NCLEX- how many attempts is too many?

Nursing Students NCLEX

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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

if there is a limit on how many times you can take it, there should also be a hands on test as well. just because your book smart and can pass a test doesn't mean you are any good as a nurse. and for those that really think the nclex tests a nurses minimal ability to be safe? then why does the nclex get harder every 2 years? just my 2 cents

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Specializes in Tele, OB, public health.
if there is a limit on how many times you can take it, there should also be a hands on test as well. just because your (sic) book smart and can pass a test doesn't mean you are any good as a nurse. and for those that really think the nclex tests a nurses minimal ability to be safe? then why does the nclex get harder every 2 years? just my 2 cents

See, call me elitist if you wish but I do think nurses should have to be "book smart"

Where are you getting the info about the NCLEX "getting harder" every 2 years? Please cite

I've worked with some awfully sweet "compassionate" nurses over the years, and many of them were crap clinically

One I'm thinking of missed the signs of septic shock HER ENITRE SHIFT, which resulted in me scrambling to call RRT, start a bolus etc. during handoff

One MUST be smart and be able to hold a lot of complex info in their heads to be a good nurse

Otherwise people die

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THIS.

I feel employers should do their due diligence in finding out how many attempts a potential employee took. I don't cotton to the idea of being treated like equals with someone who barely graduated school with a B- average and took six times to pass boards. Like someone else mentioned, every profession isn't for everybody.

I don't know if this is the answer either, unless the applicant is a new grad. If a nurse has several years of experience on their resume (has proven to be a safe and competent nurse) and has to divulge that they passed the NCLEX only after several tries; wouldn't that make a reasonably valuable candidate less likely to be hired. Should a nurse with a positive track record be punished for a test taken years in the past?

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Your scores used to be printed on your license. Saw it on my moms old license and giggled. Boy would that flip on a few lights.

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I honestly feel that there should be a limit on attempts to pass the NCLEX exam. I feel that if you cant' pass it by the 6th time that the person who is taking the test should take some thought into consideration and see if they really should be going into this field of study. if you can't pass the test by the 6th try, then that should tell you that you wouldn't know the safety procedures on being a nurse. if people didn't have to take that test, imagine how many nurses wouldn't know what to do in certain situations given to them. they would be clueless! this situation is like taking a driving test. I live in Ohio and if you don't pass both parts of the driving test on the 4th try, then you would have to wait six months to take the test again. Everything you learn in nursing school is going to be based whats on the NCLEX and if you don't pay attention in nursing school or if you slack off and don't do well then you will not do well on the test. always pay attention in nursing school and be the top of the class and always keep your books and notes, they will definitely come in handy to pass the exam.

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Specializes in Mental Health Nursing.

There would be too much of a nursing shortage if there were restrictions on the number of NCLEX attempts. However, I do agree with having some form of mandatory standardized remediation after two failed attempts.

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There would be too much of a nursing shortage if there were restrictions on the number of NCLEX attempts.

I doubt it, since the vast majority of US graduates pass the NCLEX on the first or second try.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I doubt it, since the vast majority of US graduates pass the NCLEX on the first or second try.

Nearly 90% US educated nursing candidates pass the NCLEX first attempt.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

You make it sound like maybe there's a little bit of a nursing shortage right now and weeding out those who can't pass a minimum competency exam in less than a half dozen times would ADD to that nursing shortage. Unless you meant nursing JOB shortage?...:sneaky:

There would be too much of a nursing shortage if there were restrictions on the number of NCLEX attempts. However, I do agree with having some form of mandatory standardized remediation after two failed attempts.
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The post that just keeps on giving. I do agree that there should be a cap but I was wondering how would a person know how many times a nurse has taken NCLEX? I see TON or people say "would you want a nurse taking care of your mom or child if they failed NCLEX 6x". In reality how would you know? I've never seen a patient or family member ask this. Even if they asked and they nurse took NCLEX 6x and lied said "I passed on the first try" you still wouldn't know.

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Specializes in Tele, OB, public health.
There would be too much of a nursing shortage if there were restrictions on the number of NCLEX attempts. However, I do agree with having some form of mandatory standardized remediation after two failed attempts.

There. Is. No. Nursing. Shortage

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Specializes in LTC, HH, and Case Mangement.

I know this thread is a few years old, but I wanted to comment. I passed my NCLEX RN in October 2016 on my 4th try. We have unlimited tries where I live. I don't think I am an unsafe RN because it took me more times than other nurses. I am not going to give the classic blame of test anxiety because it wasn't. I tend to read too much into my questions or second guess myself. That's what my problem was and I don't think I had a good grip on my content. I had gotten 75 and 265 my other times testing. After my 3rd fail I did finally decided to take a break and really evaluate. I found an affordable review course and the nurses there were ones I wish I had in school. They taught us ways to understand the content and answer the questions with some simple yet powerful ways. I really wished I took this course sooner. It was almost 6 months in between my 3rd and 4th attempt. I took the course a few times and really focused on only what they taught. I went into my exam and I did exactly what they said. I had 2 drag n drops, 1 exhibit, 2 pictures, and many SATA. Nothing like that before. My test shut off around 100 questions and I knew I passed. I did the PVT and got the good pop up and the next day I had an active RN license. I think if I had failed it again I would've not gone any further. There is a girl at my school who has taken in like 6 or 7 times and still hasn't passed. Ridiculous. I am now an RN case manager at my home health company and I love it.

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