by skwirlygirl

I took the NCLEX last month and did not pass! Not only was I disappointed, but to top it all of I was demoted from GN to a TECH. I was hired back in March as a GN before I even graduated in May. I began work at beginning of June and took the NCLEX in July. Under hospital policy if a GN does not pass the NCLEX the first time they are the demoted to a Tech and their pay decreases accordingly. I, as well as the nurses I had been supervised under as a GN, can not see the logic behind that policy. As a GN, you are always working side by side with a licensed RN. Being demoted has restricted so many of a practicing RN's duties that I have really have lost the desire to even go to work. I am no longer able to take order's from physicians, contact physicians when a patients condition warrants, administer any meds, including hanging IV's, count the meds coming or going off shift. I asked my manager to give me the policy that outlined my duties as a nurse tech and still haven't received that. I just don't understand..... my mangers say it is for safety purposes....and hey I'm all about safety, don't get me wrong but I had more responsibilities as a student than I do now. Safety? I was supervised as a GN with every med I passed and every assessment that I performed. I had to have my preceptor listen on the phone line when I was taking orders from doc's. It evidently was not adequate enough, that policy requires you to repeat any VO's back to the dr. to verify correctness, that this is required. O.K. I can get over that too.....policiies, policies, policies! O.K. I'm done venting..... anyone's comments about how demoting me to a tech is supposed to benefit me, my skills, and routine, etc. as an RN? All I basically do is assessments, and dressing changes. I feel as though I'm being pushed backwards and not encouraged to grow forwards.

Hospitals cannot legally allow you to continue to practice as an RN (even as a GN) once you have taken the NCLEX and failed it. Most hospitals allow their GNs who don't pass the NCLEX to continue to work as a CNA/tech -- but they are basically doing this as a favor to you, to give you the chance to keep getting a salary for doing something, rather than just firing you.

"Graduate Nurse" status is a temporary permit/grace period that some BONs allow between finishing school and taking boards, on the assumption that you will be passing boards. Once you take boards and don't pass, you are, legally, just another person who doesn't have a license to practice as an RN. Some states do not even offer a "GN" status, and you can't work as an RN at all in those states until you have passed NCLEX and received your license.

If you don't like working as a CNA while you are waiting to retake the NCLEX, you have the option of resigning, but then you will have to start from scratch looking for another job after you get your license ...

Yes, I'm sure it is v. frustrating and discouraging, but try to keep in mind that the hospital is trying to do you a favor. Best wishes on your next try on the NCLEX!

In most states, you are only permitted to work as a GN until you have taken the NCLEX at the first reasonable opportunity and passed it. If you do not pass, you no longer are qualified PER LAW to work as a GN.

This is not a facility policy in such states, IT IS THE LAW.

For this reason, also, some states/facilities no longer have GNs as many new grads can write the NCLEX and get results rapidly, as opposed to years ago when the test was only offered twice per year and you waited 8-16 weeks for the results.

Working as a GN is a privilege that is offered under very limited terms. If those limited terms are not met, the privilege is forfeited. And in most locales, your facility does not determine that, the BON does.

Because you are NOT a nurse until you have the license. Some states don't even permit GNs to work until they pass the NCLEX. It's a safety issue.

The last two posters are right, not sure why your hospital didn't just explain that to you and save you some hurt. Your temporary practice permit is revoked as soon as your test is scored. BTW- they should not have let you work as a GN prir to your graduation, if that's what you were saying?

I understand your frustration and disapointment- you didn't pass, have to go through that stress again, and now "demoted" If you feel you need to you can talk to your manager/HR people and ask to take a leave for increased studying, etc or you can continue to work as a tech. What you get out of your experience to work as a tech really depends on you! You'll still be working with pts and can use your time as a sponge, still asking professional nurse level questions while providing basic care and really honing your dressing change and VS taking skills, you'll learn about delegation from the other side, etc. I'm sorry to sound harsh and parental but you have a touch of an entitlement attitude that I suspect pre-dates your NCLEX. It's not always a bad thing, I'm sure it helps you be assertive and a "go-getter"- very good qualities but if the techs you're now working side by side with pick up on this (and they will!) you're going to find them giving you an attidude back when you take NCLEX again and pass and need their help!

As to verbal order readbacks, they are a pain in the butt but every hospital requires every RN to do them under JCAHO rules. Even RNs that have worked side by side with the same MDs and know their routines inside out. If you had had to take TOs before this policy you might appreciate it more...it has made things a little safer and in some instances easier. Some policies are BS, others are not...that's another "lecture"

demoted..............

can i ask you all what your current titles are and long you all have been working under your title? Also what states do you all reside in?

same scenario as you

Originally Posted by skwirlygirl

can i ask you all what your current titles are and long you all have been working under your title? Also what states do you all reside in?

Hi, I too was offered a nurse tech position after I failed my fisrt exam in July. Prior to that I was hired as a GN with a temporary permit issued by my state, but state law stated that if I fail the exam my permit will no longer be valid and that I will not be able to work as a GN. I was aware of it when I was hired so as soon a I found out my result, I immediately notified my HR and my director and they have offered me the Nurse tech position until I get my license then I can go back to working as an RN. Personally, I did not accept the offer for the reason that I'd like to be able to concentrate on studying and preparing for the board. I do not have anything against Nurse Tech ( I have a great respect for them) but it was my own choice not to do it.

Originally Posted by skwirlygirl

I took the NCLEX last month and did not pass! Not only was I disappointed, but to top it all of I was demoted from GN to a TECH. I was hired back in March as a GN before I even graduated in May. I began work at beginning of June and took the NCLEX in July. Under hospital policy if a GN does not pass the NCLEX the first time they are the demoted to a Tech and their pay decreases accordingly. I, as well as the nurses I had been supervised under as a GN, can not see the logic behind that policy. As a GN, you are always working side by side with a licensed RN. Being demoted has restricted so many of a practicing RN's duties that I have really have lost the desire to even go to work. I am no longer able to take order's from physicians, contact physicians when a patients condition warrants, administer any meds, including hanging IV's, count the meds coming or going off shift. I asked my manager to give me the policy that outlined my duties as a nurse tech and still haven't received that. I just don't understand..... my mangers say it is for safety purposes....and hey I'm all about safety, don't get me wrong but I had more responsibilities as a student than I do now. Safety? I was supervised as a GN with every med I passed and every assessment that I performed. I had to have my preceptor listen on the phone line when I was taking orders from doc's. It evidently was not adequate enough, that policy requires you to repeat any VO's back to the dr. to verify correctness, that this is required. O.K. I can get over that too.....policiies, policies, policies! O.K. I'm done venting..... anyone's comments about how demoting me to a tech is supposed to benefit me, my skills, and routine, etc. as an RN? All I basically do is assessments, and dressing changes. I feel as though I'm being pushed backwards and not encouraged to grow forwards.

Your school should have educated you on the Nurse Practice Act. I'm sorry that you did not pass the NCLEX but believe me many nurses fail the first time around. I'm surprised that they let you do assessments and dressings as a tech. I'm from Illinois and if the NCLEX is failed the GN has the option of working as a CNA until they pass or reapply for a nurse position when they pass.

Originally Posted by Bird2

Your school should have educated you on the Nurse Practice Act. I'm sorry that you did not pass the NCLEX but believe me many nurses fail the first time around. I'm surprised that they let you do assessments and dressings as a tech. I'm from Illinois and if the NCLEX is failed the GN has the option of working as a CNA until they pass or reapply for a nurse position when they pass.

Exactly. By the time I had graduated with my class and received my Temporary Permit, we had been well-versed on our state's Nurse Practice Act
on this scenario, and it's a shame that you weren't told. Best of luck to you on your second exam!

Sorry, but as stated above, it is not your hospital policy but the Nurse Practice Act of your state. The GN title is only good until you take your NCLEX exam, it actualy goes away once the results are out. You are either an RN, or not an RN. You cannot administer medications, hang IVs, any of those things that you were doing before. Any type of invasive procedure in most cases, etc. For the other nurses to want you to continue doing so could actually get them in trouble with the BON in your state. Perhaps you can suggest that someone from the BON come and do an inservice there on what and what can't be done by a GN, etc., or someone who is not longer a GN, no matter what the length of time is. Even for one week..............