What's up with all the 'failed NCLEX' posts?

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I look through the "what's new" feed and keep seeing posts of nursing students who failed their NCLEX. Is the test getting harder? I remember that my graduating class had only one student that failed NCLEX. Are schools graduating people who are not ready for the test?

Any idiot could bypass the whole 4 years of nursing school and simply take the kaplan or any review course for that matter and probably have a better chance of passing the test than someone who did all the years of nursing school and got NO TEST PREPARATION.

And THAT is what's wrong with nursing schools today. Thank you, Arrow.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

THAT is a scarey thought.

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A multiple choice test, especially one like the NCLEX where they literally try to trick you should not be on people's badges. That would just embarrass them for what purpose exactly??? I was not the top student in my class but passed the NCLEX in 75 questions only because I taught myself hoow to take the test, not because I was a great nurse student.

And comparing that to a driving test? Seriously? As an immigrant coming to USA, I find the America driving test was a big joke. Our country's driving test was way more difficult and had harder questions. It's no wonder there are so many bad drivers on the roads here, not to mention the driving age is only 16 compared to 18 in most other developed countries.

Does passing a driving test make great drivers? Heck no! if so there'd be less to zero people dying on the streets and it's no different passing the NCLEX does not make great nurses.

Any idiot could bypass the whole 4 years of nursing school and simply take the kaplan or any review course for that matter and probably have a better chance of passing the test than someone who did all the years of nursing school and got NO TEST PREPARATION.

This! I remembered my substitute teacher had said the same statement. Go figure. what I would say during nursing school was "I go to GOOGLE UNIVERSITY". lol If it wasn't for YouTube and this forum , honestly I do not know how I would have done it. I would like nursing schools to talk more about the nursing framework and why it is relevant not only for NCLEX but for humanity of the profession instead of having to pay a $600 review course to tell you the same thing you were told first semester. You ask yourself is NCLEX really critical thinking or how to play the game of standardized tests?

Final word- Its all about nclex passing rates- but the nursing programs fail to realize in order to have high nclex passing rates it starts with teaching THE STUDENTS.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Some of the students that failed the NCLEX in my cohort were the ones that had gotten A's all the way through school. I passed 1st attempt with 75 questions and was an average student. Every test we had in school was supposed to be NCLEX like and I felt prepared. I definitely feel like it should be 3 strikes and you're out. Taking the test 5, 6, 7+ times and still failing says that the person does not know the fundamental basics required to be a nurse. I can see nerves or anxiety once but 7 times? I'm sorry but just because it's your dream doesn't mean it will be or should be your reality. Patient safety first.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Mom To 4 - you said it oh, so well!

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

Nursing school curricula is dictated and standardised by our nursing council. Everyone learns the same things the aim is to prepare us to pass our exam and begin as novice nurses. As a result its not unusual for an entire year to pass.

We had a study week prior to state finals, I did some nclex questions but as for paying for study aids, hardly

The very few exceptions (who dont pass the first time around) are given a second shot and then thats it as far as I know.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I went to a podunk $50 a term (yes this was the late 80's) community college for my LVN and went to excelsior (then regents and a 'correspondence school' since there was no 'online') for my RN and passed NCLEX for both licenses without any review courses whatsoever. This was of course the old scantron/takes two days/wait months for results NCLEX - and yep, I worked as a GN for close to six months. I've seen all the NCLEX fail posts and just assumed the test was more detailed these days - as far as I know, no one in my CC failed and the program wasn't all that great. :)

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We had to take and pass the HESI exam before we could graduate. We were also required to enroll in a review course in order to graduate. We actually had to show documentation (receipt, if I recall) before we were eligible to graduate.

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Every job interview I've ever been on, the one question is always asked; "Did you pass your boards on the first try?" Me...yes.

That's weird, I've never been asked such a question on a job interview. I don't even know what the point is; I don't think there's any way for the employer to check.

My husband is a great nurse, but he will be coming from Africa and English is his fourth language... I worry about him struggling to pass the NCLEX just because of tricky phrasing that even a lot of native English speakers have trouble with. But I work in the US with African colleagues who have done it, so I try not to worry.

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We had to take and pass the HESI exam before we could graduate. We were also required to enroll in a review course in order to graduate. We actually had to show documentation (receipt, if I recall) before we were eligible to graduate.

Why? They didn't trust their program?

Or they wanted to up their stats?

Or they were in cahoots with the review course and made $$$?

Not sarcastic. I just don't see why they wanted a receipt.

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I actually agree with Rosie 13. I am an instructor and have seen first hand some of the entrance scores of these For profit program students. Few have any math or science background. These students are convinced they will be able to complete the nursing program and get the math and science at the same time. It doesn't happen. I also know that if there is any fuss, these same students will pass the program, but few pass the boards. this is fraud and these programs should be governed better. It is a shame.

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That's weird, I've never been asked such a question on a job interview. I don't even know what the point is; I don't think there's any way for the employer to check.

There isn't any way for an employer to verify how many times someone wrote the NCLEX, but CVs and job applications include (and employers can easily verify) the date that one graduated from school and the date one's license was issued; if there is a significant gap in between, employers are certainly free to draw their own conclusions.

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