NCLEX- how many attempts is too many?

[dinah77]

Inspired by another thread I saw, just wondering what people's thoughts are: Should there be a limit on attempts? Why or why not? Personally I feel that if you can't pass it by the second time, some serious re-evaluations should be made

[Cafelattee]

I think 3 times is the limit. My best friend through nursing school knew her stuff but got "HUGE" test anxiety. She would just freeze up. We took boards back the old fashion way. The test was 2 days long and you had to go out of town to the state capital. Yeah! so you may understand when old nurses think young nurses aren't really paying their dues or being tested. There are now multiple computer test sites and you get result pretty quick. The test time is like 3 hours not 2 days LOL I remember waiting almost 2 months to find out if I passed

We had a 100% pass rate our first time out except for my friend. She got it on the second try. The test was only offered twice a year back then

I worked with one nurses that took the boards 3 times and finally passed. She was a sweet older lady but honestly she was disorganized and scary as hell. I've worked with a few scary nurses LOL but I don't know their test history.

But I still believe 3 times enough and I can't comment on doctors and lawyers etc.. I can only comment as a nursing professional with over 2 decades experience . I guess other doctors and lawyers don't mind there contemporaries taking indefinite test.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

As someone who had (repeat HAD) test anxiety and failed an ADN program, get passed a PN and a BSN program and passed the NCLEX PN and RN; I will say that the stress and anxiety of testing, to me, was FAR greater than the stress with a crumpling pt (had plenty of those prior to going through my BSN program as an LPN) or someone who needed CPR or had a trauma or any stress encountered as a nurse (had plenty of those experiences as well).

The difference is I know how to handle such anxieties, and it is a treatable concept; anxiety can be treated and should be treated, or modifications to studying, or rather, HOW to take a test is in order; each program I was in (with the exception of my first round at my ADN program-even though it has a great reputation) had instructors that were VERY helpful in helping me have the ability to find solutions in being confident in my critical thinking skills; it wasn't about how to take the test better by throwing questions at me, it was more about me trusting my nursing judgement while analyzing how I answer the questions, and then understanding my rationale and then me finding out why I answered and me understanding the best answer. I think that many nursing schools have this type of process in place; but then there are nursing schools that may not have those processes in place; thus REALLY doing a disservice to

those students.

I did the work needed to combat my anxiety; adapting test taking skills and exercises to be able to be confident in a laser focus way to harness my critical thinking skills; I think it is up to the person to be invested enough to do what it takes if they have difficulties and challenges in test anxiety to do the work to be successful; such practice will only benefit their endurance to put that type of investment to be a consistently competent nurse.

Again, everyone has that ability to be able to do that, hence why I think that there should be a limit to test taking; there must be some disconnect as to where one can not pass a MINIMUM competency test; a refresher should be implemented sooner rather than later; even with simulated clincials to help guide the critical thinking into the practicum so when one sits down for the test, they have a "full picture" to help stimulate bridging those gaps that they may have not caught on or may have not had the opportunity to experience while in their nursing program.

Now, as for those who don't do the work or take it seriously, then, I'm not in favor of repeated NCLEX's; at least in each program I sat in, when they spoke about the test the closer we got to graduation, they instructed NOT to engage in not taking it seriously, due to the chances decreasing in passing the exam after the first time; I'm hoping that most programs are doing this due diligence in preparing students for this; if not, then corrective action is in order.

[caliotter3]

I find it interesting to read the tales of people who pass on their eighth or 13th try. Persistence and all that. Now I have never contemplated what kind of nurse they will be, that could be upsetting if we were to read some harrowing examples.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I absolutely agree with this. If you can't pass by the third time at the latest a mandatory test prep course should implemented. If you still can't pass maybe it's time to consider stopping. It boggles the mind to hear of people taking the NCLEX 5,6, times. I vaguely remember a thread here with the OP finally passing on the 10th try. On the other hand...talk about perseverance!

[scaredsilly, BSN, RN]

I passed my first try, but I PROMISED myself that if I failed, I would take a remedial class before my second try. In my state if you fail twice, you have to physically appear before a committee of the BON and convince them why you should be given a third attempt. Then fail 3 times and you are out. In my opinion that may be a bit harsh, but harsh or not there is currently nothing to stop a 3x failure from merely going to a state where there are unlimited attempts and taking it again. I think that there should be a national standard so that hopping around from state to state just simply will not work anymore!!

Once that is established, the rest should be easy to figure out. The first attempt is a failure for a ton of people due to different reasons that have nothing to do with safety as a nurse such as test anxiety, failure to do a prep course because they really didn't think they needed it, studying wrong, their school not preparing them correctly so that they don't know what to expect, etc. So in my opinion a second try is legitimate. After that, I think a remedial course should be mandatory and after the 3rd try you just stop.

As another poster said, we are naval gazing, but one thing that could force them to establish standards would be if people were mandated to tell a hiring body how many attempts it took to pass. Perhaps that information should even show up on a license. If HR refused to hire people who failed 3 or more times then there would be no reason to test into infinity and beyond. This approach would also do a lot to reduce the glut of nurses looking for a job!

I also think that schools that have low pass rates should be forced to either change their program or shut down. In my state the NCLEX pass rates that were recently released showed 4 schools with pass rates below 70% and 1 of those was 50%. These schools aren't producing success stories, so why are they allowed to exist?

As for the comment that these are cash cows for PVT, they are! But BONs have the final say on everything so it shouldn't be THAT difficult to make it stop!

I also think that whether you never failed or failed an infinite number of times, if you get a job and prove to be unsafe in practice to the point your employer reports an incident to the BON, you should be mandated to take a remedial course. The NCLEX is supposed to test safety, but given the nature of the test, in my opinion it doesn't do a great job of it and there are nurses who prove consistently they are unsafe, yet are allowed to continue to practice.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

My school would not give their blessing for you to take the NCLEX until you proved to them that you could do it. My class and the following two all had 100% 1st time pass rates for graduating RN's.

Personally, I think twice and then remedial classes should be required. Maybe twice more after completing that. No more though. Yes, I understand that some people do have test anxiety, but how in the name of sweet baby Jesus did they get through tests in nursing school?

[DJAYS]

Well for me this will be my 3 time at my nclex-pn . I think that the school you come from needs to have a class that is base only only nclex stuff only ...lab stuff...how to answer questions..a whole 8 weeks to 12 weeks with just that. A lot of schools just take your money and can care less if you pass . My school give us ATI books without even explaining how to use them or how to ask nclex questions. I want to pass but it's hard ...nobody has explain how this test was going to be...now it's up to me to make it work...I am not a baby but nobody cared if I passed all they wanted was their money to finish the program..I am just saying.

[mzrainydayz, BSN, RN]

I think three times should be the max. At that time I feel there is an issue of competency or anxiety going on. In my state, SC you have a year to pass, then you have to do a remedial course and clinical before you can test again. Then again from what I have seen the people who struggled or barely passed, even the one's who cheated are now having trouble passing NCLEX.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

The NCLEX is minimum competency… so I agree… 3 strikes and you're out sounds fair. But when I think about all of the time and money I put into surviving nursing school, I find peace with the idea that all survivors should have the opportunity to take the test until they pass.

And it's ok with you that they'll be taking care of your mom or your child? Ummm, no.

Can't pass the minimum competency for being a nurse within three months of ending your education -- after which it's reasonable to expect that your memory of what you learned is decreased? Then go back to school or decide your school made a mistake with you (it happens), and go do something else.

[DJAYS]

Well I finish school in 2013 but didn't do my first take my test until 2014 March. I had a 3.75 in school a lot of hard work but I wasn't sure about the nclex..the reason I didn't take my test until 2014 was because I had a fee I needed to pay before they would give my infro to the BON..that was okay now I got my pin and my diploma in my hand. For me I have a little of test anxiety going on but I have worked my a** off to get here. Yes I work every single a a tech in a big hospital for over 4 years ...I wanted to pass this test too.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Well for me this will be my 3 time at my nclex-pn . I think that the school you come from needs to have a class that is base only only nclex stuff only ...lab stuff...how to answer questions..a whole 8 weeks to 12 weeks with just that. A lot of schools just take your money and can care less if you pass . My school give us ATI books without even explaining how to use them or how to ask nclex questions. I want to pass but it's hard ...nobody has explain how this test was going to be...now it's up to me to make it work...I am not a baby but nobody cared if I passed all they wanted was their money to finish the program..I am just saying.

Yes a school of nursing should teach you well enough to prepare you to pass the NCLEX, but the school is not responsible for teaching you how to take the test the second, third or more times. After the first time you know what to expect during the exam and it's on you to find the right path for success the second time around.

[Cheercrazee23]

GrnTea: I respectfully understand you don't agree with my post but please don't assume anything about me or my family when trying to disagree with me.