How to Pass the NCLEX on Your Second Try: Tips for Nursing Students

So you've taken the NCLEX and failed. You are probably feeling discouraged and tempted to entertain thoughts about your lack of worthiness as a student and a future nurse. Don't wallow in self defeat. Remember the first anatomy class you took? Remember how many times you thought you were going to fail? Or maybe you did fail and had to retake it. If you didn't give up then, don't give up now. Not everyone will pass the NCLEX on the first try. The average passing percentage for 2008 so far is 88.2% for first time test takers. That means that 11.8 % failed the exam. Of the 61,869 students to take the test, almost 7,000 students failed. Take comfort that you are not alone. The NCLEX is made to be challenging because your career as a nurse is going to be challenging. You will be dealing with difficult situations on a daily basis but the rewards of a fulfilling career helping others are worth the struggle. Taking the NCLEX is one more step towards your goal. So now you are at the point that you've taken the test and failed and are preparing to take it again. Here are some steps you can take to be prepared to take the NCLEX for the second time with more confidence and a better understanding of what you did wrong the first time.

1. Review the candidate performance report.

Your candidate performance report will be the most important resource in your preparing to retake the exam. It will give you a break down of your strengths and weaknesses. The candidate performance report is designed to help you succeed when you take the exam for the second time.

2. Know how long you have to wait.

The waiting period between test takings is 45 days with a few exceptions. The exceptions are Guam, Washington, and the RN test in Georgia. If you are taking the test in one of the three areas, find out exactly when you can take it again by contacting the board of nursing. Otherwise, prepare to wait 45 days and use that time wisely.

3. Study.

When reviewing your candidacy breakdown, focus on your weaknesses but don't neglect to review what you did correctly. 45 days is a long time and you can forget a lot in that amount of time.

4. Know who writes the exam questions.

The writers of the NCLEX have years of experience in the field of nursing. Many of them are educators and managers of nursing departments. Contact one of your clinical supervisors and ask questions. Your supervisor may not have helped develop the exam but that person has years of experience in nursing and has taken the exam as well as recertification testing. Ask for advice on taking the test for the second time. Your clinical supervisor can guide you to study the right topics and effective ways to study them.

5. Go to your program director.

Your program director or professor in the nursing program you attended is fully prepared to handle questions on the NCLEX both first and second time test takers. Your professor may have lists of important topics to study and effective study methods that you may not have utilized the first time around.

6. Contact your classmates.

Contact your classmates to see who is also preparing to retake the exam. Form a study group. Ask your classmates who don't have to retake the exam for pointers on how they studied for it the first time around.

7. Review the breakdown of the test.

The areas you were tested on were:

Safe and Effective Care Environment

Health Promotion and Maintenance
- Coordinated Care
- Safety and Infection Control

Psychosocial integrity

Physiological integrity
- Basic Care and Comfort
- Pharmacological Therapies
- Reduction of Risk Potential
- Physiological Adaptation

8. Review your text books.

After examining your problem areas and the overall format of the test, read key sections in your nursing textbooks that focus on those topics.

9. The test is to evaluate your judgment.

Memorizing is not a necessary skill you need to pass the NCLEX. Math formulas and lab values are the only things you will need to really memorize.

10. Give yourself a break.

The duration of the NCLEX is between 5 and 6 hours. If you don't give yourself appropriate breaks during the test, you will quickly burn out and lose concentration.

The day before the test do something physical. Go bike riding or swimming. Try not to stress over the exam. Don't over study. Your mind and body need a rest before you undertake the NCLEX for the second time.

Sources:

http://www.nsna.org/pubs/imprint/jan05/jan_NCLEX.PDF

https://www.ncsbn.org/