took nclex twice at 265 questions and failed. HELP!

ihopeipass · Feb 9, 2011

congratiolations glam...i took my test twice already with 265 questions on both just like you...its been a year since i last took it and i'm very scared that i'll fail again...i was hoping if you could give soem of the notes that you used to study with... i would be very grateful...i'm studying again now, and paid the money, im just waiting for them to send me my att and i will take this test again...

glam · Feb 9, 2011

just send me your email via inbox:O)

Zucreb · Feb 10, 2011

Hi Glam!

I'm taking the test for the 2nd time on Feb 16th! TERRIFIED! I'm new to this website and don't know how to send you a personal message! Could you send me your study sheets? Please message me if you know how and I'll give you my email address! Thanks! :uhoh3:

cdg2011 · Apr 28, 2011

I just took NCLEX with 265 questions after studying Hurst and Kaplan.. I left the test center feeling like I failed. After prepaireing for a whole month everyday faithfully I still felt unprepaired! Im scared to do the PVT check and in the mean time going crazy until I find out my results. I heard that the last question depends if it was a priority? then you passed..Does anybody know if thats true? I also want to say congrats to all those that passed!!!!!!

vpoonia · Apr 29, 2011

the NCLEX is a beast, especially when it comes to those mind boggling SATA's. No, seriously. On my second shot at the exam, i had a SATA that had only ONE choice that made sense. not kidding....only ONE!! so, how do i know i got it right...because the next question was a priority one again, which i would not have had if i did not get the SATA right.

Anyhow, the moral of the story is that you absolutely have to know the content. No if's and but's about it. You have to know it, there is no escaping the fact. So, the question is....what does one do now?

Before going further, let me tell you a little about me. I came out of the Nursing program with honors, along with my wife who was also in the same course at the same time (and no, it is not fun....not supportive either, because now you have two crabby nursing students under the same roof...along with a 11 y.o. kid who is just learning to mouth off). ATI predictors placed us both at higher 90's success on first try (98% me, 94 for wife). But guess what....i failed with 186 questions while my wife failed with 75. Both came out of the test baffled and were so disgusted that we were ready to throw up....

So, the game plan began. Despite being exceptional students, application was the weak point, because they can ask you about anything and everything. And knowledge/content level questions are lower level..but you still have know them to be able to spring off to higher level priority type questions. What does one do now?? What worked for both of us was to understand the content - why something is happening - why are the particular s/sx showing up -- why are you implementing a certain intervention -- why are you watching for what you are watching for -- basically, you need to ask the "WHY" on anything and everything you see. For example -- WHY would you restrict protein in someone with a kidney failure. Once you can successfully answer those WHY's (asking which was a taboo in nursing school -- or you'd be out for disrupting class or for insubordination), you have it made -- only partially...but you have it made. It will help you answer those SATA's by method of elimination which are higher level questions.

Next, you need to learn how to prioritize. From experience, you and I both know that choices are too narrow on the exam, which is where you need to learn the following:

a. assessment over implementation (assess first unless already assessed in question)

b. ABC

c. Acute over chronic (even on ABC)

d. Maslow (safety over anything else).

standalone Pain (eg on a surgical site) is never a priority , and if you have a priority question...dont you dare select pain until you have exhausted all other choices (which is where knowing your new best friend -WHY comes in again).

Next part is practice questions. Try and find something that will give you immediate feedback with the rationale...otherwise the tendency is to memorize it at the end when you see them all bunched up. Understand as you go, and apply the WHY principle along with prioritizing.

HOWEVER, everyone learns differently. These were just my two cents just in case someone might benefit from it. It helped me and my wife pass the second time around with 75 questions each, and believe it or not, we both came out smiling and confident...unlike many many others (or even our very first time) who are ready to have an emotional breakdown. Nothing to gloat about (which i am not...i was in the same shoes, with double the depression under same roof), but just telling you that confidence in yourself is the key, which will only come form knowledge acquisition and its correct application within a correct scenario. So, i guess something must surely have worked.

Give it a few hours and try it out on one small topic in any prep book you have not used before. See if you answer the questions any better. If you do, then please please let me know at [email protected]. I would really appreciate your feedback before i misinform any more students.

cdg2011 · Apr 29, 2011

Thank You soooooooo much for all that information you gave me!!!!! Well I just found out that I didnt pass, because I built up enough courage to do the PVT(Pearson Vue Trick) , and I let me regester.. :crying2: After crying my eyes out for hours, I've decided that its not the end of the world!!! It just makes me so upset to have spent so much money and soooo many hours of studying and not passing boards in the end.. But your absoultily right, on everything you said.. Knowing the WHY? and not trying to memorize... Going through the whole Kaplan book and hurst book along with videos was sooo overwhelming... and I remember the teacher in Kaplan saying its impossiable to know everything so just review the book and you'll be fine..Because the board see's you as a new nurse with two weeks vas knowledge! So i felt confident, going in... and when I saw the questions I was shocked because I was like these questions are so hard and couldnt decide which answer was the best. So I found myself guessing on alot of the question which was'nt to bad since the computer took me up to 265! But was done is done... and I have to pick myself up and try your approach!!! I just paid the board to retake the test after 45days, so taking a couple of days to relax then hitting the books again! Thanks again :)

minnie6886 · Jul 26, 2011

congrats glam! can you email me your notes? would greatly appreciate it! Thanks [email protected]

Kar123 · Jul 26, 2011

Hi Glam! Can you send me your study guides you used for NCLEX to [email protected] please and thank you!

HighlyFavor2011 · Nov 28, 2011

Your story is so encouraging. I fail the NCLEX exam when I took it in Sept.2011. I have been fighting to keep from going into a depression state. I decided to go ahead and take it next month. Will you please send me your study guide. Thanks so much! My email is [email protected]

Freakzilla154l · Nov 28, 2011

Congrats Glam! Also, never give up everyone else; Ill be in your shoes soon enough!

Could you please send me the study guides you have? Greatly appreciated!

[email protected]

Thankyou!!

glam · Nov 30, 2011

Hey everyone. I am so sorry to those that I did not know that were trying to reach me before now. I would suggest that you all try to email me from here because when you post your email address, I may not see it. So do both email me and post your email and I will send my notes. If the ones before you have not taken the nclex and still need the notes let me know:O) I am in Nurse Practitioner School as we speak. So, I want you all to keep your head up! Who would have thought that I would pass the Fail the Nclex this yr, Pass the nclex this year and get accepted to NP school. Anything is possible if you want it bad enough. I have 8 more months left in NP school and I have a 4.0:O) So, don't let some test make you feel like you are incompetent. I wish you all well:O) Getting those notes to you all asap!

glam · Nov 30, 2011

email me by clicking next to my name:O)