Nevada NCLEX (New) Requirement Physical Assessment Course for Foreign Graduates

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hello, although i come here often, i'm not a very active poster because i saw how bad some arguments end up. but i felt this information was very important to share with all of you. i am a bsn graduate from the philippines and i recently applied for the nclex-rn in nevada. yesterday, i received a letter from their bon stating my application is "denied with an educational option". based on my ces report, they are requiring me to complete a physical assessment course at a board approved nursing program in the us with a grade of "c" or higher. and once i send them the transcripts/documentation showing completion, i will be allowed to take the test.

this came to a surprise to me because i have relatives and friends who are also bsn graduates from the philippines and didn't have this problem. and the most recent ones that applied were around 2009-2010. they are already licensed and working. their curriculum was almost identical with mine wherein physical assessment was integrated into the rle (related learning experience) and fundamentals of nursing practice subject (most especially throughout my second year). maybe it should have been clarified in my ces report. but i highly believe this is a newly mandated and/or they are becoming more strict. either way, i am more than willing to comply with it. i'm aware that in most if not all us nursing programs have physical assessment as a separate course.

this may not be a problem for all foreign graduates who took physical assessment as a separate subject. in the philippines though, when i graduated two years ago, i believe most nursing programs didn't have it separated. but after i left, i know that in my school, and perhaps others, they made changes in the curriculum possibly making it a separate subject. so recent graduates may not have to encounter this same problem.

i consulted my aunt regarding this since she is active in the nursing education system. she holds a doctorate in nursing and is currently teaching in the masters program in her school in new jersey. apparently, this physical assessment course requirement has also been recently mandated in the new jersey board of nursing. and in her school, foreign graduates applying for the nclex go there to complete that requirement. only difference though in their state, they just need to show a certification for that course, there is no grade. i believe this requirement is relatively new.. possibly for all states or eventually will be for all states regarding foreign nursing graduates... or maybe just those with a ces report? but anyways my main point of this post is to ask:

do any of you know of a school where i can take just this physical assessment course? preferably in southern california or the nevada area. if there are approved online courses, that would help very much as well.

has anyone received the same requirement?

do you think this will be an additional requirement for the ca bon for foreign nurses?

to give a background, i am a us citizen, born and raised in ca, but took my tertiary education in the philippines. like many of you, i encountered the concurrency problem when i tried to apply for the nclex in ca. and it broke my heart because i am from here and my family lives here. but my mother's advise, who is also a nurse, was to just apply to nevada and eventually fulfill the requirements of ca (since no one has actually succeeded in doing that just yet). the completing of a physical assessment course seems more possible so i guess it's not so bad. but it does suck how it becomes more and more difficult. i'd also like to know:

are there any updates regarding a school in ca where we can complete our ob and med-surgical requirements for the ca bon?

since it is so hard to find a ca school that accepts foreign grads wanting to only take two subjects, will the ca bon allow us to complete the requirements in other us state schools?

do any of you know if holding a master's degree in nursing in another state will qualify the foreign graduate to be licensed in ca? i think it was mentioned before but i'd like to clarify this if it's true or not.

i actually have a lot to say regarding the concurrency problem in ca. but maybe i'll save it for later, since i don't want to stray too far away from the main topic.

Thanks so much for your concern. From what I understood and what the letter said, I can take it from any accredited U.S. program/institution so it can be taken out of NV. But from how it seems, NV has the least options for this. There aren't as many schools as say CA. So as of now, looking in the other states would be better. It seems though that all schools are pretty much closed to single course enrollment... even online courses. Hopefully NV BON approves of this one course I found. It was made for nurses to fulfill the school's master's degree enrollment prerequisite and there has been foreign grads that took that course as well. I'm crossing my fingers since they have been the most accommodating. If they don't approve it, I'm seriously thinking of applying to another state. Is it just me dealing with this issue with Nevada? I am yet to hear of anyone with the same curriculum as I do (Filipino grads specifically) that was asked to take a physical assessment course. Even with the very strict CA BON, this wasn't part of their requirements. Lol.

yes, i agree with you. it was mentioned that a post-bsn msn (if i attain this in another state that i can get a license in) will not help with the ob and med-surg requirements of ca because there are no ob and med-surg classes that fall under a post-bsn msn program. thanks for reinforcing that clarification. but from what the ca bon recommended themselves, since they don't consider my bsn to meet their educational requirements, i have an option to enroll in any accredited nursing program in ca that will "complete" my bsn education according to their terms. and from what i was informed, besides a regular bsn or lvn to bsn program (what most are doing actually), this could also be done through a direct entry level/accelerated msn.. a bsn msn degree for graduates who are taking bsn as a second degree or those who already completed an rn program.

either pathway i take, it doesn't mean it will cancel my initial bsn but remediate it or add on to it as long as it covers ob and med-surg classes that are taken concurrently with clinical (they did not credit mine cos it was not taken concurrently due to the 25 required clinical cases of the pi). and it is up to the school to what they will credit from my original bsn. but this is my last option since in my opinion it is more costly on money and time. in their eyes, ca sees an "almost" bsn but in the philippines and other states, they recognize it. if other states accept my bsn for licensing, i prefer to further my education and practice in that state. and hopefully in time, there will be more opportunities or schools that cater to foreign grads that just need the ob and med-surg courses if ever i want to practice in ca.

Specializes in Medical Surgical.

hey there, do you have any updates to the nevada requirements. i'm currently in the process of waiting for my school in the philippines to send the needed forms to cgfns. i was also planning on going back to school after getting my rn license in nevada but the nursing board are becoming a bit more strict each time.

yes, i agree with you. it was mentioned that a post-bsn msn (if i attain this in another state that i can get a license in) will not help with the ob and med-surg requirements of ca because there are no ob and med-surg classes that fall under a post-bsn msn program. thanks for reinforcing that clarification. but from what the ca bon recommended themselves, since they don't consider my bsn to meet their educational requirements, i have an option to enroll in any accredited nursing program in ca that will "complete" my bsn education according to their terms. and from what i was informed, besides a regular bsn or lvn to bsn program (what most are doing actually), this could also be done through a direct entry level/accelerated msn.. a bsn msn degree for graduates who are taking bsn as a second degree or those who already completed an rn program.

either pathway i take, it doesn't mean it will cancel my initial bsn but remediate it or add on to it as long as it covers ob and med-surg classes that are taken concurrently with clinical (they did not credit mine cos it was not taken concurrently due to the 25 required clinical cases of the pi). and it is up to the school to what they will credit from my original bsn. but this is my last option since in my opinion it is more costly on money and time. in their eyes, ca sees an "almost" bsn but in the philippines and other states, they recognize it. if other states accept my bsn for licensing, i prefer to further my education and practice in that state. and hopefully in time, there will be more opportunities or schools that cater to foreign grads that just need the ob and med-surg courses if ever i want to practice in ca.

Check in with "starleviosa", she's the one person here that successfully, got her ATT fairly fast. I don't recall her having this current issue, maybe it is something new?

Specializes in Medical Surgical.

I've called the Nevada Board if a Physical Assessment course was needed. They said it would depend on the transcripts and other information given from CGFNS. It might have been that they sent all your transcripts and documents but not your full clinical experience summary. listing down all of your skills laboratory and demo per week. Before I left the school our coordinator was kind to create a summary of clinical experience per week. Hope you can still update us about your status. Meanwhile my request forms are taking forever to reach the school. It's almost 2 weeks.

Added you. :)

hey there, do you have any updates to the nevada requirements. i'm currently in the process of waiting for my school in the philippines to send the needed forms to cgfns. i was also planning on going back to school after getting my rn license in nevada but the nursing board are becoming a bit more strict each time.

hi there! well, so far, i'm waiting on this school to enroll in a course that may be credited by the nevada bon. but i'm also exploring my other options with other states. did you have a physical assessment course in your curriculum? update me on how things go with your nevada application! :) you might not have to encounter the same problem.

could it be that your school did not include physical assessment in your course/subject description

as part of your fundamentals of nursing?

i think naman they did. they filled out whatever was asked by the cgfns. and i trust they were complete because the ones in charge of filling up the ces school forms, they've been doing it for years and years throughout the schoolyear and summer.. its part of their routine as long as a graduate comes by the office and submit the form.

check in with "starleviosa", she's the one person here that successfully, got her att fairly fast. i don't recall her having this current issue, maybe it is something new?

that's what i thought too.. i never encountered another phil grad who applied in nevada and have the same problem. :( is starleviosa still active on allnurses?

I've called the Nevada Board if a Physical Assessment course was needed. They said it would depend on the transcripts and other information given from CGFNS. It might have been that they sent all your transcripts and documents but not your full clinical experience summary. listing down all of your skills laboratory and demo per week. Before I left the school our coordinator was kind to create a summary of clinical experience per week. Hope you can still update us about your status. Meanwhile my request forms are taking forever to reach the school. It's almost 2 weeks.

Is the full clinical experience summary part of what they ask the school to give for the CES report? I'm sure my school gave everything that was asked from them. Perhaps I need to have the CGFNS reevaluate my transcripts? It's strange 'cause I'm the only one so far that had this issue. I'll let you know how things go. You mailed your request forms to your school? I think that's just about the right time if it's through mail. And once your school gets it, another 1-2 weeks for them to send it to CGFNS. I started my application late March. And to my surprise, the CES report was sent to the Nevada BON third to fourth week of April. I was expecting at least another 4 months.

Specializes in ICU.

OMG is this the new requirement needed for NV nclex? im planning to take also nevada this year. im also a graduate of Nursing here in the Philippines last 2011 and already have my license on thesame year. Im currently reviewing for this exam but a little bit sad because of this update :(( i hope i'll be eligible to take the Nclex NV. By the way is their any updates? did u already have ur PA course? Goodluck to u!!

hi any update if you got a school for that course??im planning to apply here in NV also but im worried about this issue.im here from las vegas,graduated in PI also.please please update us about this..maraming maraming salamat GODBLess us all :)

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