If you've ever Failed the NCLEX for RN

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Aug 8, 2006

Luckily, I only had to do the NCLEX thing once, but I thought I would give this thread a bump up to the top. I know there are many members who have had to repeat the NCLEX. At one time we had a member who passed her NCLEX around 12 years after graduation.

As far as review materials, Saunders and Kaplan seem to be the favorite books on these boards. Saunders has a ton of great content, while Kaplan's practice questions are probably closer in difficulty to the real NCLEX.

Good luck to you!

crisgom · Aug 8, 2006

I passed NCLEX the second time. I am a second language and I knew that the first time was lack of strategies. For my second time I did Kaplan questionare and I really learned from their strategies. I also did NCSBN and key with that one is to look at out for the pattern of the rationales they give you for similar situations, specially for delegation. I also were taught that I should be thinking about expected and unexpected when it comes to prioritization question and that the key of the ABCs is to check if your client is getting enough oxygenation to the main organs (got those from the the NCLEX Taylor review).

I wish the best on your next try. You can do this.

buddhanah · Aug 8, 2006

I read something interesting from the Saunders Strategies for Success book. She said for questions reguarding whats best to do for you patient for instince if you had something that asked about and intervention and within the answers if you find yourself saying to yourself..."I would never have time to do that with all my other patients", stop yourself and realize that with the NCLEX, they want you to act as if this is your only patient period. Stop yourself from saying the "what if's".

mendu · Aug 9, 2006

hi 1body1,

i passed at the first attempt, but still want to share what i used to prepare for nclex. i took excell nursing review, then study over 4000 questions from saunders, mosby cat and cd, nclex 3500 questions (usually 100-150 per day), then study saunders, ncsbn nclex practice questions and felt enough ready to take it.

do not give up, be good faith, if you pass nursing school you can also pass nclex. at least for me i felt that my last semester was much worse than my nclex test, and i am happy to be over with both.

good luck,

iMikee · Aug 9, 2006

Don't give up...i took the NCLEX and failed (2003), failed (2004), and recently passed (Aug.2006). Answer as much questions (i used Kaplan) as you can, understand the rationales of BOTH wrong and right answers, i finished the Kaplan question trainer CD twice, like a pre and post test.

Some posters would agree the Saunders and Kaplan combo works.

My mistake on the failed exams was that i focused on information only (BTW, this is all self study), this time i did 2 months of mostly Q&A from different sources Saunders Q&A, Mosby's CAT, Feuer exams and Kaplan (best for analysis-type questions).

Remember, THINK IVORY TOWER NURSING...then use common sense.

1Body1 · Aug 10, 2006

Thanks iMikee,

I was beginning to think that no one ever failed, re-took, then passed the NCLEX for RN.

Thanks for your response.

FutureUSRN · Aug 10, 2006

yeah, no one ever failed NCLEX...it is just others took it only once, others twice....others three times....others four times...others five times....

the only ones who failed are those who already gave up...

sweetnnurse · Aug 10, 2006

yeah, no one ever failed NCLEX...it is just others took it only once, others twice....others three times....others four times...others five times....
the only ones who failed are those who already gave up...

that is so true, because i had given up.. i got caught up in feeling that i should not have failed. Now that i have started studying again i realize that i was only failing myself when i gave up the fight. Thanks for your support.

tinta06 · Aug 12, 2006

I recently Failed the NCLEX exam for RN. While the stories of confidence and perseverance, from those of you who Passed the NCLEX are good and inspiring; I would like to hear from those who Failed the NCLEX for RN the first time, retook it, and subsequently Passed the second, third, forth or some time after that.
What was different in your preparation for the successful attempt?
What study/review guide or service did you use and find most helpful and representative of the actual NCLEX exam; and how was it better than before?
What helpful information, insight or tip can YOU provide for my preparation to retest?
Thank You in advance

I think the best thing to do is to work on as many questions as possible as you can (possibly 150-200 a day for 5-6weeks). Saunders 3rd Edition CD has as many as 15000 or more question and so is kaplan. Although Kaplan is very costly to buy them all. The most important part of working on questions is having the chance to read the rationals and finding your weakness as well as reviewing on them. It is very important to set the number of questions you will work on each before your next attempt so that you can possibly reach a target of 5000 or more questions by 5-6 weeks. Many people on this forum have passed NCLEX with the combination of the two (saunders and kaplan). But, you should also remember that everyone is different and that what worked for one may not work for another. You may find other NCLEX preparatory publishers helpful. Nonetheles, Saunders is very easy to follow through for content review and Kaplan for critical thinking. However, I have found that working on as many questions as possible before NCLEX is very helpful. I hope this helps.

Nursing28 · Aug 12, 2006

I failed w/265 questions and had used kaplan and ncsbn. I recieved my letter and the content that I was tested on was "near the passing standard" except health promotion and maintenance. I had so much peds question and that was my weakness. Therefore, I am studying Saunders and kaplan again. Not studying harder but yet smarter.

cat26 · Aug 15, 2006

Hello! Don't feel bad if you failed the first time around. I failed the nclex about two months ago and i'm going to keep taking it when the time allows until i pass. I took the Kaplan course and found it helpful in some areas, but at the same time contradicting to the actual test. I hate that they give you your readiness test on paper and pencil. I think it should be just like the acutal exam. I found that my score was much higher on their exam because i was able to mark out the wrong answer. I felt awful at first when i found out my test results. However, I put all that behind me and i'm getting prepared to take the next one. I told myself i'm not going to listen to what other people done on the test focus on yourself. You know what you are weak in and what you are not. I told myself do you acutally think that doctors and lawyers pass thier boards the first time around!!!!!!!!! I don't think so. Many of them are not going around anouncing how many times they took the boards. So, in brief don't think you are not smart. It irritates me when people say oh just because you don't pass the boards you are not compent. That's wrong in my book because no test is going to tell me how smart i am. To me i don't think the nclex is fair any way. To put it in a simple way the person sitting next to you taking the test could get questions that you know the answers to while your test is a test that have information that your not familar with. I don't care if it is all coming out the same boat you can ask a question different and it can seem easy or hard based on how they ask it. :idea: