Denied R.N. License after NCLEX

elkpark · Jul 29, 2015

It is such a shame to have spent all of this time in school and not be able to use your license. It just surprises me that you were given the go ahead for N-CLEX RN with action against your LVN license pending. In my state, once you pass the NCLEX, your name is on the website an as RN. This happens in a number of hours. I have never heard of anyone getting to the point of taking NCLEX here and passing, but being denied. It seems you would have been denied the opportunity to take the test, rather than being denied the license after taking the test. I don't know the whole story or what goes on in every state, though. I am just trying to wrapy my hed around what you are saying.

I have heard of states authorizing people to test and then doing the investigation of the background to make a determination about licensure. It makes sense to me -- if the BON does the full investigation and arrives at a determination about licensure, and then the individual fails the NCLEX, that was a waste of the Board's time and effort. If they wait until the applicant has passed the NCLEX and then do the investigation and determine that they aren't willing to license the person, it ends up being a waste of the applicant's time and effort. I don't mean to sound harsh saying this, but, if I were on the BON, I know which of those options I'd prefer.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2015

To answer your first question, no you do not have to retake the NCLEX, ever.

Not so in my State. If you license lapses due to non-renewal and its been 5 years or longer since you've worked as an RN...guess what....

"Applicants who have been out of practice longer than five years are required to complete an approved refresher course and successfully complete the NCLEX-RN examination;"

DPH: Reinstatement of a Lapsed License

So word to the wise in Connecticut..do NOT ever let your license lapse even if you have no plans on working for a time, regardless of the reason.

But that's neither here nor there with the orig poster.

Oceanpacific · Jul 29, 2015

Erational, I know it is unbelievably frustrating to have made an achievement such as getting your RN and just when you are feeling great about your accomplishments; you have hit a snag. You can make this situation work, but you have to dial back the defensiveness, especially with any interactions you may have with the BON. Nursing is unforgiving and the rules don't always make sense.

In one scenario, let's pretend you were hospitalized at age 16 for substance abuse issues and suicidal ideation and you were never arrested and have been completely clean and sober ever since. That IS a situation in which it is probably best to answer "no" to any questions such as "Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental health disorder that affected your ability to function....." Because if you answer "Yes" the BON will delay everything needlessly and, since you were never arrested, there is no way to be caught.

In the second scenario, let's say you had discipline on a previous license. If the question is "Have you ever had disciplinary action taken against a professional license?", then you MUST answer YES. This is because the discipline on the previous license is a public record and trying to hide that discipline becomes an offense of its own.

I know this has tons of gray areas and it isn't fair, but that is the reality. You can make this work. Just get good legal advice.

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2015

I have come here for HELP not to be judged.
I had a real case and was already punished as my state saw fit, years ago. I didn't kill anyone, nor made anybody even ill. To not issue a license after I have done all that was asked of me is punishing me again. But, it's easy for you to side with nrseduk, you both have your RN's licenses already.

You have been given help. Not our problem if you dont like what was said.

If you were denied a license, you need to be looking at why you were denied a licence. If you failed to disclose information, that is a total no no

I'm from NZ. When applying for my yearly practicing certificiate I have to fill in a declaration that states I've had no limitations/probation on my ability to work, criminal convictions in the last 12 months or illness or disability that could impact on my ability to practice safely.

They are also very clear that failure to disclose any information can impact on my registration.

It is what it is. You need to ensure that when asked about this stuff that you disclose any relevant information period

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

How do I use my NCLEX results in another state if I can't use reciprocity ?

Contact the BON of the state you are interested in working in, and see what they suggest. 99.9% certain that you will not need to retake the NCLEX.

It's good that you were upfront with the BON about your LPN license issues, as that will be a lot better for your case than if you had lied to them. Unfortunately, honesty doesn't always mean that the BON will automatically grant you the RN license. It's not always fair, but it is what it is.

What states don't ask me about a previous license?

EVERY single state and DC asks whether you've ever had any discipline against your nursing license. And in addition to the probation on your LPN license, they're also going to want to know about the recent denial of your RN license. And they do double-check, as you've found out.

I must be missing something...how can my best source of info be from a state I'm not interested in working in?

In all likelihood, you need to get everything addressed with your LPN license before a BON is going to grant you a RN license. That poster was suggesting you should contact the nursing board of the state that you had your LPN license in, in order to see what else you need to do to satisfy the terms of the probation.

When you apply for licensure in whatever state you're planning to work in, I recommend having a lawyer in on the process to help you out...and definitely have an attorney with you should the BON want you to appear before them! An attorney won't guarantee you'll walk out with a license either, but they'll be putting your interests first and fighting hard for you. Whereas the state BON puts the public's interests first and your interests second...if they even consider then at all.

Best of luck!

elkpark · Jul 30, 2015

Erational, I know it is unbelievably frustrating to have made an achievement such as getting your RN and just when you are feeling great about your accomplishments; you have hit a snag. You can make this situation work, but you have to dial back the defensiveness, especially with any interactions you may have with the BON. Nursing is unforgiving and the rules don't always make sense.
In one scenario, let's pretend you were hospitalized at age 16 for substance abuse issues and suicidal ideation and you were never arrested and have been completely clean and sober ever since. That IS a situation in which it is probably best to answer "no" to any questions such as "Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental health disorder that affected your ability to function....." Because if you answer "Yes" the BON will delay everything needlessly and, since you were never arrested, there is no way to be caught.
In the second scenario, let's say you had discipline on a previous license. If the question is "Have you ever had disciplinary action taken against a professional license?", then you MUST answer YES. This is because the discipline on the previous license is a public record and trying to hide that discipline becomes an offense of its own.
I know this has tons of gray areas and it isn't fair, but that is the reality. You can make this work. Just get good legal advice.

So your position it that it's okay to lie as long as there isn't much chance you'll get caught?

cinlou, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

All state boards will look you up in the states you have lived and by your LPN license it will state what ever you did, and what the status of your license is. you can go on the site yourself and see what it says about you. Employers will do the same and they will also do background checks on you.

I am a director of LPN program and I look this information up for CNA's entering my program. If they had an issue as a CNA and lost their certification or were not able to get it, they will have the same problem getting their LPN or RN. I always advise these students to speak directly with their board and clear up the issue, or they may be denied their licenses as they try to move up the ladder.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

I have come here for HELP not to be judged.
I had a real case and was already punished as my state saw fit, years ago. I didn't kill anyone, nor made anybody even ill. To not issue a license after I have done all that was asked of me is punishing me again. But, it's easy for you to side with nrseduk, you both have your RN's licenses already.

You can't get a new professional license when you have a current one on probation. You're trying to skirt around the probation and end it a few months early. It doesn't work like that. You will not be able to get a license in any state until the terms of your probation have been satisfied. Think of it this way. If you lose your driver's license for drunk driving in one state, you can't just go to a neighboring state and get a license there. You cannot take NCLEX again-you already passed it-and there is no such thing as a "less stringent state".

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

All state boards will look you up in the states you have lived and by your LPN license it will state what ever you did, and what the status of your license is. you can go on the site yourself and see what it says about you. Employers will do the same and they will also do background checks on you.

Anyone can look up a licensed practitioner by name or license number in any state you have been licensed in and get information on whether you have been subject to disciplinary action. If recent enough, you can even see the actual court documents with all the findings of facts and sad details of your violation of that states' Nurse Practice Act. Go to nursys.com

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Jul 30, 2015

I have come here for HELP not to be judged.
I had a real case and was already punished as my state saw fit, years ago. I didn't kill anyone, nor made anybody even ill. To not issue a license after I have done all that was asked of me is punishing me again. But, it's easy for you to side with nrseduk, you both have your RN's licenses already.

As soon as your probation is up, I would then apply for a license in whatever state you are seeking to work. Unfortunately, your "punishment" is not up until your probation is up. If you have a contact person who is "overseeing" your probation, I would also have discussion with them regarding your steps moving forward. If you had malpractice insurance at the time, I would also ask them for guidance going forward.

All states will ask about your nursing/licensing history. They will also ask about CORI stuff, so I would also be sure that whatever happened, it did not end up in a CORI situation.

I would speak to an attorney just to help guide you through this process.

I am surprised that this did not become an issue when you did your clinicals, nor when you applied to take the NCLEX-RN. That it did not, would make me think that it may not be a lost cause. But I do not know that, but an attorney would, or your former malpractice insurance carrier would.

Best wishes going forward!

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

So your position it that it's okay to lie as long as there isn't much chance you'll get caught?

The way some of the mental illness questions are worded in some states IS very vague. (The substance abuse questions less so, usually.) If your state is asking you if you have ever been diagnosed with a mental illness that would impair your ability to perform the tasks of a nurse -- does omitting SI at 16 and now you're, say, 30 and haven't had to take medications or see a psychiatrist for years count as lying? *I* wouldn't think so. Never, ever share more than the bare minimum with the BON. That goes for people who are lucky enough to have never had to deal with the stigma of mental illness or substance abuse. :)

DeeAngel · Jul 30, 2015

I don't know why you're asking this question here when the only people who can give you accurate answers are the BON in your state or an attorney specializing in nurses facing BON issues.