I'm beginning to think that perhaps Nursing isn't my calling. I love mental health nursing. It's literally my calling. But maybe God is telling me that I can't be a nurse. I've volunteered at a psych unit and did all my leadership clinicals at one. I got through 4 years of school and graduated in December, and I'm 22 years old. But I failed the NCLEX twice so far. First time at 80 questions, second time at 265. I'm defeated.
What can I do with my Bachelors in Nursing without a NCLEX certification license? Job wise, at least. I really don't wanna go looking for a minimum wage job right now if I have a bachelors, you know?
Kaplan is expensive, but worth it. You can put it on a credit card and pay it off several months with an amount that takes interest into account, or you can sock money towards it for two months and then buy it outright. If you don't want to pay for the whole thing I think you can buy just the Q bank and then a used Kaplan book off of Amazon or another NCLEX prep book. Do questions every day, even if you have only a half-hour to study.
I'll also point out that your second try was much closer to passing than your first.
On the first one, within 80 questions the machine had concluded that you didn't have sufficient mastery. On the second one, it took 265 questions. In other words, you barely failed.
Without a license, the BSN is one of the most useless degrees I can think of. Study hard and get your license.
A lot of people are saying that a BSN is useless without getting your liscence. However, I disagree. You can definitely be involved in research without a liscence or any field that requires a bachelors of science. When I am looking for jobs, most jobs are not super specific in their requirements. They may say something like "you need a bachelors degree in a health related discipline" for example. There is a huge variety of jobs that you can still do that require a degree but not necessarily a super specific degree. The pay for these jobs often isn't that bad, either.
I have recently been going back for my BSN. I have had it easy so far. I took a math class. It is required for my degree. The one required for my ADN was a lower level class. I struggled in this class becuase it has never been my strength, and I haven't taken a math class since 1999. I dropped the class and plan to retake. I had to retake an English class for my ADN as well. Don't give up.
You can pass the NCLEX on your next try. Look at the analysis on where your problem areas are and take the other suggestions offered here. You can do this. I know some fabulous nurses who didn't pass the NCLEX on their first try.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Pretty much nothing. If you are "defeated" that is on you. If you give up this easily, nursing isn't for you. Keep trying, keep fighting. Nursing isn't easy; it should not be. If you work hard enough, you can do this. After all you DID graduate with a BSN so you are from from too stupid or incapable. It's all in your head.
There are many jobs that require a Bachelor's degree. You could be a substitute teacher in some states, even with no degree, believe it or not.
And there are many other jobs where they just want to know that you had what it takes to pursue and complete a degree, not that you will ever really apply knowledge from your major in a certain job.
But I agree that you should take a prep course and re-take the NCLEX, especially since you seem to know what type of Nursing you want to do and since you say it is your life. Best wishes.
Nothing good is lightly won, and nothing won is lost. (Abe Lincoln?)
If you like Psych Nursing then you need to pass the test and you can. While you are waiting work as a nurse tech or monitor tech. I worked with a nurse who also failed her boards twice and she worked at the desk secretary. She passed on her third try and she was a really good and smart nurse. Take a review course or use a review book and concentrate on the areas you did poorly on. I hated OB questions and it felt like there were so many. Good Luck in whatever you decide to do.
UWorld in addition to kaplan is a great resource as well. I loved their question bank and it was just as challenging at Kaplan. Search the UWorld group on facebook, a lot of people post testimonials, advice, and study tips. Sorry, did that sound too much like an ad? Anyway, good luck OP!
Anyway, good luck OP!
chacha82, ADN, BSN
626 Posts
Kaplan is expensive, but worth it. You can put it on a credit card and pay it off several months with an amount that takes interest into account, or you can sock money towards it for two months and then buy it outright. If you don't want to pay for the whole thing I think you can buy just the Q bank and then a used Kaplan book off of Amazon or another NCLEX prep book. Do questions every day, even if you have only a half-hour to study.