How do I pick myself up after failing NCLEX?

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Hey everyone.

I took NCLEX last year and failed. It was so hard to swallow this failure. My friends who graduated last June are nurses and we hardly talk now. They offer to help but our time schedule conflicts.

They’re doing their own thing and I’m just still here. I don’t know how to pick myself up anymore. I have health problems and then financial problems and then I still have to worry about passing NCLEX.

I work as CNA at a hospital and it’s hard to see my friends begin their career as RN on the same floor where I work and I’m soooo tired of hearing everyone asking me if I pass the test yet.. sometimes I get so much anxiety and want to throw up or hide because it’s embarrassing. The nurses on my floor doesn’t know I failed but some of my friends who are now RN’s do. I feel sooo shameful.

I have a family to support and after learning I failed.. I am terrified of NCLEX, I feel worthless. How do I overcome this feeling? How do I pick myself up after this hard downfall? How do I stop feeling sorry for myself and stop feeling embarrassed???

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I’ve seen people fail it multiple times and keep trying and succeed, for you to go into a deep depression for an entire year over failing once doesn’t make sense to me. If you were smart enough to pass nursing school which is pretty brutal, you are smart enough to pass the NCLEX. Study harder and try again, you can do this but it’s NOT going to happen if you avoid it completely and feel sorry for yourself. also know that the longer you wait to take the exam, the more knowledge you will loose and the more you will have to study so don’t wait any longer, get on it NOW, TODAY.

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Specializes in critical care, med/surg.

NCLEX is all about prioritization and delegating. Work on those areas and if you have accommodations from nursing school exams, make sure NCLEX knows this.

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You are definitely smart and qualified enough to pass ? The nerves might have gotten to you, which, who can blame you? I think it's important to address your fear/anxiety regarding the NCLEX first. You can be as knowledgable as you want, but if you have a full-on panic attack during the test your results might not reflect your competence.

Trying as many questions as you can will help you become more familiar and comfortable with the NCLEX format. I advise studying from UWorld--it has a lot of challenging questions, which will help you prepare. I do not advise using Kaplan. I opened that up once, and the questions just were not as rigorous and the explanations were not helpful at all.

Wishing you the best. I know you can do this!!!!

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My heart goes out to you. You as a person is not a failure. You only failed a test. There is a difference. *hug* and you are not worthless. What can we do to help? What is your biggest challenge? You are courageous more than you know ?

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Specializes in BSN, RN-BC, NREMT, EMT-P, TCRN.

Sir Winston Churchill said this: "Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." I believe that you have to wait 45 days for your next attempt. Take that time to study and then retake it. Do not give up!

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse.

You are not worthless! A test doesn’t define you. Remember there are so many like you. Tests are not fun, and I can so relate. what I did was tell myself it’s only a test, not a beast ? it works, even though it takes some mins training. I believe in you!!!

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Thank you everyone. I can barely get myself back up. I was talking to some friends and they told me the reason why I cannot get back up is because I’m not used to failure. I’m used to accomplishments. And this failure is something that I have never encountered. Yes I failed tests and yes I didn’t pass a class before but I always got back up. This time.. I just... I’m a mess.

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Specializes in BSN, RN-BC, NREMT, EMT-P, TCRN.

Ok, time for tough love. Suck it up! It's been a year and no second attempt? Get over yourself and not being used to failure. You've wasted too much time wallowing in self-pity about personal problems. Get back in the saddle and kick NCLEX in the ***!

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On 7/11/2019 at 3:02 PM, tacticool said:

Ok, time for tough love. Suck it up! It's been a year and no second attempt? Get over yourself and not being used to failure. You've wasted too much time wallowing in self-pity about personal problems. Get back in the saddle and kick NCLEX in the ***!

Hey!!! Thanks for the tough love. You are right. I am DWELLING WAY TOO MUCH. I just want to thank you and everyone on here. Being supportive, giving me REAL TALK, and most of all telling me not to give up.

I found my holy grail study to studying!

My tip:

While everyone continued to comment here, I remained silent. I did a lot of thinking and self evaluation. I journal and wrote down my thoughts, worries, and re-discovered my true motivation. I surrounded myself with people who were supported and asked for help. I eventually overcome this depression after I failed NCLEX by telling people (I was closed to) that I failed it. Then I revamped my study habits.

Studying plainly questions everyday and take note on rationales from UWORLD wasn't enough anymore. I decided to look over Saunders. I pretty much assessed myself that I needed a better understanding and grasp of NURSING and reviewed content for a month. Then I went to Sarah Registered Nurse RN to help me piece everything together. She helped me see the bigger picture and why everything happens. I saw the connection and I think that was my silver-lining.

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Update:

I retook my NCLEX, and got near pass on all topics. I reapplied again and now waiting to take my 3rd time. I used UWorld and Saunders for 2nd attempt.

My next plan is Remar and Hurst.

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You can do it! I’m in the same boat. Let me know how you did?

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