Taking the NCLEX multiple times

[cambrose]

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.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Fallacy here. If more than 80% of first-time takers pass their licensure for beginning, entry-into-practice competency (which they do), "going in blind" doesn't seem to be an issue. Besides, is there any nursing program in the country that hasn't been using NCLEX-style questions for every single midterm and semester exam since the first semester? "Blind"?? "There are none so blind as those who will not see."

I was just thinking that no one should be going into the exam "blind". It is not a test that jumps out at the candidates, taking them completely by surprise. The only surprise that they should have is that it was harder than they thought, or easier than they thought. I definitely understand those viewpoints. But being taken completely unaware? Not knowing what to expect? That's hard to understand, given the kind of preparation that nursing schools do for their students (with the exception of those with poor passing rates which are about to lose (or have just lost) accreditation).

Review/prep courses tell the candidate what to expect. They show the various format types, and detail the domains of knowledge that will be tested. There is no 'surprise' testing component on the exam. Even a cursory review of the NCSBN website---the creators of the NCLEX---reveals a very transparent testing process.

NO one should be able to say "I went in blind" unless they graduated from a school about to close AND didn't crack a review book before NCLEX Testing Day.

[steppybay]

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

Here's seven known nurses in CA and there's more: https://allnurses.com/international-nursing/use-fake-transcripts-929155.html

With CA looking at every international nurses from the Phils, most of the cheating nurses are going to TX where the requirements are much more relaxed in terms of not requiring proof of their local country's nursing license and using evaluation services (CFGNS and the likes) that bypasses what the CA BRN is strictly enforcing (concurrency rules) since Nov. 2011.

CA BRN does not depend on those outside evaluation reviews and does their own internal investigations.

[ambr46]

I think some of it boils down to what school you attend for your nursing program. Some schools have like a ninety nine percent pass rate while I have seen others with a fifty percent pass rate. There must be a big difference in the curriculum to have that big of a difference in pass rates right? A nearby private college that charges an arm and leg for tuition has one of the lowest pass rates in California but is still allowed to operate. It's sad to see anyone get ripped off and not able to pass...but a little research goes a long way.

[dinah77, ADN]

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

Is there any evidence for that? When I took NCLEX, My school had to directly send in the info rfor my ATT

[OCNRN63, RN]

You're bifurcating How about one who knows their stuff the first time?

Well yeah, if the person has a fake diploma, it's highly likely s/he won't be a good nurse. Your point?

[OCNRN63, RN]

I think that everyone who is posting about how the BON should limit the times of taking the Nclex should just care about their own business.

Making sure we have competent colleagues is​ our business.

[2013rn2BScorpio]

But in all actuality we have no control over who is competent or not. Even if a person passed on their 10th time and the BON grants them their license, what control do we REALLY have?

The post that just keeps on giving í ½í¸†

[cambrose]

I think that everyone who is posting about how the BON should limit the times of taking the Nclex should just care about their own business. There are good nurses on the field who took the Nclex over 3 times but doesn't make them bad nurses. Some People are good on clinical skills, but not good on test taking, so what ? I am happy for those who passed their Nclex on the first try but I am more than 100% sure that before you passed you were scared and nervous as the one who couldn't make it on the first try. You cannot be giving opinions on what a BON should or shouldn't do with the ones who fail their exam that is not your job! 😑. We are nurses and our job is to provide a better care none of us was born a RN so be humble and instead of criticizing or caring about how many times someone took their Nclex plan on work as a team. I hope I never have the opportunity to work with anyone who posted negative comments and opinions and who cares more about people's business than caring about your patients. Work on how to make a difference on your patients' life or work on doing something positive/ improvements for nursing. I know doctors who didn't pass their boards on their first try and some of them passed on their 5th try and they are excellent surgeons! 😎

It is shameful that nurses attack each other 😢. For everyone's record I passed my exam with 93 questions on my second attempt and I am proud and I am not ashamed to admit it. For those who haven't pass the Nclex don't get discourage and don't listen or read negative comments. It will do better to you if you block negative people from your life while you are studying for your exam. ☺️

I just want to be clear because I understand where you are coming from, but if you read my original post I specifically say not to bring anyone down and do feel that nurses who have passed the nclex should be encouraging to future perspective nurses. It was a strict opinionated thread about the states current policies regarding retaking and opinions about them. I am pro patient care by providing efficient, accurate, and sometimes life saving measures to each and everyone of them. And if the NCLEX tests minimum competency then why do we have people who have to take the boards over SIX times. The opion part was based off of how do we obtain a better passing rate with minimum attempts that would allow for minimum competency?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I think some people just suck at taking written tests...but on the floor, they ROCK!

Eh....or they suck on the floor too. Like I said, the extremes are not the norm.

[dorrybnursing]

Here's the thing it can work both ways with test taking skills. I believe myself to be an excellent test taker, do I know the material, understand the concept, not always but I can get the answer correct enough to do well on your test. Because I know this I always over study to make sure I am learning rather getting just enough to pass the test.

[addy734]

What to expect at the NCLEX-RN?