HELP! Don't know what to do.

caliotter3 · Jul 27, 2020

On 7/24/2020 at 3:56 PM, beekee said:
You may want to check on Texas eligibility requirements. For instance, Texas requires a Texas jurisprudential course. Also, I believe you have 4 years to take (and pass) the NCLEX.

I am fairly certain that I have read that TX requires passing the NCLEX within four years of graduation. You may have to buckle down and attend nursing school over again. Have an advising appointment with the nursing advisors at BSN programs near you. Make it worthwhile. Attend a BSN program and "study" for the NCLEX at the same time you do your school assignments. You can make this work for you. Good luck.

SaltineQueen · Jul 29, 2020

Was the school you got your AA from accredited? That’s my worry...any decent school will prepare you and make sure you know what the next steps should be after graduating. Even with moving they could have told you A, B, C, steps.

NewRN'16, ADN, RN · Jul 29, 2020

That is so strange..Did you not know that you have to pass NCLEX in order to practice as a registered nurse? I can't think of one moment throughout my nursing school that I didn't think of NCLEX! Everything revolved around NCLEX. I remember even during lunch breaks in school cafeteria we were quizzing each other NCLEX questions. All our tests/exams were based on that.

Very odd. As someone else said, I truly hope your school is accreditated.

Sydney2011 · Jul 29, 2020

Definitely start with doing the NCLEX. I can totally relate with life getting in the way after nursing school because I waited two years to do the NCLEX because I had a newborn baby right as I was graduating and then I had another baby. Get your license and then either get in the workforce even if that means getting your foot in the door at a long-term care facility and then apply for a RN to BSN program. Aside from getting into a BSN program, the longer you wait the harder you’re going to find it to be to find a job as a RN. Your options will be very limited and even some relatively more reputable long-term care facilities might not hire you with no experience and having been out of school for a while.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Jul 31, 2020

On 7/28/2020 at 10:39 PM, SaltineQueen said:
Was the school you got your AA from accredited? That’s my worry...any decent school will prepare you and make sure you know what the next steps should be after graduating. Even with moving they could have told you A, B, C, steps.

This is my thought too. I also have never heard of an AA in nursing. I’ve heard of ASN/ADN or BSN, but AA degrees are typically those earned to transfer to a higher level degree for final career choice but not for immediate employment. I would think some credits would be missing to qualify for the NCLEX as schools spend the majority of their time making sure you know how to answer questions as they will appear on the actual exam and the process of registering to test when close to graduation. BSN programs are usually 4 years-graduate-then test-unless you opt to get a ASN/ADN in nursing first, qualify to take and pass your NCLEX, and then do an RN to BSN transition program if you want to work as a nurse first and still want to go for a bachelors degree.

I know some states have different options but this is what I have seen with it. I know California has so quirky rules but then trying to get employment there is another story and good luck transferring licensure out of state if California RN was obtained in one of their unique qualifications to test.

amoLucia · Jul 31, 2020

Just FYI - I grad 1974 with an AAS (Assoc in Applied Science) for my nsg degree. No prob transferring credits for my BSN. All in NJ.

Sorry for the hijack.

clamchopz, ASN · Aug 1, 2020

First, since you said you haven't done anything since you have graduated, have you been cleared by the board of nursing in your state to take the NCLEX? That was something my school had helped me set up. I'm surprised that your school didn't do that. You have also stated you had a big move. Did you move to a different state? Then that means you have to be cleared by the BRN through your school to be eligible. That means you might have to get a live scan background check, passport pictures, etc to send to the state. You might have to contact your nursing school for transcripts, etc.

Once you have done all of that, look into a really good NCLEX review course. Don't take one of those 3 day classes. You have been out of school for too long. You need a good solid 3 months to review. I live in Los Angeles, CA & I found a wonderful NCLEX review that had a 95% pass rate. It did cost $700 for 3 months & worth every penny. With this pandemic, I think the teacher has switched from in class to live online. So it is possible to take him from a different state. I can give you his information if you are interested. Let me know.

After you take & pass NCLEX, then you can pursue a BSN online. You can't do any of this unless you have followed all of the above steps in that order. I can see why some previous comments sounded "judging" because you left out a lot of information & it sounds like you are seeking for a lot of help. We are not judging. I think I can say this for everyone: we needed to know everything first before giving you the proper advice.

I can tell you that after 3 years, you still can pass the NCLEX. But it will take a lot of time & commitment. After I had graduated from nursing school, I had to finish planning my wedding & get married. 4 months after I got married, my father suddenly passed away. A year later, I suffered 2 miscarriages. The last one was the loss of twins. I fell into a deep depression. Losing my father one year & 3 babies a year later can do that..

I took the NCLEX 3 times. I passed on my third try after taking that class. I am taking BSN classes online. I did work as a new grad nurse, but the place was not a good fit. I'm still looking for jobs & I am getting interviews. Most good jobs out there want that BSN. I know something will pop up.

Hang in there. Life does happen. But you also have to make the effort to make things happen. It will not fall on your lap that easily. Good luck! I hope this helps!

NurseBlaq · Aug 1, 2020

32 minutes ago, clamchopz said:
After I had graduated from nursing school, I had to finish planning my wedding & get married. 4 months after I got married, my father suddenly passed away. A year later, I suffered 2 miscarriages. The last one was the loss of twins. I fell into a deep depression. Losing my father one year & 3 babies a year later can do that..

Talk about life coming at you fast! Condolences on the miscarriages and your father. Glad you were able to get yourself together and get back on track. Good luck to you!

clamchopz, ASN · Aug 1, 2020

2 hours ago, NurseBlaq said:
Talk about life coming at you fast! Condolences on the miscarriages and your father. Glad you were able to get yourself together and get back on track. Good luck to you!

@NurseBlaq Thank you! It has been rough. I needed time to grieve & screw my head on correctly before I would be capable of caring for others. ?

Ribbons, BSN, MSN, PhD · Aug 1, 2020

I don't agree that you are prepared to take an NCLEX exam. First, there is very little likelihood that you will pass it. Self study definitely won't work. I have done NCLEX passing research for the past 10 years and anyone who waits longer than 6 months after graduation to test has far less than a 20% chance of passing. So you would be wasting your money. Second, to take the NCLEX, the school you graduated from has to certify that you are a graduate of an approved nursing program, and you would have to work through them to take the NCLEX. Since as you are now, you won't pass, they might not be eager to help you test. Check Texas law. I heard they have a time limit and you must take the NCLEX within a certain time period after graduating or they won't let you take it without going back to school and starting all over. The information is not personally verified, so I honestly don't know if this is true.

Second, you obviously haven't practiced nursing in the 3 years after graduating, so you are not safe to practice. You haven't done an IV start, catheterization, or any other sterile or skilled procedure since graduating, and the skills you graduate with are BEGINNING skills. Honestly, do you feel you are safe to do these skilled nursing procedures on vulnerable patients? Do you think you could recognize a subtle, but life threatening complication and know the correct nursing action to take (after all this time out of school)? Nursing carries great moral and legal accountability for competence. Are you ready to accept the consequences if you harm a patient through lack of current knowledge? Would you let somebody in your shoes take care of your own seriously ill mother or child if you got lucky and passed the NCLEX with no more knowledge/skill than you have left after 3 years away from nursing?

Getting an RN to BSN is not an option. You must have your license to be admitted to a bridge BSN program.

So, I recommend you consider one of several actions: Apply to a generic, pre-licensure AA or BSN program and start all over. If you have taken a bunch of college courses, you could check into getting any college degree so you could apply to a Masters Entry program. Then you will take all your nursing courses over and then when you graduate, you will be safe to start practicing nursing.

KJ -RN2020 · Aug 4, 2020

Once you completed your AA you should’ve sat the NCLEX then applied to a Bridge program to the BSN. 3 years off?! I’m suggesting you study for the NCLEX maybe U-World. Schedule the exam and speak to them about how the process works. I suggest you speak to a education consultant. Best of luck??

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Aug 4, 2020

I'm still confused by the 'one year residency' part. You don't have to live anywhere for any length of time to take NCLEX.

I am thoroughly baffled by this thread.