The Commuter(s), Any and All RN's What's the real deal?

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Good day to you all. I just first want to say that I love and appreciate allnurses.com. I've been on it since 2012 and I just turned in my ADN application for Fall 2014 (can't wait until April 1st to find out). I really want a true answer because this has been bothering me since I've been on the website. Seriously, what is it about the NCLEX that have people taking it 3, 4, 5 times just to pass? Are the skills and lessons we learn during nursing school have nothing to do with test or something? Maybe one study guide is better than others? Does some of the questions have more than one choice? WHAT IS IT??? lol :banghead: It's really got me thinking about buying a NCLEX study guide right after I get my acceptance letter in April (I hope anyway). Thank you for your time.

And BTW: That's a lot of money too.

No nerve hit, I just rather people answer a question how it is asked just like a Judge in a courtroom would expect that's all. I have the best replies from all others. Live and let live, dear. Thank you.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Thanks for the advice: ThePrincessBride First of all "worry" was no where mentioned in my discussion. Anyway, I am the one to own whatever I put my mind to and this journey right here right now,I own. Sorry if I hit a nerve that may have applied to you, though. It's all good. Live your life well, ThePrincessBride.
You haven't hit a nerve with me, dear. I'm already in nursing school and have taken NCLEX-styled questions and have over two years of experience in healthcare. Focus on getting into nursing school and doing well in your classes and the nclex will be a piece of cake.

You would do well to heed advice and not cop an attitude with those who have been there and done that and just trying to help out. Ok?

Have a nice day.

No nerve hit, I just rather people answer a question how it is asked just like a Judge in a courtroom would expect that's all. I have the best replies from all others. Live and let live, dear. Thank you.
Good afternoon! Let's keep the debate friendly and civil. Thanks to everyone for their anticipated cooperation with this request. :)
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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
No nerve hit, I just rather people answer a question how it is asked just like a Judge in a courtroom would expect that's all. I have the best replies from all others. Live and let live, dear. Thank you.

If you had done your research, you would realize that the vast majority of people pass the nclex the first or second time and that these serial nclex takers are in a very small minority. Why you feel the need to focus on them when there are many threads dedicated to the topic is beyond me.

Pre-nursing students who feel the need to get hostile are amusing to say the least.

Adios.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Seriously, what is it about the NCLEX that have people taking it 3, 4, 5 times just to pass? Are the skills and lessons we learn during nursing school have nothing to do with test or something?

Reason(s) people fail the NCLEX...and they can happen to both the worst students as well as to the best:

  • They barely made it through nursing school through lack of studying, or adopting the "C=RN" mentality and doing the minimum amount of work/effort required
  • They cheated their way through nursing school
  • Their school's education isn't up to snuff (AEB low NCLEX pass rates)
  • They went to a foreign school and things are lost in translation (cultural/practice differences)
  • They haven't learned to critically think
  • They haven't learned to think in NCLEX fashion--that is, to find the best answer among a field of technically right answers.
  • They forget that the NCLEX is based on the "ivory tower" world of nursing where everything is unrealistically perfect, and not on "real world" nursing. This trips up those with prior healthcare experience.
  • They fail to follow the test's rules, such as using a cell phone on a break when cell phone use is not allowed
  • Testing anxiety of whatever type
  • They think certain types of questions (SATA, calculations, pictures, whatever) are one of the 15 experimental/un-scored questions and don't even try to answer them correctly. Yes, I have seen this one happen.

Most testers pass the NCLEX on the first go. It doesn't feel like you're going to pass: almost everyone I know (including myself) walked out of the testing center certain as hell that they failed. And it may take 75 questions, 265 questions, or any number in between to pass...

BTW, more test questions doesn't necessarily mean a stupider nurse. It just means more test questions were needed to determine whether the tester is competent. And people have been known to fail in 75.

Personally, I think an applicant should be allowed one retest. Failing once can be chalked up to testing anxiety, educational differences, too many damn SATAs, etc. But if they fail twice, then it's clear that they need remediation and should be required to take a refresher course before they are eligible to test again.

Hope this helps explain it a bit.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
There are numerous factors that cause a graduate to not pass NCLEX on the first try: 1 Their program didn't prepare them effectively to pass NCLEX (exams may have not been NCLEX style questions) 2 They may wait months before taking it 3 They may not have studied for it before taking it

^This.

I agree with The Princess Bride,The Communter GrnTea and others; as long as you are able to grasp the knowledge through theory, apply it in clincials, the NCLEX is purely a formality.

From my POV, I had test anxiety as well as anxiety issues and passed it once, as a PN and as a BSN student.

A good program can give the student what they need, but it's up to the student as well; the student has to be willing to identify what they need to do what is successful for them to understand and critically think like a nurse; and even afterwards there is more learning to do in this business. :)

Congrats and good luck!

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I passed the NCLEX-PN on the first time. Just gotta remember that there may be more than one right answer and you have to choose the best right answer. A big part of nursing is prioritizing and the NCLEX reflects that.

On a different note, I truly believe that at least part of the NCLEX should be clinical. Nursing is one of the few licensed careers that does not have skills testing in order to be state licensed. I've seen many nurses who are book smart, passed the NCLEX, but cannot insert a catheter or give an IM injection...

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Reason(s) people fail the NCLEX...and they can happen to both the worst students as well as to the best:

  • They barely made it through nursing school through lack of studying, or adopting the "C=RN" mentality and doing the minimum amount of work/effort required
  • They cheated their way through nursing school
  • Their school's education isn't up to snuff (AEB low NCLEX pass rates)
  • They went to a foreign school and things are lost in translation (cultural/practice differences)
  • They haven't learn to critically think
  • They haven't learn to think in NCLEX fashion--that is, to find the best answer among a field of technically right answers.
  • They forget that the NCLEX is based on the "ivory tower" world of nursing where everything is unrealistically perfect, and not on "real world" nursing. This trips up those with prior healthcare experience.
  • They fail to follow the test's rules, such as using a cell phone on a break when cell phone use is not allowed
  • Testing anxiety of whatever type
  • They think certain types of questions (SATA, calculations, pictures, whatever) are one of the 15 experimental/un-scored questions and don't even try to answer them correctly. Yes, I have seen this one happen.

Most testers pass the NCLEX on the first go. It doesn't feel like you're going to pass: almost everyone I know (including myself) walked out of the testing center certain as hell that they failed. And it may take 75 questions, 265 questions, or any number in between to pass...

BTW, more test questions doesn't necessarily mean a stupider nurse. It just means more test questions were needed to determine whether the tester is competent. And people have been known to fail in 75.

Personally, I think an applicant should be allowed one retest. Failing once can be chalked up to testing anxiety, educational differences, too many damn SATAs, etc. But if they fail twice, then it's clear that they need remediation and should be required to take a refresher course before they are eligible to test again.

Hope this helps explain it a bit.

My computer shut off at the minimal amount of questions possible, I thought without a doubt that I had failed. I cried the entire way home afterwards...

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
My computer shut off at the minimal amount of questions possible, I thought without a doubt that I had failed. I cried the entire way home afterwards...

So did mine, and so did I. I tested on a Friday, I wouldn't be able to find out until Monday at the earliest...it was the worst weekend of my life.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
Just remember that the overwhelming majority of grads take the NCLEX once pass and live happily ever after.[/quote']

This. ;)

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My computer shut off at the minimal amount of questions possible, I thought without a doubt that I had failed. I cried the entire way home afterwards...

Mine also cut off at the minimum, and I started freaking out because I felt like I'd only had one or two truly difficult questions. I think I had 15 or 16 SATA - one of my classmates had almost 50! I was 100% convinced that they all felt easy because I'd gotten them all the harder ones wrong and was below the passing line . . . nope. The practice questions I had were just SO STINKING HARD, and my school had been pushing us to do those practice questions for SO LONG, that even 60%-70% on practice tests got me through the NCLEX just fine.

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Specializes in mommy/baby, home health, school nurse.

About a million years ago when I took my board, (we had paper and pencil, fill in the circles) we had our testing over 3 days in Atlantic City at Boardwalk Hall. By the end of the first group of test questions, I had completely relaxed, because I was convinced that I was going to fail. I had, and still do have, a horrible amount of test anxiety...even now thinking about it I'm getting sick.:confused: I ended up passing. Our school did not teach in the same style as the boards. I took a review class and was very surprised by the style of questions. I think that if you study, relax, and pay attention on the floors, you should do fine. I understand not wanting to pay all that money for a degree/diploma and not being able to pass a test to use it. Good Luck!!

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Specializes in kids.
About a million years ago when I took my board (we had paper and pencil, fill in the circles) we had our testing over 3 days in Atlantic City at Boardwalk Hall. By the end of the first group of test questions, I had completely relaxed, because I was convinced that I was going to fail. I had, and still do have, a horrible amount of test anxiety...even now thinking about it I'm getting sick.:confused: I ended up passing. [/quote']

AND we waited 6+ weeks to get our test results!!!!

I too passed! 30 years later here I am now looking at retirement being sooner than later!!

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