How do people fail the NCLEX ?

Nursing Students NCLEX

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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 ?

Specializes in CMSRN.
Per the terms of service we can not provide medical advice. We ask that posters not suggest specific meds to other posters. Thanks much.[/quote']

Just want to be clear, I was not recommending anything. I was only correcting a medication statement and giving a way to remember the med info in the future. Thanks!

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I will be taking the LPN nclex for the 3rd time in sept. I'm nervous, but not as nervous as the first 2 times. I took a review class, and I'm studying 150 questions a day. I'm going over all the systems in the body and medications. I need all the prayers I can get :), I'm also praying for anyone who will be taking nclex. Try not to be too nervous, take a deep breath and relax, we will be fine :) good luck!!!

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You never know what's going on in a persons life! I remember the first time i took nclex, my father had just died! I found him dead at home. I was so down and out, I knew I should have waited a bit before taken nclex. I had him on my mind constantly. I took the test and failed :(. I took the test 3 months later and failed again, I don't think I studied enough with that one. But who are we to judge? I know there are some really good nurses who have failed nclex. Stop making ppl feel bad for not passing, you never know the situation. It's very sad to read some of these comments. Shame on you!

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I work with more than a handful of nurses that have failed the NCLEX. In my opinion they are the epitome of an RN ,after passing the second or third time.

I wonder how many people are honest about failing the NCLEX the first go round? Pride is something else. JMHO

Sent from my SCH-R830 using allnurses.com

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I wonder how many people are honest about failing the NCLEX the first go round? Pride is something else. JMHO

Eh, if people choose to not be honest on an anonymous website, then that's their resolve *shrugs*...I've been on this site for almost 10 years, I find people who more honest about not passing more than anything else, including myself. People have posted how many times they have failed; they are at their wits end and are seeking support. I know and understand failure; it has made me stronger, and it has allowed me to be able to assist when other posters have experienced this setback. :yes:

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Eh, if people choose to not be honest on an anonymous website, then that's their resolve *shrugs*...I've been on this site for almost 10 years, I find people who more honest about not passing more than anything else, including myself. People have posted how many times they have failed; they are at their wits end and are seeking support. I know and understand failure; it has made me stronger, and it has allowed me to be able to assist when other posters have experienced this setback. :yes:

I was not referring to this website. It is easier to be candid because "we dont know each other from joe blow. I was mostly referring to face to face contact. My point is don't assume someone will not make a good nurse d/t failing the NCLEX. There are a lot of dynamics at play......

Sent from my SCH-R830 using allnurses.com

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Let me preface my comments by saying that I am in no way attempting to demean or insult anyone who has taken or is planning on taking the NCLEX. With that said, I took my test on Monday and I can honestly say it was one of the easiest exams I have faced since embarking on this journey to become a registered nurse. My computer cut off at 75 questions but I literally felt that it was over by around question 60. This was not a difficult exam. I'm convinced "the NCLEX lady" wants you to pass. You can't read into the questions, they are not trying to trick you. Even the SATA are easy and I was worried about those. If you spend any amount of time on this website going through previous posts about what topics you need to focus on, you'll be fine. That's just my $.02, take it for what it's worth.

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Let me preface my comments by saying that I am in no way attempting to demean or insult anyone who has taken or is planning on taking the NCLEX. With that said, I took my test on Monday and I can honestly say it was one of the easiest exams I have faced since embarking on this journey to become a registered nurse. My computer cut off at 75 questions but I literally felt that it was over by around question 60. This was not a difficult exam. I'm convinced "the NCLEX lady" wants you to pass. You can't read into the questions, they are not trying to trick you. Even the SATA are easy and I was worried about those. If you spend any amount of time on this website going through previous posts about what topics you need to focus on, you'll be fine. That's just my $.02, take it for what it's worth.

Can you share how you studied before the exam?! Maybe this will be helpful to me and to others who will be taking the exam for the second try :)

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You may believe it's a deity's will that you pass or fail. You believe that prayer and devotion are determinative for your success.

It is not denigrating your belief to state my belief: I don't believe there is a deity whose will determines how I demonstrate my learning. I believe my performance is completely my responsibility. Any attempts to turn that off in any way feels intellectually dishonest to me.

Fortunately, the NCLEX has no opinions on and makes no choices between spiritual beliefs. It just wants to know if, having just graduated from* a course of study, we know enough to become rank beginners in the practice of nursing.

In my experience as a nursing school instructor and NCLEX review course instructor, there are two main reasons why the very, very small minority of NCLEX-takers fail to reach a passing standard.

One, they think too much about the details and minutiae and forget the big picture. What would a NURSE do? What is the course of action that takes the patient to better health by promoting her knowledge and autonomy? What keeps the patient safest? When should the nurse stop and obtain more information before acting? You will note that not one of these includes specific number or factual data, but looks at professional behavior and attitudes towards the professional responsibilities we carry. These are the hardest concepts to grasp for any students, but the ones who really can't get them well-internalized are the ones who will fail NCLEX, and likely never really understand why.

Two, they don't have enough basic knowledge to feed into their rookie decision-making process. Perhaps they just barely passed A&P, and haven't really looked at it in a year. Perhaps that unit on therapeutic use of self went out the other ear right after the psych unit exam. Perhaps they really don't know why certain labs have particular preps, or that an SpO2 isn't remotely the same as a PaO2. Perhaps those drug classifications were tough to get down. Perhaps they can't really figure out what multiple factors to consider in a given situation, and in what order they should be prioritized. If students feel they are not tip-top on those sorts of things, they have a lot of self-directed studying to do to prepare for NCLEX. This, too, is a maturity thing: You will be responsible for studying and learning new material for the rest of your working life, and NCLEX is where you prove you'll be up to it.

Well, I don't know if that's helpful, but I hope it opens some eyes. Good luck.

* The school graduates the students; the students graduate from a school. The other usage, though sexy-sounding ("I graduated school"), is wrong.

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That was just rude to say.

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You may believe it's a deity's will that you pass or fail. You believe that prayer and devotion are determinative for your success.

It is not denigrating your belief to state my belief: I don't believe there is a deity whose will determines how I demonstrate my learning. I believe my performance is completely my responsibility. Any attempts to turn that off in any way feels intellectually dishonest to me.

Fortunately, the NCLEX has no opinions on and makes no choices between spiritual beliefs. It just wants to know if, having just graduated from* a course of study, we know enough to become rank beginners in the practice of nursing.

In my experience as a nursing school instructor and NCLEX review course instructor, there are two main reasons why the very, very small minority of NCLEX-takers fail to reach a passing standard.

One, they think too much about the details and minutiae and forget the big picture. What would a NURSE do? What is the course of action that takes the patient to better health by promoting her knowledge and autonomy? What keeps the patient safest? When should the nurse stop and obtain more information before acting? You will note that not one of these includes specific number or factual data, but looks at professional behavior and attitudes towards the professional responsibilities we carry. These are the hardest concepts to grasp for any students, but the ones who really can't get them well-internalized are the ones who will fail NCLEX, and likely never really understand why.

Two, they don't have enough basic knowledge to feed into their rookie decision-making process. Perhaps they just barely passed A&P, and haven't really looked at it in a year. Perhaps that unit on therapeutic use of self went out the other ear right after the psych unit exam. Perhaps they really don't know why certain labs have particular preps, or that an SpO2 isn't remotely the same as a PaO2. Perhaps those drug classifications were tough to get down. Perhaps they can't really figure out what multiple factors to consider in a given situation, and in what order they should be prioritized. If students feel they are not tip-top on those sorts of things, they have a lot of self-directed studying to do to prepare for NCLEX. This, too, is a maturity thing: You will be responsible for studying and learning new material for the rest of your working life, and NCLEX is where you prove you'll be up to it.

Well, I don't know if that's helpful, but I hope it opens some eyes. Good luck.

* The school graduates the students; the students graduate from a school. The other usage, though sexy-sounding ("I graduated school"), is wrong.

Pretty awesome answer actually. Loved the paragraph about the details/big picture. I think of everything ive heard and read, that sounds like the best most complete answer thus far

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I know I failed from not being prepared enough, and I thought it was easier then it actually was! Heck I only studied Hurst the first time I took it! It is def harder than actual nursing school- questions wise. So prepare waaayy ahead, like in the summers of your program if you have any. And I studied content, but failed, cuz I didn't familiarize myself with questions. So I needed to experience and study the two (Content c Questions) together in a format (visual, tactile-writing things down) that I, and only I, understood- I did pass after that btw..

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