265 Questions and shocked

Trauma Columnist · Jun 11, 2004

Don't panic just yet kiddo. Get your results then go from there. Just because you got 265 doesn't mean you failed. Relax - deep breath and go do something fun!

Dixiedi · Jun 11, 2004

I've heard so many people who were just sure they flunked and in actuality did well. You are flogging that horse before you have reason to. Stop that this instant! Have faith in yourself and if you did flunk, you will already be halfway to passing the next time.

Beleive in yourself!

Did you stop to think that maybe you are studying too much? I saw so many of my classmates cramming the night before. Why? If you don't know it by the time you graduate, you aren't going to learn it in a month.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jun 11, 2004

Don't panic just yet kiddo. Get your results then go from there. Just because you got 265 doesn't mean you failed. Relax - deep breath and go do something fun!

Exactly.

I have yet to hear of ONE person saying "whoohooooooooo ! I just know I passed !!!"

We ALL thought we failed.. were SURE of it... or at least had that horrible nagging doubt.

LOTS of ppl get the full load and pass. Chin up. Be proud of your accomplishments... this is just one test.. you'll be fine in the end. (((HUGS)))

MrsWampthang, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2004

I've heard that the computer randomly picks people to do the whole test so you may have been one of those lucky people. Like someone else said, don't sweat about it until you know for sure. I'd say if you got all the questions it is more likely that you passed than if you had gotten an odd number. Someone else said, don't try to cram the night before the exam. If you don't know enough to pass the NCLEX after you graduate, then no amount of studying is going to catch you up to what you should have already learned. Anyway, good luck! Sending positive vibes your way!!!! :)

Pam

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2004

You might have been one of those unfortunates who are radomly selected to answer all the questions. I've heard of that happening before. There have been lots of people who passed with more than 200 questions. Sometimes it's easier to prepare for the worst but take it one step at a time.

Good luck.

edited. Opps. The response right above mine says essentially the same thing. :)

nursy2b · Jun 11, 2004

I totally feel how you feel, I took mine yesterday and got 265 also...My friend took it teusday with the same and passed....I hope we both pass...I will find out tomorrow morning....

Usually I just peek in to this area and never EVER thought I would be in the situation that I am currently in. I took my test this am and had all 265. This is after graduating with honors and reviewing 250-400 questions each day for the past month. I am fairly certain that I failed. And I know exactly what I was hung up on since I had about 30-40 questions in that particular category. The problem is is that I don't know how to study for it. The questions were given as who would the RN assess first? Patient A, B, C, D. And I know that demonstrates competence. But it is the point that brings me down because I know I'm smarter than this. Graduating with honors is not due to "book smarts." I am a critical thinker and go by common sense. My instructors all told me I would do really well and go far. Achieve my ultimate goals, etc. Maybe it was a load of crap - but I have to belief in myself. I'm more embarrassed than anything because nobody expected this out of me. Now I have to swallow my pathetic pride and say I failed. Granted I don't have the results yet but I'm quite sure. I had a terrible sinking feeling as I watched the number of questions increase. Than I think I just kind of gave up.
I think I can retake in 45 days - it was the first thing that I came home and looked up. Bottom line - it can happen to anyone. Even the most unlikely candidates because it just happened to me. Oh my other problem area was disaster drills - who do you assess first. I know the basics but I'm sure I was answering alot of them wrong if the same type of questions repeatedly popped up. Well at least I know what to expect for my retake. I will let you all know how I actually did. Good luck to everyone else. Some questions were ridiculously easy and others seemed impossible. My advice - STUDY, don't cram the night before (I did 400 questions the night before), don't stay up late (like I did), eat breakfast (like I didn't) and be confident.
Good luck everybody

Mithrah · Jun 12, 2004

It sounds like you feel the same way I felt. I was convinced I had failed, but I didn't!

I am sure you passed. Everyone here thinks you passed except you.

iliket3 · Jun 12, 2004

I've been crying all day - ridiculous because all of you are right. Besides it is only one test and I wasn't planning on working until the end of summer anyway. I think what hurts the most is how disappointed I am in myself. That's killer, isn't it? But you guys are also right in that I haven't received my results yet. I'm not hopeful. Oh well, thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. I'll guess I'll just wait and see.

BamaGirlRN · Jun 12, 2004

I've heard that the computer randomly picks people to do the whole test so you may have been one of those lucky people

Exactly what I was thinking! Don't stress out too much over this, good luck!

georgia peaches · Jun 12, 2004

"Are some candidates randomly selected to receive a long NCLEX examination?

It is NOT true that some candidates randomly receive a maximum length examination. The length of an NCLEX examination is based on the performance of the candidate on the examination. After a candidate has answered the minimum number of questions, the computer compares his or her ability level to the passing standard and makes one of three decisions:

1. If the candidate is clearly above the passing standard, he or she passes and the examination ends.

2. If the candidate is clearly below the passing standard, he or she fails and the examination ends.

3. If the candidate's ability level is close enough to the passing standard that it's still not clear whether he or she should pass, the computer continues to ask questions until a clear pass or fail decision can be made, or until the maximum number of questions is reached or time runs out."

This information (and a whole lot more) is available online at:

http://www.ncsbn.org/testing/candidates_candidate_pre.asp

The test is designed to be as hard as it needs to be for the test-taker to miss roughly 50% of the questions.

Almost everyone leaves thinking "Gee, I didn't know HALF of that stuff."

Best advice of all was given previously::: Don't get ahead of yourselves. The exact number of questions doesn't really tell you much, because you can pass or fail with any number of questions from 75 to 265.

Best of Luck to everyone who is preparing, and especially to those enduring the seemingly interminable wait!!

John

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2004

Thanks John for that clarification, I was wondering if that was fact or myth. Bottom line is # of questions is irrelevant. You can have 265 questions and fail and 265 questions and pass. The number of questions doesn't mean much.