NCLEX-RN Failed at 76, passed at 100

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Hello All,

I just wanted to share my journey with the NCLEX and possibly provide some tips that may help others.

PVT

The PVT trick does work. At the end of both tests I ran out to the car and tried the PVT, I did not wait 1 hour to try it nor for the confirmation email. For the first test my card was declined which meant I failed. The second test I got the good popup.

Wait Period after Failing

What I have learned is if you need to retake your test, you have to be proactive in getting the board to move your application along after the 45 day wait period in between tests.

If you do not be proactive your retake application will be processed based on when you filed it. Which could be 10-12 weeks in California from the date of your retake application.

BRN Contact

Mind you before I took the steps below, I have been in contact with the BRN from the day I failed the test all the way up till the 45th day. In each of my contact with the BRN I was told I will have to wait 10-12 weeks before my application can be reviewed. The 45 day waiting period is NCSBN rule.

If there is absolute certainty you have failed the NCLEX then I suggest you resubmit your application ASAP in case none of these tips below help you.

There is a few things you can do be proactive in your application. (I have found these tips on this forum on various blogs, this is my attempt at compiling these tips to one blog)

1. Email your State Assembly Member

-They can help you find out what is going on with your application and help possibly get a better response from the BRN

2. Email your Governor

-They can help forward your concern to the Department of Consumer Affairs to reach the Board of Registered Nursing.

3. File complaint to Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)

-The CA-BRN is under the DCA. Therefore, when you file a complaint to the DCA against the BRN they will address the issue.

I may have went over board; however, my job offer was on the line. The first to contact me was the DCA and got my application approved on the 48th day. The second was the Governors office stating my concern was forwarded to the DCA. The assembly man was able to provide me the same information the BRN gave me over the phone. In all my letters I gave them a reason as to why I needed my application to be processed and my application was no different then my initial application (I had a pending job offer and would be rescinded if I did not have a testing date).

I truly believe if I was not proactive I would have been waiting for examination in May.

NCLEX Failed

I only used UWORLD for the first test. I believed I failed because I did not review the concepts I was weak in and studied in tutor mode for 90% of the test. I tried to use nontutor towards the end of UWORLD and I felt anxious about not seeing the answers right after each question; which, I believe had an impact on increasing anxiety during test because it was a habit that I could not access. I also did not turn on the timer and sometimes I would not finish a 75 question exam in one sitting. I did not sleep well the night before only 3 hours at most. The exam was at 8 a.m

Prep for Second NCLEX

One of the biggest hurdle to prepare for the second test was accepting my failure and getting back on my feet (took about 2-3 weeks).

I renewed my subscription to UWORLD, used Priority, Delegation and Assignment by LaCharity (recommended by many others), reviewed areas I was weak on with my initial subscription to UWORLD. I turned on timer and tutor mode off to best simulate the NCLEX (I truly believed this was one of the biggest factor in reducing anxiety because you won't be surprised mentally during the NCLEX exam about format). I did all 2050 questions, 75 questions and one chapter of Lacharity per day. I reviewed each question and answer choices, I did not write down any additional notes except for lab values. Took me between 4-5 hours to answer questions and review per day for 4-6 days per week for about 4 weeks. I also learned to slow down my reading and reread each question 2-3 times before answering.

Exam Day Prep

Scheduled exam for 2 pm. Get a good nights rest (for me I was so anxious I had to go to the store to buy melatonin to help me sleep). I did test questions the day before the exam and up until the start of the test. Reviewed lab values and pharmacology.

During Exam

Used ear plugs. Reread each questions 4 to 5 times. If the question seemed confusing I would cover the answer choices with the laminated paper they give you to focus on the question structure until I understood it (I believe my eyes like to jump straight to the answers before I am done reading because I am trying to match before I am done). Took a break at 30th question, used restroom and deep breathe for 5 minutes. I also tallied the number of SATA, this helped boost my moral during the test.

Results

Tested at 1:30pm 04/04/17

Finished at 4:30pm

BRN-CA post 11:55 pm 04/05/17

About 32 hours after my test I got the results

I hope some of these tips will become useful.

Thank you for your time.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Congratulations!

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Congratulations.

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Thank you

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Congratulation! So im guessing you took your exam on February? Your tips were very helpful!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.

Well done!

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Congratulation! So im guessing you took your exam on February? Your tips were very helpful!

Hi Bentolbeng,

My first attempt at the NCLEX was in Jan 18 and my Second attempt was April 4th.

Have you taken the nclex yet? what is your plan if you have not taken it yet?

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Well done!

Thank you!

Hope all is well with you!

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So as soon as you got the bad pop up, you submitted your application to reapply on the Breeze website right away? So if you fail, you would have to wait 45 days correct? Then after that 45 days, that's when they will process your application? Do you suggest paying for the $200 on pearsonvue right away too or do you wait till you get your ATT then pay?

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Also, since you said the PVT works, then I guess I failed my exam since I got the "bad pop up". I'm so devastated. Should I still hope until I get the result in the mail? Coz I checked breeze and I don't see my name there either. I also ran out of time at about question 214 so I don't know. If I fail, I don't want to wait too long to retake it.

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So as soon as you got the bad pop up, you submitted your application to reapply on the Breeze website right away? So if you fail, you would have to wait 45 days correct? Then after that 45 days, that's when they will process your application? Do you suggest paying for the $200 on pearsonvue right away too or do you wait till you get your ATT then pay?

Hi,

PVT

The PVT trick worked for me and all my classmates. I don't know of anyone who has failed in my class except for me. However, those who did passed and myself tried the PVT before their name was on the board.

Resubmitting

You can resubmit your application if you know absolutely you have failed. I received my official fail letter exactly 1 week after the test.

The reason why I say absolutely is because if you submit the payment to either pearsonvue or BRN you will not get that money back if you find out you passed.

According to the rules you have to wait a minimum of 45 days between tests. However, the BRN is not required to process your application right after 45 days.

The BRN will say they are understaffed and are following the processing time located on the BRN website, which at the time for CA was 10-12 weeks after the submission of the application and not based on the date you failed.

i.e: say you took your test on 04/18 you receive your failed letter one week later which is 04/25 and you file your retake application the same day, 04/25. From 04/18, 45 days later is on June 03. From 04/25 for 10-12 weeks (70-84 days!) is June 27 to July 11.

Pearson vue

If you have 200 to pay for pearson vue you should, if not you can wait or pay it as soon as you know the BRN is processing your application.

The reason I say you should pay if you have the 200 is because it is like a cycle, if the BRN processes your application they will send the confirmation to pearson vue to give you the ATT. However, if you did not pay the 200 then there will be a lag in getting your ATT because pearson vue has no record of you.

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I took my NCLEX RN March 3, did the PVT and received a bad pop up. I also checked my breeze account after 2 days and the pending on my application disappeared. So i was convinced that i failed. Received the letter after a week. Sent my retake application on March 11. On March 28, pending appeared on my breeze account. My 45 days was yesterday. Is it too early too contact BON?

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