RN license issued in error

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello;

I'm writing for advice and also to find out if anyone has experienced what just happened to me.

I sat for NCLEX on June 19, 2008 in Pennsylvania and found out the next day a license was issued in my name. I was so excited to finally be an RN, but six days later I received a call from the State saying that they issued my license in error. The woman explained to me that I did not pass the exam, however, the person keying in the information made a mistake and issued me a license.

I am so devastated over the news and scared to sit again. Not to mention I sat for the entire exam (265 questions).

1. Has anyone ever experienced this before?

2. Is there any recourse I can take to assure this doesn't happen again?

3. What happens to my license, will it say revoked, inactive...?

If anyone has any insight or can help me to sort out what just happened, please advise

Thank you from Philadelphia

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Wow, thats just terrible to get excited and then find out that it was an error. What a pain, I am sorry you are having to deal with this.

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Specializes in NICU.

Sorry to hear that happened to you.

Please contact your state board of nursing with all these questions and concerns.

Good luck to you!

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Boy that is terrible, I feel so bad for you. To think that these are the same people who would take your license away if you made a simple mistake. I think it is inexcusable error on their part. Sorry I can't offer any words of advice, I wonder if you have any recourse. How sure are you that the call was legit? I mean there are people who play malicious tricks.

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Thanks to everyone that's replied.

Yes these are the same people who take your license off of you for a mistake. It's the State Board of Nursing.

I also agree that's this is an inexcusable mistake and would like to make sure there is some action put in place to assure someone else doesn't experience the pain and suffer. This was not a simple mistake, I accepted a position as an RN, resigned from my current position and then find out the license was issued by mistake. The state has changed their story a few times (first not sure if it was a computer error or human), but after talking to the Dean of my school, the school has certainly deemed this a human error.

I hope this has not happened to anyone else, but if it has, I hope they read this post and choose to reply with advice.

Thanks again

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

I am so sorry this has happened to you. I read in another thread here that someone got sent the wrong license, but never heard of this. Please do not get discouraged you can do this.

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Just to clarify (and not to defend the BON in this situation, certainly), no one, in any state, loses her/his nursing license for "a simple mistake." People lose their licenses because they have either made a continuing series of mistakes over time that have endangered clients, and have not improved their performance even though they have been given assistance and opportunities to do so, or they do something so dreadful and serious that it's obvious that they cannot be trusted to practice safely.

I often hear nurses make comments about how you can lose your license over any little thing, and it just ain't so.

I'm sure, though, that plenty of nurses who have lost their licenses would like you to believe that they just made one little mistake ... :)

I'm v. sorry that you're starting off your career with such an awful experience, and I hope you'll get it sorted out soon. Best wishes!

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Specializes in Hospice, Critical Care.

It really makes me wonder about PA. A friend of mine sat for her first NCLEX and the machine literally went blank about 2/3rds through the exam. They were unable to recover her test. It was GONE. She had to start all over again. Needless to say, she didn't pass. She was a wreck of nerves after that experience. The testing center wasn't particularly apologetic either. "Stuff happens" you know...

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I remember reading once that a person went to take NCLEX and the power went dead...maybe throughout the entire building on the NCLEX forum here in allnurses. Hopefully, if the person sees this, maybe they can elaborate on the entire experience. Anyhow, that is horrible, it is a nightmare in the sense that you thought it was over, only to discover that it's not.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

This has to have been the Pearson site that made the error. I dont know that the board of nursing can do anything for you because they get their information from pearson to issue licenses. However, i dont know that i wouldnt contact a lawyer and make sure if i did have to retest that every single bit of that cost was absorbed by pearson, along with some mental anguish and pain and suffering. We all know how physically and emotionally draining that test is.

Dont let it drop, if you have to retest go ahead and do it, because simply put if pearson doesnt pass you you dont get a license. But do find out what legal recourse you might have. Lost wages, lost time, travel time and expense to the testing facility. etc. Get evey penny.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
This has to have been the Pearson site that made the error. I dont know that the board of nursing can do anything for you because they get their information from pearson to issue licenses. However, i dont know that i wouldnt contact a lawyer and make sure if i did have to retest that every single bit of that cost was absorbed by pearson, along with some mental anguish and pain and suffering. We all know how physically and emotionally draining that test is.

Dont let it drop, if you have to retest go ahead and do it, because simply put if pearson doesnt pass you you dont get a license. But do find out what legal recourse you might have. Lost wages, lost time, travel time and expense to the testing facility. etc. Get evey penny.

I agree completely! Especially the fact their mistake interrupt your salary, even if it is just temp. as well as embarrassment and an emotional roller coaster.

They need to rectify their mistake.

Anne, RNC:angryfire:angryfire

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

what the heck?? i have never heard such a thing... you must of been mad and cried ... i could kick their butts for making such a stupid , horrifying mistake... i can't even explain how upset i am for you...

you don't let this pass , you follow up with this... you should get something for your trouble, please keep us posted ... you should write pearsonvue a letter and request some compensention for this.. grrrr i'm mad

i send you lots of hugs and prayers , it will work out

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