NCLEX-RN: 5th Time Test-Taker

[Hello.Kitty.Girl.]

Hello everyone! I would like to tell my story to give encouragement to others who are going through the same situation as me. This will be my 5^th time taking the NCLEX, which has been a very difficult time for me because I have always wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl. I even had the fisher price nurse's kit LOL.

After I graduated from nursing school, I signed up for the Kaplan online class. My scores were in the high 50's to low 60's so I felt ready to take the test and pass the first time. I waited 2 long long days and paid for the quick results and when I saw the word fail, my heart sank and I just started to cry.

I was so heartbroken and felt like a failure.

A few days after finding out, I told myself that this is my dream and I will not give up. So I decided to study Kaplan again and focus on the Q-Bank Tests and watch the videos. My scores were in the low 60's to high 60's and I felt like I really understood the questions and rationales.

I decided to schedule my test and believed I was ready this time. I waited another 2 long long days and when I saw that I didn't pass again, I was absolutely devastated. I started to question myself and wonder if I was really meant to be a nurse.

My family, boyfriend and close friends were my support system and told me to keep trying because they knew that I would be a great nurse someday. So I decided to completely switch up my game plan and study Hurst. I really liked Hurst, it focused on content material and I understood the information better than I had before and was able to connect the dots (ex: if a patient has fluid retention: think heart problems first).

I was so ready to take the test and felt so confident with all the knowledge that I had gained. After taking my test for the third time, I waited another 2 long long days and found out that I didn't pass again. I was beside myself and couldn't believe it. I was feeling so down and depressed and one of my best friends told me this amazing quote that I will never forget.

Quote

"It doesn't matter how you get there, what matters is that you get there"

That made me realize that no matter how many times I take this test, I will keep trying until I pass! This time I decided to study the NCBSN Learning Extension 5 week course online. I really liked this program because it had questions that were similar to the NCLEX. It went over content in a simplified way and there is a 20 question quiz at the end of each section.

The goal is to score 75% or higher. I kept scoring in the high 60's. But the more and more I practiced the questions and read the rationales, I started to score 73% and then finally 75% and then 78%. I was very proud of myself that I reached the goal for the online course and I felt more ready than ever to take this darn test LOL.

I scheduled the test for my 4^th time and got the full 265 questions (had lots of SATA, 1 math, lots of EKG's, hot spot questions & drag n drop questions). I felt really good about the test when I left the testing center. I waited another 2 long long days and found out that I didn't pass.

I was so frustrated, upset, angry, so many emotions.

I took a few days to take a breath and try to relax. I know in my heart that I'm meant to be a nurse, I love taking care of people and making a difference in people's lives. I decided this time that I needed to get a comprehensive NCLEX review book.

I found Davis's NCLEX-RN Success 3^rd edition book, the reason I think this book is going to help me be successful this time around is because it has content review, 3500 questions/rationales from the cd, including 1000 new questions in the book, two new pre-tests and two new final tests. It even has a section for repeat test-takers with test taking tips and a free test prep consultation with the author.

I started studying the book today so I will keep everyone posted of how it is going.

Aside from studying, I highly recommend Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul. It is such an amazing and encouraging book that has helped me to stay positive through this rough time and to keep pushing on. Good luck to everyone who is taking the NCLEX for the first time and multiple times. My advice to the people who are repeat test takers, DON'T GIVE UP! STAY POSITIVE! AND DON'T LET ONE TEST DEFINE YOU AS A NURSE. We can pass and we will!

[Hello.Kitty.Girl.]

You are not alone my friend. I failed three times before and will retake it for the 4th and (crossing my fingers and will surely do my very best) for the last time next month. I can't wait to become a Registered Nurse. We can do this!:)

Thank you for sharing your experience sweety_les07! I appreciate it! Good luck on your 4th attempt, stay positive and keep praying!! I will be sending positive vibes your way and keep me posted!

[Hello.Kitty.Girl.]

For my first attempt I was near passing in all except for Management of Care & Basic care comfort.

Second attempt I was Above passing in pharmacology and health promotion & maintenance. I was below passing in management of care, safety & infection control and psychosocial integrity and i was near passing in the rest. I was proud of myself for scoring above passing in pharmacology, that is one of my weaknesses. The fact that I improved the second time around gives me hope...I just need to really know the content and when I do I'm confident that I will pass. I'm good at answering the questions,eliminating, and utilizing some strategies... it's a matter of knowing more content in my case.

So now that I compared my results I realized I have been scoring below passing in management of care so that is the area I will be most definitely spending more time in. I previously used kaplan (only qbanks), Saunders, and the NCLEX study guide . This time I am using HURST and I must say I am learning much more than before. I'm also studying with someone I met on this site through Skype and she has been helping a lot. It's easier to learn when there are two people explaining things to each other and testing our knowledge. :)

Thank you for all the tips and telling me what resources you used! I appreciate it! I'm interested in using the NCLEX study guide . How did you get that? Thanks

[chiromed0]

I guess I'll toss in my old story. Took it 7 times and passed on #8. I'm in an MSN-NP program now but have 3 other degrees. Got all the certs BLS, ACLS and PALS. Taking the CEN in May/June. Haven't started working yet as a nurse but got 4 job offers at a major hospital, my choice. Bottom line is the NCLEX is a weird test and you can't judge yourself by your results on it. I've done it complete to 265- 4 times and 3 times to various numbers; last time was just 78 questions taken at the most inconvenient time with less study.

I did change which text I used to study but honestly all the information is about the same. There are problems with the test, don't care what anybody has to say about it. I've had repeat questions on the same test before and they say that's not possible...whatever. If you can keep plugging away until it's over...nobody will ever ask you how many times you took it. It's never come up in an interview.

[chanela, ADN, RN]

Thanks for sharing this, very inspiring post! @hello kitty girl: when are u planning to take the NCLEX-RN again? I need a study buddy right now so I can be motivated. Is there a study group I can join so we can share some exam tips even just through Skype or ym? :) thanks in advance..

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

My advice is to only use one or two resources to study from. It's overkill and gets confusing otherwise. I only used the Hurst review and passed my NCLEX the first time.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Dont give up. I took nclex 9 times and the 10th I pass. Keep trying you can do it.

^CONGRATS kemifair!! I KNEW you can do it!!

OP...in hindsight, I want to enlighten you from your posts that your Q-banks needed to at least be at high 60s to 70s in order to be prepared to take the test. I did not schedule my test unless my percentage was closer to the 70s.

Also, I suggest to review what your weaknesses are. Lippincott has great series of difficult questions that I reviewed on my iPhone prior to NCLEX. While I had 70s in Kaplan, in Lippincott, I had mid 50s. I reviewed more of the rationales and looked at my challenges FIRST, then I reviewed what I was strong in LAST. When I testing the content, It took me about two weeks to get to a 68 in most of the material.

A lot of people want to get the NCLEX out of the way and get to working as a nurse...I waited until the indicators on the practice exam. I was able to pass because of this patience.

OP and others, focus on the questions, review the material where you are having those difficulty with, whether it be knowledge, priority, safety. Review multiple choice and alternative format questions, and then check to see on the test indicators whether you are answering them satisfactory, ie if you can get more correct at least 20 points above the borderline, then you are ready to take the exam. If you still feel shaky on those questions, then by all means postpone taking the exam! This is NOT like nursing school...make sure you are absolutely SURE you are ready to take the test when all content areas are above, and THEN schedule the test...even if you may have to wait a month after most of your studying is done...remover your rationales and test strategies...You can do this !! :)

[Hello.Kitty.Girl.]

Thanks for sharing this, very inspiring post! @hello kitty girl: when are u planning to take the NCLEX-RN again? I need a study buddy right now so I can be motivated. Is there a study group I can join so we can share some exam tips even just through Skype or ym? :) thanks in advance..

Hey Chanela! I will be your study buddy :) Send me your email address and we will start studying.

[chanela, ADN, RN]

@hello kitty: i will pm you sis.. Thank you so much :-)

[chanela, ADN, RN]

@chanela: looks like i still cannot send you a message here, so i will just give me email: [email protected].. Hope to hear from you soon! :-)

[krz_tsingtsay]

For my first attempt I was near passing in all except for Management of Care & Basic care comfort.

Second attempt I was Above passing in pharmacology and health promotion & maintenance. I was below passing in management of care, safety & infection control and psychosocial integrity and i was near passing in the rest. I was proud of myself for scoring above passing in pharmacology, that is one of my weaknesses. The fact that I improved the second time around gives me hope...I just need to really know the content and when I do I'm confident that I will pass. I'm good at answering the questions,eliminating, and utilizing some strategies... it's a matter of knowing more content in my case.

So now that I compared my results I realized I have been scoring below passing in management of care so that is the area I will be most definitely spending more time in. I previously used kaplan (only qbanks), Saunders, and the NCLEX study guide . This time I am using HURST and I must say I am learning much more than before. I'm also studying with someone I met on this site through Skype and she has been helping a lot. It's easier to learn when there are two people explaining things to each other and testing our knowledge. :)

I am on the same boat with hello kitty girl.. ive been trying to motivate myself and not be discouraged. i need a study buddy too..can I join your skype session?

[chanela, ADN, RN]

@krz_tsingtsay: can i join too? im so depressed right now, i'm sure i failed the NCLEX-RN last March because my friend took it last March 30 and i saw her name in nursys.com but my name can't be found on the site. I'm happy for her that she finally passed, but now i cant wait to get my official result from my mail so I can check what categories i failed and this time i promise to study well.

[chanela, ADN, RN]

@krz_tsingtsay: are you also BON california? i hope we can form a study group. i really need help...