Challenge exam for CNA/LPN/LVN

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Hi guys,

so I took my NCLEX RN recently and unfortunately I failed. (I just know I did. I'm not even waiting for the result.)

so I was wondering if any of you guys, any BSN international graduate out there who failed the NCLEX RN took a different route say taking the Challenge exam for CNA/LPN/LVN.

can you share some insights on how the processing went and what exactly to expect from it.

PS: its not that i don't want to re Take my RN exam, its just that i wanna explore other options most specially the CNA one since i'm literally near broke & most of the hospitals/facilities where i'm at prefer a CNA/LPN/LVN licensed individual to work for them. & its so weird cos none of the places i applied for are calling me back like random job places (eg. clothing stores, restaurants) is it because i have a bachelor's degree?

please help. getting a little desperate here!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

CNA's are not interchangeable with LPN's. LPN's & RN's are professional, licensed nurses. CNA's are nursing assistants who may or may not be registered with the state in which they work.

Contact the BON in your state to see if you are eligible to sit for the LPN NCLEX.

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I'm not completely sure I'm following you, because you say that most of the hospitals you applied to prefer a licensed nurse, and the fact is they all require you to be a licensed nurse. A CNA is an unlicensed aide and you could apply at a hospital for a job as an aide, that is what you are qualified to do until you have a license to practice nursing. You can't get a job as a CNA without the "C" part, which means Certified. You could always take a certification course, but that's a diversion from what you should be doing to pass the RN exam.

If you meet the educational requirements to take the NCLEX-PN, and you might or might not depending on the state you want to work in, you can apply to take that test. You should probably know, though, that if you didn't pass the RN exam you aren't any more likely to pass the PN exam, it isn't easier, it's a different scope of practice.

probably the best thing to do is find out where you went wrong on the NCLEX-RN, study to fix those problems, and take it again. In the meantime you can work as a nursing assistant.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

At my school you were eligible for your CNA after the first or second semester of LPN school it is possible you could get that license although I don't think it would be likely to sit for the LPN boards. Did I read correctly and you haven't gotten your NCLEX results yet? Probably not a good idea to freak out until you actually get the results. Fingers crossed.

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Hi guys first of all thank you for your response!

My result came out today & I failed.

Like I said, I was kind of expecting it. I really don't mind doing a re Take but at the moment I can't really afford it. Also I'd like to better prepare for my NClex which is getting all the books & reviewers that I need. Till then I just wanna know if I can at least get another back up license like a CNA one till I get me my RN one. Cos you don't really know when you're going to pass right? I know alot of people who took it multiple times before they made it. And I also know those whom, no matter how many times they took it, they just kept failing & shifted their focus on something else.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

CNA, not a back up lis,

lvn/LPN, Resp therapy maybe....

depending ng on your state your collegiate experience might qualify you as Resp. Care practioner....

what at state do you reside....

i I would put my efforts in nclex, prep programs as Kaplan etc

best wishes

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Hi guys first of all thank you for your response!

My result came out today & I failed.

Like I said, I was kind of expecting it. I really don't mind doing a re Take but at the moment I can't really afford it. Also I'd like to better prepare for my NClex which is getting all the books & reviewers that I need. Till then I just wanna know if I can at least get another back up license like a CNA one till I get me my RN one. Cos you don't really know when you're going to pass right? I know alot of people who took it multiple times before they made it. And I also know those whom, no matter how many times they took it, they just kept failing & shifted their focus on something else.

You are not understanding that CNA does not equal license at all. C means Certified, not licensed. Entirely different thing, not a licensed nurse. LPN / LVN is a licensed nurse but it is in no way a backup for having failed the RN exam. If you did not pass the RN NCLEX, you should not expect to pass the PN NCLEX. Get the CNA, the certification to allow you to work in a hospital as an aide. It is typically six weeks to a few months long, and gives you a job. Not a licensed position. A job. When you pass the RN exam, you can get a licensed nurse position. Until then, study.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Get a job doing something so you can save the money to retake the NCLEX. But if you are going to retake the NCLEX, take the RN-NCLEX. It doesn't make any financial sense to take the LVN-NCLEX when you went to school to become an RN. Also, the LVN-NCLEX isn't any easier. In fact, I know a lot of people who have taken both & said the LVN-NCLEX was harder than the RN-NCLEX.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to NCLEX

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what is your state? i challenge my CNA base on my credentials just pay my exam in redcross.. what i did (in my state CALIFORNIA) is i contact cdph THEY are the one who evaluate credentials. they send me application or you can download it onlne then have a livescan then send it via mail. i just send my transcript of record. and wait for you evaluation. then everything will follows. they will give you numbers which testing vendor near your place.

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