your goal. I wanted to know have you assessed your prior content knowledge before doing practice questions? A quote I read "if you want something you never had do something you've never done" I know i have not walked in your shoes but we all can relate to feeling like a failure. I hope this encourages you that you can and WILL get back up to test again. this too shall pass :)

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Original poster-Do not give up!Am in the same boat as you are and I work as an lpn now.I will never stop taking the exam.I have to prove that I can do it.We were taught health promotion in school and some of you nurses forgot the cultural dynamics.Some part of the world cast spells to delay others progress in life and am a typical example of it.does that exist in nclex world?No!!!does some of you people believe in that rubbish I just spill?No,but wait till you find yourself in that shoes.what can I do?Do not give and keep studying until God favor me.It is very draining and mind bugging to see fail over and over but,God knows the best.I take skilled exams at work as LPN and pass it in fly colors except NCLEX.For those that can pray,please pray for me.For those that are good at talking down on others with analysis gathered from evidence-based practice,good luck telling all that nonsense as to why I need to quit nursing and perhaps give up my lpn license.I rest my case.original poster,inbox me!we can help each other out and pray that we pass!

Honestly, it hurts the OP more telling her she will pass after 9 attempts over the span of several years. You are giving the OP false hope, which is not good. As a nurse you should know this. Would you tell a patient that has a poor prognosis that everything is going to be fine? I sure hope not. Being honest is the best thing for the OP & if it is taking you just as long to pass the NCLEX maybe you should reconsider things as well.

Hi,

It took you a lot of courage to ask for help and hopefully this forum will help you get closer to your goal. I wanted to know have you assessed your prior content knowledge before doing practice questions? A quote I read "if you want something you never had do something you've never done" I know i have not walked in your shoes but we all can relate to feeling like a failure. I hope this encourages you that you can and WILL get back up to test again. this too shall pass :)

Basically the same thing I said above, applies here. Wearing rose colored glasses doesn't help anyone. Especially the OP who has to shell out more money to retake the NCLEX & will most likely fail again.

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So I came across your post and wanted to let you know not to give up hope!!!!

I am starting nursing school in January. I am getting prepared. I was looking for ways to do well in school because I realize a lot of students are venting about difficulties they are having, so what better way for me to prepare other than start reading...

Anyway..... There is this guy I found on youtube Mike lanaris I think his name is. Or you can lookup up Simple Nursing .... He stuff is informative and he also talks about ways to pass the NCLEX....

Good Luck next time around....

Let me know if you find him helpful....

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
So I came across your post and wanted to let you know not to give up hope!!!!

I am starting nursing school in January. I am getting prepared. I was looking for ways to do well in school because I realize a lot of students are venting about difficulties they are having, so what better way for me to prepare other than start reading...

Anyway..... There is this guy I found on youtube Mike lanaris I think his name is. Or you can lookup up Simple Nursing .... He stuff is informative and he also talks about ways to pass the NCLEX....

Good Luck next time around....

Let me know if you find him helpful....

If you haven't even started nursing school how can you tell the OP "not to give up"? Would you want someone that took years to pass the competency exam to become a nurse taking care of your family, friends or you? Once you start nursing school you will see how everything matters. If OP can't handle the stress of a simple test, the is NO away she can handle the stress of nursing. Many experienced nurses have said the same. Taking the NCLEX is SO much easier than working. If you make a mistake on the NCLEX, life goes on. But if you make a mistake as a nurse you could kill someone!

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I know I have not started school yet!! Thanks for letting me know! I understand your comment however, not everyone are good test takers. You post seem very mean spirited! You should be on here giving encouragement to this individual. I understand 9 times seem alot . Who are you to judge? Everyone else on here is encouraging this individual with the exception of you being a "Debbie downer " if you have nothing nice to say. Keep your opinion to yourself! I am sure this individual understands what it takes and stress of being a nurse..

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If you haven't even started nursing school how can you tell the OP "not to give up"? Would you want someone that took years to pass the competency exam to become a nurse taking care of your family, friends or you? Once you start nursing school you will see how everything matters. If OP can't handle the stress of a simple test, the is NO away she can handle the stress of nursing. Many experienced nurses have said the same. Taking the NCLEX is SO much easier than working. If you make a mistake on the NCLEX, life goes on. But if you make a mistake as a nurse you could kill someone!
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OrganizedChaos-It is not false hope it is called determination.We are taking about exam you are comparing it to patient's dx how practical is that?I should reconsider my profession by giving up my LPN license that I passed and use to work for years over the same exam under different title?My goodness,what is wrong with you nurses?Your opinion does not count to me as you donot walk in my shoes. Explaining my stands to you is like beating a death horse.I will be back to tell you that I passed and still continue to be a better nurse.Nursing to me is like air that I breath.I love nursing and will never give up on what I want. The states that allows multiple attempts are not stupid,they are professionals with passions and understanding of human limitations.To professors of nursing that helped birth this dream in me,i thank you all.I have come a long way to allow one's analytical thinking to justify my passion in life.Thank you for your input.

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Jaja12-Echoed.People like her are the reason why are going to continue studying.Reconsider other profession as she stated stopped here on allnurses.com cos she can not take what I already had,my bachelor in nursing and my lpn license.Am out of here.This group is too toxic!!!!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I know I have not started school yet!! Thanks for letting me know! I understand your comment however, not everyone are good test takers. You post seem very mean spirited! You should be on here giving encouragement to this individual. I understand 9 times seem alot . Who are you to judge? Everyone else on here is encouraging this individual with the exception of you being a "Debbie downer " if you have nothing nice to say. Keep your opinion to yourself! I am sure this individual understands what it takes and stress of being a nurse..

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I am not the only one telling the OP to reconsider. Go back & reread the WHOLE

post. Nine times doesn't seem a lot it

IS a lot. I'm not a "Debbie Downer", I'm realistic & a nurse who has been there done that. If the OP *was* a bad test taker she wouldn't have passed nursing school OR she would've gotten help.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
OrganizedChaos-It is not false hope it is called determination.We are taking about exam you are comparing it to patient's dx how practical is that?I should reconsider my profession by giving up my LPN license that I passed and use to work for years over the same exam under different title?My goodness,what is wrong with you nurses?Your opinion does not count to me as you donot walk in my shoes. Explaining my stands to you is like beating a death horse.I will be back to tell you that I passed and still continue to be a better nurse.Nursing to me is like air that I breath.I love nursing and will never give up on what I want. The states that allows multiple attempts are not stupid,they are professionals with passions and understanding of human limitations.To professors of nursing that helped birth this dream in me,i thank you all.I have come a long way to allow one's analytical thinking to justify my passion in life.Thank you for your input.

I think you need to look up the definition of false hope because that is what you are giving the OP. Statistically speaking the chances of the OP passing the NCLEX are slim to none. Because statistics show the more you take the NCLEX the more likely it is you will fail. If you have your BSN, you took statistics, so you can't deny that.

Also, comparing how someone does on the NCLEX (failing 9 times) has everything to do with how that person performs as a nurse. If the person can't handle a simple test, how can they handle the stress of real life nursing. If someone can't pass the NCLEX in 3 tries they shouldn't allowed to take the NCLEX any more. When is enough enough?

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Jaja12-Echoed.People like her are the reason why are going to continue studying.Reconsider other profession as she stated stopped here on allnurses.com cos she can not take what I already had,my bachelor in nursing and my lpn license.Am out of here.This group is too toxic!!!!

If you & anyone else cannot pass the NCLEX in a minimum of 3 tries, I don't want you to take care of my family, friends or me!

Just because we are honest & don't like treating everyone with baby gloves doesn't mean we are rude, mean or toxic. We are honest & people need to stop throwing those words around. You may not like the truth but the truth can hurt when you don't want to hear it. But if this were me & I got this advice from very experienced nurses I would reconsider my career path.

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