Scared about taking NCLEX for 2nd time

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I have been coming to this site and reading all of everyone's threads and posts and they have been really encouraging to me. I finally took the plunge and joined.

I am taking the NCLEX for the 2nd time on April 8 and am EXTREMELY nervous (everyone is when they take it, right?) I failed the 1st time with all 265 questions and took 5 1/2 hours. I was so drained after I tested that I prayed that I would never have to take it again. Well, I got home and did the "trick" and sure enough, I got the CC screen. I cried it out for a good couple of hours and then brushed myself off and said, well at least I know what the test is like now and what to expect.

Well, now that I am about a week and a half away from testing again, I am really nervous that I will fail again. I used kaplan and mosby the 1st time around and I studied all the time and I really think I drained myself before the test even came. I am using Saunders and the NCLEX 3500 this time around and have been studying quite a bit but I have come to the realization that life still goes on and this test is not my only obligation. I am trying to stay as positive as possible. I have been averaging in the 60-80% with the practice tests.

I graduated in December and am just so frustrated that I can't "start my life" because of this one test. I had a job offer that was taken away after I failed. I just fear that I will NEVER be able to have that RN after my name. :crying2:

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stay strong, keep on praying..I'm also taking my exam on May, it's also my 2nd time..I failed with 265 questions too and could somehow relate to what you're experiencing..test anxiety causes memory loss so we need to keep our anxiety to a minimum..we know what it's like so I think we've got an advantage from hereon out..

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I too failed the nclex the first time around. I was not prepared really, I just scanned the Saunders IV ed. compreh. and I did less than 300 review questions on the CD itself. I thought I can depend on the preparation that I learned from school. Then low and behold I was wrong. I got the dreaded 75 questions without any SATA, and "Grey" screen. (i know these things don't affect the outcome result but somehow when reading the experiences of others, the one's who did real bad are the ones who didnt get any select all that apply type of questions. ) Hehe the computer never moved up to the higher level of questions. It was that bad for me!

So when i was slapped on the face with the Credit CARD PAGE it was the EARLIEST sign of failing, and then I got the CARDINAL sign of failing when CA BON sent me my Statistics score and letter. I jaz felt like a LOSER after telling the friends and family yada yada yada. And yes there was nooooo way of avoiding them because i already ask them to pray for me during my exam and ETC. Well I starting Reading the Saunders Compreh. Review book page by page, system by system, doing the questions in the end of the chapters. Then doing more questions on various sources (nclex 3500, exam cram cd)......

And so after a stronger preparation I realized that the more you prepare for this beast, the more pressure it becomes to attack it!!. I was a Nervous wreck comming into the exam. The night before I had anxiety attacks while trying to sleep! I even woke up my wife many times for her to comfort me of my palpitations, dizzyness, feelings of DOOM!!! I thought too much of the results like, "WAT IF I FAIL AGAIN, It's gona be embarrasing, humiliating, pityfull to all those around me, and plus my ENEMIES will LAUGH and my COMPETETIVE-FOES will smirk with GRATIFICATION...... SOO MUCH PRESSURE this BEAST of an exam it is.

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Don't get upset. You've taken it before so you know what to expect and you've been preparing. So what if it is another no-go? You would just go for it again. But spend your remaining time quietly preparing and getting your best thoughts working. Good luck!

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Thanks for all the thoughts and encouragement. It is nice to come here and talk to others in the same boat. I graduated and moved away from all my nursing friends so it is nice to have people who understand.

Family and friends will encourage you but it feels better when coming from others with the same challenges and getting advise from those who have already taken it and done well.

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You will pass try not to stress too much over it. I just found out I passed today. This was my second time taking the test. The first was 12 years ago. If I can pass anyone can. The first time I took it I was not prepared enough. It sounds like you are very prepared so you will pass. Know rubeola, diabetic ket., how to use an asthma inhaler, cushing vs. addison. , know your drug catagories like "pril" at the end and what they do. Know foods that are better for healing like in traction etc. Lung sounds, just had 1. didn't have any math, had 75 ?'s and had to make a logical guess on most. I knew the first question for sure but after that I had to think them through. Take a break the day before and let your brain rest that seems to help with the stress and being able to pull out the information you need that is somewhere in your brain, and it is in there. I bought kaplan online review and did everything they said to do and answered every question some more than once. That is what helps like everyone says answer as many good questions as you can get your hands on. Go through everyones messages and write down what topics they had on their test that seemed to help me. Know your normal labs because the question will ask you what is wrong. Potassium, calcium, levels. Suicide, post pardum, adolescent. I had about 30 SATA which I am horrible at but just stay calm and give it your best guess because there is no way I got all of them right and I still passed. I got the last question wrong also so don't be discouraged and cry when you get home like I did when I found out I got the last one wrong after reading all the other posts. You will walk out feeling like you failed but go home and do the pearson vue trick because that does work. I have been stressing since Friday at noon till just now about this evil test. If you have any other questions just let me know. I know exactly what you are going through. Good Luck!

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tonja502...First off...CONGRATULATIONS!!! :yeah::yeah:Second, what state did you test in?

I am really nervous about priority patient questions. I always seem to do poorly on those. I had a ton of them on my first test, as well as precautions. If anyone has any tips on those I would greatly appreciate it!

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I also failed in my first try. If you see my last year post i was worried as much as you are right now. All my friends were passing, and i was the only that didnt pass. I took it on wed march 24, i checked it until the sun march 28 that how scared i was. I went to church and said i'm going to see if god sent me a message before i checked that grade. I went there and the pastor was preaching about marriages and relationship. I said this message is not for me at all, but i had a great time. I went home and said lord you made went through nursing that showed me i was meant to be an rn. I didnt do the trick, because the first time it took right at that cc screen. I said no no. I paid the 7.95 and closed my eyes, i sill didn't want to look. I said to myself you may as well because its been four days since i don't study, i need to know if i need to go back to my routine. When i opened my eyes and i saw p a s s. I screamed so loud and ran to my mother for her to come and read it. She said you made it.

Thinking back i always ask god to make me pass my test, before focusing on relationg or marriage. The message was all for me, and i just couldn't get it.

Girl just pray and believe in yourself if i can you can too. Just relax and pray. Sorry for my long story i was just trying to relax you, and show you how god could make it possible.

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tonja502...First off...CONGRATULATIONS!!! :yeah::yeah:Second, what state did you test in?

I am really nervous about priority patient questions. I always seem to do poorly on those. I had a ton of them on my first test, as well as precautions. If anyone has any tips on those I would greatly appreciate it!

Do you have the LaCharity book (Priority, Delegation & Assignment)? That's a good one to practice priority. Hope it all goes well for you! :)

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Specializes in Psych, Skilled Nursing.

good luck and my prayers are with you :)

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First time was Virginia the second time Kentucky. My husband gets transferred a lot with his job. As far as advice for SATA's just do a lot of practice questions like them. The questions I got where mostly like what symptoms would apply to cushings or what symptoms would you see with schizophrenia. I am not good at them at all but just make an educated guess and take your time. When I got to 40 I thought there is no way I am passing this again which I think relieved some stress and I calmed down and told myself to focus. Just take one question at a time and somewhere in these threads somebody said they thought the more sata questions you got the better you where doing so I kept telling myself that for a glimmer of hope. You will pass.

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California = )

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