Failed NCLEX the 4th time feeling VERY down.

Hi there. I just want to say never give up. You've done it once (pass the LVN exam)..There's a great possibility that you'll do it someday. I read here in allnurses, maybe a year ago, that there's someone who took the NCLEX-RN and passed the tenth time he took it.

>> Here's Jackie Chan for a little inspiration. In the past, they did many scenes wherein they literally have thousands (yes thousands, even more than that) of takes to just perfect a 5-10 minute stunt or fight scene, with a LOT of permanent injuries. But in the end, they're happy that they didn't gave up.

Let me start off my saying that it is very brave of you to write about not passing for the fourth time. There are many people out there just like you ( which doesn't seem to help at this moment) but when they read what you have written they will feel less alone. I understand how stressful failing is. ( I have to retake the Nclex myself). The onl advice to you is that you have to move on from these tests and start studying like you have never failed it ( some one from Kaplan told me that ). That is very hard. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!! I know someone that had to take it 8 times and another person had to take it 13 times to pass. They are both wonderful nurses. Keep ur head up and I will pray for u!!!!!!!!

PLEASE do not give up!!! that test is very hard and it purposely tries to trick you i swear! i just failed for the second time....and I feel very embarassed and down as well...have just slept all week since i took it monday...but ya know what just take a few days to sulk/do things to make you happy and pick yourself up....im not telling a soul next time i take my test so i dont have a million people asking how i did...just tell people you are taking time off from the test and if you pass then you can tell everyone!!! dont give up...maybe try a different way of studying or answer more questions everyday....we can do this....the test is ridiculous it really is.....dont think its fair that one test can hold you back from your dreams

I know it's easier said than done, but try, try, try. I've read stories on AN that it took someone 9 times to pass the NCLEX, but in the end she/he passed it! Seems counterintuitive, but it seems that if you have healthcare experience, the NCLEX is harder because theory does not always apply to real life. The NCLEX world is different from real healthcare so may be true for you, being an LVN. Have you considered a private tutor? Maybe your friend who just passed it could help you out? Are you practicing NCLEX questions? I would aim for about 100 per day. Read the rationales closely, understand, I mean really understand them, and know why the other choices are wrong. I wish you much luck in your endeavors!

Hey Red Dog, I just wanted to let you know I understand very much how you must be feeling right now. I remember when I graduated the LPN program and passed the NCLEX I was the proud parent of a new nursing license , it was so amazing to hold it in my hand I just wanted to keep looking at it over and over. In fact I had the darn thing lamenated and showed everyone. After a couple of years of working as a LPN I had almost forgot the feeling of pride that came along with my LPN license and was already a RN in my mind.... after all I completed the RN program. The only thing in my was that silly little NCLEX lol (yeah right!) As you probably have already guessed I failed. Man I can still remember the pain I felt the day I got my results,.. I was so sure I had to have passed!?! I was so discouraged by my results it took me a year to get up the nerve to even attempt the test again. I started studying the Saunders NCLEX review CD on the computer before it hit me; I was over thinking the questions. I began to see the test in a different light. I went over each question and answer on the Saunders CD and read the reasoning and review and patterns/connections started to form. Things like ABC's airway, breathing, circulation.... simple stuff like that. I began to mentally picture myself as the tester and started feeling a surge of confidence again for the first time since my previous attempt. Upon setting up and paying for my next test I was so confident I even negociated a 5 dollar an hour raise with my employer at the time. She agreed under the contengency I would pass the test she'd pay me the increase but would drop my wage back down if I did not pass. Talk about pressure! So I made the necessary arrangements to test again and while I waited to test I kept studying. Finally, the day before the test I put away my study material, focused on getting rest and eating brain healthy foods. (by the way Ginko Biloba is a great brain booster) After getting a good night sleep and a really good breakfast I went in nervous as hell but determined to do my best. As I was in there testing all my fears started to creep in and started to feel as if the world was caving in on me. I took a deep breath, reminded myself this is just one more attempt, and decided to just let things be as they are going to be. Although I didn't feel like I knew much of the test, I answered the questions based on the knowledge I had instead of trying to guess on the finer details in the questions. I read through each question slowly and attempted to look passed all of the meds and terminology I didn't recognize. Of course as soon as I finished the test I felt as though I had failed and dreaded my results. Thankfully I was wrong, I didn't have to give up my 5 dollar an hour raise or retest.... I passed!!! I was so excited I teared up and started grinning from ear to ear. I know you will reach this experience too. Be proud you are an LPN and remember you have the knowledge you need to pass weather or not the test told you otherwise in the past. Build up your confidence, accept each attempt not as a failure but as a learning lesson and never give up,... you are a noble breed, you are a nurse!

i’m so sorry that you have been through so much, at first i was really shock when i hear of lpn/lvn's who don't pass because you are not the first one, so don't feel like a loser, but then i realize the reason might be obvious, you are probably going by real life experience. you are already a nurse and i know you know your stuff. how are you on practice exams, do you score high or do you still pick answers by life experience. i’m not a nurse yet, taking my boards soon. when i was a student at first i was getting good grades, than for some reason my test scores were going down and my teacher help me realize it's because we started clinical and i was picking answers from what i experienced and i know a lot of individuals in the healthcare field do the same thing. don't give up, you are already a nurse so this is the field for you, don't change it. so far these books have helped a lot of others and i’m included, saunders for content (you need to know book info not real life), la charity for delegation and prioritization, and since you've taken it already you know there’s a lot of prioritizing in it. also try something different, if you studied alone the past times, try getting a study partner or a tutor if possible. take some time off, start studying and don't rush to retake it. good luck.

hey RedDogs, you know what separates maturity and immaturity? its all about getting up when your down. no matter how many times you have fallen, it really counts when you actually get up. the will to set your mind is one of life greatest blessings. hold you head high as you made it this far, some people cannot even get into a RN school, but no you did that. some people cannot not even pass nursing school, but no you did that. so what's the next thing that you will do? pass the NCLEX. go fighting my fellow Nurse.

Don't give up! I know how you feel! I've been in your shoes having just found out I failed my nclex RN the first tine. I too passed my lpn boards the first time. I let the test control me and I sat in my cubical crying as I got over 150 questions. I walked out crying because I knew I failed! Don't let the test control you reddogs! You passed your program and that's hard enough!! Never give up! Keep trying!!

Keep your head up and God is with you and will lead you the way. Don't ever give up you have accomplished alot by geting through Nursing school which that alone is hard to do. I to understand how you feel I didn't pass the first time, but I am picking myself up to try again. We will get through this. This to shall pass and God bless you.