bmmagic

I took the NCLEX-RN 3 times (Aug, Oct, and Dec 11, 2006). On the 1st exam, I believe I had 2 medical calculation problems that were really easy and on the 2nd and 3rd test I had 1 problem like this. On the 1st exam, one was calculating a pill's quantity by converting from micrograms to milligrams. The others were various forms of IV drip rate calculations. The info given may include mL/hr and the gtt/mL of the tubing and you need to know how to find the gtt/min. Easy stuff. On each test, I had quite a few questions that asked when a med should be taken and with what (nothing, water, food, etc.). I recall one asking what I'd do if a particular med was ordered (give, hold, contact the MD, etc.). On my 2nd exam, I had 2 questions regarding herbal medications (like garlic). Isolation precautions were frequently asked about. I had a "select all that apply" type one for this and for a medication's side effects. Diet and nutrition were on mine a lot too. Knowing what foods have various nutrients is a good idea. Crutch walking was on 2 of my tests.

Best wishes on your next exam. It took me a 3rd attempt to pass, so you are certainly not alone.

Congrats! I got my results today too --- I passed (3rd attempt)! And also..... I used Suzanne's plan.

I'm nearing my 3rd NCLEX-RN test (awaiting my ATT) and the 1st two I had 265 questions. I did much better on the 2nd - according to the results of the performance reports I received. This correlates well with how much I prepared pre-tests and my confidence pre, during, and post-tests. Because I've recently (Aug and Oct 2006) taken the NCLEX and the sheer number of questions I answered in doing so, I feel qualified in stating that Suzanne's plan is effective and inexpensive. Having the basics reasonably mastered/understood is an obvious and her plan allows testers of various levels of knowledge to gain this by using the book (step 1) and then doing the CD questions (as per her instructions she'll e-mail you after step 1) routinely. I've found that she's right about a key thing --- it's not the question and your attempted answer (right or wrong) so much as it is reading the RATIONALE that follows. Knowing why you were right or wrong in a brief paragraph seems to do wonders to one's NCLEX abilities! Doing a certain number of questions daily (not too few or too many) seems to be important too. Too many and recall is hindered. Too few and you'll likely not have enough exposure to the huge range of info possible on the test. I guess I'm not impressed by statements of statistics regarding the NCLEX, like "The odds are in your favor regardless of the number of questions answered." The majority pass on the 1st attempt. Still, many do not. I had no trouble passing classes in public school, the military's electronics programs, my electronic/computer career post-military, or in my general and nursing courses in college. Still .... I failed the NCLEX not once, but twice. As an individual, reading statistics of the entire population regarding my chances in passing does little to help me. They don't state what important common factors are entailed, like amount and type of study prior to testing. As an individual honestly reflecting on the past, I have a good idea of what went wrong for me. Much of the "needed" info provided and tested on in college was not "understood" and/or retained well enough to utilize it months later. My study habits to enhance this deficit were poor at best. Basically, I failed due to a lack of effort. Why I lacked this effort is easy to rationalize at a glance (moved to new state, started ICU internship, living with in-laws), but it's the results that count. My priorities were way off and I overestimated my abilities....."I'm a good test-taker." I really am (in general) but that only goes so far. Sure, as a 1st time test taker, you have an 80's% chance of passing if you have some "things" in common with those whom are successful and that's obviously more than just being a 1st time test taker. Failing could just be bad luck for some, but as individuals, we should surely be capable of a self-analysis regarding our knowledge, abilities, and other factors in taking the NCLEX. A raging argument with a spouse prior to the test is likely NOT good, for example. In reality, we have a 3rd test ahead of us and the resources to pass it with readily available. The resources out there are likely all pretty effective if the effort (regular, concentrated effort) is given. My preference is using Saunder's according to Suzanne's plan and I'm fairly pleased with my effort to date using this material. I certainly don't want to fail again for many, many, many reasons. LET'S PASS THIS THING and move on!!!

The waiting is painful at best. Best wishes on your test results.

Congrats!

Dollface, I've opted to utilize "Suzanne's Plan" which utilizes "Saunder's Comprehensive Review" as the main source of reference/study. There is a thread (sticky one) near the top that has "step one" of her plan and a lot of posts with questions and answers.

I'm in Texas and I was pretty sure, but not certain, that I had failed after only 1 day. I had a GN permit that I could view online and the day after the test, it was GONE and no other license was listed. The "quick results" still stated that my results were not available for another day when I paid good money for a real hard kick in the scrotum to hear those dreaded words and having to call my supervisor to report the bad news (I was scheduled to work an hour later in ICU).

CONGRATS! I had math on both of my RN attempts (fill in the blank ones), but they were easy ones.

Awesome! That is a great story and you have much to be proud of.

I had a very, very similar experience. 1st test - 265 and failed 2nd test - 265 and failed My performance report improved quite a bit on the 2nd test. The 1st I had 2 of 8 catagories "BELOW" the passing standard and the rest "NEAR". On the 2nd, I had 7 of 8 "NEAR" and 1 "ABOVE" the passing standard. I too am using Susanne's Plan, which is based off of "Saunder's Comprehensive Review 3rd Edition -w- CD." I was in an ICU internship as a GN (ADN grad) making pretty decent money for central Texas ($20.73/hr base +$3.50 nights, $4 weekends, $5 holidays) when I failed the test. I thought it might be a tad embarrassing going back after passing the 2nd test, but I failed again and went back to the same unit (SICU) with my peers and proctors all around me. Explaining why I vanished for a while and why I'm wearing teal-colored (nurse tech) scrubs wasn't as bad as I had envisioned, for everyone was/is very supportive. I hadn't worked as an aid in the past so this is still good experience in my actual scope of practice and what I witness around me. Still, there's no way I'm failing #3. It's great to be employed at the hospital and on the unit I want to be (and will be) an RN at, but time seems to fly and stand still simultaneously as I head towards the next NCLEX-RN exam. You are not alone!!! Don't let failing #2 get you down. Let's both/all pass the next one, for that's the one that counts!

Congrats!

It seems to vary from state-to-state. Here in Texas, you have 4 years from graduation to pass it and 50 days between attempts. I'm currently waiting for those "50 days" to elapse (Dec 6th). I've read that some states require remedial work after "x" number of failures, but I've only read the specifics about Texas and Wyoming. Best wishes.

In Texas, you must cease and desist practicing as a GVN/GN upon receiving the failed results. If you continue practicing once you have failed the exam, you are in direct violation of the Nurse Practice Act and this may result in disiplinary action. In my case, I graduated school and immediately relocated to Texas (from Wyoming) where I began working as an intern in the ICU. I hadn't seen my family and friends for about 3 years, so the spotlight was on me. My F-I-L had been living alone on 87 acres in a huge home needing a TON of work, so my wife and I moved in to assist. NOTE: I'm going on 18 years of marriage and this is the 1st time since I was 17 years old that I didn't have "my own" place, but it was for a good reason. In retrospect - HUGE mistake to relocate post-college. Welp, I put-off the NCLEX initially to better prepare. Instead of focusing on this task, I found myself preparing for ICU training and 12 hour rotations in SICU, PICU, CCU, and MICU. As time ran-out on my GN permit, I finally scheduled for the test. I've never had trouble with tests in general, so I didn't expect this to be any different. Welp, 265 questions and my head was about to pop. Still, I felt I'd probably pass as usual and didn't stress much about it. That is until I checked the BNE's online site and noticed my GN permit was gone and there was NO RN license listed. OMG! Could I have failed? I put the old credit card to use and Pearson said my results were not available. Hmmm. OK, perhaps I'm ok? Later that day I was preparing my "stuff" for my 12-hour shift in SICU and decided to call again. FAILED! Knowing that my license was GONE, I had to "call-in" and I felt like my world had come to an end. I actually stayed the night at my Brother's home and told noone at this point what had happened. Though wrong, I needed some time to think. Telling my wife I had failed was something foreign to me, not to mention my best friend, mother, grandmother, etc. etc. My wife was shocked for she had hardly considered it a possibility. I've had quite a few tests (military and civilian electronics) in the past, not to mention quite a few in college that she was stressed over and I always did well. Telling her sucked! My supervisor (Director of ICU) was great and suggested I focus on studying instead of working if I could financially handle it. So the plan was to focus on studying. This was not working well at my F-I-L's due to constant "work" needing to be done, so I moved in with my older Brother. He, his wife and son were all gone from 7am-4pm M-F and this would allow me a lot of time to focus -- WRONG! Simply put, big mistake realized after 16 days. So, my wife and I obtained a rather nice apartment and I moved us in and studied intermittantly until taking the test again. My wife and family had plans to celebrate when I obtained my PASSING results. Well, 265 questions again! Still, I was better prepared this time and confident that I passed. So much so that I had my wife call for the results from her sister's home just down the road. I was sure she'd call back all happy and excited but instead said, "Babe, you failed. I'm not joking." This sucked, for I needed my income back. I was started at $20.73/hr as an ADN graduate (~1.50 more for BSN) and $0.00 was not going to be enough. I e-mailed my supervisor and figured he'd have nothing to do with me. I started applying for jobs of all sorts (government, electronics, laborer) and thought I might try the LVN exam while waiting for the next NCLEX-RN. To work as a nurse, I figured I needed a license, so I filed a request to take the CNA test based on nursing school education and to take the PN exam ASAP. In the process, I had the fun of writing the Director of Nursing at the college I graduated where I detailed all of the "success" I've had lately. A few respected sources suggested NOT taking the PN and instead focusing on the RN exam. I had not paid the BNE or Pearson yet due to needing the affidavit from the college first, so it was not a costly decision to skip on the PN exam. My supervisor offered to have me work in ICU as a nurse tech ($11.50/hr base) until I passed the RN exam -- then I'd be back in the internship immediately as an RN. I didn't need to take a test or pay a fee of any sort to work as a nurse tech. I simply needed to have my ID card changed and had to get some teal colored scrubs (RN's wear navy blue). This is working well for me, though being around all the staff that knew me as an intern (GN/RN) was/is tough, but it's the reality that I'm in and it feels great to be in the unit getting experience, having an income, and having a plan to succeed. Study, study, study! While you can fail or pass with 75 or 265 questions, I'm hoping to do well enough for that darn machine to cutoff sooner! I'll be ready for the full dose, but the full 265 again would really suck. I did poor on the 1st attempt with 7 of 8 catagories BELOW the standard and only 1 of 8 NEAR the passing standard. The 2nd attempt was 7 of 8 NEAR and 1 of 8 (pharmacology) ABOVE the standard. I still wonder why the machine didn't fail (stop) sooner with the 1st exam, being that I did considerably worse on it. For instance, at 260 questions I shouldn't have had a chance, yet it continued to the end. ????