Hello everyone, gotta a question for Texas students

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Specializes in Med/Surge.

Hi everyone, although I've been lurking and learning this is my first post.

I'm going back to college after a 20 year absence and planning on a nursing career. I've been doing a lot of reading and research so that I can prepare myself for the hard work ahead.

While I was researching I went to the Texas BON website and I read that they have implemented or are about to implement a new exam which they call the Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (NJE). They state that all applicants for licensure will also have to take the NJE starting September of 2008. I wondered if anyone was aware of this and if so, are they implementing this exam in any other state?

Thanks,

PurpleMyst

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Specializes in Home Health Care,LTC.

I am not from Texas so can't answer your ? Your might go to the site where it list individual states and put your post there.

anyways :welcome: and enjoy the site there is a lot of helpful and experienced knowledge from this group.

Good luck

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Hello and welcome to the site

Because you are asking a question will move your post to the Texas forum

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

I haven't heard that.. but I'd like to know more!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Mandating this exam is quite possibly related to the numerous malpractice lawsuits that arise out of the state of Texas.

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Specializes in Med/Surge.

So is Texas statistically the worst state for lawsuits?

I also wonder if the TX BON will make current nurses take this exam or if it's just for the new nurses (graduating in the future) and how many future Texas nurses know about this exam.

Thanks for the replies so far.

PurpleMyst

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Education.

The Texas Legislature completed a "Sunset Review" of the Nurse Practice Act and subsequently passed a bill related to the NJE. Part of the BON's role is to implement the laws determined by the Legislature as part of the Texas Administrative Code/Nurse Practice Act.

My understanding is that it's only for new licensees, meaning those applying after September 1, 2008 (see bold type below). Current TX nurses are already licensed and it's part of our professional responsibility to keep up with changes to our NPA.

From the Texas BON website:

22 TAC 217.17

The Texas Board of Nursing adopts new rule 22 Texas Administrative Code 217.17 (Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (NJE)) with changes pertaining to Licensure, Peer Assistance and Practice. Section 217.17 was proposed pursuant to bills passed in the 80th Legislative Session and the Board's Sunset Review. House Bill 2426 (Sunset Bill) amends the Nursing Practice Act by amending section 301.252 (License Application) of the Texas Occupations Code. This amendment requires all applicants for licensure after September 1, 2008, to take and pass a Jurisprudence Exam prior to licensure. The jurisprudence exam would encompass the Nursing Practice Act and the rules and regulations of the Board. Although the jurisprudence exam has not yet been developed and cannot be implemented until September 1, 2008, or later, the Sunset Bill requires the Board to adopt all rules required by the Sunset Bill by January 1, 2008. In response to comments, changes were made to subsections (a) and (e) of this section. This adopted rule complies with this requirement. The proposed rule was published in the August 17, 2007, edition of the Texas Register (32 TexReg 5150).

Also...this is a statement I think people will want to know:

217.17.Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (NJE).

(a) In this chapter, when applicants are required to pass the NJE exam, applicants must pass the NJE with a score of 75 or better. Should the applicant fail to achieve a minimum grade of 75 on the NJE, such applicant, in order to be licensed, shall retake the NJE until such time as a grade of 75 is achieved.

I look for nursing schools to respond to this change by adding Nurse Practice Act (Nsg Jurisprudence) content to their curriculum. Remember though...this is brand new...the exam hasn't even been written yet and schools won't have information related to it yet.

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Specializes in Psych,/Substance Abuse Treatment, AL.

I'm not from Texas either but I am obtaining a Texas nursing license so I can work there through a travel agency. I took that exam and it wasn't that hard. I believe if a person has worked in the nursing profession for a while, then it's stuff they already know and shouldn't have any problems passing it. A lot of it was common sense questions too.

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I am currently in an TX ADN program and we're required to now take a Legal & Ethics class. And according to our instructor, they implemented this exam not b/c Texas leads the nation in malpractice suits...but more b/c Texas wants to sort of set itself apart from the rest as holding their nurses to a higher standard. (does that make sense or did I just mumble jumble?)

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

Current RNs don't take it but new ones do.

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I am about to graduate and we have to take the exam... it is basic laws and regulations most nurses already know and they teach in school... also, you can taken the exam online at home and its open book/note... we were told it is a way for the BON to know that every graduating student knows the important legal issues and laws so later on we can't use ignorance as an excuse.

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The exam is designed to ensure that new nurses are well versed in the Nurse Practice Act and all legal and ethical aspects of nursing. It's not meant to imply anything other than every nurse needs to under what is legally required in the practice of nursing.

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