Dilemma - Any thoughts?

I graduate in May 06 and I currently have a position as a Nurse Extern/PCT on an oncology floor. Upon graduation I will have the option to work as an RN intern until I pass the NCLEX a couple of months after graduation.

Some Nurse Externs I have been talking to say that they are keeping their positions as NE's before they pass. At my hospital if you are working as an RN intern and do not pass the NCLEX you will have to drop down to a NE for the next year and then try again for the RN position.

Some NE's say that they don't want to take that chance if they fail. Are they setting themselves up to fail or is this a smart move?

I want to make sure I understand you correctly. If you stay in an NE spot, and you fail the NCLEX the first time, you keep working as an NE until you pass and then you are hired as an RN new grad.

But if you move into an intern slot, and you fail the NCLEX, even if you take it again in a few months and pass, you must remain an NE for a year? Is that right?

I'd think that it wouldn't matter either way because once you pass, you are an RN. At that point, you should be getting compensated for your knowledge and license, unless they just choose not to hire you on. But I don't think that they can keep you on as a nurse intern/extern, if in fact you are a nurse.

If it were me, I'd jump to the RN position on graduation.

And if I were to fail the NCLEX the first time, I'd request re-consideraton of their policy once I passed.

If they chose to keep me as a NE for a year, I'd then look for another position as an RN elsewhere, and then leave once I found a suitable spot.

FWIW, their policy is bogus and ridiculous.