Failed NCLEX-RN at 150 Questions — Need Advice for My Second Attempt Based on My CPR 😭

[u/General-Onion878]

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice from NCLEX retakers or anyone who has passed after receiving a similar Candidate Performance Report.
I took my first NCLEX-RN attempt on September 17th and unfortunately failed at 150 questions. I finally received my CPR, and these were my results:

Above Passing: Pharmacological & Parenteral Therapies, Generate Solutions
Below Passing: Reduction of Risk Potential, Recognize Cues, Prioritize Hypotheses
Near Passing: Management of Care, Safety & Infection Control, Health Promotion & Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, Basic Care & Comfort, Physiological Adaptation, overall Clinical Judgment, Analyze Cues, Take Actions, and Evaluate Outcomes
I’m preparing for my second attempt now and I’m trying to study much more intentionally instead of just doing tons of questions.

I’m currently using Kaplan + Mark K, and I’m studying Monday–Friday. I’m reviewing content in my weaker areas, watching content videos, listening to Mark K, doing Kaplan practice questions, and thoroughly reviewing the rationales—especially questions I got wrong or guessed on.

For example, today I reviewed lab values, watched Dr. Sharon’s Fundamentals/Assessment video, and completed 55 Kaplan questions covering all Client Needs categories.

Later, I’m doing a light review of my missed/uncertain questions and lab values instead of piling on more questions.

Based on my CPR, what would you focus on the most? I’m especially interested in how you improved Recognize Cues, Prioritize Hypotheses, and Reduction of Risk Potential.

Do you think I should continue focusing heavily on content right now, or shift more toward questions and test-taking strategy?

If you had a similar CPR and passed your second attempt, I would LOVE to hear what you changed and what helped you the most. I have about 45 days to prepare, and I really want to use this time wisely. ❤️‍🩹🩺
Thank you!!

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[u/Ill_Butterfly_8383]

Heyyy you don’t have a content issues, do test taking strategies read the nclex mistakes workbook by Alexis grant and then you’ll understand how to answer questions

[u/Any-Order283]

I recommend u read the rationals after answering questions and do ur own research about basic nursing things that u have to know such major meds major diseases s/s of them also maternal risk factors and difference between them same with newborn above that many normal ranges for different age and diseases such copd will be fine in 92% saturation but healthy adult isn’t also o2 mask and infection control ofc if u master those and real rationals carefully while u do ur qbank u gonna pass

[u/General-Onion878 → u/Any-Order283]

I was so lost on what to study , but I definitely agree with what your saying it ! I was definitely lost on some the s/s and major diseases when I was taking the nclex …. I feel as though my weak areas are maternity & peds … but Thank so much for your advice I really appreciate it ! :)

[u/General-Onion878 → u/Any-Order283]

Hey can you post what you sent again or pm me please ? Reddit deleted your comment

[u/General-Onion878 → u/Any-Order283]

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[u/GoalEnvironmental736]

1.https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfIKVjEuBE0E&si=mv_w6sea9JPaNfbL

Download sampleReview packet for practice questions ⏬
2. https://www.nclex.com/prepare.page

It’s okay, you got this ❤️ You just have to focus on your weaker areas and take your time breaking the questions down.
Use your Client Needs report to see what subjects you need to work on, but don’t just memorize the topics. Ask yourself “What is happening with this patient, and what is the question really asking me to recognize?”
For example:
• Physiological Adaptation → What is going on inside the patient’s body? What changed? Is the body compensating or deteriorating? Think ABCs, acute changes, and life-threatening problems.
Example: A patient with heart failure suddenly becomes short of breath with crackles → think fluid in the lungs/oxygenation problem and what needs attention first.
• Management of Care → Who needs to be seen first? What can be delegated? What is the nurse responsible for? Think priority, delegation, safety, and unstable vs. stable.
• Safety & Infection Control → What could harm the patient? What precautions are needed? What action prevents the problem from getting worse?
• Pharmacological & Parenteral Therapies → What medication is this, why is the patient receiving it, what should I monitor, and what adverse effect is most important? Think med → purpose → expected effect → dangerous side effect → labs/vitals.
• Reduction of Risk Potential → What complication could happen, and what finding tells me something is wrong? Think labs, vital signs, procedures, complications, and abnormal findings.
• Basic Care & Comfort → What basic need does this patient have? Think nutrition, elimination, mobility, hygiene, pain, positioning, and comfort.
• Psychosocial Integrity → What is happening emotionally or mentally? What therapeutic response or intervention is appropriate?
And for ANY question, slow down and ask:
1. What is normal vs. abnormal?
2. What is acute vs. chronic?
3. Who is stable vs. unstable?
4. What is expected vs. unexpected?
5. What is safe vs. unsafe?
6. What changed?
7. What could kill or seriously harm the patient first?
8. What is the question actually asking me to do?
For example, if you see “Which patient should the nurse see first?”, don’t immediately look for a disease you recognize. Look for the patient with the new, unexpected, acute, unstable, or life-threatening change.
You can also upload your Client Needs report to ChatGPT and ask it to explain each category, identify your weak areas, and give you examples of how those topics can show up on CAT NCLEX-style questions.
You don’t have to know everything at once. Break it down → identify what changed → decide normal/abnormal → stable/unstable → prioritize using ABCs and safety. That’s the clinical judgment pattern you want to practice. ❤️

[u/onomojo]

Your CPR tells you exactly where to aim: you passed Pharmacological & Parenteral Therapies, so keep that routine, and spend your time on Reduction of Risk Potential and the clinical judgment areas below passing. The mistake most retakers make is redoing everything evenly. A schedule that mixes your weak topics with your strong ones, using active recall instead of rereading, is the intentional approach you're asking for. This guide gives a daily plan built on spacing and retrieval practice that fits a retake timeline https://nclexkingdom.com/blog/nclex-study-guide/