So I failed my first attempt at NCLEX...

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About 3 weeks ago I took my first attempt at the NCLEX-RN exam. I admit I was sick when I took it but not the kind of sick that should have affected my score. I received all 265 questions on the exam and, also admittedly, I began to freak out after 175. I tried taking a break but that made my nerves worse...

Anyway, I did not pass. Since I got all 265 questions I know I was extremely close to passing. Does anyone have any ideas of how to better prepare myself for the next exam?

I am currently taking the remedial course form HURST review and a friend of mine is quizzing me on terms. That said, I don't think that content is my problem. I don't know how to keep myself from getting nervous and I have never had this problem with any other type of exam so I don't know how to counteract it. Since I didn't pass the first time I think my anxiety might be even worse the next time I take it.

Can anyone give me some ideas of how to make myself less anxious?

I did make sure that this time my exam is nearby and early in the morning so that I don't have time to fester thinking about it before hand. (Last time my exam was in the afternoon so I had all morning to sit and think about it. I couldn't even read my review I was so scared!)

Any help would be appreciated! I can't afford to take the exam a third time (for multiple reasons, but the main one being I just don't have the money.)

I think its great that you're not mopping around and blaming the world for your problem. I used Kaplan's online test bank, (Q bank and Question trainer). I never bothered to review content just kept on answering questions. It seems like the nerves is whats getting you. I was the same...everytime I kept thinking "omg i dont know this answer, im going to fail" I started doodling on my pad and drawing funny faces to make me relax. It was so funny when the lady collected my whiteboard, she laughed at all my happy faces and said thats a first. But hey, it calmed me down and I was able to pass with 150 questions.

I think answering alot of questions helps. Once your comfortable with the questions, you wont feel so anxious anymore with each question that comes up on your exam. what i did was answer 75 questions everyday like the real exam, without looking at answers until I finally got to a point where i knew the answer right away just by reading the question. Hope this helps. goodluck!

I know exactly what you are going thru. I was sick my first time around and took a ton of questions and did not pass. However I did the Hurst review and retook the test. This time I took 75 questions and passed.

My advice for you is do what you are doing and don't worry. I feel you did just like me it wasn't that you didn't know the answers but the fact that you were sick!

Good luck and next time you will do great!!

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