Please help!!! Failed NCLEX for the 3rd time!

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Good Morning Everyone:

So after doing the PVT (pearson vue trick) yesterday, I realized that I failed NCLEX for the third time!! I'm so frustrated I could scream! I know that I'm far from stupid as I have 3 college degrees, but I just can't seem to get over the hump with this test. I've done a million ATI questions, online Hurst review and even attended a Hurst Live review. What am I doing wrong??? First test I had 126 questions, second 261, and this last time 265. All my friends have passed on the very first try and they barely studied!! Someone recommend the Linda LaCharity PDA book. Does that really help??? I think I'm having a hard time with "which patient would you see first?" If anyone could help I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm starting to lose motivation to keep studying another six weeks.

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Took my NCLEX RN yesterday and failed. STUDY PRIORITY. Most of my exam was priority and infection control. NO math at all. I went in pretty confident. I did LaCharity, ATI and Helen Feuer & the study guide floating around allnurses. ATI was a requirement for school. Helen Feuer is good for content, nothing else. I did not find it worth the money I paid. Looking into Hurst and Kaplan now. Some of the questions I got, I had to sit back in my chair and think "what the heck is this?". I did fairly well in Nursing School, finished with a 3.7 and in my ATI exit got an 88% with a "definite pass on the first try".... Well, ATI was wrong. LOL!... All in all, this is just a small set back. I'm a bit disappointed (who wouldn't be?) but not stupid and DEFINITELY not a failure. I have my Bachelors in Health Science, got into one of the toughest Pharmacy schools in Florida (I started off in Pharmacy, then found it too boring. Got a 99/100 on my PCAT). LOVE NURSING. I refuse to give up and this just makes me want it more.

:bookworm:

Taking like 2 days to myself and first thing Monday morning, I'm back at it. Don't let it discourage you. I know that's easier said than done, but it's the only way to think if you want to take this test on & beat it.

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Specializes in CMSRN.

If you're having a hard time with "which patient would you see first" type of questions, then LaCharity could definitely be a step in the right direction. You need to think in terms of expected/unexpected, emergent/non-emergent, safety issue/non-safety issue and the ABC's. I broke down priority that way and found it a lot easier to decide which patient should be the priority patient.

Definitely try not to be discouraged and get right back on the horse to study and prepare.

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I honestly don't think ATI questions are on par with NCLEX questions as they are more content focus. I would recommend Saunders' Comprehensive Q&A review or Kaplan's QBANK

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I took the NCLEX back in November last year , used Kaplan and fail with 78-80 questions. I then use ATI ! I just pass. Honestly even hurst will tell u ! Core content + critical thinking = pass. ATI worked for me and 3 other who fail with Kaplan . Best of luck

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I honestly think it depends on the person -- i.e. Kaplan or ATI or Hurst, whatever you choose it just depends on what sticks and works. If I were you, look into the Lacharity that everyone is mentioning as it sounds like you haven't looked @ it. I would definitely focus on content/information that you haven't looked @ before.

I'm sorry you didn't pass. I can only imagine the feelings you are experiencing as we all fear not passing and it's not your intellegence level that's the factor, it's just finding out how to answer these damn questions! lol. Hang in there and find a new resource and re-focus!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I recommend LaCharity HANDS DOWN.

As someone who struggled with priority (was a LPN transitioning into being a RN-we have priority, however, the role of the RN in terms of priority is more expanded) I used this book once I got into senior level nursing school, and used to study for the NCLEX. I studied LaCharity from cover to cover. I passed the first time.

I suggest if that is your only struggle, study prioritization questions. There are a few more resources that have helpful questions as well.

Practice questions, STUDY the rationales of ALL the questions answered. Don't understand the rationale??? STUDY the source of the rationale.

Also, look at the boards in the way that they expect a newly licensed nurse to uphold: safe, effective care, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity and physiological integrity. Look at what the question is asking you BASED on each of these categories. Once you know what the options you have based on the question, you will be guided to the best answer.

Give yourself at least 6-8 weeks to study. When practicing NCLEX questions, the higher your percentage is near or above 70% correct, the higher the probability to pass the NCLEX.

Good luck!

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Though I was doubtful at first, Kaplan really helped prepare me for the test. I was a little let down by the class itself, but when I took the NCLEX yesterday, I realized that the Kaplan questions were harder and actually helped me with my content knowledge as well. I didn't use ATI at all in nursing school, it just didn't click with me. I bought LaCharity's book and I liked the idea of those questions but only really used it once for one chapter.

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