help clarify this for me!!!

EmmaG, RN · Jan 3, 2008

You're not an LPN until you take and pass the NCLEX-LPN.

I'm kinda far removed from Boards, but our hospital worked grads as GNs until the exam, and if they failed they worked as techs (nursing assistants) until they passed.

socalpca · Jan 3, 2008

Ok so I graduated in 2007, unluckily I failed the NCLEX, but now I am wondering what my status is. What do you become after you graduated from nursing school (four years), but failed your nclex?? DOes that mean you are an LPN or what are you? what is your title now? are you just nothing? anyways, if anyone can help answer this, it would be GREAT!!!! Thanks

I was hired by my hospital after I graduated from nursing school but before I took the NCLEX for the first time. I was hired under an Interim Permit(IP) and allowed to practice as a RN under this IP with the supervision of a preceptor with a valid RN license. I also failed the NCLEX two months after starting my career. I was then made a Patient Care Assistant(PCA), which is basically a CNA. I did this until I finally passed the NCLEX and could practice as a RN. As a PCA, I could not pass meds, perform any patient teaching or even troubleshoot our IV pumps.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2008

DOes that mean you are an LPN or what are you?

Ouch!!!! :nono:

As previously pointed out, you must pass the NCLEX-PN to be an LPN.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Jan 3, 2008

You aren't "nothing"--just not a nurse, quite yet. If you hired on as a GN, your employer may be willing to keep you on in an unlicensed role until you retest. If you haven't hired on anywhere, you might still be able to get a job as an aide (PCA, Nurse Tech, or CNA if you pass the certification)--especially if they think you'll be staying on as a nurse.

Good luck, and keep your chin up. Quite a lot of good nurses had to take NCLEX more than once.

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 3, 2008

As others have said, you are not a nurse of any kind until you pass the NCLEX exam for either the RN license or the LPN license. So, until you pass the exam, the only types of roles available to you are nursing assistant roles.

However ... each state has its own rules about nursing assistant roles ... any certification that might be needed, etc. Also, each employer has different types of jobs available for people in your position. So , you'll need to check with your local employers to find out what opportunities, if any, exist for you at the moment.

The uncertainty and hopefully, temporary nature of your current status can make hiring you problematic for a hospital, depending on the nature of their nursing assistant roles, the laws governing your practice, etc. If they orient you as a CNA, they may be "wasting" money on you as you may pass boards very soon and never really work as a CNA. However, if they view your hire as a stepping stone to having you as an RN, hospitals are often willing to hire people in your position. For that reason, I advise you to be aggressive in getting your boards passes ASAP.

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2008

DOes that mean you are an LPN or what are you?

No, an LPN stands for "Licensed Practical Nurse". LPN's are fully accredited nurses that take the NCLEX. You are a "new grad", just not a nurse until you pass boards.

Megsd, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2008

Check with the hospital you were planning to work at (if you'd already applied for jobs). In my area, very few allow you to start work before you pass the NCLEX. I asked in my interview what happens if I don't pass the NCLEX and they said I could work as a nursing assistant until I did pass.