NCLEX: How many times is enough?

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I was thinking about posting this question earlier, but decided not to post until I read a thread dealing with the topic. So what do y'all think? If a person hasn't passed the test by the nth time (you change the "n"), should they give it up because they obviously (in your opinion) haven't learned what they need to learn, therefore, would not be a safe practicing nurse?

I think an interesting question (and the makings of a nice bit of research if it hasn't already been done) would be to investigate the correlation between number of attempts to pass and the "quality" of nursing provided upon passing.

Quite a few states actually have limits in place as to the number of times that one can test without having to complete a special program, or even attend nursing school once again. The magic number for most is three attempts before something else is required to be completed. And there are a couple that do not permit any further attempts after the three without a full course completed once again.

About the only two that have completely unlimited attempts at the exam are NY as well as CA.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

IMO, three attempts is more than enough. At the risk of further flames for voicing my opinion in a similar thread, the NCLEX determines minimum competency and if you're adequately prepared is NOT that difficult. Yes, it's stressful because a lot depends on your passing it, but it's doable obviously.

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I think the purpose of NCLEX is to test for a national standard of competency in nursing, so limiting the number of tries allows for only competent people to make it through. (Not always of course, because we all know incompetent nurses....or at least nurses who do incompetent things from time to time.)

Unlimited number of tries at NCLEX would just demean the profession and you may as well drop that requirement if you allow people to take it ad nauseum until they can pass.

Exactly.

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three is enough if you're not really into nursing. like some one just said it's better to take this course than your first choice... totally, a waste of time. but if to be a nurse is your dream, why not try again.. besides, we have trainings before we start to work. i believe that if you have a dream, loved your duty, found it interesting and tried your very best, then i guess success will follow. no matter how many times you took the exam, you'll become not a good nurse but a great nurse. imagine the nurses at the time of florence nightingale, they didnt took the nclex but still we can say they practiced nursing and did great duty..

:D:D

I don't agree with this at all.

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I don't know if this question has been asked. But think about the people who had to take the NCLEX exam multiple times and how they feel about it? They worked so hard to finish school to only have a big let down and not pass NCLEX and not just once but multiple times. They may have had jobs lined up, feel ashamed to their friends and families. I know I would. Then heck what about those student loans that are kicking in? Having to pay them and the person is not even a RN or LPN. I think a person needs to do whatever needs to be done to review and pass and not let all that time in nursing school go to waste.

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I say to each his own. It is not up to us to decide if a person qualifies for entry level nursing, in the US its the NCLEX and if they say you should do it till you pass then hey its up to the individual. I say put yourself in that persons shoe and hen decide

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

i'm not interested in being "in that person's shoes..". i am interested in the patient lying in the bed being cared for by miss or mr. passed-on-the-ninth-try, rn.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
i'm not interested in being "in that person's shoes..". i am interested in the patient lying in the bed being cared for by miss or mr. passed-on-the-ninth-try, rn.

you're comment is rude; i don't even find it constructive at all. see what you forget is that the nurse who passed on the "ninth try" still has rn after his/her name just like you do. they have to go through the same on the job training as you and have been deemed competent to care for the patient lying in the bed by: the school of nursing they graduated from, the state board of nursing who has issued their license, the hospital that hired them and continues to employ them, and management that allowed them to come off of orientation and care for patients alone.

do you think you're a better nurse because you passed the nclex on the first try? i hope not

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.
see what you forget is that the nurse who passed on the "ninth try" still has rn after his/her name just like you do.

that's very nice...and meaningless. has it changed their knowledge base or their ability to deal with highly stressful situations? at this point they have been out of nursing school for at least two years, losing their minimal skills.

and "deemed competent" by the agency emplying them?? you are either joking or terribly sheltered. there are all sorts of agencies who would hire any primate with a pulse and "rn" after their name, give them no training, and turn them loose...:eek:

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.
you're comment is rude

the day caring more about someone's tender "feelings" is more important than patient safety and quality of care is the day i retire.

do you think you're a better nurse because you passed the nclex on the first try?

yeah, well, that and having a 3.97 average, the clinical leadership award, and aggresively continuing my education (board certified in three, soon to be four areas) i make no apologies for busting my fanny to become and remain a good nurse.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Really? That's the norm? A bunch of primates who are licensed by BONs, clueless, with patients' lives in their hands? lol. I doubt it.

You're average, certifications, etc. are not of interest in this thread. The question being asked is. . .what evidence is there that indicates that a RN that passed the NCLEX on the first try will be a better nurse than a RN that took several attempts to pass? You still haven't answered that.

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

gee, i don't know. how many tries did you need?

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