Good grief...

Rep · Oct 8, 2005

Sorry if i'm posting too much! I have a hard time convincing my parents that the CGFNS is not the same as taking the NCLEX (content-wise). They still believe it is "safer" to take both. Could you give me some convincing "arguements" why i should JUST take the NCLEX (i have no plans to go to Michigan or Ilinois). And if i am able to convince them, i hope I can "retrieve" the application and payment to CG. Sheesh. The things I have to do! How does the CGFNS exam differ from the NCLEX (anyone who has taken both?)? Thanks...

CGFNS is a requirement for foreign nurses to qualify for a Visa Screen Certificate (VSC). The VSC is a federal requirement before an immigrant or working visa can be given to nurse who wants to work in the US. Also the CGFNS is an exam that will show that you meet the criteria or equivalent to US nursing education.

The NCLEX can also takes the place of CGFNS when you want to apply for a VSC. The requirements of VSC are passed CGFNS or NCLEX, passed TOEFL, TSE or the IELTS series.

CGFNS is given as a paper and pencil examination with up to 300 to 400 hundred nursing questions. While the NCLEX is given as a CAT ( computer adaptive test). The number of question varies and the maximum hours for the exam is five hours and the minimum can be in one hour. The computer will stop at any number of questions if it thinks that you passed or have failed already despite the several chances it has given you to pass.

If you have the money, you can take the NCLEX which is given aslready in Hongkong but if your budget is limited, take the CGFNS because it is given here in the Philippines three time s a year.

suzanne4, RN · Oct 8, 2005

CGFNS exam is only given several times per year, as stated above, and is 250 questions that actually count, there are several extras in there, just like on the NCLEX exam.

Whether or not you have the CGFNS exam actually makes no difference to your employer, if they no what they are doing. Before NCLEX was available in several other countries, it was cost effective to have the nurse write the CGFNS exam in their home country, or close to it, but now that you can go to either Saipan, Hong Kong, or even Seoul, there is no reason to write the NCLEX exam, provided that you can afford to take the NCLEX exam.

Just show this to your parents. Or any of my other posts...............:wink2:

hael171972 · Oct 10, 2005

hi!

i took cgfns even though its not a requirement in CA...but for the reason that i could have my Visa screen and CGFNS certificate awarded...and for the petition to be filed right away...

dont have enough budget for the NCLEX...but if I do, I'll skip CGFNS, and go directly for the NCLEX...less stress, less waiting, less agony, less hope torture:D