Panicing over results, I failed.

MelodyRNurse · Jun 29, 2008

Here is a reality check...you do not officially know you failed. I thought I failed too and I didn't. It seems easier to mentally convince yourself that you've failed so it doesn't feel so bad when you finally see it, right? That's what I did, but I passed. If you don't know for sure, don't give up hope. Many people feel like they failed. The questions are set up so the chances of you knowing the correct answer is not likely. They want to see how well you make judgments. Remember a pretty decent percentage of those questions (15 or 20%) do not count at all. I don't want to give you false hope. If you failed, you failed and you will move forward and try again and you can do it, but try to stop beating yourself up unnecessarily if you can.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2008

1st up....there is no OFFICAL result that says you failed. I personally believe that you HAVE to put that positive energy out there.

also, remember that they consider SATAs and math questions as "higher-level" questions and you get more points if you get those right....keep the faith.

Not to give you false hope either, but you MUST believe that you didn't go through all that schooling just to fail...

rizagirlRN · Jun 30, 2008

...as they've said, nothing's for sure until you get the official result by mail or if you cannot wait pay a price and check it online. but until then all you can do for now is to kneel and pray! :saint: pray that you pass and pray that all the negative aura goes away and that you'd be left with positive attitude whether or not you fail.

i was sick with cough and runny nose on the exam itself :oand was given 265 questions! :no: the computer just would not stop giving me questions!:angryfire my head was throbbing and i was almost mad coz it felt like eternity not knowing if i'm getting the correct answers or not! :banghead: i had to endure all those and still got a 'fat' official envelope by mail--- meaning i did not make it. a lot of :crying2: but i had to stop being depressed and moved on. took kaplan review and it definitely helped boost my confidence. passed the exam and now on my way to job interviews :yeah: . you just have to be positive in whatever happens coz you'll be needing it to move on.

good luck to you!

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2008

also, remember that they consider SATAs and math questions as "higher-level" questions and you get more points if you get those right
..

That's not exactly accurate. Suzanne has stated in many different NCLEX forum posts that SATA's are just a format question, not a "higher-level" question. True that some of the SATA's might have a concept that is a "higher-level" but just because its a SATA does not automatically make it "higher-level".

Math questions, as Suzanne has stated, are considered lower level questions because NCLEX is under the assumption that math must have been mastered in school. But getting a few math questions does not mean you are failing the test horribly either. I have quite a few friends who had several math questions and they passed.

Add to all that, there are always questions that every NCLEX taker gets that are new questions they are trying out for future NCLEX exams. Its very possible that none, some or all of those SATA's that you got were "test" questions that didn't even affect your score. Just something to think about. The NCLEX book states that with the NCLEX-RN there are 15 pretest items that are not scored. And for the NCLEX-PN there are 25 that aren't scored.

To the OP, keep your chin up. Almost everyone comes out of that test "knowing" they failed, only to be happily surprised when they get the results and they passed. And you cannot know you passed/failed just by the number of questions you answered before the computer shut off. You can just as easily pass at 75 as you can at 212 or 265.

Don't stress yourself out. You don't know you passed or failed until the official results come to you.

Keep us posted

gardenmum · Jul 1, 2008

I've only had one person tell me they walked away from NCLEX feeling good. Can't count how many felt absolutely horrible afterwards. I was convinced I didn't pass. No one could convince me otherwise. I'd already replanned my future by the time I arrived home.

We tend to focus on the questions we did not know and tune out those we did. You need to keep yourself busy while awaiting the results. There's a ton of ideas on this website of how to occupy your time while waiting.

Once you have the "official" results you will take it from there.

Above all, take care of yourself. Be proud of your accomplishments thus far and just know you are definitely not alone with your feelings and thoughts. OK?

SoundofMusic · Jul 1, 2008

They say that everyone basically "fails" the NCLEX, that really no one gets anymore than 50% correct anyway. They pass you once youv'e achieved at least a "pass" rate of half the questions on a specific level of difficulty -- or something likethat.

EVERYONE feels as if they've failed once they come out of that test.

That said, if you did fail, you just re-take it. If you are new to nursing, my advice is to work as a tech for 3 months. It will go by in a flash and you will be so glad you did that and got that sort of experience. At this point, I wish I had failed it first, and gotten that 3 months of tech experience. It would have enabled me to feel so much more comfortable as a nurse.

One fellow I know who did not pass it even a few times, continued to work as a tech on his floor. Lately I found out he passed, and everyone on the floor was so proud of him. My respect for him just ballooned, because HE STUCK IT OUT. He didn't quit. He persevered and really wanted to be a nurse -- and now he is one.

Seriously -- whatever happens, it will be ok.

californiaguy · Jul 1, 2008

Thank you all for your advices, each one of you. I'm in California, unfortuantely there's no quick results. I'm expecting my results by the end of this week, if not, the next. Failing the nclex seems very stressful and painful. I'm feeling it right now as I type.

Yes, I'll be entering the field as pretty much "new." Thank you for your suggestions & encouragements. In response to being a tech for 3 months, I worked 3 months as a CNA a few years back; basically in the bottom for unimaginable wages... I was 18, and unforunately employers took advantage of that working paying in 8 bucks an hour, 7.5 hrs a day, part-time status with zero benefit. I was new and assigned heavy patients, some coworkers would sit rather than help. It was tough being a full time college student and treated disrespectfully. I do feel good about helping people and frankly I was an enthusiastic worker.

In short, I earned a bit of money to save up to enter nursing school in a community college. I stopped working and focused my life around nursing school as soon as I am in.

I care about my patients, I do.. teaching about meds, learn about diseases, read labs, do everything. I study from books, and from nurses that I work with.

I'll keep you all posted pass or failed.

PS: Congrationations on these who passed.... (I'd say I'm really happy for you because I'm; as for now i'm sad, but I'm back to studying.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2008

Wow...until the end of your post, I thought you already knew you failed.

I bet you passed. Just hold tight....you don't have to get a 100.

75 questions with a bunch of SATAs is usually a good thing.

Nurseismade RN · Jul 3, 2008

I'm scared & depressed. I've been studying very hard for this test, but all that means nothing when it comes to the real thing. Despite doing study questions on a daily basis, reading rationales and strategies (even today) they didn't help.
I am feeling bad that I took the nclex awhile ago, June 23 to be specific. The questions were shocking with things that I never heard of. I had about over 50% of my questions in SATA format which made it really difficult. I felt anxious as one SATA came after another over and over again. There were 4 or 5 math questions scattered thoughout the test with 2 other alternative types.
Right away upon returning home from the test center, I begin scambling the books and saw that I miss a quite few easy questions. Most of the contents could not be found in books or online. Over the past few days I've been reading a lot of articles on people who failed nclex, I had 75 questions. From reading all those online articles, I think this fourm is very imformative. I read much articles on people who failed at 75.
My state does not participate on quick result. I feel bad that I didn't pass. I'm just waiting for the letter to see the "you failed" for a reality check... thinking about how I'm going to have to study for the next 3 months, and breaking the news to people. I'm just here wasting away. What do you guys think?
-CAliforniaguy.

wow!!! I always take my hat off to folks that actually go over the questions after the Boards and know what they got right or wrong......Me I was absolutely BRAIN DEAD. I knew nothing afterwards..maybe the next day or so I remembered a few.

But I must say..my computer shut off at 75....I had 2 math and a bunch of SATA....and prioritiations. and I passed.....all the best...

glamgalRN · Jul 3, 2008

Hey Caliguy-

First off, did you find out your results yet? If not, when do you except to find out? That really stinks Cali takes so long to post them. I would go crazzzzyyyy waiting!! I realize that each test in individual, but my best friend had 75 questions and half of hers were SATA and she passed. I also had 75 questions w/18 SATA and I passed as well. I think having a lot of SATA is a good sign!

Secondly, I guarantee that you passed! If you read the many, many posts on this site you'll realize that everyone feels the same way you do after the test. It's completely normal. Basically you have to get 50 (or 51%, i'm not exactly sure) of the questions correct. Are you used to getting a 50% on a test in nursing school and walking out of the test thinking "wow, i def. passed!?" I bet not! Well that's all you have to get right to pass the nclex.

Thirdly, I wouldn't even look at a nursing book until you def. know your results. You've just been through sooooo much and i really can't imagine you retaining much info feeling the way you do (at least I know I wouldn't.) So please relax, try and stay busy and think positive.

((hugs to you)) :icon_hug:

clairebearrn · Jul 3, 2008

I'm scared & depressed. I've been studying very hard for this test, but all that means nothing when it comes to the real thing. Despite doing study questions on a daily basis, reading rationales and strategies (even today) they didn't help.
I am feeling bad that I took the nclex awhile ago, June 23 to be specific. The questions were shocking with things that I never heard of. I had about over 50% of my questions in SATA format which made it really difficult. I felt anxious as one SATA came after another over and over again. There were 4 or 5 math questions scattered thoughout the test with 2 other alternative types.
Right away upon returning home from the test center, I begin scambling the books and saw that I miss a quite few easy questions. Most of the contents could not be found in books or online. Over the past few days I've been reading a lot of articles on people who failed nclex, I had 75 questions. From reading all those online articles, I think this fourm is very imformative. I read much articles on people who failed at 75.
My state does not participate on quick result. I feel bad that I didn't pass. I'm just waiting for the letter to see the "you failed" for a reality check... thinking about how I'm going to have to study for the next 3 months, and breaking the news to people. I'm just here wasting away. What do you guys think?
-CAliforniaguy.

CaliforniaGuy,

Forst of all, did you check the website and try to find your name? I also took my test this week and Im in California. I also know that I failed for sure!!!! I looked up my questions and I got the easy ones wrong. I didnt get that much SATA. Im so sad as you are. But still until we get those results we can know for sure. But we are just getting ready for that. Im going to tell you what I told myself. If you failed, you failed. Whats done is done, but you can change the future!!! This test doesn't test whether you will be a compassionate nurse, an empathetic nurse!!! This test is what it is: a test! :) I believe the world needs nurses like you, so dont give up. Its going to take 45 days, but next time you will do better: YOU WILL BE A NURSE!!!! Dont give up!!!! I know I wont...I have a job ready for me, 20K in loans, and a family to feed, but Im not giving up. Dont beat yourself up...ONCE YOU GET THE RESULTS, if you fail, give yourself a day to cry...to grieve and keep on going...if you pass, CONGRATULATIONS!!! If you need any support, dont hesitate, you can message me...GOOD LUCK...and dont give up.

Clara