Disabled after 3 semesters of RN school.

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Hi,

I completed 3 semesters of RN school in California before having to stop due to adrenal failure, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

in my 3 semesters I passed both lecture and clinicals. The subjects included med-surg, ob, peds, Geri, and psych.

I am interested in challenging the LVN boards here in California. I would like at the least to have something to show for all the work I put in even if I am never able to use it.

My question is has anyone been in this position and successfully challenged the LVN exam? Does anyone have any idea if this would be enough to qualify?

I emaild the BON and was told that i needed to submit all my information, transcripts, letter from the dean of my RN school, etc. I plan to do all this, but was just wondering if maybe I would be wasting my time, money, and hopes on something that wouldn't happen.

Thank you so much in advance!!!!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Well people have qualified with 59 months of hospital CNA experience and a pharmacology so I think your chances are better than some. Just know that this is only valid in CA and you cannot endorse this license to any other state.

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Specializes in Community Health/School Nursing.

I'm not from California but I wanted to say that I am sorry you had to pull out of school after 3 semesters. I could only imagine how heart breaking it had to be and also to be stressed from medical issues at the same time. I wish you health and a future you look forward too. Good luck at whatever you decided to do! You can do it!

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Thank you so much for the advice. I am going to give it a try and see what happens.

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Thank you very much for your kind words. It has been beyond disappointing for all of this to happen as nursing has always been a passion not just something that would probably pay decent and be a l stable career. It is hard to try to explain to people "well I am not a nurse, but I completed 3 semesters of nursing school before I got sick." I guess unless you have been through nursing school it is difficult to understand just how disapointing and depressing it is to come so close to graduating and everything falling apart. On a good note I am much more aware of what is going on. Lol That can also be a burden though with every possible negative outcome that you have learned of or seen poping into your head. Lol Again thank you for your kind words and compassion.

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The information you need is on their website. At any rate, get the application, and apply. The crux will be what your school puts down on the paper that asks for documentation of your nursing program credits, in particular, how many clinical hours that your school gives you credit for. Without knowing the specifics, three semesters should be enough.

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Is your physical condition making it impossible for you to finish? Can't you get healthy enough to go back and get it over and done with? You can choose whether or not you want to use it later, but at least try to finish.

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Hi,

Yes, it is my physical condition. I am unable to stay awake and functional for 8hr clinicals or 12hr preceptorship.

It is a little more complicated than I just had adrenal failure, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia.

I was previously a health nursing student before becoming ill. I came down with what seemed as the flu, but it wouldn't go away it became worse quickly. I was down to just under 100 lbs, couldn't get up out of my bed, if I got up I experienced severe dizzyness, had muscle weakness, etc.

I was told originally I was fine and later hospitalized on 4 occasions. I asked to have my cortisol tested it was near 0. Then diagnosed with Addison's disease and the steroids would make me all better and I would regain my strength and be able to return to nursing school. I never felt better. The steroids made me anxious and sad. After over a year I saw my 5th endocrinologist at a teaching hospital who took great interest and weaned me of steroids. She determined it was acute adrenal failure rather than addison's and stopped the steroids. The anxiety decreased some, but I still experience extreme fatigue. I can sympathize with being extremely tired after clinicals paperwork etc, but this is something different. It affects my ability to concentrate, my memory, and the greater the fatigue the greater my anxiety. My Dr assumes that I may have caught a virus that caused all this and similar to some other viruses it may be re attacking me causing the extream fatigue and fibromyalgia and difficulties with cognition.

A lot of other random things have popped up like extreamly low B12 which I recieve injections for. We hoped that would improve my memory, cognition, etc which it hasn't much.

Basically I guess they just don't know exactly what happened to me or why these things continue so they do me with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia.

Sorry this is so long.

Thank you for your help though.

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I am sorry to hear this. I have been as severely ill but it was time limited, and never actually diagnosed, so I have an idea how you feel. I really do wish you could finish your degree though. I think it would really boost your morale to be able to accomplish this. Hope you are able to find a level where you can cope on a day to day basis. It is no picnic to be sick all the time.

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