Failed nclex twice, advice?

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Hello all,

I graduated nursing school in PA in June 2015. Took the nclex for the first time in August 2015. Got 208 questions. Truth be told I didn't prepare a much as I should have the first time around. I thought "I just graduated, I know what I need to to pass." WRONG! I paid for my quick results two days later and found out I failed. I was upset but not necessarily surprised. I felt like I was no longer thinking critically by the end of the test, I had been in the test room for 4.5 hours and made the mistake of not taking breaks during that time. I feel like had I taken my breaks, I would have passed. I knew getting that many questions meant I was right on the pass/fail line the whole time.

I took a week off to get my head on straight and purchased the kaplan review for my second attempt. I went through that book twice and did all the chapter tests and the 265 question test at the end of the book. I scored between 70-75% on the chapter tests and about 65% on the end of book test. I made sure to really focus on the rationales regardless of whether I answered the question correctly or not. I also used prioritization delegation and assignment sparingly during this time. I took the test again October 2015. I walked in telling myself I was going to be in there for all 265 questions. I planned to take a break after 75 questions to clear my head. I didn't want a repeat of attempt #1. Well I got to question 75 after about 45 minutes. I I clicked to go to the next question and my screen shut off. Honestly I felt like I understood the questions and analyzed them appropriately before answering, so I walked out of the test center optimistic that I had passed. Much to my dismay, I found out two days later I had failed again. This time I was devastated, I felt like I was never going to pass the nclex and I had wasted two years of my life and $30k on nursing school. I couldn't understand how I got 200+ questions on my first attempt after barely studying and failed as miserably as I did on my second attempt. I couldn't even bring myself for look at anything nursing related for nearly 2 months. Eventually I had a "come to jesus" meeting with myself and realized that I was smart enough to pass nursing school, I am smart enough to pass this test. I have too much riding on becoming a nurse to give up now. I am determined to pass on this attempt, and am approaching it as if passing is my only option. I just feel differently than I did on my two previous attempts.

I am currently awaiting my att email so I can schedule my test. As it stands now, I am looking at retaking in about a month. For my study materials this time around, I purchased the 5 week ncsbn review course(which contains a ton of information, but I feel it's a good tool for me to brush up on all nursing topics, considering I've been out of school for 6 months). I also am utilizing the pda book more this time around, I'm doing roughly 50 questions a night and really focusing on the rationales. I also purchased the nclex mastery app and use it any time I have a few free minutes(breaks at work, while doing laundry, watching TV, etc.)

I am determined to succeed this time. I know I'll be a good nurse, I just need to get that piece of paper that says "RN." do any of you out there have any additional advice you'd be willing to share? Any suggestions are welcome, and I appreciate any input. Thanks!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Have you reviewed your candidate performance reports to see where you are weak/strong? Does at least one of the review materials you are using discuss how to answer the questions and not just content review?

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I forgot to mention, I used the kaplan book on how to analyze and answer the questions. And I used my CPR from my last attempt to help me figure out what I need to focus on in my studies

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

I found the HURST review to be great in reviewing info and providing a test bank. I used Kaplan for their decision tree, and found it incredibly helpful. Uworld was just starting when I tested, and I took the free trial a week before my test. I will say that the rationales were detailed, but the Kaplan decision tree was what got me through the NCLEX in 75 questions.

I wish you the best of luck, and I wouldn't focus on more than 2 resources at a time.

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Specializes in Informatics.

Hurst review is excellent and they have a bank of either 600 or 900 practice questions.

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Hey buddy, I too failed before passing. When I passed, I used NCSBN for content review, I purchased Kaplan Qbank and finished all 1500 questions, doing 75 question/timed. I averaged 52-69%. That ended a week before my test, and UWorld offers a FREE 7 day trial. I averaged 60-65%. I ended up passing at 100-110 questions. Another piece of advice, you got to question 75 in 45 minutes???? That's FAST. I hear that NCLEX pace should be about a minute per question. I goto to 90 in about 2 hours before they asked me to take a break. I think you should pace yourself alot more. The Uworld and Kaplan test banks have a 75 question, timed-mode, giving about 1hr30/40min.

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Thanks for the advice! I think my problem on my last attempt was that I was so anxious going into the test it prevented me from really looking at the questions before I answered them. If there's one thing I learned it's that if you don't take the time to really read the question, you're going to miss very important key words that will lead you to the correct answer. My plan is to finish the ncsbn review, then purchase the kaplan qbank and do 75-100 questions a day until I work through all the questions. I might give uworld a try as well. Thank you!

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That sounds really good! With the Kaplan questions, go somewhere where you can focus, and use the time to read carefully. The 1hour 30/40minute window was a really good pace setter. You got this! I hope to see you pass

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Have you reviewed your candidate performance reports to see where you are weak/strong? Does at least one of the review materials you are using discuss how to answer the questions and not just content review?

This.

If you already know one area of content really well (80% or higher), you don't need to focus on that section.

If you want to prepare before taking practice exams, try going through the patho/pharm/foundations books and grasp concepts using ADPIE.

One example I always like to use is diabetes.

Assessment: what does hyperglycemia that is > 300 mg/dL "look" like? What about hypoglycemia?

--fyi: this really helped me on the floor as a nurse tech, which I still am, because a nurse asked me to take glucose on a patient. When I walked into the room, his hands were on the bedside table and when I tried to poke his finger, they dropped off the table shaking and onto the bed. At that point I called the nurse to get ready even before taking the blood sugar - to bring some glucose in stat. His glucometer read "critical low"

Diagnosis: what nursing diagnosis will drive your care? Imbalanced nutrition, Imbalanced fluid volume, etc. What is the main concern with this patient?

Plan: What is the EBP for diabetics? (hint: 1-lifestyle changes (diet/exercise) 2-medication compliance 3-physician visits 4-proper rest : or, the "four pillars" as I like to call it).

Implementation: what is acceptable ways to carry out the nursing plan?

Evaluation: For diabetes: how is implementation affecting the patient's blood sugars?

I know it may sound silly to do that for every condition, but think of general, major conditions and organize it by ​body systems. (ie, diabetes is an endocrine disorder that affects all other systems: immunity, cardiovascular, renal, digestive) - but the main concept is diabetes is an endocrine disorder affecting insulin production or effectiveness of pancreatic beta cells.

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I've noticed with the ncsbn review that it is EXTREMELY in depth. Almost to the point of it being overwhelming. For example, I'm current working through the medication by body system section. I've spent roughly 8 hours on it to this point and still have about half of it to go. I know there's no way I'm going to memorize every drug, side effect, nursing consideration, etc. Any advice on how I can narrow some of this down so I retain what I really need to know for nclex?

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I know what you are going through, it took me multiple attempts until I finally passed NCLEX-RN. My piece of advise is take your time studying, I took a whole year off and spent 3 hours a day studying. Not saying that you take a whole year off. Set a deadline so you know how to manage your time. Very important that you know that Pathophysiology of each disease. I write everything in index cards, that helped me. I also used LaCharity Prioritization Book. As much as possible don't study at home, go somewhere else like Barnes and Noble or maybe Starbucks, too many distractions at home. And maybe exercise to keep the blood flow to your brain.

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Hello, I'm sorry for your results, please message me if you would like to join my study group!

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