Do you need a license to practice as a RN or can you just how proof of passing NCLEX?

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I just passed NCLEX this week. Wondering if i can get a job without license

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
But you're right Pedinurse...I also worked as a GN (about thousand years ago) before my NCLEX exam was graded...that's when we took it with pencil and paper-it took 2 whole days, It was divided up into 4 segments. I think each part had about 250 questions on it...I remember at the end of the last day, finishing up and thinking that my brains were leaking out of my ears.....that was the last year before it became computerized.

And we walked 5 miles uphill to the test site in a blizzard, and it was 5 miles uphill in a blizzard on the way back.

At least you had yours come in the mail. I waited for mine by Pony Express. ;)

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
And we walked 5 miles uphill to the test site in a blizzard, and it was 5 miles uphill in a blizzard on the way back.

At least you had yours come in the mail. I waited for mine by Pony Express. ;)

...and we LIKED IT THAT WAY!!!!!:cool:

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
...and we LIKED IT THAT WAY!!!!!:cool:

Exactly!

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
Exactly!

Seriously, and I will gets rocks thrown at me for this, I just can't see how they can judge overall knowlege with a NCLEX of 75 questions or so....I know ours was maybe excessive but it sure separated the men from the boys...or the nurses from the not so much.....

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Seriously, and I will gets rocks thrown at me for this, I just can't see how they can judge overall knowlege with a NCLEX of 75 questions or so....I know ours was maybe excessive but it sure separated the men from the boys...or the nurses from the not so much.....

I don't understand it, either. If it were up to me, it would be the same length, just online. Might be hard to pull that off, though. Testing centers would be backed up with people waiting to take a test that takes two full days.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
I don't understand it, either. If it were up to me, it would be the same length, just online. Might be hard to pull that off, though. Testing centers would be backed up with people waiting to take a test that takes two full days.

More testing centers....I agree, it should be the same length. It may cut down on the flood of nurses hitting the market all at the same time who can't get hired and it may weed a few or more than a few out.

But I am sure it's a matter of time before some new nurse comes here rant at me/or us...so enough said...still can't see how anything less than what we took can cut the muster!

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Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.
More testing centers....I agree, it should be the same length. It may cut down on the flood of nurses hitting the market all at the same time who can't get hired and it may weed a few or more than a few out.

But I am sure it's a matter of time before some new nurse comes here rant at me/or us...so enough said...still can't see how anything less than what we took can cut the muster!

I am not even in nursing school yet but I totally agree. I didn't know it used to be 250 questions and now 75. I mean seriously, peoples lives are at stake. Why on earth was it changed? I believe that there may be less diversion etc because obtaining that license would take a lot more work and determination, thus possibly weeding out those who just kinda wanna be a nurse. I will probably be creamed for this and I hope I am explaining myself clearly enough.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
I am not even in nursing school yet but I totally agree. I didn't know it used to be 250 questions and now 75. I mean seriously, peoples lives are at stake. Why on earth was it changed? I believe that there may be less diversion etc because obtaining that license would take a lot more work and determination, thus possibly weeding out those who just kinda wanna be a nurse. I will probably be creamed for this and I hope I am explaining myself clearly enough.

Butterfly, it was 250 questions in 4 different segments held over 2 days.....that's 1,000 questions...I don't think it has any thing to do with diversion per se, that's a totaly different issue. But, it does tend to weed things out a bit....

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I think the OP just meant ... is a PHYSICAL license needed? One of the states I am licensed in does not issue physical licensese anymore. If you look on the BON you can find your license number to give your employer. Check with BON to see if you should expect to see one arrive in the mail. I have a physical license for one state I am registered in, but not the other- but have a valid license number for each . Good luck with applying and congrats!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Butterfly, it was 250 questions in 4 different segments held over 2 days.....that's 1,000 questions...I don't think it has any thing to do with diversion per se, that's a totaly different issue. But, it does tend to weed things out a bit....

I know we're all going to get roasted over this but I agree. :sofahider Ahhhhh, the good ole days....

One-Thousand questions vs 75.....:rolleyes:...I'm glad someone else was first to mention the elephant in the room this time...:lol2: You go diva!!

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Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.

My bad diva:uhoh3:. How and who in the world took it from 1000 questions to 75!!! I would be @#$%ed off if I were all of you who had to take the 1000 question test. Doesn't seem right!!

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Butterfly, it was 250 questions in 4 different segments held over 2 days.....that's 1,000 questions...I don't think it has any thing to do with diversion per se, that's a totaly different issue. But, it does tend to weed things out a bit....

I am under the impression that the Nclex today would have 4 "correct" answers and one would need to choose the one answer that is, for the want of a better term, "more or most" correct. The implication being that a more critical thinking application is being used.

I would also believe that when someone like Diva (who like me is older than dirt) took the test there was only one correct answer to a possibly 2 sometimes 3.......

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