NJ Board of Nursing - What the Heck?

U.S.A. New Jersey

Published

So I know that the NJ BON is notoriously bad. My husband graduated from nursing school in 2009 and had a six week wait, and my mother-in-law graduated in 2010 and waited two months from start to finish. Knowing this, I sent my paperwork in back in April. I tracked it as being received by April 16th. Check was cashed April 30th. Paperwork was entered into system May 14th. I was expecting about a two month wait once everything was received, and I was prepared for it.

It has now been three months, and I still have yet to receive my fingerprinting paperwork. I somehow got my ATT at the end of June, took my boards a few days later and passed, but they still haven't processed the fingerprinting paperwork. I've repeatedly called because I start my RN job on the 25th, and the BON just keeps saying that they've implemented a "new procedure" that makes them even slower than usual (awesome time to implement it, when everybody's graduating).

It's so frustrating, because I know that I'll have a wait for scheduling my fingerprinting, and then it'll be weeks after that is received by the BON before I get my license. I expected it to take a couple of months; now I'm looking at four (an optimistic outlook) or five months at least that it will take to get my license. I got a great job at a trauma center in south Jersey, and I'm not going to be happy if I lose it because NJ can't send out fingerprinting paperwork.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to light a fire under these people? I don't understand why it is so difficult to send out one bloody letter that says, "you can schedule your fingerprinting." To still be waiting for that after three months is asinine. I'm so frustrated. :madface:

I've been waiting for my ATT since May. They didn't put me in the system until the beginning of July... It's August now and I STILL have no ATT! NJBON should have two copies of my Letter of Completion from my school by now! I checked my application status online, and it's literally the last thing they need in order for my whole application process to be complete. My classmates applied to NJBON at the same time as me, and they had their ATT in June! What is going on?? And how is this "new system" organized?? Every time I call they ALWAYS say "wait 10-15 business days." It feels like my NCLEX is never going to happen! I'm ready to work but I can't work if other people aren't doing their work efficiently too! Do you think I will finally get my ATT if I drive to them and talk to them in person? >:(

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I've been waiting for my ATT since May. They didn't put me in the system until the beginning of July... It's August now and I STILL have no ATT! NJBON should have two copies of my Letter of Completion from my school by now! I checked my application status online, and it's literally the last thing they need in order for my whole application process to be complete. My classmates applied to NJBON at the same time as me, and they had their ATT in June! What is going on?? And how is this "new system" organized?? Every time I call they ALWAYS say "wait 10-15 business days." It feels like my NCLEX is never going to happen! I'm ready to work but I can't work if other people aren't doing their work efficiently too! Do you think I will finally get my ATT if I drive to them and talk to them in person? >:(

Have you registered with Pearson Vue as the ATT is authorized NJBON but issued by Pearson Vue? I had a couple of classmates who didn't realize this and thus waited a few extra weeks for the ATT to be mailed since they weren't registered and paid at Pearson Vue

Have you registered with Pearson Vue as the ATT is authorized NJBON but issued by Pearson Vue? I had a couple of classmates who didn't realize this and thus waited a few extra weeks for the ATT to be mailed since they weren't registered and paid at Pearson Vue

Yes, I registered with Pearson Vue and paid since the beginning of May. :\

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Try checking with PV customer service and your spam folders. Some ISPs flag the ATT as spam. I know one person who's ATT was stuck in limbo at PV and was able to solve the issue by calling PV CS. May not work for you but it might be easier before driving to Newark.

Still nothing, I've been checking my email every day, including the spam folder. NJBON still has to process my Letter of Completion.. it's the last thing they need according to my status online. They have to have my letter by now... My dean sent my letter in June, and resent it again this month as well. I don't understand what's taking so long to find a simple letter and match it up with my app, and how my classmates got theirs done so early. I've called so many times already.

Are you absolutely certain that your school submitted the same exact name that you submitted on your application? Are you from another country? My application got held up b/c my school had my married name and my application had a hyphenated name (since that was on my driver's license). I got the "wait 10-15 business days" line until I got someone willing to look me up by SSN. My ATT was emailed 15 minutes later (no joke). I have a friend whose application got held up because she needed to submit something with her green card (can't remember specifics). At any rate, might want to call and ask them to match you and Pearson Vue's info by SSN and see if that helps.

[TABLE]

[TR=class: gheader]

[TD]Item[/TD]

[TD]Status[/TD]

[TD]Complete Date[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: gdetail]

[TD]Notarized Application[/TD]

[TD]Completed[/TD]

[TD]Jul/11/12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: galt]

[TD]Application Fee

[/TD]

[TD]Completed[/TD]

[TD]Jun/18/12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: gdetail]

[TD]Signed Photo[/TD]

[TD]Completed[/TD]

[TD]Jul/11/12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: galt]

[TD]Nursing School Transcript/CGFNS[/TD]

[TD]Not Applicable[/TD]

[TD]Jul/11/12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: gdetail]

[TD]Copy of Current License[/TD]

[TD]Not Applicable[/TD]

[TD]Jul/11/12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: galt]

[TD]Verification - Requires Button in Center[/TD]

[TD]Completed[/TD]

[TD]Jul/11/12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: gdetail]

[TD]Initial License/Permit/Cert Fee

[/TD]

[TD]Completed[/TD]

[TD]Jun/18/12

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: galt]

[TD]Child Support Form[/TD]

[TD]Completed[/TD]

[TD]Jul/11/12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: gdetail]

[TD]C & A In State[/TD]

[TD]Completed[/TD]

[TD]Jul/11/12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: galt]

[TD]Criminal History Background Check[/TD]

[TD]Completed[/TD]

[TD]Aug/01/12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: gdetail]

[TD]Board/Committee Approval*[/TD]

[TD]Unchecked[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: galt]

[TD]Immigration Documentation[/TD]

[TD]Not Applicable[/TD]

[TD]Jul/11/12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: gdetail]

[TD]C&A Out of State[/TD]

[TD]Not Applicable[/TD]

[TD]Jul/11/12[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

This is an example of my license endorsement process time.

Jun 18th I completed the online application

July 11th was when they noticed my appplication

they also gave me the ok for fingerprinting this day but

July 28th, more than 2 weeks later was the first available day

August 1- the criminal history background check was completed... ( I'm not sure if it sped

up because I had my fingerprinting done in PA for grad school 3 weeks prior to

my scheduled NJ fingerprinting day)

it's been over 2 1/2 weeks since the last activity and still no info..

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

That's because all licensees must be approved by a board committee once all information is received. Licensing isn't automatic once you pass NCLEX and the background check in NJ like it is in other states. It takes 4-6 weeks after passing NCLEX & background for a license to be issued. Sometimes it is faster, sometimes it is not. Basically hurry up and wait. :(

Specializes in Pediatric Home Health.

Well, today will make 4 weeks post NCLEX-RN. Im impatiently waiting for even a license number. The 1st rep I spoke to said 3-4 weeks. Then, last week another rep said 5-6 weeks and for me to wait to contact them until Sept 3rd.That would make 7 weeks....Ugh! Come on..I got my LPN license in the mail 11 days after I took the NCLEX-PN. These extended wait times d/t "being short-staffed and summer time" are so frustrating :-(

Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

I know it's frustrating to wait for the BON. I dealt with the same thing when I applied. But here are some statistics to help you understand why the process might take so long:

There are roughly 100 RN and LPN programs in the state of NJ. While some will be bigger, and some smaller, let's estimate that each one graduates about 50 students in May. So right away, you have 5,000 applications for new nursing licenses. Note that this does not include those applying for the second or third time, those applying from other states (such as NY and PA) and those nurses who are already licensed applying for endorsement in NJ. All submitted in May.

So, let's say the NJ BON has 10 employees working on new grad applications. Let's say that each employee can process one application in an hour (this is probably too quick of an estimate, considering all the pieces of the application that need to be reviewed and entered into the computer). In an 8 hour work day, that's 80 applications per day. That means that it will take the NJ BON just over 60 days to process all 5,000 new applications (assuming they work 7 days per week, which they do not, and excluding holidays).

Then you need to figure in NJ, RN licenses expire on May 31st, every two years. So half of all licensed RNs in NJ who wish to maintain their license must apply for recertification. According to Kaiser State Health Facts, there were just over 78,000 employed RNs in NJ in 2011. So, if half of them need to apply for recertification, that's about 39,000 renewal applications that the NJ BON has to process. All submitted around May.

So that's about 45,000 applications that must be processed through the BON, ONLY from RNs applying for renewal and new applicants for RN/LPN licenses.

Consider also the back-log of applicants who applied earlier in the spring, LPNs applying for renewal, RNs/LPNs applying for reinstatement, foreign nurses applying for NJ licensure, and nurses from other states applying for endorsement. The volume of applications that the NJ BON must process is well over 50,000 throughout the summer months. And, like most government agencies, they are understaffed.

I hope this helps shed some light on why the application process can take as long as it does.

Specializes in Surgical/Stepdown, Home Care.

I totally understand that, and the frustration is more with the staffing levels than anything. PA and NY have just as many students who have graduated/are renewing (if not more) than NJ does, yet they can turn around within a couple of weeks. Additionally, implementing a new, untested system during the busiest time of year seems illogical.

I wrote letters to both of my representatives as well as the Director of Consumer Affairs. Maybe if there are enough complaints, they can get the staffing/system they need to function efficiently.

I graduated from my nursing program the 3rd week of May. I sent my application out on June 4th and didn't hear anything for a while. I started calling the board around the 2nd week of July. The people who work in the processing department there are useless and provide no help at all. They kept telling me about how they have a new system in place and it will take 30 business days to process my application. I called back at that point and they tried looking my information up and said it wasn't in the system yet. They couldn't even tell me if my application was in the building. They said they will email their supervisor and that it would take another 15 business days to get a response.

After she said that I almost lost it. Oh and this is after they have been transferring me to these supervisors that always have full voicemail inboxes so I can't even leave a message. Finally I keep calling back until I reach Executive Director George Herbert. I get his secretary on the phone and she transfers me to a voicemail in which I am able to leave a message. The very next day I get my ATT. All that time I kept thinking my application got lost in the mail. I ended up taking and passing my NCLEX-RN on August 8th, but I didn't get fingerprinted until August 20th. So now I'm waiting for a license number that usually takes 4-6 weeks after you pass your boards to obtain. By the time I finally start practicing as a nurse I'm going to forget everything I learned in school. =\

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