How do people fail the NCLEX ?

[mhy12784]

First off I want to mention that I have not yet taken the NCLEX, nor am I saying its easy or insulting those who have failed it.

However I wanted to make a thread focusing on what exactly goes wrong, which results in people failing the test.

Looking at the statistics many people (90%~) pass on the first attempt, which means only a few dont.

So rather focusing on the many many different ways that the majority of people pass, I was hoping people could share their knowledge and experiences of the most common reason why people dont.

Going off the statistics that NCLEX offers being a foreign educated/non english speaking student obviously seems to be the biggest obstacle, but what else ?

[mhy12784]

Took the June 2013 exam for 1st time and failed. The computer shut off at 75q. I graduated 2011 and had to work in a non-nursing job. I only started studying full time 2months before exam date. I think what I did wrong was studying too much since I reviewed the book cover to cover but in the end it was too much to recall all of it. The questions were very simple but I guess I overanalyzed them. I am planning to take it again & have a more focused review plan.

As for the person here who commented previously that those retakers shoudnt be nurses, thanks for speaking up your mind and I am sorry for you too because you think that way.

For those who passed, congratulations and it was God's will for you to pass it on the first try. The profession needs you now and I wish all well for their careers.

For those who failed like me, and your passion & gift from God is truly being a nurse to help people, take it again.. failures happen for a reason. Not to bring us down but to build us up.

I dont think what they were talking about had you in mind

I mean you took the test 2 years after graduating, thats kinda special circumstances

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

KJ, I passed NCLEX first try 75 questions, I walked out thinking I failed...I didn't think it was that easy...I had studied things in terms of scenarios, so seeing straight forward questions was hard.

[swansonplace]

There is actually extensive researcher into the topic especially as to what schools should do if a student fails found here: http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4242&context=etd_theses

There are many more if you look on (go to Google Scholar, search "students fail nclex"). The reasons run the gauntlet. "Test anxiety" is actually not listed - rather poor critical thinking skills and low GPAS (cumulative and nursing theory). And even then some of these studies, using this data/algorithm, are unable to predict whether or not a person will pass or fail.

So the right answer to your question is: No one really knows. The answers you will see in this forum are anecdotal.

Thanks for the article. I found it interesting and helpful. So if you were low in content during school now is the time to compensate.

[keepmovingrn]

Gosh, I've wondered this for years! It is not hard and I personally only studied the last week before the test. After I took it, I realized I could have gone straight into the test from graduation and pass. It was that simple.

And I know people have anxiety and other factors, but I cannot stop myself from thinking that people needing to re-take the test should just not be nurses.

Yes, it's harsh. Sorry if it offends you, this is my prejudice and I own it. I never express this to actual people I encounter, but I think it.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Good for you that you passed the first time, good for that you only studied the last week before the test, and another good for you that you could have "gone straight into the test after graduation and pass. It was that simple."

Everyone is in titled to their opinion but I found this post a bit offensive. The OP was looking for feed back on why ppl fail nclex not someone killing their dreams or discouraging them from reaching their goal of becoming a nurse. You don't know everyone's struggles, you never know what they have going on in their life as to why they don't pass. And who are you to say they don't deserve to be a nurse because they fail the Nclex the 1st, 2nd or even 3rd time. It's just a test and honestly doesn't have anything to do with what kind of nurse you will be.

Sincerely,

Failed LPN the 1st time, passed RN 1st and I'm one heck of a nurse.

[Kunzieo]

When I took the NCLEX, I passed the first time, 75 questions, about 30 minutes. I was the first one in my class to take/pass it, and was bombarded by questions from classmates who wanted me to share "how did you do it?"

After talking to them through the summer- I'm convinced that the reason that the ones who failed the first time just truly didn't understand what the questions were looking for.

They were obsessed with memorizing facts and data, and couldn't seem to understand that they really needed very few of those to successfully pass the test. The test doesn't care if you know what number makes a low Hgb, it wants to know what you are going to do about it- and that's what tripped a lot of people up. They knew SO MUCH concrete data, but couldn't apply it.

I'm convinced that I could teach someone with NO nursing background to pass the NCLEX- the questions have a specific pattern, and there are lots of clue words that you ALWAYS pick if it's in the available answer choices. (Hint- "assess" is one of those words.) As I said above, the test isn't looking to see if you've memorized facts, but rather to see if you can safely prioritize your actions based on the situation.

[jsanchez512]

That's very interesting because I have been doing abt 125 questions a day, and I have definitely noticed a pattern with the questions. After figuring this out, ive raised my practice test grades by about 10%

[keepmovingrn]

When I took the NCLEX, I passed the first time, 75 questions, about 30 minutes. I was the first one in my class to take/pass it, and was bombarded by questions from classmates who wanted me to share "how did you do it?"

After talking to them through the summer- I'm convinced that the reason that the ones who failed the first time just truly didn't understand what the questions were looking for.

They were obsessed with memorizing facts and data, and couldn't seem to understand that they really needed very few of those to successfully pass the test. The test doesn't care if you know what number makes a low Hgb, it wants to know what you are going to do about it- and that's what tripped a lot of people up. They knew SO MUCH concrete data, but couldn't apply it.

I'm convinced that I could teach someone with NO nursing background to pass the NCLEX- the questions have a specific pattern, and there are lots of clue words that you ALWAYS pick if it's in the available answer choices. (Hint- "assess" is one of those words.) As I said above, the test isn't looking to see if you've memorized facts, but rather to see if you can safely prioritize your actions based on the situation.

I totally agree with you. :-)

[SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP]

Assess isn't always the answer. If you have assessed, done an intervention and reassessed and the patient is still having issues, assessing them one more time isn't going to help them. Sometimes you need to pick "call the doctor".

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Per the terms of service, we can not provide medical advice. We ask that posters not suggest specific meds to other posters. Thanks much.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

That's very interesting because I have been doing abt 125 questions a day, and I have definitely noticed a pattern with the questions. After figuring this out, ive raised my practice test grades by about 10%

I've noticed the same thing!

[jill25]

Hi guys,. I just got my eligibility to take the exam for Lvn, just wondering any advice or what books should I read? I graduated bs nursing in the Philippines but did not get an eligibility. Thank you so much.

[Halen21]

Hi guys. I just got my eligibility to take the exam for Lvn, just wondering any advice or what books should I read? I graduated bs nursing in the Philippines but did not get an eligibility. Thank you so much.[/quote']

when did you pass your application? btw you can try Saunders. thanks