Failed CN exam twice — what actually works for studying?

by Tom W. 16 views3 replies
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Tom W.OP
May 27, 2026

I just got my second failed attempt on the CN exam back and honestly I'm pretty demoralized. First time I scored a 68, this time a 71 — I need a 75 to pass. I've been using a CN study guide I found online but it feels really surface-level, like it covers the topics but doesn't go deep enough on the clinical reasoning questions that trip me up.

My biggest weak spots are wound assessment and nutritional support protocols. I work nights so my study time is scattered — maybe 45 minutes here and there, never a solid block. I'm wondering if anyone has found a CN practice test resource that actually mimics the real exam format? The ones I've tried so far feel way too straightforward compared to what I faced in the testing center.

I'm giving myself 8 weeks before my third attempt. Any exam tips from people who've been through this would mean a lot right now. Especially curious what score you were hitting on practice tests before you finally passed.

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Ravi S.
May 27, 2026
I passed on my third attempt too, so don't give up. Honestly the thing that clicked for me was doing timed practice tests under actual test conditions — no phone, no music. I was consistently scoring 72-73 on practice exams before I passed the real thing with a 78. The clinical scenario questions are harder than most prep materials let on. Focus your last two weeks entirely on wound staging and enteral nutrition, those showed up a LOT for me.
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Marcus T.
May 28, 2026
The scattered studying is probably hurting you more than you realize. I know nights are brutal but even two 30-minute focused sessions beats four 15-minute distracted ones. I used index cards for wound classification and kept them in my scrub pocket. Also — are you reviewing your wrong answers carefully? I used to just retake tests without really analyzing why I missed things, which is basically just practicing your mistakes.
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Hannah K.
May 28, 2026
71 to passing is totally doable in 8 weeks. I'd look for practice questions that explain the rationale, not just the answer. Understanding WHY you got it wrong changed everything for me. You're close — don't quit now.

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