Somewhere on this site: RE: HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD YOU TAKE THE NCLEX-RN?

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Somewhere on this site I found questions regarding the NCLEX-RN and how many times you should take it. Personally, I agree that it should be limited, and honestly, I am one of those students who have taken it multiple times and have failed, and to my embarrassment have not been able to achieve the RN license. Its disappointing to me as I have a ASN for Registered Nursing and go to work on a daily basis as a LPN wishing that I could have just passed that exam. For me, I have extreme test anxiety, every time I walked into that testing center, I would shake, become anxious, hyperventilate, and cry all the way through the exam, sometimes so hard I could not see the screen. The quietness of the room, the people walking in and out of the room through my exam making me wonder if they were taking the same exam as myself, the anxiety I felt as I wanted the computer to "just give me one more question" and not knowing when it would just shut down, would make me panic. Its a terrible feeling. I passed the RN course with A's and did exceptionally well in all my courses. However, when it come to the exam itself, I WAS TERRIBLE!! And I am not afraid to admit it. I have taken the KAPLAN prep-class, with no avail. Still failing the exam, even though I passed with flying colors during the KAPLAN review. Now I am at my wits end!! What do I do from here. I am a practicing LPN in the state of Michigan, I love what I do, I am a confident nurse, what I don't know, I ask, and everyday when I leave work, I am satisfied with a job well done. I gladly learn new things every single day, and contrary to popular beleif, LPN's envoke the same detail in the hospital I work at as the RN's, but the RN's make the LPN's feel very incompetent because of the title differences. Is this fair to those of us who want to be RN's but have difficulty passing the exam? I don't think so. So now, I wonder, and yet to find out, where do I go from here? I am not sure, although I have looked online for the steps to find out, in the state of Michigan, how can I accomplish getting my RN licensure and pass that test? Where do I go from here? I have thought about going back to school to redo my RN courses, to try again, but it is very difficult to do when you have already done this, but I am not afraid to. Is there others steps out there that I can take without having to go back on a waiting list and going through all of this again? I need some advice and some facts, and if anyone out there can point me in the right direction regarding this I would be so thankful and appreciative. This is very important to me and I take what I do very seriously. And personally, I don't beleive that just because I was one of those LPN's who couldn't pass the RN NCLEX, doesn't make me a incompetent or bad nurse. I am a good nurse, and my patients get the utmost care from me, and if that alone is all I have, then I will take that with a smile any day of the week.

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LAM2005,

I think you just have an extremely bad case of test anxiety. Many of us can study and study and know the material like the back of our hand. When test time comes though, we draw a blank

Personally I think LPN's and CNA's who have years of experience have a leg up on the rest of us when it's time to turn into a pumpkin. [an RN! lol:p ]

You certainly are NOT a bad nurse. You do not need to retake your RN classes if you came out with all A's! That is overkill. You may need better review books designed for folks with test anxiety, but not all the classes again.

Have you considered talking with a psychologist, therapist or counselor who works with students on education issues? Look in the phone book and start calling around. You need a specific TYPE of therapist to help you overcome this issue. They may also help you with other deep issues that are keeping you from passing the exam.

I would also suggest you check out tapes, DVD's and books from the library on test anxiety. If you have a college library nearby, go there. They usually have the BEST stuff on this. The DVD's along with the therapist will teach you the relaxation techniques you need to pass the NCLEX.

In regards to what to do about the wait and how to deal with the State of Michigin Board of Nursing, I will let the mods like Suzanne4, Thunderwolf, SmilingBlueyes, Thunderwolf and Siri give you infr on that. They are wise and all-knowing (hehe)!

LAM 2005, anyone who has the skills and brainpower to become an LVN, work for years as a VN, get and RN degree and pass all their RN classes with flying colours is already my hero!

REPEAT AFTER ME, "I WILL PASS THE NCLEX! I'M ALREADY A GREAT NURSE! ARRR!"

I'd wish you good luck, but you don't need it! You are already on your way!

Agape,

Sunnyjohn

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Are you able to sit for the test again, or are you required to go thru a refresher course first?

What did you use to prepare tfor the exam? How did you study and what else did you use besides Kaplan?

If you were an "A" student in school, then you were doing something right. NCLEX is a beast into its self and requires learning what they are looking for in your answer. Which may be something entirely different than you are used to.

Send my your e-mail address by private message on this site and I will gladly send you a copy of a program that I have put together that most find quite beneficial. Do not post it here.

Where in Michigan are you? That is my home state.:)

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Sunnyjohn,

Thank you for your kind words and enthusiasm, this subject has really been quite an issue for me....

LAM2005

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Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.
Sunnyjohn,

Thank you for your kind words and enthusiasm, this subject has really been quite an issue for me....

LAM2005

Good luck, just keep studying!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

If your problem with passing the test is truly due to extreme test anxiety and not due to a lack of knowledge/ability on your part -- and by your description, it sounds as if it actually is -- then you need to treat your test anxiety. No amount of review of the material is going to change your results because not knowing the results is not your problem. It would be like saying, "I have this wound on my arrm ... so, I will bandage my leg."

I have sometimes been critical of people who take the exam repeatedly without getting a good proper diagnosis of their problem. For some people, they fail the test because they don't know the material. Those people need to go back and learn the material better. For other people, they fail the test because they don't have the intellectual skill to apply their knowledge to different situations. Those people need to acquire the skills necessary to apply their knowledge: simply reviewing the material will not help them. Interestingly, many of those people tell themselves (and others) that they failed because the have test anxiety or that they just don't take tests well and keep trying without addressing their real problems. (Sometimes, after finally passing NCLEX on the 5th or 6th try, these folks end up posing problems for staff development instructors as they struggle with orientation because they really do have knowledge and/or skill deficits.)

With you, it seems as if you truly have an anxiety problem that is preventing you from performing well on the test. So please, seek treatment for your anxiety problem. Once you have taken care of that problem, then you will be able to pass the test and move on with your RN career. I suggest finding a good psychologist (or some similar counselor or educational specialist) who can treat your test anxiety disorder. You may benefit from something like hypnosis or aversion therapy or even medication. But find someone who can treat your anxiety disorder so that you can show what you know on the test.

Good luck,

llg

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Ask your doctor if xanax is right for you. I know a few who have needed it for test anxiety

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Let Suzanne help you, take the exam and I will be praying for you! :)

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LAM2005,

I think you just have an extremely bad case of test anxiety. Many of us can study and study and know the material like the back of our hand. When test time comes though, we draw a blank

Personally I think LPN's and CNA's who have years of experience have a leg up on the rest of us when it's time to turn into a pumpkin. [an RN! lol:p ]

You certainly are NOT a bad nurse. You do not need to retake your RN classes if you came out with all A's! That is overkill. You may need better review books designed for folks with test anxiety, but not all the classes again.

Have you considered talking with a psychologist, therapist or counselor who works with students on education issues? Look in the phone book and start calling around. You need a specific TYPE of therapist to help you overcome this issue. They may also help you with other deep issues that are keeping you from passing the exam.

I would also suggest you check out tapes, DVD's and books from the library on test anxiety. If you have a college library nearby, go there. They usually have the BEST stuff on this. The DVD's along with the therapist will teach you the relaxation techniques you need to pass the NCLEX.

In regards to what to do about the wait and how to deal with the State of Michigin Board of Nursing, I will let the mods like Suzanne4, Thunderwolf, SmilingBlueyes, Thunderwolf and Siri give you infr on that. They are wise and all-knowing (hehe)!

LAM 2005, anyone who has the skills and brainpower to become an LVN, work for years as a VN, get and RN degree and pass all their RN classes with flying colours is already my hero!

REPEAT AFTER ME, "I WILL PASS THE NCLEX! I'M ALREADY A GREAT NURSE! ARRR!"

I'd wish you good luck, but you don't need it! You are already on your way!

Agape,

Sunnyjohn

Did you have test anxiety when you were in school? If so, how did you deal with it? Was it diagnosed and treated? If not, I recommend you heed sunnyjohn's advice about seeking out a professional to help you with test anxiety. Get it diagnosed and get treated for it. Have you considered petitioning your state board of nursing for accommodations for your test anxiety? Did you know you can do that? You have to have a legitimate diagnosis in order to do that. It requires documenation from a physician or psychologist. It may be that you need to be in a room by yourself. I think it is worth looking into.

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Hi,

Not sure if you have taken the RN NCLEX again or not, but I serioulsy have the same problem. I have taken them multiple times and haven't passed. This eats at me and when I start thinking about it I have anxiety! Just wondering if you've taken them again and offering my support!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Hi

just to let you know this thread is over 5 years old and OP hasn't been back in nearly 5 years

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Hi,

Not sure if you have taken the RN NCLEX again or not, but I serioulsy have the same problem. I have taken them multiple times and haven't passed. This eats at me and when I start thinking about it I have anxiety! Just wondering if you've taken them again and offering my support!

If you have test anxiety, it would be worth the effort and cost to see a professional to get some help in overcoming this problem, for lots of life's tests, not just the NCLEX.

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