Writing multiple times?

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2013

It's even worse than that -- every single NCLEX includes 15 questions that are being tested for validity, and don't "count" toward the final score. So, people who pass with 75 questions in 30 minutes are actually getting licensed to practice nursing on the basis of having answered (only) 60 questions. Back in the ignorant, benighted Dark Ages, when I took the 2-day boards, we had more questions than that (many more) on each section of the boards (and, as someone else already pointed out, we learned what we needed to know to pass the NCLEX in nursing school -- no months and months of intense studying).

Common fallacy and new wives' tale. There is no guarantee that you WILL have FIFTEEN items that are being tested for future versions of the test. I hear this a lot but there's no factual basis for it. Yes, there are always some questions being trialled. You had some in your tests while you were still in school, too, you know. But there is no basis whatsoever for the above assertion that it's always 15 out of however many you get.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 28, 2013

I get kind of irritated when people say NCLEX was easier years ago. No, it wasn't. It was just as hard for us then as it is for new grads now. Perhaps the difference is back then students were prepared.

Exactly. My issue isn't with the students but these terrible for-profit schools who lack accreditation and the ability to properly train and prepare their students for the test. That is why one cannot compare med school to nursing school. Med schools are highly regulated. Only the best of the best get in and they are trained brutally so to ensure they are safe in their practice and able to pass their boards. Nowadays, anyone can open up a nursing school, hence why you see all these people failing the nclex.

The nclex should not be the only measurement used to test new grads, but merely a formality to get one's license. I don't want a nurse who barely skated by in nursing school and was fortunate to pass the nclex anymore than I want someone who took fourteen times to pass. And believe me when I say I see people in my highly respected bsn accredited program who I would NOT want to take care of my family even if they passed the nclex on the first try.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 28, 2013

I suffer from severe anxiety that left me in a mental institution. Anxiolytics have helped me tremendously. It clears the mind, calms the nerves and allows one to stay focus. They have been a lifesaver for me and have kept me afloat in the chaos and stress that is nursing school.

Yup, it's called an OSCE... And in order for me to exit my university and be eligible to write the CRNE (sorry, no NCLEX experience) I had to pass several. Not sure about the practicality of this as a national standard but it tells you a lot of things that a pen and paper exam can't.
While it may not be common to fail more than once there seem to be a lot of posts here on AN bemoaning failures, multiple failures, and "are you serious?" failures. And then there are multiple posts advocating that these people just medicate themselves for test anxiety and that will fix everything.
Perhaps in a very small number of people this will work, but a beta blocker or Ativan isn't going to fix lack of preparation and understanding which I'm willing to bet is what us causing the vast majority to fail.
Regardless, if you can't pass a licensing exam, you can't be a nurse. There has to be a standard, and that is it. Allowing more than 2 tries in my opinion is a bad idea. I guess I could get on board with a 3rd after remedial education, but one failure should be enough to tell you where you went wrong and give an idea of how to fix it.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

I find it hard to believe that a test with only 85 questions, can actually determine that a student nurse has learned enough information, to be able to practice safely. Especially with the much higher acuity of patients that nurses are having to deal with.
JMHO and my NY $0.02
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN (ret)
Somewhere in the PACNW

I had 151 questions! I'm too dumb to get away with 75.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

Well, you didn't hear stories of people taking NCLEX numerous times, so yes, I think I can question the preparedness of students today. There has to be a reason why people are struggling with this test, and it's not because it's harder.

Duhr, internet didn't exist.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

Duhr, internet didn't exist.

EXACTLY Bortaz!

Now EVERYONE can hear about it...across the US, and every continent...it seems more common; although in reality, it may not be any different at all pre-Internet.

OCNRN63, RN · Sep 28, 2013

Duhr, internet didn't exist.

Well, I didn't go to school back in the Stone Age, nor when people used smoke signals to communicate. We still heard more than our fair share of NCLEX horror stories without the benefit of the internet.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

What a ****** thread.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

Well, I didn't go to school back in the Stone Age, nor when people used smoke signals to communicate. We still heard more than our fair share of NCLEX horror stories without the benefit of the internet.

Of course...but I'm sure it feels at lease triple or 10x as much as you have heard before, because of the technology...that's still a fair point.

SionainnRN · Sep 28, 2013

When I took nclex 4 years ago I was sick as a dog. I couldn't breathe, had snot running down my face and was hopped up on DayQuil. I got all 265 questions and was devastated. I had convinced myself I failed. My brother talked me off the ledge saying worse case scenario I just had to take the test again. Once I came out of my NyQuil haze I found out I passed. I can't imagine going through all of that again, let alone 4-5 times. I agree there should be a cutoff at 3. As for passing your practicums, that's what clinicals are for.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

Common fallacy and new wives' tale. There is no guarantee that you WILL have FIFTEEN items that are being tested for future versions of the test. I hear this a lot but there's no factual basis for it. Yes, there are always some questions being trialled. You had some in your tests while you were still in school, too, you know. But there is no basis whatsoever for the above assertion that it's always 15 out of however many you get.

GrnTea normally I totally agree with you but with this comment you are very mistaken. It is not common fallacy nor a "new wives' tale' about the fifteen items that are being used for possible questions on upcoming versions. There are at LEAST 15 on every single NCLEX taken by testers.

The factual basis can be found NCBSN.org site

https://www.ncsbn.org/Reliability.pdf 3rd page, second section from the bottom.

Scoring Validity:

How does the National Council ensure that NCLEX scores are ?

During examination administration, each examinee receives at least 15 ‘tryout’ items. These items are

not counted towards an examinee’s score. Rather, examinee performance on these items is tracked

for all examinees. This allows the National Council to determine the exact difficulty of each item.

Using this information and Rasch measurement theory, the National Council can accurately calculate a

measure of each examinee’s ability.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Sep 28, 2013

The NCLEX indeed does not assure the world, really, that you're qualified to be a nurse. But that's not the real problem. The real problem is that nursing school teaches you NOTHING relevant to real world nursing...you learn to be a nurse by working as a nurse, and by having good sense, plain and simple.