Please Help, Failed the Nclex

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Hello, I'm doing this for my wife. She is an LPN, finished her schooling 4 years ago. She's worked in Pediatrics ever since. She decided a while back, actually got offered this great job doing Home Health Care, that she needed to get her LVN. She studied for a couple weeks, and I tried to help her as much as I could. We went down to take the test, she failed. She was so depressed and hurt over it. Most of the questions were on subjects she hasn't touched in 4 years.

She had heard that most people pass it the first time and was really discouraged that she didn't. It was heartbreaking. To make matters worse, she overheard her nursing supervisor say, "you really have to be stupid to fail the test". I won't tell you what I think of that person, but now what to do? My wife has the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met in my life. I'm trying to do everything I can to encourage her, but I'm not a nurse, so here I am. What can she do differently this time? Most of those questions had nothing to do with her field, which like I said has been Pediatrics the last 4 years. Where should she focus, what should she study? Please, any advice would be so much appreciated. Thanks for your time, take care,

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
How confusing.

You are supposed to take the Nclex within a year of graduating, so those dates cannot be right.

You can't just walk in and take the test four years after graduation, so something is wrong here.

Please clarify.

I have heard of cases where people have taken more than 9 years to sit in for NCLEX. My review course mentioned one person that waited a considerable amount of time as well...I think they said about 5-6 years. It may be that each state is different, but, New York, from what I understand, has no set amount of time before they sit for the boards. It may not be the most advantageous thing to do, but there are cases. I have a friend that graduated last year from RN school (was already a PN) and just found out that he failed yesterday. We begged him to take it as soon as possible. It is tiring to keep up that pace, and there is such a thing as overstudying. It is hard to keep up that momentum once leaving school, and we don't quite know what deterred this woman from sitting for the boards within the expected time...and maybe there is the fear factor as well. I remember being utterly exhausted and giving it it's BEST shot, because I didn't want to wait longer than three months...too scared that I would begin to forget.

Your wife may need to take a refresher course. I heard rumors that some states make you take the course over if it is not done within a certain frame of time, so, that may need some investigating.

failing a test does not make someone "stupid". failing a test does not mean you will not be a good nurse. it doesn't hurt to try again.. this time, be organized. get an NCLEX review book (i recomend saunders). study the questions and rationales.. and aim to get 80% or better on the practice exams of each category. commit at least 2 hours entirely for the study of nclex.. pace yourself appropriately. get your priorities in check and i gaurantee your wife will pass her boards. :)

hi mary01 i know exactly how you feel the same thing hapoened to me and the best advicei can give you is to try this review book called the exam cram the isbn # is 780789732675 it was 30.00 from borders and you have to order it. it takes about one week to come. once again i am sorry that happened to you and i really don't wish failure of that exam on any one. i have to take it again myself.

Specializes in Geriatrics.

Years ago I took a class on test taking. I always froze up during exams even if I knew the information straight out! My teacher pounded into my head that I was to think that the test didn't matter (even if it did very much!) and that I could always retake it. Since I've adopted this attitude I have not frozen and passed all my exams ( even my NCLEX). I had a friend that didn't pass her NCLEX first time I kept telling her what my teacher told me, relax and just let your brain do the work. She did the 2nd time as I said and passed! Also, never correct an answer, your first answer is an educated guess, second guessing has always resulted in the wrong answer. As for the supervisor that said that, well, we all can see who's the stupid one here now can't we. Give lots of support and love. If you believe in her, that's all she really needs

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