After getting a BSN, what's next?

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My wife completed her BSN in 2005 and the plan was to get her RN immediately. Things happened and it didn't work out that way. So here we are, about to start a new year and the new plan is to take a quick refresher course online, and then take the CA RN test asap so she can get her license.

Some questions I have:

1. What are good online refresher classes? We're looking for the kind that you can study at your own pace, not have a structured time/schedule. I found one call reviewfornurses.com that has a simple refresher program and sample questions to prep for the test. Is something like that worth it?

2. How often is the NCLEX test given out? Just wanted to know what the earliest we can expect to have her take the RN test for CA if we started this process right now.

Thanks.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Hi,

I'd check to make sure she is still eligible to sit for NCLEX. They have tests all the time in my area. I'm curious as to why she isn't the one writing?

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My wife is busy with work and its easier for me to post on here.

How do I find out if she is still eligible to sit for NCLEX? And what happens if she's not eligible? What does that mean? Does that mean she can never become an RN? Or does that mean she needs to re-take something else?

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Specializes in Psych.

Your wife should make an application to the CA Board of Nursing to sit the NCLEX. She could also contact her uni and get some assistance from them. No offense meant, but after I finished uni, I sure knew what to do and how to go about it and I also knew the time limits. Having a BSN does not entitle a person to sit the NCLEX forever. It must be done within a specified time period. The link below will give you info about registering for the NCLEX.

https://www.ncsbn.org/2009_NCLEX_Candidate_Bulletin.pdf

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Thanks for that link, that information was helpful. OK, well I guess our first step is to start the registration process on the CA board website and see what happens.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

In previous posts you have said she already was a RN and got fired. Does she even want to try working as a RN again?

:confused:

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Sounds fishy to me

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Yeah originally we thought she was fired but somehow she was never an RN in the first place...way too long and complicated to explain, but nonetheless, the plan is to start fresh and brand new. She has her BSN and between her not showing up in CA or FL BON even though she took the RN test and supposedly passed in 2005, we are just going to assume that was all a dream (nightmare) and that all she has going for her is that she has her BSN and will now start the process to be an RN.

She doesn't want to be an RN because its too stressful, which is why its been so many years of not actually following thru with this. But she's working as a caregiver (lower than a CNA!) and we paid $XXX money to get her that BSN education and we need the RN salary to get by in todays climate, so she has to suck it up and take one for the team and work as an RN for at least a year. So thats why I'm on here trying to figure out what to do.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Truth is I'm a big fan of "just sucking it up" and just doing what needs to be done in life but nursing is not something that I'd recommend for anyone if their heart isn't in it. I'd urge you to find other ways to make the income you need to keep your family afloat. I wish you well because I can imagine this is frustrating for you but again you can't make an adult do something they don't want to.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
yeah originally we thought she was fired but somehow she was never an rn in the first place...way too long and complicated to explain, but nonetheless, the plan is to start fresh and brand new. she has her bsn and between her not showing up in ca or fl bon even though she took the rn test and supposedly passed in 2005, we are just going to assume that was all a dream (nightmare) and that all she has going for her is that she has her bsn and will now start the process to be an rn.

she doesn't want to be an rn because its too stressful, which is why its been so many years of not actually following thru with this. but she's working as a caregiver (lower than a cna!) and we paid $xxx money to get her that bsn education and we need the rn salary to get by in todays climate, so she has to suck it up and take one for the team and work as an rn for at least a year. so thats why i'm on here trying to figure out what to do.

i understand your concern and it is really none of our business as to why she may have been fired or what her story is ... however, understand that her story is the business of the bon of your state and if she gets caught omitting anything in her application because it was some nightmare she wishes not to revisit, you can guarantee she won't get a license now and possibly ever.

as the others have posted, it is hard to believe she does not know or understand the process of getting a license. nursing schools tell students because they benefit from us passing the first time. thus, it is not a secret. my guess (and it is only a guess) is that she knows she may not be qualified or be eligible to be a rn right now and so she is telling you what she thinks you need to hear so you are not upset with her. i have no idea why she thinks this is buying her time but she may be that type of person. in any case, i agree with the others that there is somthing not right about her story.

first you stated that she passed the nclex in 2005…. guess what, if that is true, she does not need to take it again! also, in most states if you graduated from nursing school and passed the nclex you are eligible to work as a cna. you stated that she cannot even be that.... i graduated from nursing school and am studying to pass my nclex, thus technically she and i are in the same boat. however, i am not working as a patient assistant or cna... i am working as a new grad. so... based on what little you have said, i don’t believe that she is telling you the truth. :twocents: hopefully i am wrong. good luck!

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I'm sorry, this whole post seems a little "off". Why isn't your wife posting at least one post, and I REALLY don't understand getting a license but not having it...was it taken away?

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I'm sorry, this whole post seems a little "off". Why isn't your wife posting at least one post, and I REALLY don't understand getting a license but not having it...was it taken away?

I agree. And, if she's starting out as, essentially a new grad (actually, worse-- a new NCLEX who just passed boards), in this economy she may not be able to find a job as easily as the OP thinks.

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