Post NCLEX failure nerves

velocitygirl · Jun 8, 2013

Sorry, my post auto saved.. see my reply below!

velocitygirl · Jun 8, 2013

LYNDAA, I am in the same boat. I focused on concepts that were reviewed in our ATI review because I thought that was where my time was best spent. My fellow classmates that practiced tons of questions are the ones who have passed and their NCLEX stopped at 75-95 questions. I must have been right on the line the entire exam because I took the whole 265 questions. It was grueling and left me feeling very anxious about taking it again.

The advice I've had from my instructor, that I plan on following, is this:

-We know the material and concepts, so practice lots and lots of questions.

-Expect and plan for getting all 265 questions. If it stops before, it's a great surprise!

-Practice questions every day in short spurts, but allow yourself a Saturday or Sunday to go over a few hundred in a 4 hour block.

Personally, I am going to get the Mary Hogan Reviews and Rationales NCLEX Comprehensive review, the Kaplan review, and I already have the Saunders review. I am going to do my first 4 hour block today or tomorrow. My weakness was the prioritizing patients on a shift. I always came down to two and couldn't definitively figure out which to select first, and I encountered tons of them across all specialties. The more of those questions I got, the more anxious I became, and by the end of my 4 1/2 hours I felt worse than after I finished my first 10K!

I wish you the very best and hope the advice I've received can help you too.

Meg86an · Jun 8, 2013

Don't be down! Start studying Kaplan is great and I highly recommend PDA by Lacharity. I graduated in December failed the first time in 120 questions. Also didn't think it was possible because I did so well in nursing school. Well guess what exactly 45 days later I retested and passed in 75 questions in 30 minutes. You have an advantage over first time testers. You have an idea of what to expect! You'll be fine. Plenty of amazing RNs don't pass the first time. It's normal to feel down but realize you are far from a failure. Anyone sitting for the NCLEX deserves to be there!

believer25 · Jun 8, 2013

Please stay positive I took my nclex pn for the second time this Thursday I cut off at 88 the first time in April I cut off at 205 I felt horrible didnt study for a week: I decided I to was an "A" student during Nursing School and I wouldn't let one test get me down. So I pick it up a notch studied my content from Saunders read Kaplan and used Exam Cram for questions for a Month and Half: I took it again and had faith In God now I'm a LPN you can do it :-)

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Jun 8, 2013

LYNDAA, I am in the same boat. I focused on concepts that were reviewed in our ATI review because I thought that was where my time was best spent. My fellow classmates that practiced tons of questions are the ones who have passed and their NCLEX stopped at 75-95 questions. I must have been right on the line the entire exam because I took the whole 265 questions. It was grueling and left me feeling very anxious about taking it again.
The advice I've had from my instructor, that I plan on following, is this:
-We know the material and concepts, so practice lots and lots of questions.
-Expect and plan for getting all 265 questions. If it stops before, it's a great surprise!
-Practice questions every day in short spurts, but allow yourself a Saturday or Sunday to go over a few hundred in a 4 hour block.
Personally, I am going to get the Mary Hogan Reviews and Rationales NCLEX Comprehensive review, the Kaplan review, and I already have the Saunders review. I am going to do my first 4 hour block today or tomorrow. My weakness was the prioritizing patients on a shift. I always came down to two and couldn't definitively figure out which to select first, and I encountered tons of them across all specialties. The more of those questions I got, the more anxious I became, and by the end of my 4 1/2 hours I felt worse than after I finished my first 10K!
I wish you the very best and hope the advice I've received can help you too.

I hope I didn't confuse you. My approach worked for me back in 2010. Everybody differs in their study habits. I was blessed to onlyhave to take it once. I think relaxation is key for this exam. That will help you to be able to focus better. Keep those nerves in check. Good luck!!

777RN, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2013

Hello!

For what it's worth, the instructors at my school strongly suggested that we tell NO ONE our NCLEX dates. I took their advice to heart, didn't tell a single soul (not even my husband), and successfully passed the NCLEX on the first try last week. I was able to relax, knowing that I was the only one who knew I was taking the exam that day. If I had failed, no one would have known but me and that really lessened the pressure!

In school, we were told that the NCLEX emphasizes prioritization, infection control, and safety and that every question should be viewed in light of Maslow's, ABCs, the nursing process, and triage rules. IMHO, practicing as many questions as possible (and reading the rationales for all questions, right or wrong) is the best way to prepare. There will always be unfamiliar content on the exam, no matter how much one studies, since it covers such a vast amount of information. The exam is not really testing our knowledge of content so much as it's testing our ability to critically think in unfamiliar territory, using the processes we've been taught.

A long-time nursing administrator/friend told me that when exam failures do occur, 99% of the time it's not due to lack of content knowledge. Instead, it's trouble deciphering NCLEX-speak (the format, wording, etc.). So, practice tons of questions and review NCLEX test-taking strategies. (We were advised to do between 3,000-4,000 questions before taking the exam.) I'd recommend the NCSBN's learningext.com for practice questions and the Kaplan book for test-taking strategies.

Best of luck! And, after you pass the test, you can continue to share your story to help others pass theirs!

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jun 9, 2013

Hello!
For what it's worth, the instructors at my school strongly suggested that we tell NO ONE our NCLEX dates. I took their advice to heart, didn't tell a single soul (not even my husband), and successfully passed the NCLEX on the first try last week. I was able to relax, knowing that I was the only one who knew I was taking the exam that day. If I had failed, no one would have known but me and that really lessened the pressure!
In school, we were told that the NCLEX emphasizes prioritization, infection control, and safety and that every question should be viewed in light of Maslow's, ABCs, the nursing process, and triage rules. IMHO, practicing as many questions as possible (and reading the rationales for all questions, right or wrong) is the best way to prepare. There will always be unfamiliar content on the exam, no matter how much one studies, since it covers such a vast amount of information. The exam is not really testing our knowledge of content so much as it's testing our ability to critically think in unfamiliar territory, using the processes we've been taught.
A long-time nursing administrator/friend told me that when exam failures do occur, 99% of the time it's not due to lack of content knowledge. Instead, it's trouble deciphering NCLEX-speak (the format, wording, etc.). So, practice tons of questions and review NCLEX test-taking strategies. (We were advised to do between 3,000-4,000 questions before taking the exam.) I'd recommend the NCSBN's learningext.com for practice questions and the Kaplan book for test-taking strategies.
Best of luck! And, after you pass the test, you can continue to share your story to help others pass theirs!

^This...This cannot be stressed enough! :yes:

Miniangel2 · Jun 9, 2013

Hello!
For what it's worth, the instructors at my school strongly suggested that we tell NO ONE our NCLEX dates. I took their advice to heart, didn't tell a single soul (not even my husband), and successfully passed the NCLEX on the first try last week. I was able to relax, knowing that I was the only one who knew I was taking the exam that day. If I had failed, no one would have known but me and that really lessened the pressure!
In school, we were told that the NCLEX emphasizes prioritization, infection control, and safety and that every question should be viewed in light of Maslow's, ABCs, the nursing process, and triage rules. IMHO, practicing as many questions as possible (and reading the rationales for all questions, right or wrong) is the best way to prepare. There will always be unfamiliar content on the exam, no matter how much one studies, since it covers such a vast amount of information. The exam is not really testing our knowledge of content so much as it's testing our ability to critically think in unfamiliar territory, using the processes we've been taught.
A long-time nursing administrator/friend told me that when exam failures do occur, 99% of the time it's not due to lack of content knowledge. Instead, it's trouble deciphering NCLEX-speak (the format, wording, etc.). So, practice tons of questions and review NCLEX test-taking strategies. (We were advised to do between 3,000-4,000 questions before taking the exam.) I'd recommend the NCSBN's learningext.com for practice questions and the Kaplan book for test-taking strategies.
Best of luck! And, after you pass the test, you can continue to share your story to help others pass theirs!

Thank you so much for this huge and Sincere Advise! God Bless you! and i follow this!

LSoMagical · Jul 25, 2014

I failed. With 265 questions and the bad pop up. Thing is, I graduated Kaplan, did the review, completed all Qbanks and Qtrainers. Failed. Because I had rushed through it. I changed answers. I am sure you knew the content.

I honestly needed to take more breaks and eat.

I took the 265 questions on the NCLEX RN in 2.5 hours.

I hate this feeling. AND I am the only one in my class so far, that has failed. But I will get through it. Just like you :cat: