People who have taken NCLEX, I have a question...

Nursing Students NCLEX

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I am preparing to take my NCLEX and I have been reading the post about people needing to take the test multiple times. I made good grades throughout nursing school and I study daily. I am wondering for the people who take the multiple times, how were your grades during nursing school? Did you struggle during the program? Basically, I'm trying to see how many people with high GPAs had to test multiple times?

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Good question! I hope someone answers soon

Gaia

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Nearly 90% of US educated nurses pass the NCLEX in their first attempt.

Many posters that fail are actually internationally educated nurses who were not trained to US standards, customs or even the same language at times. IENs have a first time pass rate around 35%.

Many come back here to seek help after failing to pass. Most who pass will say "I did it "then move on to other forums. Each subsequent attempt reduces the potential to pass. 70% of those who attempt a second time will pass. Less than half of those who failed their second attempt will pass on their third, which is still less than 5% of US educated nurses...

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Specializes in Emergency Psych, ICU.

Many posters that fail are actually internationally educated nurses who were not trained to US standards, customs or even the same language at times. IENs have a first time pass rate around 35%.

Wow that is low

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Wow that is low

But most English is not their first language, they were taught to the standard of their country not US, drugs are different. Units of measurement are different. Culture is different. It's easily understood. Of the 65%+ who fail first attempt less than 25% will pass on second attempt.

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Specializes in Emergency Psych, ICU.
But most English is not their first language, they were taught to the standard of their country not US, drugs are different. Units of measurement are different. Culture is different. It's easily understood. Of the 65%+ who fail first attempt less than 25% will pass on second attempt.

I'm an IEN so I know firsthand about having to adjust to the U.S. way of practicing nursing. I just didn't think the first time passing rate was that low. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

That being said I did study my butt off though

you guys ain't no joke lol.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I'm an IEN so I know firsthand about having to adjust to the U.S. way of practicing nursing. I just didn't think the first time passing rate was that low. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

That being said I did study my butt off though

you guys ain't no joke lol.

I think many underestimate the NCLEX and presume their overseas school adequately prepared them for the exam and therefore do minimal prep. Some US educated candidates do the same

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I think many underestimate the NCLEX and presume their overseas school adequately prepared them for the exam and therefore do minimal prep. Some US educated candidates do the same

I was just going to add that there are those who tell us they had excellent grades all throughout nursing school, they earned honors, etc....yet cannot pass the NCLEX. With a little more digging, we usually find that those students who claimed to have no issue with their classes actually graduated from schools with poorer NCLEX passing rates. When looking at nursing schools, it initially might not seem like a big difference if one school has an 85% passing rate and another a 95% passing rate.....but when you think of it as School One will have 15% of its graduates never become nurses....and School Two has only 5% in that camp.....the difference is significant.

Someone who does well in school in a quality program with accreditations that matter is most likely going to do fine on the NCLEX. Someone who does well in a school that doesn't measure up to quality standards....is less likely to do as well. Makes sense, though, doesn't it?

Beyond that, a belief that one did well in school and therefore needs minimal or no preparation for the NCLEX oftentimes leaves applicants shocked that they did not, in fact, pass.

Study. Prepare. Pass. ;)

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I was just going to add that there are those who tell us they had excellent grades all throughout nursing school, they earned honors, etc....yet cannot pass the NCLEX. With a little more digging, we usually find that those students who claimed to have no issue with their classes actually graduated from schools with poorer NCLEX passing rates. When looking at nursing schools, it initially might not seem like a big difference if one school has an 85% passing rate and another a 95% passing rate.....but when you think of it as School One will have 15% of its graduates never become nurses....and School Two has only 5% in that camp.....the difference is significant.

Someone who does well in school in a quality program with accreditations that matter is most likely going to do fine on the NCLEX. Someone who does well in a school that doesn't measure up to quality standards....is less likely to do as well. Makes sense, though, doesn't it?

Beyond that, a belief that one did well in school and therefore needs minimal or no preparation for the NCLEX oftentimes leaves applicants shocked that they did not, in fact, pass.

Study. Prepare. Pass. ;)

Thanks. I understand and I'm prepping myself for the big day. I was just curious how many extremely dedicated students still come up short on NCLEX? If you don't give 100%, then you can't blame anyone but yourself.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Thanks. I understand and I'm prepping myself for the big day. I was just curious how many extremely dedicated students still come up short on NCLEX? If you don't give 100%, then you can't blame anyone but yourself.

Exactly. Forewarned is forearmed

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I graduated in December, and recently found out my class had a 100% first time pass rate. It was a challenging program that had us answering NCLEX-like questions from the first week. We were all second-degree students used to getting As, but the program was hard enough that some people came close to not graduating. I'm thinking of one classmate who always seemed to struggle academically - and then passed NCLEX in 78 questions. So, from my perspective, I can't imagine getting through the program and not being able to pass NCLEX.

On the other hand, if you're going to a for-profit school that basically takes anyone with a pulse, there's a good chance that good grades don't really reflect true mastery of the material. Of course, that doesn't mean someone at a less-selective school can't pass the NCLEX. It just means those people have to take more responsibility to teach themselves more than the classes required.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
Nearly 90% of US educated nurses pass the NCLEX in their first attempt......... 70% of those who attempt a second time will pass. Less than half of those who failed their second attempt will pass on their third, which is still less than 5% of US educated nurses...

So, folks who can't pass the NCLEX after two attempts are in the superminority. (90 out of 100 pass on first attempt, 7 out of 10 pass on second attempt.)

The 3 that don't pass just make the majority of noise here on All Nurses!

If you're still at it after four attempts, you really are a special snowflake.

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