Took NCLEX, not sure what to do...

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I took the NCLEX the first time and it shut off at 75 questions. I knew I failed I wasn't prepared, lesson learned. Took Kaplan online and too the NLCEX yesterday, I got all 265 question, took me 5 hours and what a nightmare. I did the PVT thing and it went to the credit card page. I know there is like a 1% chance I can still pass but I'm not betting on it.

So if I failed I'm not sure if I should try another study program like Hurst or ATI. Kaplan's decision tree does not make any sense to me. I have another 6-7 weeks of Kaplan.

Just trying to get some opinions... Thanks

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I'm sorry, but just wait until you get your official results.

If you're lacking in content, have you thought about Hurst

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I had ATI and it was not for me, but I know others it worked well for. You have an online tutor who helps and guides you. I also believe its tests evaluate both your knowledge of information as well as how well you take the test, so that my help if you have the knowledge but are having issues with the type of questions on the NCLEX.

I got it for free with Excelsior and only did one practice exam with them.

I used several online sites (NCLEXRN3500 has a ton of practice questions) and a few apps on my iPad (don't remember the names off hand, free to try but costs to get more questions).

For me though I was at the point that I either know it or I don't. Apparently I did know enough (shut off around 130 questions and I got the good pop up yesterday).

Keep on going, you will do it.

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i had taken the nclex 3 times in the past,, failed,, and everytime i tried the trick,, i would bring me the cc page and i wouldnt even bother pay for quick results,, so the trick really works.. and yestarday i took the nclex for the 4th time.. ok,, well, what i did differently from previous 3 times is that,, i learned the strategy to get to the right answer,, i did all kaplan,, all ncsbn,, kaplan book ( 265+ questions with strategy) about 500 lippincot ,, i also bought the lippincot alternate format questions book... so in other words,, i did extensive amount of questions,, lots of practice,, with using the strategy,, also,, i was spending less time with questions and not adding info.. in addition, i also used timed mode,, instead of practice mode,, all this yielded "good results" according to PVT trick,,, iam going to check tomorrow on thursday and keep everyone posted.. BTW: if anyone needs any sort of help.. please feel free to email me,, ( [email protected]) or maybe through here,, whichever works.. noone should suffer forever.. trust there is a relief

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

It official I failed, I did the quick result just for a piece of mind. I think I'm going to go through the 30hrs of video again and start doing more practice questions. 3rd times a charm right? :)

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Maybe it's wrong of me but I can't help but wonder....Those that failed more than once... You all graduated from an accredited college, right? I ask because I feel like your college failed you, in a way. A nusing school's goal is to produce students that can pass the NCLEX. Call me a 'newbie' but I would think that if the school was on track to produce RNs, those that are destined to fail the NCLEX shouldn't graduate until they can. I mean, I would much rather have my college hold me back...make me repeat classes...versus tossing me an A and sending me out to meet my demise. Passing you seems like it sets you up for failure and disappointment. It's not right....

What do you think of your colleges? What should have gone differently?

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

My school was not accredited, it was mostly an online course. Not my first choice for a school but it was close to where I lived. I was disappointed in the program to say the least. BTW i graduated with a 3.10GPA, so your saying I should have been held back? To pass a class at my school you needed 80% and that's just for a C.

My school changed their program to online right before I started classes. I had too much time invested already to start at another school, waiting lists where I live are between 1-2 years.

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StudentForever77, not a fair assumption. Many people do well in accredited and non-accredited programs yet fail the NCLEX more than once.

Some are not good test takers and don't fail due to lack of knowledge but rather dealing with the type of test the NCLEX is. Some their nerves get the best of them every time they test.

I graduated from Excelsior College with a 3.0 GPA and don't feel I studied all that hard for the NCLEX (I mainly just did a bunch of practice questions) and really did not think the test was that hard. I did around 130 questions and passed the NCLEX the first try, but I am used to computer tests since all my stuff through Excelsior was taken at Pearson View locations (I had taken 2-3 Excelsior tests at the same location I took my NCLEX).

I also do not feel a schools goal is to produce a student who can pass the NCLEX. It is to produce a graduate who is able to adapt and figure things out and be an advocate for the patient.

Unfortunately, some people are very book smart but have a hard time with the NCLEX's combination of book smarts with figuring the answer out in a sometimes non-traditional way. There were many questions I had that had 4 "correct" answers, but of course only 1 was the "most" correct.

I work with a nurse (BSN) who is one of the smartest nurses I know. She can recall any lab value, knows all kinds of disease processes, is like a pharmacist with her med knowledge, has very good skills, is head of 2 committees and is a very kind and caring nurse.

You would never think she failed the NCLEX 5 times, even though she graduated top in her class from a highly regarded (and accredited) university. She said she would just freeze up when she took it and could not figure the questions out.

Just curious, have you taken the NCLEX yet (I see your doing your BSN, just don't know if your a RN yet)?

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Mstein86

No I'm not saying you should have been held back... I'm saying that I think the school did a poor job of preparing you...and you're paying the price...and that's really crappy that you have to go through that. Because you're plugging along thinking all along that they are challenging you and putting you on a path to success. ..and they weren't. A student with a 3.1 GPA and a passing exit exam should have little reason to struggle with the NCLEX. I question the grading integrity and school curriculum. .. I'm sorry you're going through this! Hopefully the prep materials will fill in where your school let you down. I wish you the best. ..with determination anything is possible!

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Specializes in Going to Peds!.

Hurst review is worth EVERY penny!

Sent from my HTC One X using allnurses.com

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Nalon1

Im not specifically targeting non accredited institutions. I've never been to one so I can't assume what they do or don't do... that's why I asked.

The NCLEX is designed to determine if you are minimally capable of being an RN. Not expert RN...simply a safe RN. That's it. A school should be able to prepare a student for such an exam. Exit exams and proper Proctored testing throughout the curriculum should be a good predictor of how you will do on the NCLEX. The school's version of preparatory materials should account for nervousness when taking the NCLEX.

As for stress, I agree that it is a significant factor. Some people are biologically rendered incapable of functioning and certainly that can't be pinned on the college. Have you ever made a technical presentation to hundreds...or thousands... of people? I don't care who you are... it's intimidating! One of the finest public speakers I know told me as I was preparing for a doozy that solid knowledge of what you're speaking about will make any presentation easy...and on the other hand, when you aren't insanely prepared, your stress level will skyrocket and you will stumble.... unless you just love that kind of attenion, of course!

In my short time on this career path, I've learned that memorizing lab values or nursing diagnoses or whatever worked for me in my past life doesn't work for these perplexing NCLEX style questions. I've had to learn differently....and I had to learn how to re-learn from listening to one particular professor. Learning online doesn't always give you that enrichment necessary to be successful. ..the school has to foresee that and compensate. Maybe some do...and maybe some don't. ..again, thats why I asked.

Finally, Let's look at some statistics. There are several schools in my state with 97% - 100% pass rates. Is it a supernatural phenomenon that all the stars were aligned and they just so happen to have admitted thousands of students year after year that have an uncanny ability to not be nervous? How did these colleges figure out how to weed out the brilliant students that were destined to freak out and fail upon sitting for the big one? I just have a sneaking suspicion that it had everything to do with good preparation...

...the good preparation has to come from the school...not just the student. When it comes to the students... 'you don't know what you don't know'...you have to trust the institution to get you ready.

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I will be taking my nclex for the third time I have studied so hard I am so stressed out! I hired a professional tutor also doing hypnosis my life right now really depends on this test as I just got hit with student loans I dont know what to do I hope this pays off. I just redid kaplan trainers tests.

QT 1: 62.3%

QT 2: 62.5%

Qt:3: 52%

QT 4: 60%

QT 5: 70%

QT 6: 61.3% what do you guys think of this results desperate help praying for a miracle I am drained

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