Why are people failing NCLEX multiple times

rodmarkq · Nov 26, 2011

You know to be honest NCLEX is really hard but not impossible. I failed my first time when I took it Oct, I'm waiting for my 45 days and take it again this December. I'm studying extra hard, but I also know I studied hard last time. It's not content knowledge that is lacking if you do review your best. But I think I failed and most other ppl failed because the anxiety that the test brings. Testing strategies is what I'm focusing on combined with the content knowledge I still have since my last review. Taking that test, It wasn't the questions that were hard, they were exactly straight on point. The hard part were the choices. They all seemed correct...Having taken the exam, I know what I need to focus on and that is strategies for picking the best answer. Out of all the practice questions I've answered, I can truly say Exam Cram and NCLEX 3500 or 4000 is exactly how the nclex will be. I hope we both pass, well for me I hope I pass this second time around. I can't afford another failure, everything is riding on my shoulders to pass that exam and get to work.

What i do is divide my study times in 2 hours. I study 6 hours total per day. I take it 2 hours at a time then take a one hour break or sometimes more. Watch a movie or take a nap. But everyday I have to make sure I answer 150 questions in total. Hopefully this is enough, because the last time I just studied Saunders for 4 hours straight then another 4 more hours. I'll be taking Kaplan and hopefully there I can have the strategy I need to pass this exam this dec. Good Luck!

Graduate Nurse w/bsn · Nov 26, 2011

Ugh, I failed My exit exam mutiple times so i no how it feel to be a failure i really cant afford to fail NCLEX!I graduated in May 2011 and never took my NCLEX until now due to the exit exam holding me back.Right now I study between 4-9hrs a day and Im using learing ext website(great investment),Kaplan strategies book,HESI book and NCLEX 4000 for select all applies.Just with me I usuually work good under pressure, but because I failed hesi so many times I have bulit so much anxiety over the NCLEX! Well saty in touch hope you pass also! One more question...Im a slow test taker are the questions worded crazy or are they long? wil it take me more then 2mins to read the question.Thats why I failed Hesi I hate long test!

rodmarkq · Nov 27, 2011

No they're worded straight to the point. But sometimes they have those long worded questions, esp. SATAs. Your also using the NCLEX 4000. I think they are very similar in the way they ask questions. Shouldn't take you 2 mins to read the question. You'll be spending that time choosing the best answer instead lol.

littleone17 · Nov 27, 2011

it's usually due to a variety of reasons:

1.overconfidence that he/she will pass, or that the comp will shut off at 75 q's (don't be this..go take nclex thinking u will finish all 265 questions)

2.not being ready enough, content wise/critical thinking skills poor

3.being pressured by OTHERS to take the exam stat and get ur life over with.. only you have the decision when u are really physically and emotionally ready for the NCLEX

4.test taking ANXIETY.. learn proper breathing techniques when u feel ur about to have a panic attack when taking the test. relax and just take things easy..answer the q's thinking it's just another ordinary review day

5.rapid guessing.clicking away just to get the nclex over with because u remained the last person left in the testing room .. (this was the reason i failed on my first nclex exam)

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2011

I just want to add that more people PASS the NCLEX than fail it on the first attempt.

Meaning your chances are much greater that you will pass than not.

Just wanted to lift your spirits a bit. Don't go in thinking you ARE going to fail, you will make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

deso35 · Nov 28, 2011

CT Pixie...You're a fresh air for my anxiety. I'll be taking NCLEX soon and oh boy, you can guess how worried I am in failing the exam. @_@

Graduate Nurse w/bsn · Nov 30, 2011

Hello, everyone been studying so have not post cause I really feel i dont have any room for failure so my anxiety is high.No matter if i take then exam tommorrow or 2 mths from now i will still have anxiety so i learned to deal with it from time to time.I think this is the most depressing time in my life....If the questions are straight to the point I guess I will be ok.I just can wait to pass!Thanks all for the encouraging words keep posting i will love to conversate with others going through the same thing i am.Good luck to all of you!CT pixie thanks for encouraging words btw how did you find the NCLEX hard or straight to the point!

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2011

Hello, everyone been studying so have not post cause I really feel i dont have any room for failure so my anxiety is high.No matter if i take then exam tommorrow or 2 mths from now i will still have anxiety so i learned to deal with it from time to time.I think this is the most depressing time in my life....If the questions are straight to the point I guess I will be ok.I just can wait to pass!Thanks all for the encouraging words keep posting i will love to conversate with others going through the same thing i am.Good luck to all of you!CT pixie thanks for encouraging words btw how did you find the NCLEX hard or straight to the point!

They say the closer to your graduation that you take the NCLEX the better. So don't wait too long. My school (I'm speaking of my LPN schooling) always presented tested questions in the NCLEX style so it was 'normal' for me to see the way the NCLEX presented its tests for the test questions. I would say they are straight to the point IF you can weed through all the non-essential info the question usually provides. You just have to focus in on what they are really asking and try to ignore all the info that really doesn't pertain to the actual question being asked. Be sure to be vigiliant in reading the question and looking for the key words like ALWAYS, NEVER, EXCEPT..etc! For the SATA don't try to take it all in at once, read the question and decide if A is true or false, then move to B etc, that way its much easier, take each component as an individual answer, not part of the whole..does that make sense? Also don't read into the question too much or start asking "but what if this?" "do I have that?" etc. Most of all...remember the NCLEX questions base the answer on the perfect world nursing, really not real life.

Best of luck. Like I said previously, you have a GREATER chance of PASSING than you do of failing it! If you got through nursing school, you can get through this.

boisern84 · Nov 30, 2011

Great Post! Most students feel this way if you find yourself getting weary during study take a break! Come back refreshed and realize that you only have to prove that you are a safe competent nurse. The information on the exam is quite difficult but many have passed and so can you.

Brittney07 · Mar 22, 2012

Hello,nurses and future nurses
I have previously posted about my experience about not passing HESI several times and boy oh boy I dont want to
repeat NCLEX.Im hearing that so many people are failing NCLEX and mutiple times is NCLEX that hard?
Im studying day and night some days Im lazy and feel stressed when I dont study!
Tell Me please, is NCLEX that hard?What it takes to study one time and pass! I have no room for no more failure.Im statrting to feel that I should not read anymore post about someone failing NCLEX is very stressful. Do people that study hard fail NCLEX? Ok breathe, Im calm now!

Nclex was easy, i never did great on thse Hesi exams, there were uneditied and often were confusing and very sloppy. The nclex questions were easy and very thoughtout. I only studied twice for my nclex and passed first try :) Good luck.