A classmate and friend of mine just found out she failed NCLEX for the 2nd time. :-(
We all graduated in May, and she did not sit for NCLEX until the middle of September. She just wasn't ready and was struggling with the practice questions. Failed the first exam with 75 questions. I felt so bad for her because she really thought she passed the first time.
She got back up on in the saddle, enrolled in Kaplan, and also utilized the Davis NCLEX review book. She re-enrolled for NCLEX on the first day she was re-eligible to take it again. That was this past Monday. Took 95 questions and failed it again.
To say she is devastated is an understatement. She called this afternoon, bawling her eyes out and she is a complete wreck. She called her NM this morning after she found out she failed again. Her NM had a meeting with her this afternoon and she was terminated. They had kept her on as a tech after the first fail, but it is hospital policy to terminate if you fail it twice. She was well aware of the hospital policy about this prior to taking NCLEX the first time. I totally understand the NM's position and if I were her boss, I would have proceeded with termination as well. They hired her in May and the rest of her orientation class is well out of orientation and functioning as solo RN's at this point. Her unit is now down an RN because they were expecting her to be licensed at this point. Nonetheless, I feel bad that she found out she failed and lost her dream job all in the same day. Ouch.
So she is asking for my help in trying to help her get ready to NCLEX for the 3rd time. Honestly, I have no idea where to start. I took it in May, passed the first time with 75 questions. School was fresh in my mind when I took it. I honestly do not remember much about that test! That morning is just a blur to me. I did questions all along through the last semester so I don't know how to prepare her for a marathon 45 day study prep. I told her to maybe postpone scheduling this 3rd attempt until after the new year so she has more time to study. I figured if she didn't have a test date looming and stressing her out, she could just spend some time studying, no pressure on her, and then schedule the exam when she is ready to take it AFTER studying. She is adament that she wants to take it on the first day she can.
Any suggestions AN? I want to help her any way I can......I just don't know what to do that she hasn't already tried. She used ATI and Saunders for the first exam, and used Kaplan, Davis, and Lacharity for the 2nd exam. Any guidance or advice is appreciated!!
I also have a classmate who failed it twice, everyone else from our May graduating class are now working RN's and I feel really bad. She was a smart student but always over think things, and "what if" everything. I know she knows the material but I know she keeps looking for a hidden word, the nclex is not trying to trick anyone. She also failed the 1st time with 75 questions.
Tell your friend she needs to do more questions and read the rationales and make sure she understand the answer before she moves on. I know everyone wants to pass with 75 questions but 2 of my classmates passed with 265. Tell her if she has anxiety to take her time during the exam, take as many breaks especially when she is feeling anxious, I went to the bathroom 3 times. Also let her know if the exam pass 75 to not panic, it means shes up and down with her answers but answering a good amount correct and the system cant determine if she passed or failed yet. Thats when she needs to concentrate, take 5 mins a each question if she has too, but dont let passing 75 give her a panic attack.
Wish her the best and tell her not to give up. I know a lot of good nurses who failed the first time and some who took it 3 and 4 times.
Silverdragon102, BSN
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Moved to the NCLEX forum