Should there be a limit on trying to pass NCLEX?

Nurses General Nursing

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I often see where people have failed NCLEX 3 or more times. Some states require a remedial course of study after failing so many times. Arizona will allow multiple times in 1 year. In Kansas, you must petition the board if you take more than 24 months after graduation to pass NCLEX. In Louisana you can only take the NCLEX four times in four years. In Michigan, it is 3 years or a max of 6 tries. South Carolina is 4 tries in one year and then remediation.

http://www.virtualnursinghome.com/licensure.htm

Most of the states do not have a limit for retaking the NCLEX. You can keep going and going and going. Eventually the law of averages will catch up, and the test will be passed, IMO.

So, how do you feel about the number of times a person should be able to take the NCLEX exam? Remember, this is the same nurse that will be taking care of you or your loved ones. Should remedial education be required after 3 tries, 5 tries, a certain time frame?

This is a harsh world, there are some people who should not be nurses, and if the NCLEX is one way to prevent that, then I am in favor of a 3 try limit, followed by remediation and then one more try to pass.

I feel that the practice of allowing unlimited re-takes does nothing to advance the practice of nursing.

bob

What I would like to see is the old paper test being made an option for those who failed the computer test.

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Specializes in NP, ICU, ED, Pre-op.

As someone who is getting ready to take the NCLEX for the 1st time I am not sure how I feel about this. On one hand I believe there should be a limit like 3 times and then petition for the last one. BUT then I think that could be ME!!! :uhoh3: I do however think more people would take prep classes if they were more affordable, or there place of employment would cover the cost. $400 is a lot of money no matter how you look at it....This is the cost for Kaplan (the leading prep) others are better but still around 200-300. So not only is it 200 to take the test, plus individual state fees (mine 110) then a prep class????? Some don't even have a JOB....how is this affordable...

IMO. when the prep classes become more reasonable, for those that need it do to anxiety.... perhaps there will be less failures... :) IMO

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as someone who is getting ready to take the nclex for the 1st time i am not sure how i feel about this. on one hand i believe there should be a limit like 3 times and then petition for the last one. but then i think that could be me!!! :uhoh3: i do however think more people would take prep classes if they were more affordable, or there place of employment would cover the cost. $400 is a lot of money no matter how you look at it....this is the cost for kaplan (the leading prep) others are better but still around 200-300. so not only is it 200 to take the test, plus individual state fees (mine 110) then a prep class????? some don't even have a job....how is this affordable...

imo. when the prep classes become more reasonable, for those that need it do to anxiety.... perhaps there will be less failures... :) imo

yeah, it is a lot of money, but to become a professional, this is part of the process. other professions' exams are far more expensive, and the cost gets higher everytime you have to take it. i also think it gives the lackadaisical student some food for thought when they have to pay for these tests: 'if i don't pass i have to pay this again?' i admit that i passed on the first try (and many, many do), but i lived in 3 days of limbo waiting to find out how i did - since the test shut off after 75 questions. (i either really failed or really passed! thank goodness it was the latter.) i think there should be limits on the number of times someone takes the exam, taking into account that remedial training in test-taking skills may need to play a part. there should also be other ways of taking the exam.

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I admit when I see on this BB that a nurse has failed 3 times and is trying for #4 I am concerned. I would support a limit, for the safety of the public.

The 3 states I've practiced in, the BON keeps board exam scores on file for future reference, so those who try 4 times DO have this 'in their permanent record' so to speak. If they move to another state, this record goes with them. I know, I just did this. :)

I assume if these nurses are reported to the BON their performance on the NCLEX, good or bad, WILL be taken into consideration.

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Three strikes and you're out seems to be a good rule that could apply here.

I think the nursing profession would be held in greater esteem if it didn't look like any Tom, Dick and Harry could be a nurse. Essentially, that is what is happening when people are allowed to take the NCLEX 3+ times. I can understand failing once, but once you fail it seems like you would know what you need to study.

Do you want a doctor who had to take the medical boards numerous times?

Yes, it is a cold cruel unfair world but there are people who should not be nurses, and the NCLEX isn't doing the world any favors with their testing system.

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Specializes in Critical care.

I feel that a person should be given no more than 3 times to pass the test then after that they should go to a formal remedial course and get 2 more tries. Once those 2 tries are exhausted then do school over again or find something else. I know this sounds harsh and it is. Many people are poor test takers and have anxiety when stressed. These same people are taking care of our family and friends and may not be able to do critical thinking that may be needed to save their lives. I also on the other hand have seen several pass the first time that couldn't figure out which end of the pen the write with. In some cases it would be a catch 22, some will be left out that will be great nurses, but overall by setting limits I feel it will weed some that maybe should not have become nurses. Most of us in this forum have taken the NCLEX and understand it is only a test, but it is the first safeguard to protect our patients and should never be compromised.

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Specializes in NICU.

This is a really interesting debate. I'm preparing to take the NCLEX on the 14th, in just 5 days!! Of course I'm scared of the possibility of failing it, but I'm keeping my head up and going in there with the attitude that I'll pass :) But if I fail it, does that mean that I shouldn't be a nurse? I don't think so.

Having a limit on the number of tries? I don't know because like bbcwalters said, what if it's me in that position?! I think if I failed it the first time then I would do remediation and work on ways to improve.

The NCLEX, a test that you can get 75 questions on, testing you on your critical thinking and prioritizing skills ...... would I want to pick a nurse to take care of me based on whether she passed the NCLEX the first or even second time? HELL NO!

There was a girl working on the mother/baby unit where I did my preceptorship last semester. She had been working there for a few months but the other nurses complained about her because she would do such dangerous things ..... she'd chart stuff that she didn't do, she'd do stuff that she didn't chart, she didn't follow up on a 95 degree temp, she didn't follow up on a 70+ respirations. She did a ton of stuff like that and they also complained because she didn't even know how to do the heel sticks the correct way. One of her coworkers said she was afraid she was going to kill someone if something wasn't done about her soon! I was talking to her one day, just chit chatting .... telling her I was about to graduate in May and she was telling me all about taking boards, said she passed with 75 questions on her first try, etc. All I could think of was WOW, that's scary!

Just because someone passed boards on the first try doesn't make them a good nurse. Just because someone doesn't pass on the first, second or third try doesn't make them a good nurse.

If you're going to base their qualifications to be your nurse on their NCLEX performance, then why not ask for their transcripts and see how their grades were in nursing school as well as in all their clinical areas?

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

I had initially thought there should be a limit, but then I thought it would be better to find out if those who take the boards, say more than 3 times, are as competent as those who pass it in less than 3. If it doesn't have any impact on overall competency, don't limit it. I'm betting there's no corelation.

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I feel it is a total (shame) for (anyone) to discourage someone from trying to keep taking their nclex since it is a (very) stressful experience and that even people with (a`s ) in school may fail. Who can judge another? Things work theirselfs out in life. For those who make it on the first time passing (COUNT yourself LUCKY because a nurse shouldn`t be determined by how good they do on a test but how good they do in the field. And guess what? That takes time because we all need experience.I took my test yesterday and maybe I will fail...or maybe I will pass...I certainly don`t want someone to discourage me because there are MANY DIFFERENT reasons why anyone might fail.Instead of getting the big head try to help or find out a way to help someone else...ie...(I think that is true nursing....

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think that taking the test three times is enough. If you are still far from passing, there should be some type of evaluation done to determine what the problem is and remediate. Looking for some undiagnosed learning disability might be a good place to start. Another place would be a consultation with your school - did you have trouble passing tests there? What kind of strategies were used in order to be successful.

I'm not saying taking the test repeatedly should not be allowed. However, I do think there needs to be some problem-solving done after you fail several times. Continuing to take the exam as often as it is offered might not be in the test-taker's best interest.

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If someone could pass school to be a nurse, I think there should be no limits on taking NCLEX...It would be a deterrant to some people to go into nursing if there were limits on taking NCLEX.

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Specializes in NICU.

If you take the NCLEX 10 times though ...... that's like 200 bucks a pop. Do you really need a nursing job if you have that kind of money? :chuckle

I agree with TraumaRUs, there should be some kind of limit and intervention. I'm not saying repeated testing shouldn't be allowed, but there should be some kind of intervention after 2-3 times taking the test ...... a remediation of some sort to figure out what's going on. That's not a bad thing .... because obviously no one wants to take that dang thing more than they have to.

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