Second Time Test Takers

[PennyNickelDime_RN]

i need some encouragement. i failed the nclex my first try this past week. i have already submitted all the information again to the state and pearson vue in order to get another att. my biggest concern is this: all i keep reading is that a persons chances of passing are "greatly reduced" if they failed the first time. first of all, i find this hard to believe but maybe i'm wrong. i just don't see how if you take the test the second time in a timely fashion that your chances could be reduced by almost 1/2 is what i read.

secondly, people who have either recently failed at their first attempt or more importantly, people that failed the first time but passed the second time please share your comments and opinions with those of us that are freaked out about being a second time test taker.

i know myself and others would greatly appreciate it. thank you in advance for taking the time to post.

:urgycld:

[suzanne4, RN]

Sorry, that you did not pass.

But that is why you should prepare as if you have never tested and start over again from the beginning, that will help your chances of passing this time and it can be easily done.

Best of luck to you.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

I passed on third attempt and each time I studied I looked at the plan and decided how I was going to do it. Each time I started from scratch although used the printout which to give me an idea on what areas I needed to look at

[PennyNickelDime_RN]

I most certainly am going to approach studying like it is the first time. Obviously there are areas that I was extremely weak in. I used Kaplan only the first time around and even though I was in the scoring range where Kaplan says you are ready...obviously that was not the case with me. I do have test anxiety and perhaps that got the better of me because when I do study and answer questions I do very well. I'm confused to say the least. One problem was my nursing program stressed that we should take the exam asap. I feel that was a detriment to me especially due to the fact that I started working full time about three or so weeks before my test date which drastically cut in to the time I had available to study. I am fortunate that my nurse manager wanted me to take a personal leave of absence instead of quitting since I am not a CNA so could not work as a nurse tech at the hospital I am working at. I feel fortunate that I am in a position where I can do that.

I just so desperately want to pass this second time around but don't need to read and hear that passing rates go down by half. That just seems illogical to me.

Thanks for your responses and keep them coming.

[OSCAR265]

Thats really interesting that failing the first time reduces your chance...that really freaks me out....i am in the EXACT same boat as you....i desperately need and want to pass the second time around. I think it would be best to just forget that and not place ourselves in some statistic because it will do nothing but harm us. I am convinced the reason I didn't passed the first time is because I was super nervous...I went into the test with a huge misconception that if it didn't shut off at 75 then I probably was going to fail....at question 76 I zoned out and cannot remember anything from then on...all i know is i sat there for 4 straight hours and did not take a break which was also a huge mistake.... I had the entire 265. Whenever I take the practice questions in NCLEX review books I, like you, do awesome....this is probably very naive of me to say but i really don't feel as if i could have "studied" any more for that test....I just plain and simple flipped out. So i guess what im trying to say is you and I need to calm ourselves down, believe that we can do it, stop reading statistics...and stop paying attention to negative things said that may discourage us. We will pass the second time if we just develop a couple new coping mechanisms and ease our anxiety by continuing to do awesome on practice questions. I can retake mine in 45 days....how about you?

[PennyNickelDime_RN]

Yes I can retake in 45 days also. I will only hold good thoughts for you and hope that we both are successful our second time around. Thanks for your kind words.

[Mimi2322]

Don't focus on the fact you didn't pass focus on taking the test again. I don't like being lumped into a category about not passing. Each person is different and you can get through this.