I just failed my 2nd attempt for the nclex-rn...I'm really down, pls help me pass..

[kittiebabe]

Hi there friends,

My name is Marie K. Cline. I'm a international-trained nurse from Cebu, Philippines. I live here in Ohio now since Dec. 26, 2006. Ever since I got here it had been toil for me getting to qualify for the nclex-rn. As any international-trained graduates I had to take on the toefl.ibt test (english profeciency exam) and the cgfns to qualify for the nclex. I failed my first take for the toefl.ibt last sept. 08 and passed my 2nd take of nov.08. I passed my cgfns qualifications of oct'08. Now all I have to do is pass the nclex-rn to be a registered nurse and so I can get a job here in united states. Unfortunately I took my 1st take last yr of july 25th of 2008 with 75questions, but I didnt made it. So I decided to study harder and see if I could revamp myself and do a better job the next time around. So I did my best, actually my very best. I wasn't really a bad studid. Actually I was top in my class back home (Phils. ) but somehow I just couldn't pass this test. I took my 2nd try for the exam last wednesday of Aug 13' 09. After I got home, I tried the trick yesterday and it let me go through the cc/payment option. I was totally upset. I was bawling yesterday, even today, this morning, but now I've found peace with myself I guess I'm ready to get back in track, but I just couldn't believe that I didnt made it because I was really calm and sure of myself when i took the test except for the calculation part which I was totally bummed and cofused if I had the right answers, other than that I had SATA's and Med-surg problems that I was really sure I had them right but those 4 calculation problems I had was a total mind-game for me. Mini-maini-moo...geez i was just totally guessing. I had the same problem with my first try last year drugs and calculation. I'll be waiting for my paper trail (big brown envelope as they say hehee) so I can see where I headed wrong. Other than that, I just felt really down right now. But I'm not giving up. It's awful to fail...but we won't really appreciate success if we dont fall right?

Like one poet had once said, "The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it."- by John Rustin

It's tough it really tough guys, for all of us that didn't made it. But let's be happy for the ones that did made it. Let's help each other get through this last pedestal for our success to become a bonafide registered nurses in the future. It's really awful that we have to go through this challenge in our lives inorder to be measured if we are adequate nurses but the fact remains the board just wanna make sure that we are reliable nurses to serve our patients/clients and that we are responsible leaders for our colleagues.

I wanna share this poem to you guys that have truly made my day despite of the fact that I didnt made it of passing the exam. I found this poem in one of my chicken soup for the soul book and it goes like this:

"DON'T QUIT" -BY Clinton Howell

When things go wrong,

As they sometimes will,

When the road you've truding seems all uphill,

when the funds are low, and the debts are high,

and you want to smile, but you have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you muchst, but don't quit.

Life is queer with a twist and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

when he might have won had he only had stuck it out;

Don't quive up though the pace seems slown,

You might succeed with another blow.

Success is a failure turned inside out,

the silver lingina a tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you may never can tell how close you are,

it may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you're at your hardest hit,

It's when things seemed worst,

that YOU MUST NOT QUIT!

Don't ever give up.

"I hope I have made some of you out there hopeful..for I am hopeful too that one day I'll pass this exam once and for all. It may be a long and winding road even turbulent and bloody but hey we'll get there! In my side of the story I do only have one chance for this exam becuase if I don't make it then I have to go through another set of toef.ibt and cgfns again, which I certainly don't wanna go through all those exams again. I mention earlier right that I'm an international-trained nurse. Well, inorder for us to qualify for the boards we have to take on the toefl.ibt and cgfns, now my toefl and cgfns are going to expire this nov.04 of this year so If I dont pass the nclex this time around then I have to apply for the boards starting back at one and that is to take on another english proficiency exam and entrance exam. So it totally sucks! But I don't be negativist! I wanna be hopeful and optimist. So that's why i'm encourage everyone who's in my shoe to the same this. Stay Positive and Reach your dreams. Never give up on those dreams ever. Do not let anybody pull you down. Stand up with a Smile and Go on Living. Live your dreams. And for all of us that didn't made it hey, let's all help one other and make it a success. Cheer up! It's not the end of it all...we have to stand up tall, and aim high ti'll we reach the top with a sigh."-Marie Dee K. Cline

[cebuana_nurse]

Hey Marie! I was reading the PA BON's site and it says that I could still work in PA even if I get licensed from VT. Though it's temporary. They'll issue a Temporary Practice Permit by Endorsement. It's valid for only a year but at least I could still use it while working in PA. Then I won't be required to take the TOEFL since my basic instruction is English so I'm good to go. I just need to pass this 2nd time. Hehehehe

[kittiebabe]

:heartbeat"Hey Marie! I was reading the PA BON's site and it says that I could still work in PA even if I get licensed from VT. Though it's temporary. They'll issue a Temporary Practice Permit by Endorsement. It's valid for only a year but at least I could still use it while working in PA. Then I won't be required to take the TOEFL since my basic instruction is English so I'm good to go. I just need to pass this 2nd time. Hehehehe":heartbeat

That is so good! I wonder if Ohio does that. I'll try to check it out in their website. Their board of nsg. is quite strict in here. I'll see what I can do about it. Right now, all I have to worry about is trying on for my next exam while I still have a chance to set on for ohio's nclex-rn. Anyhow, I used to live in Urgello, Cebu City. I graduated at Univ. of San Carlos College of Nsg. How about U? I've been really stressed out with all this reqt. thingy...i only have 2 more chances to take on nclex-rn here in ohio before all my credentials expire (toefl.ibt and cgfns). Which totally blew me off..and yet I'm trying to get back on track here, though it totally sucks coz i'm still upset really! ANd i dont know where to begin...my husband wants me to take on the exam in 45 days after my last take but that all depends when i get my next ATT. My greencard has just expired since what i had was a 2yr temporary green card so right now we just filed for the removal of the conditions of my greencard, and my case status is still pending at california uscis. So that has been a strain for me as well, dealing with my immigration paperworks so as this nclex-rn. Hopefully everything will fall into place. Coz i really would like to go back cebu anytime soon. I miss my family very much. It has been 2yrs and 7 months since i've been here and i've been homesick ever since. Though my family over here (husband family) are really nice to me and I'm well-loved and supported but I really miss my family back home. ANd the only thing that's hindering me to go back home yet, is passing this nclex-rn and my paperwork. My husband wanted for me to get all my paperwork and status all figured-out first before we head back to the phils. I really wish I could get this test done once and for all. And I'm truly glad they put on this website for all of out there who needed encouragement and support system in trying to reach our goals.

By the way my husband says, that it'll take 5-6hrs for us to drive over there from where you at? I told him I found a cebuano friend from the website he was totally glad..and he wishes u well in ur exam as well and he said to send his regards to your husband and family over there so as I. I hope to see one day and let's keep studying and never quit. I know we can do it. If they can, we surely can.

[kittiebabe]

:heartbeat"Hey sis! I applied for Vermont when I was still working in Cebu. So by the time I left, I already had my exam date. I still filed for Vermont the 2nd time, though if I get licensed, I dunno what to do. Maybe we should consider moving to VT. Haha! I wish that VT and PA participated on the Nursing Licensure Compact so that I wouldn't have much problems with it.

Anyways, I asked my hubby how far Ohio is from here and he said that it's a 6-hour drive. I'm living in a small city named HAZLETON. I had the La Charity book (had it photocopied) before I left since the review center that I enrolled in was talking much about it. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to read it because I was so busy when I got here and then I only have a month left before I need to sit for the NCLEX.

I'm glad to meet you here. By the way, where in Cebu do you live?":heartbeat

Hi ganda! I do have la charity book too but I haven't finished reading it or practicing the Q and A's inside the book. I only had covered a few of the nclex-type questions on it for part 2 the rest of the case studies on part 3 never had touch. The questions inside the book are very overwhelming, but the graduated nurses in here have stated that is very useful in preparation for the nclex-rn. So i'll try to get back on it after i've brushed on my weaknesses. I had 3 categories that were below the passing standard and that includes infection and safety control, leadership and manangement, and prioritzation and delegation. The rest were all near the passing standard which really made me upset. But what like our moderator has said, Ms. silverdragon, I should study the test like I've never studied it before...i have to brushed up on our nsg content. The other students here have also suggested to practice more Q and A's. Hay! I dont know where to begin...truthfully. I'm really tired os studying, but i'm giving up though. The fight goes on. So next week, i'll try to reapply again for the boards and then from their i'll get my study plan organized, hopefully i can get my mind back on gear and prepare this test so i can seat down for the exam 45days after. By the way, when u taking ur exam?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

The best thing you can do is practice questions and read the rationale even if you get it right. Practising will get you used to how the questions work and understanding what they are asking

[kittiebabe]

:heartbeat"The best thing you can do is practice questions and read the rationale even if you get it right. Practising will get you used to how the questions work and understanding what they are asking":heartbeat

Hello Ms. Silverdragon! I'll try to do that. I just got the two books I ordered from amazon (exam cram and prentice hall's nclex-rn ). The students in here suggested they are good sources to review for the nclex since they are written by pearsonvue. I don't know if that's reliable but I did purchased it. I do have suander's and I'm still using it. Right now I'm just trying to scan through the once that I did poorly on that category. I do have lippincott but never really had the chance to read it nor go through it at all, not even the practice disc. I also have the la charity's prioritization, delegation book. That I used and so as saunder's when I took my 2nd board exam. My first take the last time I didn't really study for it. I just took it uprepared just bec. my ATT was going to expire. This time I did took it last Aug. 13 thinking I was ready just utilizing suander's but when I sat down on the test I found out that the questions were not like saunder's it was more difficult and more confusing. I did have alot of SATA questions and 4 calcu. problems. Other than that I thought that the other questions were fine. I'm really tired Ms. silverdragon, but I'm not giving up. And i'm truly glad you guys put up this website for all of us so we can inspire each other in whatever undertaking as a nurse we have to go throught not just in nsg. school but also licensure exam and in our future nsg career. "Thank you".

I will certainly try what you have said...practice practice answering more board questions. And read on the rationales even if I got it right. Before i dont read the rationale if i got it right, just the once I missed. But this time I'll try to do what you have suggested. Thank you.

[kittiebabe]

Does anybody out here would recommend for me to buy the hurst strat books and gauwitz? Do you think those books are helpful for my review?

I do have saunders, exam cram 1 and 2, kaplan strat, la charity, prentice hall, ncsbn, and lippincott.

[caliotter3]

You have got plenty of review books. You probably should pick one of them plus the LaCharity book and Kaplan for strategy and concentrate on that one book to avoid confusion. Good luck.

[kittiebabe]

You have got plenty of review books. You probably should pick one of them plus the LaCharity book and Kaplan for strategy and concentrate on that one book to avoid confusion. Good luck.

Hi caliotter3! Okay...you're right...I just get all worked up when i see people telling what they have used and had worked for them and I truly would like to pass this time around. Having failed twice jst makes me really all coco... coz I truly study y'know and I really try my best. And having only 45 days left to retake it makes it even worse. Pardon. Anyhow, I do have kaplan strat and i truly like that book. I do have a question though did you study la charity's case studies in part 3? they were really up to the top for me, i mean they were very hard. Should i go through them too..i did finished part 2 though.

[xxjjccbb]

hi mariedeecline.. it's nice to see some filipino nurses in this forum.. i am reviewing for the nclex rn too.. i still don't know the exact date i will be testing since im still waiting for my att.. im thinking of buying exam cram but i guess it would have to wait.. id like to somehow finish saunder's first (if that's possible) before studying another book.. well, i just wanted to say hi and ive read some of your posts.. i know you can do this.. everyone just needs to focus and be positive.. i surely hope we can conquer this exam.. goodluck!:heartbeat

[kittiebabe]

hi mariedeecline.. it's nice to see some filipino nurses in this forum.. i am reviewing for the nclex rn too.. i still don't know the exact date i will be testing since im still waiting for my att.. im thinking of buying exam cram but i guess it would have to wait.. id like to somehow finish saunder's first (if that's possible) before studying another book.. well, i just wanted to say hi and ive read some of your posts.. i know you can do this.. everyone just needs to focus and be positive.. i surely hope we can conquer this exam.. goodluck!:heartbeat

Hi there! How r u? hope everything is well... I too am waiting for my att to arrive. And thanks for the encouragement, i truly appreciate it. So do you, goodluck in your exam. Goodluck to us and to all trying to take on and pass this exam. I've read you're intersted with nclex-exam cram? Well, i found the cd really high-leveled questions, though they're were some minor topographical errors with the questions...only a few but the rationales were perfect. It really does somehow mimics the real exam. I didn't have the book though, just the cds. And for me I think its great. Ujones had told me to use it to test my readiness for the exam and use the prentice hall book to go through with the subject contents. I'll try to mimic here study plan and head from there. I've used saunder's and I still do. It is more easier to read and to go through with the nsg. content. However, I really appreciate la charity and exam cram and prentice hall and so does ncsbn for their high level questions. And it somehow really looks like the real exam...hehehe I'm speaking in behalf of myself a veteran of failing the test. Hehehe! Actually I just got my exam cram and prentice hall last week from the mail, I ordered it at amazon (both books are made by pearson, and I'm hoping it'll help me with my review). So I haven't really utilized it to the extent like the others. When I sat on my first take I wasn't really ready and all I used was stocked knowlege bummer right? And then when I took my 2nd take last week of Aug.13 all I used was saunders and lacharity since I've heard that there are a couple of students who made it out here jst by using those two resources. Anyhow, I didn't made it so I really have to work harder,much harder. So, that's why I've been asking around and trying to get suggestions and advices from others who made it with the exam. I actually just enrolled from ncsbn's learningext for the nclex-rn. And I find it really good...i just started the program today. I am doing the assessment test as of the moment. Hopefully it'll aid me in my prep. for the exam, just like the others.

I'm truly glad that you took the time to send me a msg. I'm really pleased to know that there are lot of us out here (filipinos) trying to pass this test. I do hope to hear from you soon. And thank you, thank you for the kind words of encouragement. You too, goodluck on your test! I'm sure we are going to make it one day. With alot of perseverance and hard work, combined with a positive-frame of mine (like you said), hopefully we're going to make it. Goodluck and stay positive! :heartbeat

[aromarn]

first, I want to say I am so sorry, 2nd Dont You Ever Give UP! Well, it seems like maybe you are having trouble understand the English wording!! English is my second language as well, and when I first came to US (9 years ago) I thought I can speak well! But comparing myself to native English speakers I quickly learn, I still have a lot to learn. So I start reading news paper, define words I do not understand...etc. I went to RN school here, but at my college it was required that I take the English Entrance Assessment test....I passed it. What I am trying to say is that set the whole thing for me!!! As you know, NCLEX-RN exam is critical thinking, sometimes its to hard to understand even for native speakers. So I dont know maybe you might want to look at that.

Now Med-calculation is something u should not miss. You have to know your Conversion very well, there is no excuse, u can not afford to lose points. Go back , know your conversion. I suggest you buy the book- CALCULATE WITH CONFIDENCE BY DEBORAH MORRIS.

The Drugs , u need to know the basic drugs, the drugs that are given in the hospital regularly. Look into Beta Blockers, Ace Inhibitor, Insulin effects and time, Diabetes medication, Inflammation suppresion drugs, heparin....etc . Try to study the the general side effect and teaching. U can not possibly know all the side effects but look for common grounds.

I hope I helped somehow! I really wish you all the best. You will get there when its time.

[xxjjccbb]

marie.. so how are you preparing this time? i see that you need to retake the test before the end of october.. im planning to take the exam hopefully by that time too.. i just dont feel quite ready yet.. just arrived here in the states last feb.. though i have been coming here as a visitor since 2001.. i really hope we cam be RNs soon.. did you take the NLE back home?