Too discouraged to try again

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I have been away for a while. I am trying to ponder almost two years after of graduation on why after failing the NCLEX-RN so many times that I should just give up. After multiple failures and thousands of dollars wasted; what is the point. All anybody can tell me is to try again. I read somewhere that first time pass rate is 85% on NCLEX. To me thats not all that impressive. Given the fact that nursing school drills critical thinking to no end. I mean what does an entry-level nurse knows anyway. You only gain competency with knowledge through experience working as a nurse. I had classmates who slept in class and come to class when they feel like it. And they pass the NCLEX. Wheres the justice? I am so sick of people saying that God helped me pass the NCLEX I am going to puke. I was so paranoid of failing I maintained perfect attendance and got good grades in class and clinical. What good did it do me. It is impossible to know everything about nursing. To me NCLEX is a lottery. I don't care what anybody says that i isnt. Who pays $200.00 every time you sit for the exam and hope and pray that you pass. My odds are probably better in a casino. :crying2:

I have been away for a while. I am trying to ponder almost two years after of graduation on why after failing the NCLEX-RN so many times that I should just give up. After multiple failures and thousands of dollars wasted; what is the point. All anybody can tell me is to try again. I read somewhere that first time pass rate is 85% on NCLEX. To me thats not all that impressive. Given the fact that nursing school drills critical thinking to no end. I mean what does an entry-level nurse knows anyway. You only gain competency with knowledge through experience working as a nurse. I had classmates who slept in class and come to class when they feel like it. And they pass the NCLEX. Wheres the justice? I am so sick of people saying that God helped me pass the NCLEX I am going to puke. I was so paranoid of failing I maintained perfect attendance and got good grades in class and clinical. What good did it do me. It is impossible to know everything about nursing. To me NCLEX is a lottery. I don't care what anybody says that i isnt. Who pays $200.00 every time you sit for the exam and hope and pray that you pass. My odds are probably better in a casino. :crying2:

i'm so sorry!! i passed and still felt like it was the lottery. they pass some, they fail some. i believe that for sure. people, including myself, come out knowing they failed, that they guessed at every question and still pass? i don't know, sounds alittle suspicious to me!!! but i look at it like this, eventually u have to pass, right? sooner or later. good luck and if it is something u truely want, then keep on trying and studying.:banghead:

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Erinfly,

Dont give up! As you know I just found out today I passed after the 2nd try. I just wasnt prepared the first time. I took a small break and took a Kaplan review. I found this helpful because the test banks look exactly like NCLEX. I only used the Kaplan, I just did all the questions and read all my answers whether right or wrong. I also got a book called NCLEX pearls of wisdom. This was great because it gave you one line answers to questions from Med surge to Psych. (I suggest getting it). You will do it!

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hi, reading your story i totally understood! I passed my lpn boards in 1999 on the first try no problem. I graduated my RN program August 2007 top of the class and have failed the NCLEX twice, most recently the end of July this year. I am scheduled to take it again November 19th at 8:00am. I remember first seeing "fail" on the quick results screen! It was heartbreaking and humbling:scrying: Then i boost myself up and tried again--still failed or as they say use the word "unsuccessful" I just rescheduled today and it was hard because you want to believe you will pass but with failures it's hard. I'm hoping on this website i can encourage and be encouraged. God knows i truly want to be an RN:nurse: Let's keep each other up buddy! You can do it! We along with many others will do it together!

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Specializes in subacute, geriatrics, paraplegics.

Hey, I took the NCLEX today for the 2nd time, I don't have my results obviously but I feel really crappy about it. I'm trying to stay positive but it's hard. I unfortunately haven't ever been a good test taker. But even if I fail I'll be damned if this test gets the best of me. I'll take it over and over and over again until I pass. Study harder each time there's only so many ways that the NCLEX can ask a question. Good Luck and try to stay positive I know its difficult.

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dont be...just keep on studying hard...

i heard that if you keep on practicing the questions and know the material...

you will do fine...

i am trying to ask for suzanne's help...

good luck !!

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Hello, I can honeslty relate to how you are feeling. I know it took alot to share your story and you are going through alot right now because I am going through the same thing. I have never been through anything so tough and stressful in my life as nursing school and when I got out I have yet to have my dreams come true because I have failed the NCLEX three times now.

I lost a wonderful internship in the ICU at a great hospital the first time I failed NCLEX and I went into a deep depression. I didnt even get dressed for 4 days! I thoguth my world had come to an end. ANd each time I take it and go to the computer to get my quick results and se fail it hurts so bad and I want to give up as well.

I some how manage to piece myself back together again and I know you can too. I know how much effort it takes each time and what it does to yourself but please dont give up!

I am taking the 1st tip of the Suzannes Plan and that has given me new found courage. Try to look into it but give yourself enough time to piece yourself back together again before you ever pick up a book.

Angie:twocents:

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Specializes in O.R..

I feel your pain!! I have went through those feelings too!!! But now...I have decided I will be a nurse and I think it and say everyday!!! Even after failing I had to remind my self I went through 5YEARS of nursing school and I will NOT let this NCLEX defeat me!!!!!!!!! We all all in this together and we can get there with help from each other and support from those here on this forum that have been through the same things.

I found out those who passed on the 1st try for the most part cannot give advice in this situation, you have to live through it, in order to tell someone how to get out of bed, how to go to work and your new grad position is gone, and how to study yet another time and stay encouraged.

I am here to tell you and anyone who reads this msg. WE are in this situation but we will come out like shinning gold when we all all RN's!!!! The fact that we struggled to get our licence will make us the best rn's out there!!!!!!!!!!! keep your head up.:D

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I am also super frustrated! I have failed 3 times and still have not passed. I had the same issue as to classmates who I would not let touch me if I ever saw them in a hospital because I know how they studied and that their commitment to learning sucked. AND THEY HAVE PASSED NCLEX. All I can say is (after being very mad) I have more trouble taking tests and I feel that NCLEX is a lottery as well. My mother passed the first time 75 questions...that doesnt make her a better nurse. She might have gotten questions she's more familiar with. As much as I am negative I try to stay positive because I know I'll NEVER pass it if I'm negative. From one NCLEX fighter to another...I'm rooting for you (well us!) :nmbrn:

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Specializes in sortho/medsurg/homehealth/urgentcare.

It has been 4 years for me and haven't given up yet but was very upset that i failed again this past October after three attempts. It has been 4 years since i had taken the NCLEX and graduated. I will keep trying but have realized that my anxiety had a lot to do with my passing. I attended counseling for my anxiety and took Paxil for almost 6 months until after the test. It truly helped and this time only failed three sections and passed the other five. I had a print out with my pass/fail letter. I am getting closer. I feel that I over came my fear of testing and have faith that I will do this one way or another. I have great support at work and from family. There is a time and place for everything.....

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Dear fellow student,

I am "on the same boat" for lack of a better descriptor to our situation, my friend; however, whenever I think of what I learned each time I have taken the NCLEX, the image I see of myself, believe or not, it is encouraging. I have failed it four times. I have postponed retaking the NCLEX as many times as I have taken it and failed it. Something I have not stopped doing is studying for the NCLEX, though. You must understand that in life we may have to take time to pause, perhaps, you are going through that stage. Do not rush to retake the NCLEX if you do not feel ready for it. You may have to take time to pause...yes, do so if you must, but keep reviewing what you have learned. How did you do the last time you took the NCLEX? That question is for you to answer to yourself by analyzing the performance review you received from the BON. Study that document for it is telling you what you need to know and to improve in order to pass it the next time you take it. If you had sections that were below the passing standard start studying those sections first, next move on to the ones that you were near passing standard and review the sections which you were above passing standards. I have learned to love my private collection of failing letters I received from the Board of Nursing of my area because those letters show me a remarkable improvement on the way I am approaching the preparation to take the NCLEX. The last time I took the NCLEX I was close to pass it. I answered 265 questions which had never happened before for prior to that occasion I answered 75 questions and the test ended. I was hopeful and encouraged when I saw the test continued bringing up questions for me past the 75th question. To be honest with you, I am willing to answer 1,000 if that is what I have to do in order to become a registered nurse. I was above passing standards in one section and near passing standards on the rest. Now, that I discovered Suzanne's first step of her plan I am even more encouraged. Do not see the letters telling you that you failed the test as personal failure but as feedback. Those letters are telling you what to learn in order to pass. When you go to retake the NCLEX do not go with the attitude of "there we go, again." Go with a "clean slate" as if you were taking the NCLEX for the first time. When you pass it and on the market for employment, your employer is not going to ask you how many times you took the NCLEX, anyway. Therefore, do not compare yourself with other people you perceive successful for they did not have to take the NCLEX as many times you had or do not seem to study as much as you had and they pass it, anyway. Ask to yourself in what way that thought helps you to reach your goal. Stay focused on what you want which is getting your license. ATTITUDE IS OF THE ESSENCE. Believe or not the NCLEX makers have designed the test student friendly. They want you to pass, and for sure passing the NCLEX it is not a lottery even if at times you may feel it is so. Passing the NCLEX takes specific skills. I believe, once we understand the process, the skills learned are going to be useful no only for helping us to get our license, but will also help us on analyzing complex situations beyond the NCLEX setting with a new important and useful tool: critical thinking

Best, feliz3

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Nicely said Feliz3

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Best of luck to any who are still working on passing NCLEX. Don't give up.

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