Failed NCLEX Twice? Here's Your Comeback Strategy

I need to tell you something that I've never shared publicly before.

I didn't just fail the NCLEX once. I failed it twice.

The first time, I was devastated but hopeful. "It happens to lots of people," I told myself. "I'll study harder and pass it the second time."

The second time I got that "unsuccessful" result, I sat in my car in the parking lot of the testing center and sobbed until I couldn't breathe.

Not pretty crying. Ugly, snot-running-down-my-face, can't-catch-my-breath sobbing.

Because failing twice felt like proof that maybe I wasn't meant to be a nurse. Maybe everyone else could see something I couldn't—that I just didn't have what it takes.

I called my mom from that parking lot, barely able to speak through the tears.

"Mom," I whispered, "I failed again. What if I'm just not smart enough? What if I wasted four years of my life?"

But here's what I learned over the next six months: failing the NCLEX twice doesn't mean you're not meant to be a nurse. It means you need a completely different approach.

And I'm about to share exactly what that approach looks like.

The Shame Spiral That Almost Ended My Nursing Career

After my second failure, I didn't tell anyone for three weeks.

I let my family think I was waiting for results. I avoided my nursing school friends. I stopped checking my email because I couldn't handle the "How did it go?" messages.

I spent those three weeks convinced that everyone was right to doubt me. Maybe the classmate who said I "didn't seem like nurse material" during our first semester. Maybe the clinical instructor who told me I needed to "work on my confidence." Maybe the advisor who suggested I consider "other healthcare options."

I started researching medical assistant programs. I looked into respiratory therapy. I even considered going back to my old retail job.

Because if you fail the NCLEX twice, doesn't that mean you should just give up?

The answer is no. Absolutely not.

But it took me a while to figure that out.

The Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything

Three weeks after my second failure, my former clinical instructor, Mrs. Patterson, called me.

"Sarah," she said, "I heard about your exam results. How are you doing?"

I broke down on the phone. Told her everything—the shame, the doubt, the feeling that maybe I should quit nursing altogether.

She listened quietly, then said something that changed my entire perspective:

"Sarah, in my twenty-three years of nursing, some of the best nurses I know failed the NCLEX multiple times. Some of the worst nurses I know passed on their first try."

"But—" I started.

"The NCLEX doesn't measure how good of a nurse you'll be," she continued. "It measures how well you take a very specific type of test. And if you haven't figured out how to take that test yet, it means you need better strategies, not a different career."

That conversation saved my nursing career.

What I Realized About My Study Approach

Looking back at my first two attempts, I realize I made the same mistake many repeat test-takers make: I kept doing more of what wasn't working.

• After my first failure: I bought more question banks, studied longer hours, memorized more content.
• After my second failure: I was ready to do the same thing—but harder.

I was trapped in the cycle of "work harder, not smarter."

But Mrs. Patterson helped me see that I wasn't failing because I didn't know enough nursing content. I was failing because I didn't know how to apply that knowledge under NCLEX conditions.

The Three-Phase Comeback Strategy

Phase 1: Honest Assessment (Weeks 1–2)

• Content gaps: I used my NCLEX performance report to pinpoint weak areas.
• Test-taking issues: Overthinking, time mismanagement, second-guessing.
• Anxiety management: My brain shut down under stress.
• Study method problems: Passive study vs. active application.

Phase 2: Strategic Rebuilding (Weeks 3–10)

• Targeted study based on weak areas—not broad, scattered review.
• Learned to analyze and apply, not memorize blindly.
• Practiced test-taking strategies for different question types.
• Added anxiety-management tools: breathing, visualization, routines.

Phase 3: Confidence Building (Weeks 11–12)

• Full practice tests under timed, NCLEX-like conditions.
• Focused mindset work—replacing doubt with self-trust.
• Reviewed calmly, not cramming last-minute info.

The Specific Changes That Made the Difference

1. I Stopped Studying Content and Started Studying Thinking

I focused on clinical reasoning. I asked myself questions: What does this drug do? What should I monitor? What could go wrong?

2. I Addressed My Test Anxiety Head-On

I built a test-day routine, practiced calming techniques, and trained my brain to stay calm under pressure.

3. I Found Study Materials That Actually Worked

I stopped using resources that just gave me facts and switched to ones that taught why answers were right or wrong. Mark Klimek’s method changed everything.

4. I Built a Support System

I joined a group of other repeat test-takers. We lifted each other up when no one else could understand what we were going through.

The Day I Finally Passed

Attempt #3 felt different.

I had a strategy. I had practiced. I was prepared—not just academically, but emotionally and mentally.

The computer shut off at 85 questions. I had no idea how it went.

Two days later, I opened the results: PASS.

I cried again, but this time—it was for joy.

What I Want Every Repeat Test-Taker to Know

• You’re not alone.
• You’re not stupid. The NCLEX is a skill—not a reflection of your worth.
• Your path is still valid.
• Failing = learning.
• Support matters.

The Resources That Finally Worked

After failing twice, I built new materials based on what actually works—clear reasoning, real test-style questions, and strategies for the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN).

That’s how I developed the NGN Question Bank I wish I had from day one. It focuses on clinical thinking, application, and understanding—not just regurgitating facts.

Your Comeback Strategy Starts Now

Here’s your first step:

• Stop repeating what didn’t work.
• Use your performance report as a guide.
• Fix your approach, not just your content.
• Train your mindset like your knowledge.
• Find a support network.

The Bottom Line

Failing twice hurt more than anything. But it also built me into the nurse I am today.

That third attempt? It wasn’t luck. It was strategy. It was heart. It was belief.

You can get there too.

Not because you’re perfect, but because you’re resilient. Because you’re still here. Because you care enough to keep going.

The comeback is always stronger than the setback.

And your story is just beginning.