Anyone challenged the NCLEX?

suzanne4, RN · Apr 2, 2004

Not allowed.................you have to have completed so many hours in each of the disciplines. And working in another area does train you to work as a nurse or give you the proper insight..................Sorry :uhoh3:

By the way: what are you considering as the "advanced" healthcare provider

to go up against the NCLEX-RN boards?

MikeinSD · Apr 2, 2004

The California boards allow people with military training in "independent or special forces" with 5 years of independent work (without a doctor) to challenge the boards. I was just wondering if any one out there has gone this route and is currentlly working in the field as an RN....

gerry79 · Apr 2, 2004

I thought that California discontined that program as of April 01. I was trained at the Navy Independent Duty Corpsman school in San Diego and many of my instructors obtained the RN via that route. If I am not mistaken, a corpsman/medic can still challenge the LVN boards. But with the nursing shortage maybe California is going back to letting independent duty medics/corpsman sit for the board. I would call the BoN to get the real scoop.

CA CoCoRN, RN · Apr 2, 2004

Mike,

you may find that "loophole" in the rules and regs...but I seriously doubt if you will find anyone who's successfully done it. Especially recently. In the "olden" days, previous to the exam evolving as much as it has in recent years, and also previous to the exam being administered via computer, it may have been "easier" to challenge and pass the boards. I allowed my mom (who has been an R.N. since 1979) to view some of the questions I had on the PRACTICE NCLEX that I was doing before I took it. These were the Mosby, et al., programs. She mentioned to me that while the basic physiology of humans has not changed, the approach to treatment has. Also, the detail that R.N.s are required to know, in all aspects of care, has changed. Our scope of practice has expanded since she initially took her boards, as well as our supervisory protocols.

You may have experience which you feel qualifies you as eligible to sit for the boards...but I query you this: What makes you, as an "unlicensed independent advanced practitioner", feel you are more qualified to sit and pass the NCLEX than, say, a foreign educated physician?? You'll find, if you haven't already, that even many foreign educated physicians (whose training is supposed to supercede that of a nurse) sit and FAIL the NCLEX. Even those physicians who come from countries with comparable curricula.

Not to mention the fact that many AMERICAN educated RN candidates don't pass the first time.

Being a nurse and getting a license may seem "peesacake"...but the road there can be challenging. As it should be.

If you wish to, and attempt to challenge the boards, good luck. I truly hope that you have the requisite experience and KNOWLEDGE necessary to practice safely and successfully.

gerry79 · Apr 2, 2004

CA CocRN, I personally know several who did in fact challenge and pass the exam, and are practicing nursing now. As an Independent duty practitioner in the Coast Guard I personally would not try to sit for the exam because my skill set is quite different than that of an RN's. But my Navy counterparts have worked in large hospitals performing the duties of an RN. That is not meant as a slight to RN's but I have worked at large Naval hospitals where the Corpsman did all of the interventions/patient care and the floor usually had one or two RN supervisors doing the paper work. As I stated, even if I were able to take the exam I would not. As a Coast Guard Corpsman, We are not trained for hospital intervention since we dont have any large hospitals, only small clinics. Our training is geared towards treating diagnosing and prescribing medication. You would be amazed at what we as non licensed practitioners are able to do in the service! (Sutures, Paps, minor surgery, chest tubes and the list goes on and on) And when we are placed on ships with no MD's we are the sole provider of health care for about 150 (or more if in the Navy) peolpe. I am going to nursing school and have mixed feelings about challenging the board,there are many out there who feel they already posses the knowledge needed to be an RN. I know many who have, and work with traditional nursing school graduates. Just my 2 cents

Gerry

MikeinSD · Apr 2, 2004

Thanks for the info. I'm a retired Independent Duty Hospital Corpsman. I successfully challenged my boards in 1997 and have been working in various RN postions since. Trauma, Med Sug, Hospice. I was just wondering how many other military personnel have meet the criteria established by the California Nursing Board. And how many have challenged the boards and are currentlly working as an RN.

MikeinSD · Apr 2, 2004

Check out the CA Board and section 2736.5 of the Business and Proffessions Code and Title 16 section 1418 outlines the criteria for Armed Services training. Good luck..

CA CoCoRN, RN · Apr 2, 2004

Congrats Mike....for however long you've been an RN.

Gerry....in the Military, you are "under the control and command of the US Armed Forces", yes?? And as a result, if you go to an unlicensed person to have or need whatever procedure perfomed, you've already consented to being treated this way, yes?? If so, then that's par for the course and good for you (I guess?) if you're allowed to have that sort of medical jurisdiction over patients. But again, this is because you are in the military and goes with those duties. You've been trained and are proscribed by whomever supervises such activities (presumably an MD/RNP, whatever, however high in the ranks).

You do admit (I hope), that if you did those things OUTSIDE the corps and held yourself out to be any sort of practitioner, you'd be practicing medicine/nursing without a license. And as you said, you worked in different settings, therefore in some ways are unprepared for actual RN scope particulars.

Mike...again...is the CA BRN still doing this?? If so....then for those, like you, who could successfully challenge and pass it, it could be a boon to the numbers of RNs that CA needs.

MikeinSD · Apr 3, 2004

CoCoRN Where in CA do you practice? I'm in San Diego.

gerry79 · Apr 3, 2004

Mike, did you find the NCLEX difficult, and what was your prior experience before IDC school. I graduated from the San Diego based school in 99, and many of my instructors were working in the local hospitals as nurses. I went to the BoN website and from what I have read, the board holds the decision on letting an IDC sit for the boards, and in my opinion they sort of push IDC's in the direction of becoming an LVN.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 3, 2004

The board allows anyone with > five years of advanced medical training (independent of a doctor) to challenge the NCLEX. Just wondering...

Mike, Sorry for my answer. You didn't say the training was in military service. :uhoh21: Many people have posted wanting to challenge the NCLEX and they have never had direct patient care.

Again, sorry.............. :balloons: