How do I prep for NCLEX (failed 3 times)

springchick1, ADN, RN · Mar 10, 2016

If you've been out 8 years, you should, at the least, look into taking a refresher course. Be sure to check with your state board of nursing. They may make you take a refresher or retake classes.

cptforge.gil · Mar 10, 2016

I was out 10 years and passed nclex rn on my first try for 75 questions without any refreshers course.

Odadz · Mar 10, 2016

State Board: NY. Any recommended refresher course.

Odadz · Mar 10, 2016

@ cptforge.gil. how did you prep after 10 yrs.

Divatologist, ADN · Mar 10, 2016

Did you obtain the report from each test to see where you weaknesses were? You could start there in terms of review. I would just do as many questions as I could for right now. That may help you narrow down want content you're strong in and what content you're weak in. I believe I read that the NCLEX will change in April. I was to,d by my schools director that the test changes every 3 years. Someone posted a link in a bumped thread about the possible content for the new exam. I would definitely check that out.

cptforge.gil · Mar 10, 2016

@Odadz

I posted how I studied when Bon posted my name on the RN roster last Monday.

I studied everything rn. I suck at ob in nursing school before and boy now, you could flip things out and I surely can manage its care.

jeniffied · Mar 10, 2016

From the comments above, I would take a refresher course. For me, I used HURST for content review. And Kaplan to practice questions. Good luck!

RUmedic · Mar 10, 2016

Very similar situation here, but with a more prominent clinical field lapse - 20 years! I've been out of clinical environment for 20 years and I have taken, and failed NCLEX 3 times just like you did.

I know it is a morale buster, but don't let it overpower you and hold you back from realizing what you have a calling for. All the failures we have are just motivators to try harder and push yourself farther next time.

After I failed NCLEX 3 times, my state BON ( I am in FLA) told me to go ahead and take a remedial class for 3 months and then complete a clinical rotation at Med/Surg in a hospital. I did exactly that and it was a good learning experience. It is a challenge, but it is doable.

My recommendation is to take Remedial/Refresher Class. It is not cheap - mine cost me close to 2k, but it was well worth it.

Then, you need to find a recourse to Trainer Questions and do as many of them as you can every day. There are many choices out there. I used NCSBN Learning Ext but it did not work for me. I also used Kaplan for Decision Tree, Priority and Delegation, Maslow, etc. Kaplan is kind of pricey and their Question Bank stuff was nowhere near the structure of questions I've seen on NLCEX. So, I am forgoing Kaplan this time.

I am currently using NCLEX Mastery, which is a great as it has the most comprehensive (IMO) rationale of each question. Others on this site swear by Uworld, which I haven't tried and can't say anything about it.

Lastly, get in a mode of thinking like a nurse. Listen to MD podcasts in your free time. There's a lot of great stuff on emergency medicine/critical care on Emcrit.org - this one has great info on Sepsis and other stuff. Read some informational resources like Medscape, which has tons of info on all specialties.

You can and will swing it! Good luck to you!

janal1 · Mar 12, 2016

Hello, I have dipped in and out of this site many times over the past couple of years. Never posted till now.....

I sat and passed the Nclex last week with around 89 questions asked....forgot to check the actual number but was in for 2.5 hours.

It was terrifying. I also believed I had failed and cried - my poor husband!! I woke in the middle of the night and checked 4 questions that I remembered from the exam. they were tough and I got 3 out of four correct. Thought that was a good sign.

I waited the 48 hours and when checked I passed!!! Hooray.. The reason I am posting is that I want to encourage others.

I have come from Scotland in UK to Florida. In UK I was a registered nurse for 26 years in community psychiatry. Last time I did any theory or clinical practice in med/surg/obs/paeds was in 1987!!

When I applied to FBN they recommended that I do six week 'remedial course" - unfortunate title I feel. In my class there were 3 people who had been out of practice for around 10 years, 3 people who had failed Nclex 3 times and me. It was expensive $1900 and intense with clinical placements too.

I enjoyed it though. On finishing the course we were given option of ATi online support which I took up for 12 week study plan. Studying 4-5 hours per day....Online tutor was really good. I followed their materials in sequence and cross referenced with Saunders Nclex book which I had purchased before I left Scotland. Everyday I did test questions via the Suanders site which buying their book gives you access to. When I got them wrong, I looked up the rationale. I set up wee notebooks for each body system and entered my own noted and diagrams. I wrote out lab values and taped to my mirror - reciting them every evening and morning - I then found that when I read questions with labs in they were making more sense.

I did the same with burns/cancer staging/pressure sores/ABGs etc.

Nurse slabs site was great for questions too. I started doing around 10-15 questions each day and in the 3 weeks prior to my test was doing around 100. Even if the result was rubbish I read the rationales again. I also looked up how body systems function on youtube and found many simplified diagrams and explanations of cardiac/kidneys/lungs etc...

When mock testing myself on 75-100 questions I was getting around 72%. Did not feel confident going into the exam at all. With all the detail given on here though and following the Nclex instructions to the letter - there were no surprises. I grounded myselfafter all the intro stuff on the computer, said a short prayer and went for it. When it did not cut off at 75 questions I thought that was a good sign. I was offered a rest/break at 2 hours I think and said no to that. I decided if I reached question 100 I would request a rest/break. When it cut off I was gutted -- confused and only recalled the questions that I had found difficult. I clearly forgot most of the ones that I answered quickly and without any problems...

I hope this helps.

Don't feel overwhelmed - I did feel that lots of times at the library. Cut your study materials down to approx 2 good resources - don't overload. Repeat until you understand - ask others too. I spoke with a nurse who had great experience in cardiac - we went for a coffee and she went over EKGs with me...so use your contacts. People will be positive and want to help.. thats what I found anyway..Good luck!

Jan

Lnzsay · Mar 12, 2016

I was out 10 years and passed nclex rn on my first try for 75 questions without any refreshers course.

What are your study tools? Im 11 years out of school and wanted to try it for the first tym

Odadz · Mar 12, 2016

@ RUmedic Thanks.