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

[NursePallasFNP2b]

I have a feeling that this is going to be a heated discussion.

I do believe that there should be a limit on the number of attempts allowed. I think that three attempts should be the maximum. I think that it's a reasonable compromise between allowing for factors that can affect a person's performance

on a single day while still maintaining the integrity of the license.

The NCLEX as far as I understand tests critical nursing judgment and is used to determine if a nurse is safe to practise at a beginner/novice level. Since the majority of nurse graduates pass it on their first attempt, to me it's a huge red flag if someone fails it five or eight times. There has to be some vital parts of the nursing process that the graduate simply does not grasp. It can't be blamed on nerves or being a poor test taker. Sometimes, something's simply aren't meant to be.

For those who think that an unlimited number of attempts should be allowed, would you really be comfortable being cared for or having a loved one being cared for by a nurse who's struggled so, with the very basic/beginner level of nursing?

What about a pilot who's taken a test twenty times in a simulator after completing his/her training and crashed every single time. Then they magically pass on the twenty-first attempt. Would you be comfortable getting on a flight piloted by this individual?

What about the police officer to be who's failed time and time again on the range and even managed to shoot his/her instructor in the leg on one or two occasions. Now s/he miraculously passes the gun proficiency test on the umpteenth attempt, should he or she be allowed to be carrying a gun, policing the community? Would you feel safe?

Sometimes, somethings aren't meant to be. There's no shame in that, it is what it is.

In my opinion we owe it to our patients to maintain high standards in our profession. Part of the standard should be the ability to pass a basic entry-level test. If the stress of taking a test is too much, how well equipped is one to handle the stress, challenges and responsibility/accountability of a nursing job? They are infinitely more demanding than a mere multiple choice exam.

One last thought.. I really question the quality of a program that allowed a person who goes on to fail the NCLEX 5+ times, to graduate.

This!

[Deebuzz, BSN, RN]

Critical thinking at it's best

[Made01]

Hi,

Mmmmmmm ok I underestand your point of view, but what will you do if English is not your primary language + international graduate.

Means lack of competency is you try more than 3 😨

[scaredsilly, BSN, RN]

There are special accomodations for disablility, I think there should be for English as second language as well. These people shouldn't be punished for it, but there has to be a way to judge competency without multiple tests.

[Made01]

To selfish

[dinah77, ADN]

To selfish

??????????????

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Foreign language or disability does not justify additional chances at testing. You provide accommodations accordingly. Plenty of candidates with one or both have passed NCLEX the first time around.

[NurseRies, BSN, RN]

Has anyone thought that in some cases, the nursing schools themselves didn't properly prepare students? My class had a 100% pass rate first try, most likely because we were adequately prepared. How many nursing schools are popping up in your area? Are they all excellent programs? Doubt it.

[Paloma_Traviesa]

Agree with previous posters, require some sort of remediation after a certain number of failed attempts.

Also very true that some programs don't adequately prepare students for nclex. I know a couple nurses who were good with content, but needed lots of practice with nclex style questions.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Has anyone thought that in some cases, the nursing schools themselves didn't properly prepare students? My class had a 100% pass rate first try, most likely because we were adequately prepared. How many nursing schools are popping up in your area? Are they all excellent programs? Doubt it.

Absolutely thought of, and discussed at length, many times throughout this website. But the fact remains that one must demonstrate a minimum competency to begin practice as a nurse; if one attends a poor program the consequence of that is either that the student has to study that much more to achieve minimum competency, OR will fail the exam, having failed to do so.

There are lousy programs everywhere, but that doesn't mean that the standards for entry to practice should be dropped to accomodate bad programs. No, the standard is set where it is, and anyone who seeks licensure needs to meet that standard.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

There are special accomodations for disablility, I think there should be for English as second language as well. These people shouldn't be punished for it, but there has to be a way to judge competency without multiple tests.

A disability that does not impair one from competent nursing practice can be accomodated. Someone who cannot effectively communicate in the English language cannot be considered minimally competent to practice nursing in the United States.

Someone may be simply fabulous at nursing in Brazil, but speak only Portugese. I think it's reasonable to say that the nurse wouldn't be fabulous at all if trying to communicate with healthcare staff and patients in, say, San Francisco. In other words....not competent to be part of a nursing team.

There was a thread a while back, in which a new grad felt he was not getting "enough" code/trauma experience here in the US. He asked the members about working in other countries to get more experience (suggesting that there was a higher code rate, trauma rate, whatever) in those poor needy countries. He didn't speak any language other than English, so....naturally the question arose, "how do you expect to be an effective member of a code team without a clue as to what the rest of the people around you are saying?!"

And there you have it.

[CamillusRN, BSN]

Personally I feel that if you can't pass it by the second time, some serious re-evaluations should be made

Agreed. If two attempts hasn't done it for an RN candidate, something's not quite right. I think Hurst and Kaplan offer first-time pass guarantees or money back, as well as free remediation. But yes, if twice didn't make it happen, may need to rethink one's approach.