If you can't pass the NCLEX after three attempts....LVN license only!

Nurses General Nursing

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I just read in another thread that some Boards of nursing are allowing multiple attempts at taking the NCLEX exam. Is this true? If so, this is ridiculous! If we are trying to elevate the profession by requiring a minimum BSN to practice, then why are we allowing multiple attempts at taking the NCLEX? No reputable profession would allow this. If you can't pass it after three attempts then you shouldn't be allowed to practice as an RN. Boards of nursing should grant them an LVN license only!

Jules A, MSN

8,864 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

While I agree that unlimited attempts at NCLEX are ridiculous I'm not necessarily a fan of "elevating" the profession by requiring a BSN and find the assertion that those who aren't capable of passing RN NCLEX should be given their LVN offensive. I have worked with more than a few LVN/LPNs who blew the doors off the average BSN especially as new grads.

macawake, MSN

2,141 Posts

I just read in another thread that some Boards of nursing are allowing multiple attempts at taking the NCLEX exam. Is this true? If so, this is ridiculous! If we are trying to elevate the profession by requiring a minimum BSN to practice, then why are we allowing multiple attempts at taking the NCLEX? No reputable profession would allow this. If you can't pass it after three attempts then you shouldn't be allowed to practice as an RN. Boards of nursing should grant them an LVN license only!

That's hardly the solution. LVNs need to be safe/competent nurses, just like RNs.

Perhaps it's not your intent, but your post is quite insulting to LV/PNs. Their license isn't something you award a person who didn't pass the NCLEX RN as a consolation prize.

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Well, to be awarded an LPN/LVN license, shouldn't they have to pass the NCLEX-PN? I'm of the opinion that there should be a cap on attempts, possibly with formal remediation...but after that, no-go. We don't need to award anyone a license to practice nursing for their demonstrated lack of ability to pass a licensure exam.

ellieheart

35 Posts

Your conclusion that a person who fails NCLEX three times is incapable of being a safe nurse is flawed. There are no facts to support this conclusion.

neonurse97

60 Posts

Forgive me but I was not trying to insult LVNs. I am frustrated that people are being allowed to take the NCLEX 4 or 5 times. When I graduated, you could only take the NCLEX three times max, then you needed remediation. This really needs to stop! I agree that maybe the solution should be to allow them to take the NCLEX-PN only.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN

13,952 Posts

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

LPN is not a consolation prize or a junior RN. Practical nurses have a different educational tract and scope of practice. Very few states consider RN education sufficient for a candidate to sit for the NCLEX-PN.

Handing an LVN license to someone who fails the NCLEX-RN 3x is nothing more than insulting. There are nurses who have written both exams and found the NCLEX-PN more difficult than the NCLEX-RN!! Several have failed the RN version and lived in a state that allowed RN students/grads to take the NCLEX-PN and failed that too.

Whether it is test anxiety, insufficient critical thinking, insufficient content knowledge, or poor test taking skills remediation is needed prior to a candidate gaining eligibility to retake the exam.

The NCLEX-PN & NCLEX-RN are minimum competency levels expected of a novice new grad nurse. Regardless of the reason for failing to meet the passing standards in all content areas, the candidate is not safe or competent to practice as a nurse regardless of license type.

neonurse97

60 Posts

Your conclusion that a person who fails NCLEX three times is incapable of being a safe nurse is flawed. There are no facts to support this conclusion.

My thing is that if this profession is all about being elevated (BSN minimum to practice), then why are people allowed to take this exam until they pass it? Are doctors allowed to take their boards 7 or 8 times? Are lawyers allowed to take the bar 7 or 8 times? Maybe I'm missing something here.

Jules A, MSN

8,864 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
My thing is that if this profession is all about being elevated (BSN minimum to practice), then why are people allowed to take this exam until they pass it? Are doctors allowed to take their boards 7 or 8 times? Are lawyers allowed to take the bar 7 or 8 times? Maybe I'm missing something here.

Again "elevated" is a relative term, imo.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN

1,939 Posts

Forgive me but I was not trying to insult LVNs. I am frustrated that people are being allowed to take the NCLEX 4 or 5 times. When I graduated, you could only take the NCLEX three times max, then you needed remediation. This really needs to stop! I agree that maybe the solution should be to allow them to take the NCLEX-PN only.

If one cannot pass the RN NCLEX what makes you think they would pass the PN NCLEX so easily. I have taken and passed BOTH the PN and RN NCLEX. BOTH exams were equally difficult . They

just differ in content. In order to pass the NCLEX you need to have excellent test taking skills.

ellieheart

35 Posts

My thing is that if this profession is all about being elevated (BSN minimum to practice), then why are people allowed to take this exam until they pass it? Are doctors allowed to take their boards 7 or 8 times? Are lawyers allowed to take the bar 7 or 8 times? Maybe I'm missing something here.

You are missing something. Firstly, the premise for your conclusion is that NCLEX is capable of determining who is capable of being a good nurse. Which is false. I passed NCLEX with the minimum amount of questions and barely felt challenged in the slightest bit. I am a terrible nurse. Once you put your passion and prejudices aside, you can see that NCLEX is a crude tool designed to ensure that students have a minimum knowledge base to practice safely. Like all tools, it's predictive abilities are limited, and far from being 100% accurate. Some students don't test well, perhaps they get very nervous with so much of their future hanging in the balance, or perhaps they were poorly prepared. Personally, I'd be more apt to blame the school than the student. At the very least, if 3 tries at NCLEX should be the max, then any student unable to pass after three attempts ought to be entitled to a refund from their university.

Specializes in PACU.

That would be an absolute slap in the face to all the hard work LPN/LVNs go through to become licensed.

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