Taking the NCLEX multiple times

Published

So I wanted to write a post about those perspective nurses that can not seem to pass the NCLEX after multiple tries and multiple refresher courses. I recently made a post about the PVT trick and after 70 comments and turned to a weird topic of conversation about not wanting nurses to become nurses if they can't pass the NCLEX the FIRST time, which I believe is complete ********. Me personally I have worked with a bunch of nurses who have passed the first time and failed once and failed multiple times. I know nurses that passed the first time with 75 questions and shouldn't be allowed to empty a foley bag or take a blood pressure and I know nurses that passed it after the sixth attempt who I would allow to be a first assist in a cardiac surgery (just a metaphor). Bottom line is the NCLEX is just a test that measures competency at the time of the exam and does not predict whether a nurse will be good at their job or horrible. What is everyone's personal opinion on the unlimited amount of tries at the NCLEX. Do you agree with the refresher course requirement after the third attempt or do you feel it should be done after each attempt. I personally passed the NCLEX on my second attempt so I believe that the NCLEX doesn't represent a good or poor nurse and I also believe that a good nurse would encourage those who have difficulty passing the NCLEX and give them advice that helped them through it. Please don't put people down in the post that is not my objective but you are entitled to your own opinion so be honest at the same time.

Specializes in Emergency Care.
Look at California, they were having people cheat right and left and send in fake transcripts and it seems that they have issued a lot of RN licenses in that state that were fraudulent and I suspect they will never find out.

I rather have a legit candidate have to take the NCLEX 8 times and pass, versus someone who has fake diploma and can pass the NCLEX

I almost feel like that would be impossible to do. But that scares me the possibility of a fraud nurse with no education.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
2 out of 50 is "many" State...

SMDH.........

Two examples...not only two states. Several require you return to school, others have time limits post graduation.

States like NY & CA allow unlimited attempts without maximum time post graduation. CA charges per attempt so it's a revenue producer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
Noooooooo! I can barely sit through 75 without feeling like there are ants in my shoes! Banish the thought! :no:

Sorry my young friend but I won't. It took 1500 questions for us to prove we had a grasp on the material. There is absolutely no way 75 questions can do that. 75 questions per subject maybe but not for the entire exam.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Care.
Sorry my young friend but I won't. It took 1500 questions for us to prove we had a grasp on the material. There is absolutely no way 75 questions can do that. 75 questions per subject maybe but not for the entire exam.

I agree

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

I passed NCLEX on the first attempt in 75 questions. I feel that in no way does that truly test one for bare minimum competency as novice nurse. I can understand something like test anxiety on the first try. By the second, the taker should know what to expect and where they needed to improve, as that information is provided on the candidate performance report. If the second attempt is a failure, the taker needs to participate in some remediation, which should be mandated by each and every state. After the third attempt, that's it. If the taker wants another chance, they should be required to return to school. A third failure truly demonstrates a lack of knowledge.

This isn't something where a screwup means an inconvenience; a screwup can mean a patient's life hangs in the balance. This isn't a test of proficiency but rather one of only minimal expectations. An inability to meet the minimal expectations speaks of someone who is not retaining the information needed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Sorry my young friend but I won't. It took 1500 questions for us to prove we had a grasp on the material. There is absolutely no way 75 questions can do that. 75 questions per subject maybe but not for the entire exam.

I wish I were young! What seemed odd to me was how few of my 75 questions related to anything I learned in school. It seemed like random street people made most of them up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

If after three tries on the NCLEX the person can't figure out where they are going wrong, I'm sorry it's time to choose a different profession. They can't claim it's test anxiety because they made it through nursing school & received the CPRs that should steer them in the right direction. If that person looked at their CPR & realize what areas they need to study harder then that's scary.

I understand why most BONs let test takers take the NCLEX unlimited times, it's all about making money. But it should be about patient safety. I know someone will bring up how it doesn't say how many times you took the NCLEX on your license. But really think about it, the nurse who was able to study & pass the NCLEX on the first or second try or the nurse who couldn't get her stuff together until the sixth try. That says a lot about a person & what happens when they are under stress & poor planning. Nurses are constantly under stress & I wouldn't want that nurse who couldn't pass her NCLEX until the fifth or sixth time to take care of me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If after three tries on the NCLEX the person can't figure out where they are going wrong, I'm sorry it's time to choose a different profession. They can't claim it's test anxiety because they made it through nursing school & received the CPRs that should steer them in the right direction. If that person looked at their CPR & realize what areas they need to study harder then that's scary.

I understand why most BONs let test takers take the NCLEX unlimited times, it's all about making money. But it should be about patient safety. I know someone will bring up how it doesn't say how many times you took the NCLEX on your license. But really think about it, the nurse who was able to study & pass the NCLEX on the first or second try or the nurse who couldn't get her stuff together until the sixth try. That says a lot about a person & what happens when they are under stress & poor planning. Nurses are constantly under stress & I wouldn't want that nurse who couldn't pass her NCLEX until the fifth or sixth time to take care of me.

I actually worked with an LVN who took NCLEX RN seven times and failed every time. She eventually gave up and just continued working as an LVN. What was weird about the whole thing was that she was a very competent nurse- and I certainly don't feel that way about every nurse. I can't wrap my mind around that one...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Care.
If after three tries on the NCLEX the person can't figure out where they are going wrong, I'm sorry it's time to choose a different profession. They can't claim it's test anxiety because they made it through nursing school & received the CPRs that should steer them in the right direction. If that person looked at their CPR & realize what areas they need to study harder then that's scary.

I understand why most BONs let test takers take the NCLEX unlimited times, it's all about making money. But it should be about patient safety. I know someone will bring up how it doesn't say how many times you took the NCLEX on your license. But really think about it, the nurse who was able to study & pass the NCLEX on the first or second try or the nurse who couldn't get her stuff together until the sixth try. That says a lot about a person & what happens when they are under stress & poor planning. Nurses are constantly under stress & I wouldn't want that nurse who couldn't pass her NCLEX until the fifth or sixth time to take care of me.

Yeah the scary part is we will never know those who took 6 tries to pass. The only way to really see incompetent nursing is stories about lawsuits or those Nurses you work with that should touch a stethoscope... I can see the argument after the third time something has to give which is why some states make you take a refresher course after the third failed attempt but do feel something is seriously wrong with them passing nursing school in the first place...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Yeah the scary part is we will never know those who took 6 tries to pass. The only way to really see incompetent nursing is stories about lawsuits or those Nurses you work with that should touch a stethoscope... I can see the argument after the third time something has to give which is why some states make you take a refresher course after the third failed attempt but do feel something is seriously wrong with them passing nursing school in the first place...

What I don't get is people pass nursing school then on to the NCLEX & fail it but claim to fail it due to test anxiety. I understand the NCLEX is daunting but weren't all the tests in nursing school daunting? You can't pick & choose when you have test anxiety.

I know we don't know how many times each nurse took the NCLEX but I feel there should be something in place to prevent multiple attempts. I like what a PP said. After two failed attempts you have to take a refresher course & then if you fail again, you are done.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Care.
What I don't get is people pass nursing school then on to the NCLEX & fail it but claim to fail it due to test anxiety. I understand the NCLEX is daunting but weren't all the tests in nursing school daunting? You can't pick & choose when you have test anxiety.

I know we don't know how many times each nurse took the NCLEX but I feel there should be something in place to prevent multiple attempts. I like what a PP said. After two failed attempts you have to take a refresher course & then if you fail again, you are done.

I do believe the NCLEX carries a bit more risk than nursing school tests. This is the test that makes nursing school worth all of the tests you took, this is the test that will allow you to practice as a nurse (pending approval from your state), this is a comprehensive test that will include questions from any of the areas of previous study during nursing school... Point is there is going to be more test anxiety with the NCLEX I feel compared to a test you took in school... I do agree with PP's about two attempts after that remediation and after third go back to school but hard to say because I'm not in their shoes...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I do believe the NCLEX carries a bit more risk than nursing school tests. This is the test that makes nursing school worth all of the tests you took, this is the test that will allow you to practice as a nurse (pending approval from your state), this is a comprehensive test that will include questions from any of the areas of previous study during nursing school... Point is there is going to be more test anxiety with the NCLEX I feel compared to a test you took in school... I do agree with PP's about two attempts after that remediation and after third go back to school but hard to say because I'm not in their shoes...

I mean yeah it's nerve wracking don't get me wrong but I found tests in nursing school harder than the NCLEX. Plus nursing school is there to prepare you for the NCLEX.

There is going to be anxiety but not anxiety to the point of not being able to test & if there is that person should already know about it prior to taking the NCLEX.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion