Trying to pass NCLEX

MelindaSJ · Mar 7, 2017

Can you tell us what you have been doing to prepare? What has your testing experience been like? It is hard to give advice without knowing what the possible reasons you have been unsuccessful may be - for example, advice would be a lot different if you have an issue with content and knowledge application vs if you need some test taking strategies/critical thinking practice. I would definitely say that after 5 fails you should probably take some time to decompress and really take an honest, objective look at your methods for preparing to try to see where you might need to make some changes. If you share your experience a bit more you might get some better feedback. Best of luck to you.

Markel123 · Mar 7, 2017

It's been 2 years since I graduated and in the beginning the school used Kaplan and it didn't help me. I have tried Hurst review and it didn't help me. The last time I used study books,such as Lacharity, delegation, prioritization, I have used app RN Mastery, I used the book Alternate NCLEX Format and NCLEX 3000. I would average doing 80 to 100 questions four days a week, because I work 3 12 hrs shifts. I would do some questions from Saunders book as well.

Extra Pickles · Mar 7, 2017

It's been 2 years since I graduated and in the beginning the school used Kaplan and it didn't help me. I have tried Hurst review and it didn't help me. The last time I used study books,such as Lacharity, delegation, prioritization, I have used app RN Mastery, I used the book Alternate NCLEX Format and NCLEX 3000. I would average doing 80 to 100 questions four days a week, because I work 3 12 hrs shifts. I would do some questions from Saunders book as well.

So you are doing the same thing over and over and expecting it to work out better, and we know how that goes. By "the same thing" I mean you are using self-study books and seem to be studying the same way each time. Using a different book is still the same study method. If you don't change something, you won't pass.

Contact your school and see if there is a tutor or some kind of remediation available to you. Students who don't pass drop their NCLEX Pass rate down and that doesn't make them look good. They might have something you can get from them to help.

Work with a live tutor, 1:1 who can figure out why you are failing and help correct you. Might be how you approach the questions, rationales aren't quite matching up, hopefully something that can be tweaked with a tutor who works with you personally.

Other than that, try a live NCLEX review course. Classroom setting instead of self-study. Interaction instead of a book. Not every system works for every person so now that you've had five failures doing it "your way" you really need to break out and try something different. Good luck!

Markel123 · Mar 7, 2017

I did Hurst review live. Thanks for your advice. Greatly appreciated.

Flnolegirl · Mar 7, 2017

TootRN is a really good 1:1 tutor & very inexpensive I haven't tested yet but she has helped alot.

Markel123 · Mar 8, 2017

Thank you very much

nurseburst, ASN, BSN · Mar 14, 2017

Hi. Have you also tried Uworld? It's $50 for a month but I found it had way better rationales than kaplan... however I still used kaplan and hurst since they were provided to me from my school.

Do you know what areas you are doing bad on? I used Kaplan to help me determine my weak areas since it breaks it down that way. I think the test is called reassessment in your kaplan log in... I had two weak areas. I watched ALL Kaplan videos on those two weak areas... like really watched and took notes to better understand.

I hope this helps... also since you used Kaplan I would also contact them and ask them for help.

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2017

It's been 2 years since I graduated and in the beginning the school used Kaplan and it didn't help me. I have tried Hurst review and it didn't help me. The last time I used study books,such as Lacharity, delegation, prioritization, I have used app RN Mastery, I used the book Alternate NCLEX Format and NCLEX 3000. I would average doing 80 to 100 questions four days a week, because I work 3 12 hrs shifts. I would do some questions from Saunders book as well.

number of questions you do per day don't matter? how many of those are correct and how many wrong? 99% of times issues with repeat test taking has to do with lack of content understanding and not lack of method of study, sounds like you tried them almost all. First Take a break, second do you really need that job you got? is there a way to get by without it? if so I'd leave the job and focus 110% over the next 4 months on nursing content starting with reading your med surg textbook. once you solid on that then start questions, but don't do them blindly, do them openbook understand how to arrive at the correct rationales. Even if its 25 questions a day you do and understand right is better than doing 200 per day and getting them wrong. Each time you do questions score yourself. If you get under 95% go back to content, read and review each question. I would suggest other resources for study questions but it will do no good until you got content down. But only one I strongly recommend is doing NCSBN's 15 week nclex review I'd even suggest taking a nurse refresher course. Then retake nclex maybe 6 months from now provided you taken those steps.

Review some of my article threads one in particular on learner styles, you are probably using everyone elses learning style but your own. refer to article I wrote a while back

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/keys-to-studying-840132.html

I also have a thread on "how I concurred the NCLEX"

Markel123 · Apr 2, 2017

Hi. Have you also tried Uworld? It's $50 for a month but I found it had way better rationales than kaplan... however I still used kaplan and hurst since they were provided to me from my school.
Do you know what areas you are doing bad on? I used Kaplan to help me determine my weak areas since it breaks it down that way. I think the test is called reassessment in your kaplan log in... I had two weak areas. I watched ALL Kaplan videos on those two weak areas... like really watched and took notes to better understand.
I hope this helps... also since you used Kaplan I would also contact them and ask them for help.

Thank you so much. Greatly appreciate it

TAS1987 · Apr 3, 2017

I am a repeat test taker and I did pass last week

I did hurst failed I did kaplan failed I did uworld and passed

I looked at all my reports the board sends and it didn't help

I did questions 25-75 a day a little at a time I work 5 days first and night shift in healthcare

I have a 10 year old son

Dont let people discourage you it's a test and it takes more times then one for some

stay strong give yourself a mental break and then try Uworld and read the rationales and understand why you got them right or wrong, have faith !