I need help Failed after Two attempts

Hi everyone,

I really need help. I am a graduate nurse who graduated this past May. I took the NCLEX first in June. I really didn't know how to study for the NCLEX the first time. The books I use was the Kaplan review book and the online content review program, Saunders, and the Hurst review. I listened to all of the Hurst review content and I really understood what was going on. I did all the Questioners 1-7 and I did 60% of the Qbank. I felt very nervous and not confident at all but I try to stay positive. I knew when I got out of the test that I failed I had that feeling. I got all 265 questions. I try the pop up and I didn't get the positive like all the rest of my friends. When I got my report back it said that I was near passing standards on all the areas. I was like ok what do I do now. I did not know what to do. I took a break for a week or two and then I start studying as if I did not took the NCLEX before. I decided to use just Kaplan review I did the online live review and Qtrainers again along with 100% Qbank. I hit all the marks that I was suppose to hit some was way over the mark of 60-65%. I felt more confident this time than before. When I went in to take my test I was confident I stayed focus. Again I got 265 questions. I honestly I thought I passed. I try to do the pop up but didn't get the positive result. I look the next day and found I failed. My report came back that week and it said once again that I was near passing standards on all the areas. The report I feel does not give a great vision of where you should study especially when you are "near passing standards". I feel at a lost right now. Right now I do not know what to do. I want to start back studying after my Papa funeral but I do not know how to study this time.

Can someone please help me try to figure out how to properly study for this test because it only seem that I am getting close but not good enough to pass.

Thank you

Sophia

Hi Sophia,

I too am trying to uplift myself after failing the NCLEX exam. I also got 265 questions and was near passing..well the only way you can get all 265 is to be near passing anyway so i guess that makes since. Anyway, I found out according to Kaplan that if you get below passing you need to do more content and application but if you get Near Passing it means you know enough content and you just need to focus on application. So that lead me to believe that I need to do more practice questions. I purchased Hurst review before I found this out though so I was thinking about doing that review but I don't want to waste any time. I just wish there was an easy way to know exactly what we need to be doing to get this right next time.

You didn't mention what city/state your taking it at.

I passed the first time around, but I devoted 45 days of studying to myself before I took my test. I prayed. I read 1-2 chapters in the Saunders Nclex Review 4 a day. After reading my chapter or chapters for that day, I would take a 100 question test generated by the NCLEX Review 4000 RN software. I found both of these items on Amazon.com. I did this each day for 45 days. My thoughts were, " I am paying for this test, and I will study as long as I want to. I do not care if my classmates are taking it tomorrow or 2 weeks from now. I do not care if they think all of the jobs will be taken by the time I take my test. I am not wasting my money. I am investing in me. "

The NCLEX Review 4000 RN software would give me an exact indication of where I was weak in my studies.

I also added 10 math problems from the Dosage Calculations (A Ratio -Proportion Approach) 2nd edition Author: Gloria D. Pickar ISBN 13: 978-1-4180-1563-3 OR ISBN 10: 1-4180-1563-6.

Some people thought that this was extreme studying, but it worked for me. I could not find any peace at home until 12 am - 6 am, so I made that my study time. I also found wearing ear plugs during my study time was helpful. Just in case someone tried to bother me during my study time. You must have (ME TIME ALONE)! Closed doors and a location where you can be alone. It may sound selfish, but it will pay off. I was not a person for studying in a group. I found that the study sessions would always get off track.

The week before my test I also used:

NURSING MADE INSANELY EASY 5TH EDITION Author: Sylvia Rayfield ISBN: 978-0-9761029-3-9

I used this book as a refresher to all that I had completed. I used it towards the very end instead of re-reading the Saunders. I would still take a 100 question test each day, and do 10 dosage calculation problems.

The morning of the test, I did not read or practice test. I was more than prepared. My test was scheduled for 8 am. I left the testing center at 9 am. I got 75 questions and the screen went black. Did I feel nervous because I was the first one out of the testing center? No, because I know I had paid my dues and the pass result proved it. You all can do it. Pray, read, and believe.

Hi Ontimenurse,

Thank you very much for your post. I am feeling much better after I read your post. The NCLEX Review 4000 RN published date was 18th March 2008

Is it ok for me to prepare for 2014? Coz this will be my 2nd time and I want to pass it. Pls reply me.

Thank you very much

Sharon

Sorry to hear you failed.I recently failed as well,I have had a knot in my stomach since I failed.My family cant seem to understand why Im so down and sad.I rescheduled my test for the week before Christmas but Im thinking about pushing it back till after Christmas because I would hate to fail n be sad for the holidays

My Qbank score was in the low 50s and I passed on my first try. You have to be calm, relaxed and believe you can pass. Get a good night sleep and drink some green tea.

It sounds like you actually know your stuff. Review, use the NCLEX Review 4000 RN software to find weak areas and brush them up, but make sure to take a day or two before the test to just plain rest, relax and get your stress level as low as you can. Do not stay up the night before cramming. Going into the test tired and stressed will cost you points.

Best of luck.

Hi all I passed my NCLEX in 75 questions. It is not because I am a genius or spend every waken moment studying . This is how I studied:

1. If you are taking a practices test and you are not a 100% sure of the answer or you had to guess write it down and look up the topic.

2.When you have questions who do you see first:

expected VS unexpected

chronic VS acute

stable VS unstable

potential problem VS actual problem

safe VS unsafe.

5 assessment VS implementations

do you have enough of assessment

4. Maslow hierarchy of needs

physical needs take priority over psychosocial

pain is psychosocial unless it's a heart attack or acute onset sever in nature.

go to you tube and find Kaplan Barbara Erwin

and Simply nursing (this guy explains delegation pain and simple)

5. When you have select all that applies , treat each answer separate,

Read each answer and ask yourself is this true or false in regards to the question

6. when you reading the answers make sure that that the whole answer is correct (this is known as comma, comma)

you might have a question that states at night you will see in the sky; moon, stars, sun ( this in incorrect) this is an example of a comma, comma question.

know your lab values

if you Google learning shark it will give you all of the common lab values

last do not read too many books

OP - did you use the decision tree? Practice questions help to get the feel for being tested on the content. But the best thing about Kaplan is using the tree to get to the answer you don't know or confirming the ones you do know. If I had to guess, you were getting down to 2 options and just choosing the good answer -- not the best answer.

HTH