CA BRN New Requirements For NCLEX RN international students

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I had already registered online in Pearson Vue but I think I'm not yet eligible to take the test. Is there an expiration date for my registration at PV?

I received a letter from CA BON requesting for new requirements such as:

  1. SS number
  2. Local license in the Philippines
  3. Copy of ur clinical rotation schedule for your cases: Assisted/Actual deliveries, cord dressing, and major/minor surgeries
  4. A complete school curriculum hundred pages or more sent directly from ur nursing school to the board. (the board doesn't accept the condensed version of the curriculum
  5. A one-page curriculum outline and academic calendar.

Fortunately, I had the first 2 requirements but I am worried that the last 3 will take time to be accomplished.

I am wondering if it's just me who have this requirement. Most of NCLEX passers I know weren't required on those listed above. It's really hard to focus on review while your thinking of this :uhoh3:

BTW, has any of you guys from the new curriculum had been approve??

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I took my NCLEX-RN last year but i failed so i decided to reapply early this year and they sent me a letter asking me to provide them additional requirements. I called and spoke with someone from BRN and asked why they were asking me additional requirements now that i was reapplying but they found me eligible to take the test last year. They said they were just reviewing all the possible candidates if they meet the California standards for which they found mine did not. So right now i have to ask my Mom to go back in the Phils to go to my school and get all the requirements needed. While waiting i decided to apply for LVN for the mean time and now im scheduled to take it soon but i can not concentrate because my mind is all set on thinking whether or not they will find my application eligible or not.

Also i have known several people who were facing the same problem and they all said that when you give them a copy of your cases (the one we were sending a copy to PRC), and if by any chance the date you completed your cases did not match the date and year you took your theoretical they will not accept it. Like for example you took your maternal 3rd year college 1st sem, then you completed your cases while you were on your 4th yr, they will question that. Someone even explained to them that due to a very limited time, nursing students will not be able to complete their cases but they are given up to the time before they graduate to finish it. Still BRN said that if in the Philippines that is accepted, here in California we do not meet their standards.

So right now i guess i have to take the LVN first while waiting and hoping that they will sent me an eligibility to finally take the test.

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I took my NCLEX-RN last year but i failed so i decided to reapply early this year and they sent me a letter asking me to provide them additional requirements. I called and spoke with someone from BRN and asked why they were asking me additional requirements now that i was reapplying but they found me eligible to take the test last year. They said they were just reviewing all the possible candidates if they meet the California standards for which they found mine did not. So right now i have to ask my Mom to go back in the Phils to go to my school and get all the requirements needed. While waiting i decided to apply for LVN for the mean time and now im scheduled to take it soon but i can not concentrate because my mind is all set on thinking whether or not they will find my application eligible or not.

Also i have known several people who were facing the same problem and they all said that when you give them a copy of your cases (the one we were sending a copy to PRC), and if by any chance the date you completed your cases did not match the date and year you took your theoretical they will not accept it. Like for example you took your maternal 3rd year college 1st sem, then you completed your cases while you were on your 4th yr, they will question that. Someone even explained to them that due to a very limited time, nursing students will not be able to complete their cases but they are given up to the time before they graduate to finish it. Still BRN said that if in the Philippines that is accepted, here in California we do not meet their standards.

So right now i guess i have to take the LVN first while waiting and hoping that they will sent me an eligibility to finally take the test.

Sorry to hear that you didn't pass the first time.

You're so right about us PH grads not meeting CA's regulations in many cases due to the cords delivery etc.

I gather from my USA nursing friends that while it's neat and cool to watch a live delivery and cut the cord and do the dressings that will never happen in a US hospital to expose any inexperienced nurses or students to such, as in the States, one wrong mistake can not only endanger one's license and schooling, but injure or kill a newborn, then add on a large lawsuit against the hospital and the nurse/student. In the Phils, if that happens, well, you know no one will get sued, etc.

One interesting thought that a couple of my US friends said that they think this baby delivery assistance and cord dressing is done in the Phils, as it's a very inexpensive way for the hospital to control the large demand of newborns needing help, so they see us students as a good way to supplement the actual need of more experienced nurses. I have to agree with that thought, we're seen as cheap labor force in the Phils.

The other big problem with the Phils system is that they don't limit the nursing school size and prefer to load up as many students as they can, then let 15-25 students per students ask a single patient the same questions in the clinicals. That's something that doesn't happen in the States, at least in CA and many other States, they only do a one-on-one experienced nurse (preceptor or mentor) to one student nurses, this student nurse MUST be joined at the hips (literally) with the preceptor except for breaks, meals and restroom time.

That's why in the States, there's such a waiting list for new students to get enrolled, there's only so many hospitals and qualified experienced nurses to teach each single student. Mind you, that's also why 85-90%+ of the USA educated grad nurses are able to pass the NCLEX the first time within 6 months of their graduation. They are taught in their classes and clinicals how to "critical think" right then and there, they must do reports on those and are heavily graded. So everything is so fresh in their minds.

I keep saying "thanks" to our CHED, PRC and PNA for doing a "wonderful" job....FAIL.

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For those who were asked to take ms and ob again my cousin who is an instructor in Unitek college in fremont told me that they just started to offer ms and ob programs for foreign graduates! And yes this is a private school

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i wanted to get you guys' advice. im currently in the philippines taking my BSN. i have one and a half more years left of school. my situation is kind of different from the rest since my ob cases are concurrent, HOWEVER, my surgery cases are. should i continue with school or go home to california and just take it there? and if i graduate, do u guys think that BRN will allow me just to take OB classes? i am pretty desperate for any helpful information. thank you and good luck to all of us!

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Ok, thanks!

So figure about $7,000.00 plus whatever books and supplies are? A bit cheaper than National Univ, but worth it as there's no waiting list. They will probably require full payment before the start of attending? Just need to meet MSMC's other minimum requirements as you mentioned as well.

So then, I need to sell most of our village cows and the hen house with all the hens and eggs :D

any updates???? are you enrolled now at MSMC's?????

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While waiting for my eligibility in CO look who showed up in my mail box today....

My eligibility from good ol CA. I sent my application back in Feb 2012, and I had to deal with the never ending requirements. So i think its a case to case basis.

I just need to study and pass the exam now. thank god!

Wow congrats! When will you take the exam? :)
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probably on feb.

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probably on feb.
Aryt! Goodluck! Were your cases concurrent?
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did someone apply in the state of hawaii then try to endorse their license on nevada?

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Hello Nurses!

National University offers these classes but there are already 10 foreign graduates in the waiting list. My husband's on the 11th slot. The good thing is their classes are on a monthly basis. It means you don't have to wait another semester to take MS or OB whichever comes first to enroll it. Problem is, National University only takes 1-2 persons from the wait list per year. However, it was mentioned to us when we spoke to *****, Admissions Adviser that the the class usually takes 20 students maximum. Maybe, if the wait list comes to 20 then we then can request from National University to create a separate class. I am most willing to help since I am very aware of this concurrency problem affecting the foreign graduate nurses nowadays.

FYI, MS theory and clinical take 2 months to complete. Same with OB. Cost $1467 for theory and $1467 + $675 for clinical. About $326/unit. Roughly, you need about $7218. Just be guided.

The class is only 2 months but, if they only take 1-2 persons from the wait list per year, the waiting may take years. Isn't it faster to apply to and repeat the Associate Degree Nursing program for two years? (4 semesters is only 16 months of actual school time, work as a CNA for the other 8 months while school is not in session) And the tuition is a lot cheaper. In California NOT ALL community college programs have a wait list. There is someone who applied at a community college, applied to only ONE nursing program and got in right away, but couldn't attend that semester. Then applied again to a different college recently, applied to ONE program and got accepted again. The only thing is your Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology should be within the last 5 years. Someone mentioned English class requirement on this thread, that English class & Developmental psychology requirements can be taken online. I think that at the end, the time and money that will be used and wasted waiting for results or taking whatever actions for an individual's "concurrency fiasco" would have equaled to finishing a U.S. Nursing degree at a community college, even if it means to repeat all 4 nursing classes, the 2nd time around will be much easier for the students anyway, they can get straight A's and easily go to a Master's degree program later on. Plus it's easier to get a job as a US graduate than a foreign grad. Yes this only applies to US citizens and permanent residents, or if you can afford $250/unit on a student visa (get private loans with US citizen or permanent resident co-signer)

Schools out of California:

Our Lady of the Lake College & Oklahoma city college has a 10month ADN program for those with a non-nursing bachelors degree (maybe you can talk to the nursing program director to consider your case)

Howard Community College Maryland - has a 13 month Associate Degree Nursing program, no previous bachelors degree required

Santa Fe College Florida - 10 month associate of science in Nursing (ASN) Bridge Program for licensed and practical nurses (LPN/LVN)

Personally I'm not convinced of the LPN/LVN to RN route. When you finish the LVN to RN program, you will still need to send transcripts from ALL schools which includes your BSN from the Philippines (or whatever country you're from), and any board of nursing can still say that in HALF of your nursing program (the LVN part, which is actually from a foreign school) you did not meet concurrency requirement.

The "concurrency problem" list of the 13 states are growing, and WILL GROW. ALL 50 states will probably eventually have this "concurrency" requirement, and they will ask for this requirement even when you RENEW your license. Even when you are already working at the masters level, like Nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, etc, many employers require that you have the masters certificate AND an RN license in your state. So one way or another, whether it is now or years later, everyone with a concurrency problem will face this licensing problem. Why not spend a small 16 months NOW (20 months if you still need English and Developmental psych), and be sure that for the rest of your Nursing career there will be no problem with licensing in ANY state. I know it's very discouraging to think of repeating the whole program but those 16 months spent sitting in class and repeating clinicals, but just accept the situation, dry your tears and disappointments, get up and do something, instead of looking for 1 or 2 classes apply to a program, you never know what kind of "unusual" requirements they will ask later when you renew your license. Have you noticed the changes? First it was only Psych problem, then it was OB MS, now it's physical assessment. I say if you are able, repeat the Associate RN program in the US, it will give assurance for the next 50 years of the rest of your nursing career.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.
The "concurrency problem" list of the 13 states are growing, and WILL GROW. ALL 50 states will probably eventually have this "concurrency" requirement, and they will ask for this requirement even when you RENEW your license. Even when you are already working at the masters level, like Nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, etc, many employers require that you have the masters certificate AND an RN license in your state. So one way or another, whether it is now or years later, everyone with a concurrency problem will face this licensing problem.

That is true. the number of states has now actually increased to 14-16 since different people have had trouble applying in New Jersey and myself am required to take MS in NV. Since you added some schools that can be very helpful to others, I'd like to share that there is a program being offered in CSU Fresno this summer. They will be offering OB theory, clinicals with skills lab Critical Care(MS) theory, clinical with skills. If any of you have questions don't hesitate to ask. This is for anyone lacking these subjects around the US just make sure that the state you are applying from says the course meets the requirements.

I agree that this problem may not get well soon, and to those who have received their ATT's please pass your NCLEX exam in the first try okay!

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