New Grad already Unsure

Nurses General Nursing

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I graduated in may from an ADN program with a 3.75 GPA an in the next few weeks ill be taking the NCLEX-RN for the THIRD time.. :o

I have been reviewing material relentlessly for the last 5 months to try to get past this test.. i understand content review is important but the outright trickery of the presented questions on the NCLEX is even more important to figure out.. much like answering a riddle before you can answer the question..

I took all the predictors that my school made me pay for they all told me i am in the 99th percentile for prediction of passing. I remember sitting next to a few over the course of two years.. that would say to each other "If i dont get a 79 on this test ill fall below 75%" guess what?? they passed the NCLEX first try.

So through the DON of the local hospital, where i work, and have been working as a CNA, while going to school, I get in touch with a nursing educator with whom i have been working with over the course of this summer to get past this test... She much like myself are baffled as to why i am having issues with this test.. I also learn that the NCSBN as of jan-01-07 made the NCLEX 7% more difficult than the previous year in response to "outstanding increase in med errors" no mention of Under staffing and Docs that make irresponsible choices.

Also.. one of my close friends that graduated from a state school BSN program this last may.. with honors.. 4.0 GPA all the way through.. also is on her third try. >

to sum it up.. i am just unsure about nursing as a career. i often have thought that i have the ability to be a very good nurse. I am just disillusioned with what i have come to call the "egghead nurses" that are the gate keepers of the nursing profestion.

Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

Do you think you may have a case of test anxiety? I found that I studied best when I was at the pc and using the cd's rather than reading from a book. I don't tend to retain the info reading material in the conventional way. I also found that studying form the cd helped my with a the anxiety when I went to take the test to me it was kinda like just another study session, don't get me wrong I didn't take nclex lightly at all I new it was the real thing when I walked into the test center but IMO I think this method helped prepare more than if I had just read. Good luck with next test you are going to make a great nurse.

Specializes in ccu cardiovascular.

You could have test anxiety. I reccomend hiring a tutor specialized in the nclex. Contact your school of nursing, they should have a list or contact the local university with nursing programs they always have a list. They can seriously evaluate your weaknesses and are pretty good at keying whether this is an anxiety or knowlege problem. Good Luck!

I graduated in may from an ADN program with a 3.75 GPA an in the next few weeks ill be taking the NCLEX-RN for the THIRD time.. :o

I have been reviewing material relentlessly for the last 5 months to try to get past this test.. i understand content review is important but the outright trickery of the presented questions on the NCLEX is even more important to figure out.. much like answering a riddle before you can answer the question..

I took all the predictors that my school made me pay for they all told me i am in the 99th percentile for prediction of passing. I remember sitting next to a few over the course of two years.. that would say to each other "If i dont get a 79 on this test ill fall below 75%" guess what?? they passed the NCLEX first try.

So through the DON of the local hospital, where i work, and have been working as a CNA, while going to school, I get in touch with a nursing educator with whom i have been working with over the course of this summer to get past this test... She much like myself are baffled as to why i am having issues with this test.. I also learn that the NCSBN as of jan-01-07 made the NCLEX 7% more difficult than the previous year in response to "outstanding increase in med errors" no mention of Under staffing and Docs that make irresponsible choices.

Also.. one of my close friends that graduated from a state school BSN program this last may.. with honors.. 4.0 GPA all the way through.. also is on her third try. >

to sum it up.. i am just unsure about nursing as a career. i often have thought that i have the ability to be a very good nurse. I am just disillusioned with what i have come to call the "egghead nurses" that are the gate keepers of the nursing profestion.

I took the test when it was still a paper test (not on computer) and I bought every book that existed that had 'practice' tests and I did them over and over again. If I did poorly on a particular test I kept taking it .... till I passed - I actually recognized some questions from my test books on the actual test - but I agree the way they work those questions is ridiculous and they do try to trick you which I think is unfair - in some cases if all answers are correct you should be able to pick the priority thing to do - but again, the way they word things is horrible (back 14 yrs ago when I took it).

Don't give up!!! I'm orienting a new nurse who took it 3 times and finally passed.....she's a good nurse. It's ony a test. Good Luck

Specializes in NICU.

You may be overthinking things a bit. You've got a good knowledge base to take the test with, now focus on calming yourself down (easy enough to say, I know) and don't think too hard about the test.

Since you're already familiar with the test, my suggestion for next time would be to read the question and go with your gut in answering it. If you think about it too hard then all the answers start to seem right . . . Choose an answer quickly and then move on.

Good luck, sweetie. I know some wonderful nurses who didn't pass on their first time.

Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

If you have a chance to take a June Cochran class, do so, I found her class incredibly helpful at strategy and understanding the NCLEX premise, to do its darndest to fool you. You can google her name.

Good luck 2 U!

Specializes in New Grad RN.

Just a note to user who posted about "June Cochran"...I googled this and it appears she is a playboy bunny from the 60's...I think you mean June Cochrane with an E. :idea:;)

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