4th time was not a charm

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2015

After multiple unsuccessful attempts, your next best choice would be to hire a tutor. A tutor can help you figure out what the problem is so that you can resolve it. You never said what you used to study, but whatever it was, it apparently did not give you the tools you need to succeed. Contact your school to ask if they have any NCLEX tutors they recommend and if not try caring4you.com

Best of luck!

laughlove · Jan 30, 2015

What did your CPR show? That would be one place to start replanning

baw1309 · Jan 30, 2015

After my 2nd time I got a private tutor for a couple of months. She was an NCLEX certified tutor from my school. Ive used kaplan, ncsbn, PDA, nclex 10,000, saunders and some hurst review. I contacted my school to see if they would allow me to take the ATI program there and they said I could not because I was no longer a current student. When doing practice tests and quizzes I am successful and I am comfortable with content. I do not know what else to do...

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 30, 2015

HOW are you studying?

The issue may not necessarily the source of the review, but how one approaches the NCLEX itself: understanding the four concepts of becoming a competent, entry-level nurse:

1. Safe, effective care;

2.Health promotion;

3.Physiological Integrity;

4.Psychosocial integrity

Will determine WHAT the question is asking you; the question may be Respiratory related-but is it a Health Promotion or a Safety, or a Physiological or a Psychosocial one? Would you know the difference and choose the BEST answer?

Once one understands the concepts of NCLEX, they can do so successfully.

Don't look at content; you know most of the material because you passed nursing school; begin to do questions related to each concept; review all questions and rationales; ANY rationale you struggle with, THEN review content. Lather, rinse, repeat.

When practicing the questions, prepare the questions like a mock NCLEX exam, review the minimum and then work up to the maximum for endurance purposes.

After looking at your report, focus on the weakness and review questions and rationales; make mock NCLEX tests and start with the minimum and gradually until the maximum; you have to have an endurance in answering application questions.

After each "exam", make sure you are reviewing the rationales; any rationales you are not clear on THEN look up for content.

jenniferm89 · Feb 2, 2015

I took my exam too for the 4th time today & not sure what my results are yet. But what I do know is that if I did fail again just keep trying. Do not stray away from your dreams and what you worked very hard for. You survived nursing school for so many years and put in all the work. Just keep trying, studying, focusing. Keep praying and believe that you will pass no matter how many times you have to try. You are not alone. :)

baw1309 · Feb 3, 2015

Ive changed the way I studied a couple of times. The first time I took it I was a month out of nursing school and felt prepared because I had prepared for the exit hesi and also did the NCSBN program and NCLEX 10,000. The second time I used NCLEX 10,000 and I used a kaplan book and learned strategy. Before the 3rd try I got a private tutor, practice strategy to understand what type of question it is and what the question is asking. The 4th time I used Kaplan online. Im not sure if I don't quite understand the concept of Nclex or what. Each time my CPR came back with everything being near the passing standard. This time it came back with two categories below the passing standard, but this time I felt more confident and relaxed than ever. I am starting back at square one and I will take your advice on doing the questions and reviewing the rationales etc. I greatly appreciate your input!!! Thank you!!

baw1309 · Feb 3, 2015

HOW are you studying?
The issue may not necessarily the source of the review, but how one approaches the NCLEX itself: understanding the four concepts of becoming a competent, entry-level nurse:
1. Safe, effective care;
2.Health promotion;
3.Physiological Integrity;
4.Psychosocial integrity
Will determine WHAT the question is asking you; the question may be Respiratory related-but is it a Health Promotion or a Safety, or a Physiological or a Psychosocial one? Would you know the difference and choose the BEST answer?
Once one understands the concepts of NCLEX, they can do so successfully.
Don't look at content; you know most of the material because you passed nursing school; begin to do questions related to each concept; review all questions and rationales; ANY rationale you struggle with, THEN review content. Lather, rinse, repeat.
When practicing the questions, prepare the questions like a mock NCLEX exam, review the minimum and then work up to the maximum for endurance purposes.
After looking at your report, focus on the weakness and review questions and rationales; make mock NCLEX tests and start with the minimum and gradually until the maximum; you have to have an endurance in answering application questions.
After each "exam", make sure you are reviewing the rationales; any rationales you are not clear on THEN look up for content.

Ive changed the way I studied a couple of times. The first time I took it I was a month out of nursing school and felt prepared because I had prepared for the exit hesi and also did the NCSBN program and NCLEX 10,000. The second time I used NCLEX 10,000 and I used a kaplan book and learned strategy. Before the 3rd try I got a private tutor, practice strategy to understand what type of question it is and what the question is asking. The 4th time I used Kaplan online. Im not sure if I don't quite understand the concept of Nclex or what. Each time my CPR came back with everything being near the passing standard. This time it came back with two categories below the passing standard, but this time I felt more confident and relaxed than ever. I am starting back at square one and I will take your advice on doing the questions and reviewing the rationales etc. I greatly appreciate your input!!! Thank you!!

jenniferm89 · Feb 9, 2015

I used Kaplan also. I was shocked because I was receiving scores from 65%-80%s on the question trainers and even in most of the Q banks. Then I hit the nclex and still failed. What I'm thinking of doing this time is studying Saunders and using the Hurst book I made when I purchased it last. I don't think I'll be going back to my kaplan account because I feel I memorized questions so rather I'll study the rationales. Definitely starting at square one with you. I plan on taking the nclex again after the 45 day probation period, so hopefully end of march! Best of luck to you! We can contact each other via text and email if you'd like to study or keep in touch!! much prayers to you and all repeat test takers! :)

Ps. Did the tutor seem to help at all? I'm thinking of looking for one but I know they are expensive and feel they will just teach me things I already know just pressure me to apply. What do u think?

baw1309 · Feb 9, 2015

Hi!! I feel the same way about kaplan. There were some things I liked and some things I didn't like. Like you I was also getting 65-80s on the Qbank and question trainers. I felt so confident on this last test that I was blown away that I did not pass. But it is what it is! That sounds like a good study plan. Ive looked into some other programs and I think I am going to try ATI. It was recommended by some people from my school and some who recently graduated. So far everyone I know who used ATI has passed. It provides you with a online teacher who you video chat with and you know its a basic study program. I think it would be a great idea to bounce ideas off of each other and keep in contact via text or email! Keep up the positive attitude!! This is just a bump in the road and its not going to define what kind of nurse we will be!!

About the tutor. I felt the tutor helped. She assessed whether or not I needed to focus on content or just strategy. I went a total of 5 times maybe. I used the strategy from kaplan on how to answer determine what the question was asking and she would help me out if I got stranded. They are expensive but you could try once or twice to see if it would be beneficial for you. My tutor was an nclex certified tutor that I found through wyzant, but she was previously a tutor at my school too. I guess its all about preference really.