NCLEX second time test taker

[ACSRN24]

Hi everyone,

So I have about 3 and 1/2 weeks until my next NCLEX. I graduated in august and took my NCLEX on December 28th, 2013. I was one of the fortunate ones who took all 265 questions and it took me the full six hours. According to the sheet I received from state I was above passing on one category (the highest percentage one the test) below on psychosocial category and on the line (near passing) for every other category. I was able to take the online Kaplan anywhere classroom this time. Per the Kaplan teacher my test came down to the last question d/t you can be on the near passing line for at least two categories (I two or three) and still pass but then all the rest of the categories need to be above passing.

NCLEX 1st time: How I studied- I used Saunders book (5th edition) which I thought was a good content review but questions were some what easy, all of Kaplan Q bank and trainers, that study guide that has floated around on here (loved it) and class notes. I would also come on here and read both success and unsuccessful stories and it helped ease my anxiety.

NCLEX Test: I had 23 SATA (Yep, I kept track), 7 math problems, 1 telemetry question, 8 put in this order questions and all the rest were multiple choice. I did not have any audio or please select where this would be type of questions.

Walking out of there I was hoping I had passed because I had everything you could possibly get on NCLEX, I had put the time in and I felt good and filled with anxiety. Unfortunately, I did not pass. I'm posting because I'm looking for advice and encouragement from the allnurses community! I have been out of school for almost 6 months and I know they say the longer out of school your chances of passing decrease by like 50% or something. I have been doing Kaplan and have been applying new strategies learned as well as using the above resources. I'm still scoring anywhere between 56-58% on the Q-Trainers and the Q-banks. I feel like I should reschedule but I can't. Have many of passed with scores like this?

Thanks everyone!

[Cali2014rn]

How long did you have to wait before you got your 2nd ATT?

[ACSRN24]

I'm from Wisconsin (I don't if it's different from state to state) and I waited the full weeks. I had issues though because the state failed to send me a piece a paper I was supposed to receive with everything else. I know many others who had to retake the exam waited about the whole four weeks for theirs as well.

[Nurse Katelyn BSN PCCN, RN]

I am so sorry you didn't pass your exam. I used Kaplan and didn't pass the first time and stuck with it and used Kaplan to test second time and passed it in 75 questions.

I didn't take the NCLEX the second time until I was averaging 60% in all my categories on my trainer tests. I retook the class and focused on the content in my weakest area's from the RN course book. For me, my problem was I didn't know what I needed to do so I paid for the Kaplan tutor. NOT CHEAP but for me it was worth it. She told me to do two 75 question QBank tests a day and remediate the same day. I also watched the decision tree video twice when I started studying after I didn't pass the first time and worked really hard at my weak areas. It was hard but you can do it!

Don't forget positive self talk. That was the biggest thing for me. Before I walked into the test and the night before I thought about what I loved about nursing. I thought of myself as an OB nurse and all of the things I loved doing in my clinicals. You can do it!

[ACSRN24]

Thank you KRustin for the support and advice. My Q bank scores are going up to where they should be and I'm leaving the Qtrainers for the last week before my test. Hearing stories like yours keeps me motivated! If it doesn't this work this time I just may have to look into a tutor! But keeping positive!!