Taking NCLEX for second time....very scared!

nursetobe4 · Jul 22, 2009

You are not alone, i too failed and will be retaking Aug. 24th. I am doing Saunder for content. I took kaplan before and since they have a 100% guarantee, I am retaking it and this time try to use their strategy on how to answer the questions.

Good luck to you and I know you will pass the next time! God Bless...believe in yourself (I am working on that myself) and know that we can do it! We will pass the next time! Take Care :)

mkkew · Jul 23, 2009

Did you take Kaplan and still fail the exam? I was told the guarantee does not apply for anyone with a previous fail. Im still going to take it...in hopes that it helps me out. I am so heartbroken and its taking alot of courage to go for the exam again....it was not a good experience. Thanks for the encouragement

UjonesRN · Jul 23, 2009

Did you take Kaplan and still fail the exam? I was told the guarantee does not apply for anyone with a previous fail. Im still going to take it...in hopes that it helps me out. I am so heartbroken and its taking alot of courage to go for the exam again....it was not a good experience. Thanks for the encouragement

u r not aone i got 265 and failed :crying2: I took kaplan as well... and had a kaplan tutor waste!! But i need to learn how to do that tree and once i get it down i should be just okay.. All so i am waiting on my results to see were i fell short.. Dont worry i heard with 265 we was still in the game all the way to the end!! We confused the comptuer :yeah:

PA_CoffeeFreak · Jul 23, 2009

I took mine today for the 2nd time and the experience felt completely different. It seems as though we are both living parallel lives. The first time I took the NCLEX, I had all 265 questions. I knew without a doubt when I left the testing center that I had failed. The NCLEX just seemed way too difficult in comparison with what I prepared with.

Today, even though I wanted to cry on my way to the exam LOL, my test shut off at 75 questions. I used Saunders for review and Kaplan for questions/strategies. (If I passed the NCLEX, I'll post up a more detailed study plan.) Don't be afraid to crack open your text books. There were some content sections that I had such a hard time with so I opened up my med-surg book and read a few chapters. It helped.

The thing is you can't take the exam without having a strong knowledge base and you can't take the exam without good test-taking skills. It's important to have both. I knew for myself that I needed to use questions with a higher level of thinking required than just the recall used on Saunders. Keep in mind that people use Saunders exclusively and pass. It's the same for Kaplan. There isn't a one-size fits all NCLEX preparation for everyone.

mkkew · Jul 23, 2009

Thank you for sharing your experience. Im hoping for 75 questions next time....everyone from my class that has passed has had 75 and thats it. Nobody that got all 265 has passed so far (including me). How much time did you have between your tests? Im not sure how long I should wait to schedule the second test.

PA_CoffeeFreak · Jul 23, 2009

My first NCLEX was sometime in May 2008. I didn't retake it sooner because of my finances. Couldn't afford to. So, it's actually been over a year. I wouldn't suggest waiting that long. I probably studied for the NCLEX about 5 - 6 months before taking it again this morning.

UjonesRN · Jul 23, 2009

My first NCLEX was sometime in May 2008. I didn't retake it sooner because of my finances. Couldn't afford to. So, it's actually been over a year. I wouldn't suggest waiting that long. I probably studied for the NCLEX about 5 - 6 months before taking it again this morning.

Congrats u PASSED!!!!! :yeah:

mochi6 · Jul 24, 2009

Me too....I took it the first time...265 q's and did not pass. I am studying to take it again this September. I did only Kaplan the first time around. Now I am reading Saunders and also PD&A-LaCharity. I plan on also going back and doing Kaplan again too! I really do hope that the second time is a charm. I think what's hard is that there are days when I am so tired of reading and reviewing material that I experience that anxiety again of...."what if??? what if I don't pass again?" I know I need to stay positive...but there are just those moments when you are just so tired....you know what I mean???? :cry:

mkkew · Jul 24, 2009

I SOOOOO know what you mean. I am finding that I am falling asleep when reading...and after about 20 practice questions, I loose my focus. I am so sick of studying and find it hard to pick up a book sometimes. But, nobody can do this for me...and I worked really hard in school, so I need to buckle down. I will be overjoyed with a passing grade...that is my goal!