Sucks, paid for the quick results today and was literally shocked it said failed.
Feels like mike tyson hit me in the gut!!!
I got 3 incident report questions and 2 advanced directives. Probably 10-14 select all that apply. 1 picture (PPD shot) know I got that right, googled it!!!
I dont even know where to begin to study for the retake!!!
Man, besides myself right now....
paid another 200 and waiting for authorization to test and retake!!!
Baby's are very good at sensing what you are feeling, if you are stressed they will be stressed. Sounds like your babe is feeling your pain. I have been told by many students that Kaplin was very good. Remember that the NCLEX questions are based on critical thinking, and as you have discovered nothing like TEAS, or classroom tests. You have to reason your way through to the answer and keep in mind your ABC's, and QSEN, look for answers related to safety very big. Do questions daily with rationals. Review how to tips on taking tests, and take some relaxation time. Many students fail because of anxiety rather than knowledge. There is such a thing as over studying. If your baby knows you are stressed you should listen.
When I have orientation for my new students, one of the things I tell them is that nursing school is nothing like general education. GE students memorize long enough to take a test and then they forget the information, they never move the knowledge from short term to long term.
In nursing school you must learn how to transfer your knowledge over to long term and the only way to do that is through repetition and critical reasoning. Association, mnemonics, think in pictures. ex. a ladder would be climbing, a lake would be CHF. Have your wife quiz you, so you can talk your way through a scenario.
Baby's are very good at sensing what you are feeling, if you are stressed they will be stressed. Sounds like your babe is feeling your pain. I have been told by many students that Kaplin was very good. Remember that the NCLEX questions are based on critical thinking, and as you have discovered nothing like TEAS, or classroom tests. You have to reason your way through to the answer and keep in mind your ABC's, and QSEN, look for answers related to safety very big. Do questions daily with rationals. Review how to tips on taking tests, and take some relaxation time. Many students fail because of anxiety rather than knowledge. There is such a thing as over studying. If your baby knows you are stressed you should listen.
When I have orientation for my new students, one of the things I tell them is that nursing school is nothing like general education. GE students memorize long enough to take a test and then they forget the information, they never move the knowledge from short term to long term.
In nursing school you must learn how to transfer your knowledge over to long term and the only way to do that is through repetition and critical reasoning. Association, mnemonics, think in pictures. ex. a ladder would be climbing, a lake would be CHF. Have your wife quiz you, so you can talk your way through a scenario.
Hello and thank you for your advice.
I hate using the baby as a crutch for my failure, as much as it may be true. Obviously, she takes precedent and I can honestly say I studied a day here, then off for 3 days, study 2 days, off for 4 days, study 1 day, off for 1-2 days, study.
When I say I studied, I mean an hour, 1.5 hours MAX per day. This was at 6-7pm untitl either 8 or 9pm after I been up all day with the baby....
I know others have and passed, I wasnt able to. I take pride in my education, including test taking. I have always succeeded in anything I have done, this was a completely humbling experience for me!
I know I will eventually pass. Im 38, and I just want to put this test behind me and move on to an online LPN-RN program which is at my leisure. Obviously, as the baby gets older, I will be able to make a schedule and it will be a little easier.
I dont want to wait a year or 1.5 years to start, im 38 and want to get on with things. Its a catch-22 really.....Such as life is........
My school wasnt the best in getting us ready for the boards. We started 1 week before graduation (no kidding). Others in my class have passed so, its me, not the school!!!!
Hurst was great for content for me. Now I think I need the kaplan for the how to apply, thats where im having issues.....
Anyways, I appreciate all the comments and I like having the ability to vent my frustrations....
I paid for my retest minutes after failing, I received my ATT to test yesterday at 330pm. The soonest I can retake is oct 19th (45 days sucks). We're going on vacation the week prior so Im thinking of starting kaplan and then maybe towards the end of Oct or even beginning of NOV, try again.....
dafishman, There is a thread on here about "winging" the NCLEX, and they proved me wrong, some people can actually do it. Most cannot. I came from one of the best nursing programs in the west and graduated Summa and they started preparing us for NCLEX from the first day of class, however most of my classmates (myself included) studied 6 or 8 hours a day for 5 or 6 weeks! I know it has to be hard with a baby, and I understand that she needs to come first...but you obviously need more time! Once you do pass, and you WILL!, are you going to work right away? It sounds like you don't want to do daycare, and I think that is noble! I HATE daycare, but if that is the case how will you work? And the reason I ask is that if you do not plan to go to work until she is lots older you do not have to rush to take the test! Take your time! Don't do it right at the end of the 45 days if you aren't going to work anyway and you aren't ready.
That said, There is a book by LaCharity that is supposed to be the holy grail for delegation and prioritization. Everyone who has done it swears by it. For test taking strategies, you can't beat Kaplan but I would see if your mom can watch the baby for one week full time and do the live classroom as well. It really does help. Then you can do all the qbank questions and be sure you understand the rationales. If you have 3 hours 3 days a week, you may need more than 45 days to get that done, but you should be well prepared when you take the test!
No one method works for everyone, but from your posts, I am thinking that will help you.
DuskyJewel, those of us who have been around awhile know you were trying to help ((hugs)) but some people are beyond help! Don't let it get you down!
For frustrated people who don't get it-yes we need to be above the passing line on all fronts--would you want to be deathly ill and cared for by a nurse who 'almost' passed some of these basic nursing functions? I wouldn't. We are nurses, we have lives in our hands...I agree that the NCLEX is difficult, be we go to work and do a difficult job every day and we have to know what we are doing or people are going to die.
When the exam changed in 2013, our nursing faculty started recommending everyone add the La charity Prioritization and Delegation book to our study regimen. I did and I'm very glad. I downloaded it on my Kindle and took about two weeks to do all of the study questions. It was great preparing me for the "who would you see first" type of questions. Best of luck to you on your next try and may it be the one that gives you that passing score.
I hate using the baby as a crutch for my failure, as much as it may be true. Obviously, she takes precedent and I can honestly say I studied a day here, then off for 3 days, study 2 days, off for 4 days, study 1 day, off for 1-2 days, study.
When I say I studied, I mean an hour, 1.5 hours MAX per day. This was at 6-7pm untitl either 8 or 9pm after I been up all day with the baby....
I know others have and passed, I wasnt able to. I take pride in my education, including test taking. I have always succeeded in anything I have done, this was a completely humbling experience for me!
I know I will eventually pass. Im 38, and I just want to put this test behind me and move on to an online LPN-RN program which is at my leisure. Obviously, as the baby gets older, I will be able to make a schedule and it will be a little easier.
I dont want to wait a year or 1.5 years to start, im 38 and want to get on with things. Its a catch-22 really.....Such as life is........
My school wasnt the best in getting us ready for the boards. We started 1 week before graduation (no kidding). Others in my class have passed so, its me, not the school!!!!
Hurst was great for content for me. Now I think I need the kaplan for the how to apply, thats where im having issues.....
Anyways, I appreciate all the comments and I like having the ability to vent my frustrations....
I paid for my retest minutes after failing, I received my ATT to test yesterday at 330pm. The soonest I can retake is oct 19th (45 days sucks). We're going on vacation the week prior so Im thinking of starting kaplan and then maybe towards the end of Oct or even beginning of NOV, try again.....
It is okay to feel stressed out. You have a second shot! you already know the level of difficulty on studying for the exam. You have a better idea of what is expected for you. Since you have Saunders you can try looking up "Suzanne's plan" and see if it works for you. If you wish I can send you my 2 month study calendar. Something to give you at least a guide on where to go from here.
Scaredsilly, if you have something to say you can direct it to me! No need to sugar coat it, with your fakeness. Someone who tries to help does not insult and berate another individual. Did I ever say that I would want a nurse who barely passed the nclex to take care of us? NO. You have obviously missed the point of my post. Maybe if YOU had above passing in every area besides ONE(pharmacology) then you would understand peoples frustrations on the set up of the test.... Have a nice day!!
I'm sorry about your NCLEX result, and know the 2nd time around you will ace it. I can imagine with a new baby and trying to study it was difficult. Now that you will have some help, I think this will allow you ample time to have your core content and strategies down pat.
For me, I studied almost 2 months (10 hour days) and used a variety of resources: Hurst (good for core content though not so much for strategy), Kaplan (questions and strategies), Saunder's comprehensive book (good for content - added some detail or "crossed the t's and dotted the i's for fundamentals, treatments and conditions I needed more information on, NCSBN (good for content though a little extensive/wordy and excellent for questions) and La Charity PDA (excellent resource for priority/delegation/assignment questions).
I agree with you that Hurst while great for core content (including 5th day materials - infection control, med's etc.) it doesn't provide enough strategies. So, for me, if I used just Hurst or Kaplan exclusively I don't think I would have passed. Overall, knowing the "what/why" of bits of as much information as possible and strategies will benefit you. I know we hear "don't memorize or NCLEX doesn't expect you to know everything". I went into the exam knowing as much as possible, as I knew it was going to be a broad test! It was!
The advantage you have now, is you know what to expect. You also have more help, where you can put in dedicated study time. I'd study at least 5-6 days a week if possible, and know your core content backwards/forwards and bits of everything within body systems, lab values, infection control (as you know this is big on NCLEX), meds/herbals, procedures (chest tubes, IV's, catheters, admin eye and ear drops, tube feedings, etc.), priority/delegation (acute vs. chronic stable vs. unstable and what roles RN/LVN/UAP have or not).
Put the time in and go for it! You will knock NCLEX out of the park in round 2! :)
Scaredsilly, if you have something to say you can direct it to me! No need to sugar coat it, with your fakeness. Someone who tries to help does not insult and berate another individual. Did I ever say that I would want a nurse who barely passed the nclex to take care of us? NO. You have obviously missed the point of my post. Maybe if YOU had above passing in every area besides ONE(pharmacology) then you would understand peoples frustrations on the set up of the test.... Have a nice day!!
wow! Do you realize that you are probably the most abrasive obnoxious person on these boards? You come on here and people try to HELP you when you threaten suicide and then take your frustrations out on everyone. Duskyjewel did not deserve your nastiness and neither do I! I purposely did NOT address my post to you because 1. You aren't the only one and 2. I didn't want to be mean to someone who is obvious need of compassion. I will say the same thing to you as you said to Duskyjewel...if you don't like what I say, don't read it. Simple. I will quote you a second time--you don't know me! Who are you to call me a fake?
That said, I sympathize, I really do! It sucks to fail. It sucks more to be THAT close and still fail. I get that. No, I got above the passing line on all subjects, but to be honest if I had gotten all of them except only one, I would know where to focus my review so even though I would have been frustrated I would have had a study plan in place that would probably work! We have to be above the passing line on all subjects because patient safety is at risk if we aren't. You do not seem stupid, I'm sure once the shock of failing passes, you will understand that
You really need to add a nurse's compassion and caring to your posts before everyone on these boards stop answering you though. You really have not been very nice to anyone and we really are here to help others (you included)! Instead of bashing us, why don't you sit down, figure out what kind of help you need and ask for it. I bet you will be pleasantly surprised.
Please dont come in here saying you are trying to help by adding snide remarks and downright insulting while defending another person who attacked me. With the people who tried to help, I thanked them and appreciated it. You think I just attack random people for no reason?
If you did not want to adress the post to me directly, then you should have said NOTHING at all! You indirectly made a snide remark and thought you were so smart trying to cover it up. I did NOT deserve the other posters nastiness either, so quit being a hypocrite! You think both of you could just talk to me anyhow and not expect a response? you are NOT my mother, my boss or God, so what gives you the right?If YOU do not like my response, then perhaps you should have kept mute and said nothing at all. And you also know NOTHING about nurse compassion so dont give me that nonsense, just by reading through someones post. You make it seem like I have attacked everyone, whereas the only ones I have acted angry towards were YOU and your friend with the rude remarks.
and you are one of the most RUDE and pretentious poster in here. Dont come in here saying you are trying to help by adding snide remarks and downright insulting while defending another person who attacked me. With the people who tried to help, I thanked them and appreciated it. You think I just attack random people for no reason?
If you did not want to adress the post to me directly, then you should have said NOTHING at all! You indirectly made a snide remark and thought you were so smart trying to cover it up. I did NOT deserve the other posters nastiness either, so quit being a hypocrite! You think both of you could just talk to me anyhow and not expect a response? you are NOT my mother, my boss or God, so what gives you the right?If YOU do not like my response, then perhaps you should have kept mute and said nothing at all. And you also know NOTHING about nurse compassion so dont give me that nonsense, just by reading through someones post. You make it seem like I have attacked everyone, whereas the only ones I have acted angry towards were YOU and your friend with the rude remarks. Take responsibilities for your actions and quit acting like you are a perfect Saint!!
Like I said-no helping some people. ATTACK away---I think that there is an ignore feature here.
It is okay to feel stressed out. You have a second shot! you already know the level of difficulty on studying for the exam. You have a better idea of what is expected for you. Since you have Saunders you can try looking up "Suzanne's plan" and see if it works for you. If you wish I can send you my 2 month study calendar. Something to give you at least a guide on where to go from here.
cinlou, BSN, MSN, RN
231 Posts
Baby's are very good at sensing what you are feeling, if you are stressed they will be stressed. Sounds like your babe is feeling your pain. I have been told by many students that Kaplin was very good. Remember that the NCLEX questions are based on critical thinking, and as you have discovered nothing like TEAS, or classroom tests. You have to reason your way through to the answer and keep in mind your ABC's, and QSEN, look for answers related to safety very big. Do questions daily with rationals. Review how to tips on taking tests, and take some relaxation time. Many students fail because of anxiety rather than knowledge. There is such a thing as over studying. If your baby knows you are stressed you should listen.
When I have orientation for my new students, one of the things I tell them is that nursing school is nothing like general education. GE students memorize long enough to take a test and then they forget the information, they never move the knowledge from short term to long term.
In nursing school you must learn how to transfer your knowledge over to long term and the only way to do that is through repetition and critical reasoning. Association, mnemonics, think in pictures. ex. a ladder would be climbing, a lake would be CHF. Have your wife quiz you, so you can talk your way through a scenario.