Failed NCLEX-RN? - What to do now?
The most disheartening experience for a nursing school graduate is to fail NCLEX-RN.
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), 17.52% of the US NCLEX-RN candidates failed on the first attempt. In contrast, the pass rate for internationally educated first-time test takers was only 45.48%.
Are you also in the same boat and feeling overwhelmed because you just failed the test? This article provides a complete guide on how to know if you failed the test, things to do to pass after you failed NCLEX, and how to retake the exam.
How to know if you have failed NCLEX-RN?
The most accurate and certain way to determine whether you've passed the test is the official results you receive from the nursing regulatory body you applied for licensure. Official results are delivered to the candidates within six weeks.
Every year the state boards of Nursing, NCSBN, issue passing rates for the test. However, you can also use some other ways to get unofficial results. Here are the 8 signs you might have failed NCLEX-RN.
1. You received a bad pop-up from the Pearson Vue trick.
Pearson Vue NCLEX trick is a famous trick used by nursing graduates to calculate their NCLEX-RN score. To use this hack, wait until you receive an email from PVT that your test has been submitted for scoring.
Most candidates receive the mail after two hours of submission. After receiving the mail, log in to your Pearson account and try to register for NCLEX-RN again. If the system does not allow you to re-register, it is a good pop-up and indicates that you have passed the test, but if the system allows re-registration and charges a registration fee, it is a bad pop-up and indicates that you have failed NCLEX-RN. However, this is just a hack and not 100% accurate.
2. The Pearson Vue Quick Results Service says you’ve failed.
Some State Boards of Nursing offer Quick Results Service through which you can purchase your NCLEX-RN test results after two days of testing.
3. You were given a lot of easy questions on the test.
The test questions become more difficult as the test proceeds. However, if they appear in a very manner from easy to extremely difficult, it might indicate that you've failed NCLEX
4. The test shuts off before completing the minimum required questions.
If you have already answered enough wrong questions, the test will automatically shut off, indicating you’ve failed.
5. You run out of time before answering the minimum required questions.
The time limit for the test is five hours. You will automatically fail if you do not answer the minimum required questions within the given duration.
6. Your name and license number do not appear on the State Boards of nursing.
Check your relevant State Board of Nursing for your name and license number. If you don't find it there, you have most likely failed the exam.
7. You are not asked advanced nursing skill questions.
If you're not asked advanced nursing skill questions, you might have already answered many questions incorrectly.
8. You’ve received NCLEX Candidate Performance Report (CPR)
NCLEX Candidate Performance Report (CPR) is the detailed performance report regarding each topic area issued by NCSBN. If you receive CPR, it means you’ve failed the test. You can use this report as a reference to prepare for the test and pass after you've failed NCLEX-RN.
What do I do if I fail NCLEX-RN?
Although a failure in NCLEX-RN is quite serious, it does not mean you're done with nursing. Take your time and consider these next steps for success.
1. Calm Down!
Failing to get into your dream profession can be very disheartening. However, one should not let it get over their nerves. Relax and take your failure as the first step towards clearing the hurdle.
2. Know your mistakes.
Take a deep breath and try to figure out where you are lacking. Did you have difficulty
analyzing the questions? Or did you run out of time? You can use CPR to get a detailed overview of your mistakes in each topic area. Work on your shortcomings and prepare again for the test.
3. Retake NCLEX-RN as soon as possible.
You can retake the test 45 days after the official result is announced. Try to retake the test as soon as possible if you want to pass after you failed NCLEX-RN.
Why did I fail NCLEX-RN?
There can be several reasons why candidates might fail the first time at NCLEX-RN.
Looking for the potential reasons for failure may help you to succeed next time. Here are the top four reasons you may have failed NCLEX.
1. You may have underestimated the test’s difficulty.
The NCLEX-RN is hard! The test aims at analyzing the candidate’s ability to provide
effective nursing care. So, take out much time.
2. You memorize things instead of learning them.
NCLEX-RN is far beyond cramming. Apart from memorizing things, you must focus on your critical thinking skills, learning the concepts, analyzing them, and applying them to solve questions.
3. Test anxiety.
Your anxiety might be blocking the road to success. NCLEX is an important exam, and it is very natural to feel anxious about it. If you experience test anxiety, do not worry. Take a deep breath and believe in yourself. Do not let this anxiety be the cause of your failure.
4. Lack of Sleep.
Lack of sleep adversely affects your mental abilities; you get quickly tired and frustrated. So, it is indispensable for you to take adequate sleep before the test. Most NCLEX-RN candidates spend nights studying and memorizing things, so they take the exam with little sleep and end up having poor results.
How many times can you retake NCLEX-RN?
The number of times a candidate can retake the exam varies from state to state. However, test-takers can generally take NCLEX-RN up to eight times a year in most states, and there must be 45 test-free days between two exams. The candidate must pass NCLEX-RN within three years of graduating from nursing school. You can contact your state board of Nursing for more guidelines regarding the retake.
How to reapply for NCLEX-RN?
To reapply for the test, contact your state board of nursing and notify them that you have failed and want to retake it. The state board of nursing will provide essential guidelines regarding any fees or documents required. Then go to the NCSBN official website and check their retake policy. 2
When you feel ready for the retake, reapply via Pearson Vue. Pearson Vue will send an Authorization to Test (ATT) through email. The candidates must schedule their exams within 180 days. If they fail, the NCLEX-RN applications get canceled. Pearson Vue fee is non-refundable. Pearson VUE sends a confirmation once your exam has been rescheduled.
10 Tips to pass after you failed NCLEX-RN
Now that you have failed NCLEX-RN, you may need clarification on the things you should do to ensure your success on the next attempt. You need to buckle up and choose an appropriate plan to help you succeed. Underlying tips that might help your pass after you have failed NCLEX-RN on the first attempt.
1. Accept your failure.
The first step towards your success is to accept your failure. It is failure that gives you the proper perspective on success. So, admit that you could not get through NCLEX-RN on the first attempt and think of the shortcomings that led to this unsuccessful attempt. Then make a proper plan and proceed to succeed in your next attempt.
2. Find out the NCLEX-RN retake Policy for your state.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers NCLEX-RN retake Policy for candidates who were unsuccessful in the first attempt. In most states, the candidates can retake the exam 45 days after the official result. In addition, the candidate can retake the exam 8 times a year.
However, some states offer a limited number of retakes for the test. The best way is to contact your State Board of Nursing (BON) to find out the retake policy in your state.
3. Figure out the reason for your failure.
As described earlier, a candidate who fails NCLEX-RN receives a CPR that provides detailed information regarding the candidate’s performance in each of the eight content areas of the test. The report includes phrases like "near the passing standard" or "below the passing standard". Work on your areas of weakness, and use this report as a reference to prepare for the retake.
4. Get familiar with the NCLEX-RN content sections.
Take out some time and visit NCSBN’s official website. Review the content covered in the test in detail. Download the NCLEX-RN test format to get detailed information about the test's content sections and make a solid study plan.3
5. Take an NCLEX-RN preparation course.
It might sound very exhausting to take another class when you have already graduated from nursing school and have spent hours studying for the test. But, taking an NCLEX prep course can be very beneficial for you if you want to pass after you fail NCLEX-RN. The duration of such courses is merely a few weeks, so take out some time and join a course to increase your chances of success.
6. Join a study group or seek help from your former nursing instructor.
Talking to your instructor might be helpful for you. The instructors understand their students and the test's difficulty. They might suggest helpful strategies and study plan to aid you in passing the test after you've failed.
You may also join a study group where peers provide guidance on how to have a firm grip over the test's content areas and get through the test. You can also plan group study with your fellow candidates and prepare for the test together. It will stimulate your interest and boost your confidence to succeed.
7. Take NCLEX practice tests.
Practice, practice, and practice! This is the key to your success. There are a lot of online resources to prepare for the test, but NURSING.com offers some of the best. Thousands of online books, study materials, and practice questions/tests are available. Attempt as many practice sample questions as possible. Practice tests impart confidence to take the test, familiarize with the quirks of the test, and identify the knowledge gaps.
8. No more cramming sessions!
You need to change if you're still trying to cram things instead of clarifying the concepts and using them to analyze the questions. Merely memorizing stuff might not be helpful. It would help if you learned to analyze and break down the test questions. The best way is to read the question twice or thrice, interpret it using your knowledge, and then answer it.
9. Schedule your NCLEX retake.
Reapply for the NCLEX-RN as directed by your BON. You can retake the exam 45 days after the official results. However, go for the test date when you are entirely prepared for it.
10. Never give up!
Giving up is easy; sticking to your goals until you finally achieve them is hard. You might quickly lose hope and give up after being unsuccessful on the first attempt. But there is always a second time. You CAN do this!
FAQs:
1. Does NCLEX-RN get harder when you fail?
Some students wrongly believe that NCLEX-RN gets harder on each retake, but this is not true. When you answer a question correctly on the test, the next question is automatically a bit harder, and if your answer is wrong, the next question is relatively easier. However, the overall difficulty level of the subsequent tests remains unaffected.
2. Why is NCLEX so hard?
NCLEX-RN is not like your typical nursing school exams. It tests a candidate's ability to analyze and apply their knowledge from nursing school practically and critically. It is based on logic and critical reasoning skills rather than factual memorization. Therefore, the test has a relatively higher difficulty level.
Conclusion
Failing NCLEX-RN can be a toll on the mental health of nursing school graduates. However, failure does not mean one should give up on their goals in life. Consider this failure as a step towards your success and focus on your shortcomings to pass after you fail NCLEX-RN. The ten tips shared in this article can be very helpful. Keep pushing until you succeed!
Attribution: James Edge is a contributor to Forbes, Inc.com, and Business Insider. He created CrushtheUSMLEexam.com to uncover the greatest study guides and prep courses to ensure you pass your exam on your first attempt. He has personally assessed hundreds of study materials and developed courses himself.
References
1. 2022 NCLEX Pass Rates. NCSBN. Accessed November 28, 2022.
https://www.ncsbn.org/publications/2022-nclex-pass-rates
2. Retake Policy. NCSBN. Accessed November 28, 2022.
https://www.ncsbn.org/exams/after-the-exam/retake-policy.page
3. Test Plans | NCSBN. NCSBN. https://www.ncsbn.org/exams/testplans.page
