The first question I hear quite a bit is whether or not a person should take the NCLEX again. As a coach, this is a common query. For anyone who has taken the exam and failed, there’s a tendency to ask, “why did I fail?”
If you look at the information you have been given and re-read the NCLEX requirements, you will see that it is essentially to confirm you are eligible to take the NCLEX in the first place. This is a simple process and is a lot of fun!
Even if you have failed the first time around, or if you believe you may have failed, the NCLEX examination is not meant to be a time clock. It’s intended to give you an opportunity to learn a little more about your life skills.
The real test is going to come from inside you. That is a long way from the test taker’s mind.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are ready to retake the NCLEX, I can highly recommend it. It’s very important to realize that you will not gain much benefit by continuing to use the test. If you want to gain information or build up your confidence in certain areas, then there are other routes to take.
For example, consider the fact that the best way to truly take the NCLEX is to take it more than once. Try out some question sets and complete all the passages before moving on to the next stage.
By taking a multiple test, you are giving yourself an opportunity to make adjustments before moving on to the next test. Just think how many things you could have resolved if you were to take the test a second time.
If you take the NCLEX before the study materials are complete, there is not much you can do to improve your chances of success. The materials are already quite comprehensive and if you didn’t catch a particular piece of information, chances are that someone missed it.
The NCLEX exam applications are almost always written in a manner that is difficult to understand. Once you have seen the questions, it is very difficult to figure out which passages you missed and that you answered correctly.
You should never feel bad about taking the NCLEX before the materials are finished. With a solid foundation in place, you will be able to build a strong foundation for success.
Make sure you understand what materials you will need for the NCLEX and when they will be available. You should also start putting together a plan to prepare for the exam.
