just failed NCLEX for the 3rd time :( here's my story....

Nursing Students NCLEX

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hello everyone,

i thought i'd share my story of ups and downs with nclex. i graduated from a bsn program in 12/2010. this was a 1 year accelerated program so it was extremely intense. we had to learn so much information in such a short time so it was very difficult to learn everything thoroughly. once i graduated, i was so drained and had no energy or motivation to start studying for the nclex so stupidly i put it off. well, then i get a call in january for an interview from the one hospital i had always dreamed of working at. i couldn't believe it...this is the #1 children's hospital in the nation and they receive over a 1000 applications for new graduate job listings. i was beyond thrilled. the interview went well despite the fact that it was a 7 panel interview...which i had never experienced but i didn't let my nerves get the best of me and just made sure to be myself. i get a call the next day and they wanted to offer me the position. i was literally jumping for joy. but then hr drops a bombshell on me. they asked if i had passed the nclex...which i hadn't. i wasn't even planning on taking it for a couple of months so i hadn't studied at all. well, they said i have to have my license prior to the start date which was only 5 days away! so i was able to schedule a test date in time...thank god. with only 5 days to study i was panicked. i registered for the kaplan online review and in those 5 days i watched every video, answered every question trainer, and basically completed everything you're required to complete to receive a refund. how did i complete all that in such a short amount time?? i literally studied for 12-15 hours a day....i know, worst thing i could've done. i was sleep deprived, wasn't eating well, and i didn't sleep the night before the exam. consequently, it was a no brainer that i failed.

with the second attempt....i approached it thinking it'll be different because i won't have the added pressure of a job on the line and that surely i'll pass this time. i'll be honest and say...i didn't study much at all before the exam because i had done so well in school i thought i got this! of course i was wrong....failed again. it's embarrassing to admit, but i failed both times at 75 questions. on my results report, i was either near passing or below passing and not above passing on any section. that really bruised my pride and confidence to no end. after that, i became so depressed...all i wanted to do was sleep everyday.

one day i happened to come across a job posting at the same hospital so i applied again, got the interview, was offered the job, and was starting to feel a little bit better. but my depression had gotten so bad i couldn't motivate myself to study, even though i knew i had been so lucky to be handed a great opportunity...again! i had about 3 months to prepare this time but i just kept putting it off thinking i had plenty of time. well, time flew by and i had only 1 week left to study so i started to cram and inevitably felt completely overwhelmed. i just made sure i knew all lab values, transmission precautions, and tried to practice prioritization questions. so i took the nclex this past tuesday the 12th and got 261 questions. at first i knew i was doing pretty well because i was getting a lot of sata questions. but by the time i was at question 180ish...i was mentally drained. i couldn't even understand what the question was asking me anymore and had to read it about 10 times. also, at this point...none of the answers seemed right. i was so exhausted that i partially gave up. i tried my best but i just couldn't take it anymore. so i went home and did the pearsonvue trick....and yup...failed.

so, how do i feel now? honestly, several weeks before the test i thought if i fail again i will be so devastated that i didn't know what i was going to do. a couple of days before the test i was really reaching out to god for help; praying for confidence. surprisingly, i didn't feel so bad after i found out i failed. don't get me wrong, i cried my eyes out that night. so i'll share with you what has helped me to feel better and not give up. for those of you who are christians....and even if you're not....i came across this song that has helped me tremendously. it's amazing how god brings things into your life just at the right time. the name of the song is "walk on the water" by britt nicole. this song is so encouraging and it really helped me to not lose faith. hope this song helps others too....especially if you're feeling discouraged and feel like giving up :)

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Specializes in SCI, Ortho, Med/Surg, Tele, Hemodialysis.

dont give up...there's always time for everything..=)

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Keep trying. You might also consider a refresher course or a Kaplan course. Hopefully now you appreciate how difficult the NCLEX can be and you more effectively manage your time in the months before the test.

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Specializes in orthopedic & HDU.
hello everyone,

i thought i'd share my story of ups and downs with nclex. i graduated from a bsn program in 12/2010. this was a 1 year accelerated program so it was extremely intense. we had to learn so much information in such a short time so it was very difficult to learn everything thoroughly. once i graduated, i was so drained and had no energy or motivation to start studying for the nclex so stupidly i put it off. well, then i get a call in january for an interview from the one hospital i had always dreamed of working at. i couldn't believe it...this is the #1 children's hospital in the nation and they receive over a 1000 applications for new graduate job listings. i was beyond thrilled. the interview went well despite the fact that it was a 7 panel interview...which i had never experienced but i didn't let my nerves get the best of me and just made sure to be myself. i get a call the next day and they wanted to offer me the position. i was literally jumping for joy. but then hr drops a bombshell on me. they asked if i had passed the nclex...which i hadn't. i wasn't even planning on taking it for a couple of months so i hadn't studied at all. well, they said i have to have my license prior to the start date which was only 5 days away! so i was able to schedule a test date in time...thank god. with only 5 days to study i was panicked. i registered for the kaplan online review and in those 5 days i watched every video, answered every question trainer, and basically completed everything you're required to complete to receive a refund. how did i complete all that in such a short amount time?? i literally studied for 12-15 hours a day....i know, worst thing i could've done. i was sleep deprived, wasn't eating well, and i didn't sleep the night before the exam. consequently, it was a no brainer that i failed.

with the second attempt....i approached it thinking it'll be different because i won't have the added pressure of a job on the line and that surely i'll pass this time. i'll be honest and say...i didn't study much at all before the exam because i had done so well in school i thought i got this! of course i was wrong....failed again. it's embarrassing to admit, but i failed both times at 75 questions. on my results report, i was either near passing or below passing and not above passing on any section. that really bruised my pride and confidence to no end. after that, i became so depressed...all i wanted to do was sleep everyday.

one day i happened to come across a job posting at the same hospital so i applied again, got the interview, was offered the job, and was starting to feel a little bit better. but my depression had gotten so bad i couldn't motivate myself to study, even though i knew i had been so lucky to be handed a great opportunity...again! i had about 3 months to prepare this time but i just kept putting it off thinking i had plenty of time. well, time flew by and i had only 1 week left to study so i started to cram and inevitably felt completely overwhelmed. i just made sure i knew all lab values, transmission precautions, and tried to practice prioritization questions. so i took the nclex this past tuesday the 12th and got 261 questions. at first i knew i was doing pretty well because i was getting a lot of sata questions. but by the time i was at question 180ish...i was mentally drained. i couldn't even understand what the question was asking me anymore and had to read it about 10 times. also, at this point...none of the answers seemed right. i was so exhausted that i partially gave up. i tried my best but i just couldn't take it anymore. so i went home and did the pearsonvue trick....and yup...failed.

so, how do i feel now? honestly, several weeks before the test i thought if i fail again i will be so devastated that i didn't know what i was going to do. a couple of days before the test i was really reaching out to god for help; praying for confidence. surprisingly, i didn't feel so bad after i found out i failed. don't get me wrong, i cried my eyes out that night. so i'll share with you what has helped me to feel better and not give up. for those of you who are christians....and even if you're not....i came across this song that has helped me tremendously. it's amazing how god brings things into your life just at the right time. the name of the song is "walk on the water" by britt nicole. this song is so encouraging and it really helped me to not lose faith. hope this song helps others too....especially if you're feeling discouraged and feel like giving up :)

i feel ur pain.. take a break and come back strong...theres are reason for all of this.....god is prep[aring some very good things for you,, keep the faith u will be rewarded,,be strong.....u lost time and money....but not your faith,family and friends...remember that..

joe

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I'm sorry for what has happened but I love how you have continued to keep your faith. God will get you through this. I feel as though maybe you need to take a break for a couple of weeks and try and get maybe into a refresher course or maybe try hurst review, and set up a schedule to study and what to study everyday that is what I have done with this next time because I didn't pass the first time, and your story sounds like mine about how I only gave myself 3 weeks to prepare for nclex didn't have the right materials and thinking to myself that I got this and also not sleeping and cramming at hours at a time. This to shall pass and god bless you.

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Thank you Jujubeegirl for sharing your story. I feel very alone , having failed the 4th time. I so understand the depression. I don't even want to talk or see anyone. Everyone on AN has been great ! Supportive and encourageing. Thank you for your prayers. I am going to look for "walk on the water". Keep the faith.

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Best wishes on your retry.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Thanks for sharing your story! It's so hard to get off the mat when you're down once, let alone two or three times.

Perhaps because I'm pretty familiar with the dx of depression, I know that it is insidious and can actually result in a pattern of sabotaging your own success on a subconscious level.

I wish you all the best in the future. Please do come back and let us know how you are doing! I have a family member (though not in nursing) who battles with these issues. He has developed an attitude of fatalism and I want help him break out of it!! Thank you for sharing your experience! :)

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Thanks for sharing this and inspriing others. Good luck on your next try!

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did you try the pearson vue trick? did it worked like what they're saying that when you fail you' ll go directly to the credit card area?

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Thanks for sharing your story. I just failed my first attempt. I'm feeling a bit down. However, I know I can do this I just have to apply the right study formula. Good luck and never give up hope.

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I feel your pain as I have failed 4 times now. I am struggling with depression as well and have also found out I am pregnant again. HA! If things couldnt get worse. I also feel like you that god has a plan for everything and there has to be reason for all this chaos in my life. There is a lesson to be learned here and once I figure it out I will come back and defeat this NCLEX thing. :-) So will you! I am going to look for this song. Pls keep in touch maybe we can help each other or lean on each other :-)

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