Hey everyone -- Ok, so I need your thoughts and encouragement. I JUST took the NCLEX this morning and my computer shut off at 75 questions. The BAD news about that is I honestly think I failed. I know myself very well and I did not shine on that exam. There were simply too many questions that I guessed on. Furthermore, I seemed to have A LOT of the "select all that apply" questions...I am the worst at those. Anyways, I ended up leaving the test center in tears. I am sick to my stomach because I studied A TON for that test...took a Kaplan class even. Plus, I feel like a failure. I am disappointed in myself and it just seems like the end of the road.
Has anyone out there had this happen to them? How do you get through it and what do you do to pass the second time? Any suggestions on great study guides or courses I should take? I studied Saunders and the NCSBN stuff...and Kaplan. I felt very well prepared until this morning when question number one was questionable for me.
Thanks for listening everyone. It seems like my family and friends think I am neurotic for freaking out before getting my results....but I know myself and I know that I did not do well.
i've been a guest on these forums without signing up until today. i've spent hours reading the posts about the nclex exam. it really surprised me how supportive everyone on this forum is.
today at 8:00am was my second attempt at the boards so i felt compelled to finally become a member and chat.
i graduated from binghamton university which is supposed to be one of the most prestigious public universities in the northeast. i really enjoyed the campus and being a student, but i don't feel that their nursing program adequately prepared me for the nclex.
i was an excellent student and when i began studying for the boards i found that i was teaching myself how to answer the questions. i took my boards for the first time on august 26th after studying all summer. i had just started my first job as a gn on a l&d floor, and felt confident that i was going to do fine. i wasn't overly nervous or overly confident. i just felt...good.
when i came home my brother and boyfriend assured me that only really dumb people fail the nclex. statistically speaking, most people pass, and they were right. it never crossed my mind that i could fail. and when i did think of people who failed, i though of like the rejects in my nursing class who copied my homework and showed up late to clinical and didn't know how to like, put in a urinary catheter. i don't know if god needed to put me in my place or if its just that karma's a *****, but talk about shoe in mouth.
i found out two days later i had failed. it was probably one of the biggest shocks i've ever experienced. i had never failed at anything. not the sats, not in school, not in clinical, and failing the nclex was probably the last thing i expected in 203,947,304,687,901,823 years. i was blown away. everyone around me-the doctors and nurses i work with, my parents, everyone couldn't believe i had failed. i hadn't myself. i called up nys to make sure my answer was correct.
unfortunately for me, i had legit failed. i had failed at 75 questions. i remember asking myself how impossible that is-it means i must have bombed it bigtime. i was baffled. i knew my stuff. i walked out feeling great.
i spent the last 45 days studying as much as humanly possible. i did hundreds upon hundreds of practice questions. i got a kaplan book and in the meantime got demoted to a scrub tech on my floor. it added insult to injury. i hate being "that" girl. i am unaware of anyone i personally know who has failed. i supposed some could be lying to me, haha, but regardless, it was a massive ego trip.
my anxiety level over the last 45 days has been so insanely high i would've done anything to calm it. and oddly enough, the last two days i indulged in some downtime and some yoga and i felt pretty okay. i was nervous, but i knew what to expect walking into the test center.
since i failed at 75 questions (which is my impression that it means you bombed) i assumed since i had prepared better this time i'd probably get some random number of questions. i took my time, i utilized that wipe-off board they give you like it was my job. i knew my stuff in and out. i get into the exam and most of the stuff i was tested on wasn't content, wasn't specific. there were some labs and one math. i had two sata, no other alternate format. i was stunned. i didn't let it get to me, took my time and looked down to see i had spent 2 hours and was only on question 73. i secretly hoped the test wouldn't end at 75. to me, 75 meant certain failure. i did my best, but even now i am sitting back thinking about how on earth could i have studied so much and still not know what the right answer is? i stayed calm though, and come question 75 the exam shut off. i stared at the screen, gaping. i wanted to yell at the computer and say, "come on! just a couple more questions! just a few more???"
well we all know it doesn't work like that. i raised my hand, headed out and in the pit of my stomach i have that "oh dear god, not again" knot feeling. it's awful. it's bad enough i failed the first time when i was the girl that everyone else to came to ask for study help with in nursing school. i was the star employee at my new job, everyone saying how bright i am and all. and then i go and fail my exam. i obviously don't have my results as they won't be ready until thursday morning, but i've already resorted myself to finding a job and setting up yet another nclex date. ugh. i am utterly convinced i have failed again. again. i don't know how its possible but i don't have a good feeling. there was no lighting-bolt moment in the exam for me to feel like, "alright, yeah, this time is it!"
to add insult to injury (again) did anyone ever notice that when you check your test results online next to your name in big bold letters is fail? i found humor in that.
i called my parents and told them that i've already resigned to being a stripper the rest of my life. i'm paying school bills accumulated over the last 4 years for a bachelors degree i've been deemed incompetent to use. i guess there's some humor in that too.
in the meantime i am vegging for the first time in 45 days. some people told me it wasn't healthy to spend all my time studying, but i'm one of those people that needs to be studying all the time to be comfortable and confident. playing n64 and watching showtime's "dexter" series has never felt so good.
i keep up with a lot of these posts and wanted to express appreciation for everyone who's posted their stories and experiences. it means a lot to people like me who've gone through it and feel like i'm the only person in the entire world has. although it still sucks to have failed probably the most important exam of my life, i still take solace knowing someone else has gone through it. :stone
hello md86,
you are not alone. sometimes i think you can study too much not realizing it. remember this is just a test that you will beat. i know exactly how you feel because i have been through this. this exam has no impact of what kind of rn you will be. keep positive which sounds like you're doing a great job at it and doing some things that you do enjoy. check out suzanne's plan but you do need to allow yourself time to study. here it is 07/08 revision of suzanne's first tip.:heartbeat she has had lots of success with pass rates and it's free!
md86, I would take a break and relax. Then read the sticky regarding Suzanne's Plan. She has a very high success rate. Just so you don't think you're alone here's a story ( it is not mine but 100% true ):
Our clinical nurse specialist was telling us ( in a meeting regarding new graduates ) that she had failed NCLEX twice before passing. She is such a smart and amazing woman. Her bedside care as she was continuing her education was exceptional. She was a great bedside nurse. We all respect and admire her. Please know that you are not alone and this NCLEX beast can be conquered. You can do this.:icon_hug: AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST HERE'S A BIG:
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
MD86
It is hard especially when you fail but give yourself a break, it just reminds you how human you are. When you start studying again start as if you haven't taken the test before
Im sure you did fine.. I felt the same way when i left the exam site. I had so many Select All that I stopped counting half way through. But the computer shut off at 75 questions.. For 2days i couldnt sleep or concentrate! Good Luck im sure you passed!!
:flwrhrts:GOOD LUCK! Can still pass regardless of having no math and only 4 SATA. Think positive.:heartbeat
An update, I PASSED!! I took the exam 4 times total and finally passed on the fourth try! Thank You to everyone in this wonderful support site. I took me one full year to finally get it right but it was so worth it! I can now start living my dream. :heartbeat
An update, I PASSED!! I took the exam 4 times total and finally passed on the fourth try! Thank You to everyone in this wonderful support site. I took me one full year to finally get it right but it was so worth it! I can now start living my dream. :heartbeat
GREAT JOB Newgraduate07 and MD86. I took my test a week ago and really didn't know what the outcome was going to be. I had 88 q's, 3 SATA (one which was incredibly easy) and no math. Lots of who would you see 1st, prioritizing and delegation. I had only 3 med q's and two of the questions were on the same med (Fosamax). I had ones that asked if your client stated this, which statement would indicate your teaching was successful.
I had a unique situation. I once practiced (12 yrs) as a nurse (graduated in 1977 and took the old boards), then left(1988) for another degree (engineering)/career. I let my license lapse then just recently decided to return to nursing.
an update, i passed!! i took the exam 4 times total and finally passed on the fourth try! thank you to everyone in this wonderful support site. i took me one full year to finally get it right but it was so worth it! i can now start living my dream. :heartbeat
hello newgraduate07,
congratulations!!!!!!!!! i am soooo happy for you because all of your hard work and determination has finally paid off!!:redpinkhe you have earned this special day to shine!!!!:wink2:
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determinedgal1
337 Posts
hello md86,
you are not alone. sometimes i think you can study too much not realizing it. remember this is just a test that you will beat. i know exactly how you feel because i have been through this. this exam has no impact of what kind of rn you will be. keep positive which sounds like you're doing a great job at it and doing some things that you do enjoy. check out suzanne's plan but you do need to allow yourself time to study. here it is 07/08 revision of suzanne's first tip.:heartbeat she has had lots of success with pass rates and it's free!
debbie