Illinois Requirements for newly graduate PH Nursing student

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 23, 2012

Moved to the Nurse Registration forum.Have you looked at the IL BON website to see what the requirements are for Foreign trained nurses? Most have some involvement with CGFNS and usually CES report and this mainly takes 4 months

strivnSN2 · Aug 23, 2012

I tried to look at the IL BON long time ago and it has a lot of links and I got lost - couldn't find the information that I was looking for. I gave up at some point since I was not graduating yet during that time. But, I will take a look at it again. Thank you. :)

By the way, what is CES?

4 months is not bad...I do hope that I don't have to take CGFNS exam anymore.

Again, thanks for your reply.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 23, 2012

CGFNS exam is only required by a small handful of states. Most require CES which is a report that evaluates your transcripts again the state you are looking at

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 23, 2012

Here is the link to the BON and you will see link to International trained nurses with option to read in English or Spanish

State of Illinois : Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

steppybay · Aug 23, 2012

Kababayan, taking the NCLEX is the SAME EXACT testing exam whether you take it in CA, NV, NM, NY, FL or any other state in the Union not mentioned or the Moon (just kidding), but you get my point?

The real key is where you WANT to work and practice your RN license for the next 2-5-10 plus years. You need to focus all your energy into your so desired state. It makes absolutely no sense in terms of wasting more money and time to get your license in one state, then apply into the REAL state you wanted to be in the first place.

WHY?

Because you will then need to pay more fees, maybe take more test (which takes more money) just to qualify into that real state you wanted to be in. Just know that if CA is your final destination and of those other states that are enforcing the rules of CA, you'll not be able to endorse (transfer) the out of state license anyways, so be careful of those other 12 states (the information is posted in this forum, please cruise the site and you'll find it, but it will also make you read the others issues).

As I have suggested to others here, forget trying to look into 29 or 35 "possible" states if they are the Fastest, the Easiest, the Cheapest, because at the end of the day, if it's NOT the state you wanted to be in, to be settled in, to live and grow old in, you're just wasting valuable time and money.

Soooo, the FASTEST, the EASIEST, the CHEAPEST state to be in, is the one you really want to be working in, sorry, if I'm repeating myself, but that's the reality versus hopping from state to state which will only drive you more crazy. If that state is too restrictive or a big hassle for your needs and desires, then move on to another. It has to be the state that you'll one day want to buy a house in, watch your kids go to school in, etc.

strivnSN2 · Aug 25, 2012

@Silverdragon102: Hi. I'm sorry for my late reply. I didn't log-in or browse the net for almost two days. Thank u very much for the clarification about CES and the link. :loveya:

@steppybay: Hi. I also want to apologize to you for my late reply. I didn't log-in or browse the net for almost two days. I really appreciate your very informative insight. You are absolutely right! It makes more sense the way you put it that I have to choose the state where I wanna settle in. I will think of this thoroughly then. Thank you.:loveya: Before, I was thinking of maybe there's a state that I can pass NCLEX faster and be USRN right away so that I could help out my family already. Now that you have mentioned about settling-in, it got me thinking double time or actually its more like stunned. I guess I really have to look into a lot of things before deciding which state then. Ahm, may i ask you if you don't mind, where do u work now or which state u have chosen to be an RN? How is the treatment of foreign nurses there? How much roughly is the pay and the benefits for newly hired RN and without field experience except school related or few hospital exposures? Are there any sign-in bonuses? How's the climate or living expenses? Where should I work first, in the nursing home or hospital or somewhere else? Sorry, I have too many questions. I just want to have a general idea of things I have to look at and have an idea of how it is in your state. So, I hope you don't mind me asking those questions. But, if you do, then I understand. Again, thank you for your reply and in advance.

steppybay · Aug 27, 2012

@Silverdragon102: Hi. I'm sorry for my late reply. I didn't log-in or browse the net for almost two days. Thank u very much for the clarification about CES and the link. :loveya:
@steppybay: Hi. I also want to apologize to you for my late reply. I didn't log-in or browse the net for almost two days. I really appreciate your very informative insight. You are absolutely right! It makes more sense the way you put it that I have to choose the state where I wanna settle in. I will think of this thoroughly then. Thank you.:loveya: Before, I was thinking of maybe there's a state that I can pass NCLEX faster and be USRN right away so that I could help out my family already. Now that you have mentioned about settling-in, it got me thinking double time or actually its more like stunned. I guess I really have to look into a lot of things before deciding which state then. Ahm, may i ask you if you don't mind, where do u work now or which state u have chosen to be an RN? How is the treatment of foreign nurses there? How much roughly is the pay and the benefits for newly hired RN and without field experience except school related or few hospital exposures? Are there any sign-in bonuses? How's the climate or living expenses? Where should I work first, in the nursing home or hospital or somewhere else? Sorry, I have too many questions. I just want to have a general idea of things I have to look at and have an idea of how it is in your state. So, I hope you don't mind me asking those questions. But, if you do, then I understand. Again, thank you for your reply and in advance.

Hi, no problem, questions are more than welcome and I prefer to answer them here versus using PM's so that everyone can share in our common plight.

I am not a USRN as of yet, I am looking into which State I want to one day raise a family in, CA would be nice, but it's not reality in today's times.

My friend and I plan to go on a USA tour one day after doing some research from our couch, lol. So with that in mind, I really can't answer some of your questions, but you can skim thru the other State's Nursing threads here to get a feel for those already in the workplace, as far as salaries and maybe benefits.

Sign-in bonuses, those went out a few years ago, there's no real incentive for any hospital to offer that with thousands of potential unemployed nurses. The same thing with finding a hospital sponsorship, no hospital is going to wait 6 years or more to hire anyone and it cost them lots of money to do that. There's no nursing shortage at all.

Myself and like my friend, she wants to work with kids and prefer to work in a Pediatric unit, we don't care to be with adults in a nursing home, LTC or assisted living. We rather listen to a whining and crying child and not an adult, lol. Just a personal preference, nothing wrong with the adult side if that's your thing. Kids need nurses too.

But yes, ideally, it would be great to find work in a good hospital whereby usually the salaries are pretty good, benefits like those of paid vacations and sick leave, sometimes they offer better retirement plans and is more the norm than those working in a nursing home etc.

I prefer to work with a nurse to patient ratio of a few versus the nursing homes of 20-30-35 patients to one. I know of several friends of friend, who just get so stressed more and not really liking working with that much pressure and it's expected of you to work even harder. We all have choices and that's just my personal opinion, no offenses to anyone that wants to work in those places, more power to you as those patients needs your help too.

jumerjumper · Oct 1, 2012

I live in Wisconsin as a permanent resident. Given the change, I'd like to apply for IL BON since they only require CES (they just evaluate your transcripts and decide whether you can take the exam or not). Here in Wisconsin, they require CGFNS exam and English exam which is just HASSLE.

steppybay · Oct 1, 2012

I live in Wisconsin as a permanent resident. Given the change, I'd like to apply for IL BON since they only require CES (they just evaluate your transcripts and decide whether you can take the exam or not). Here in Wisconsin, they require CGFNS exam and English exam which is just HASSLE.

Kabayan, again, do you wish to live and work and move yourself and the family and all the pets to IL, once you pass the NCLEX-RN? Settle down for a few years or more?

If you're not planning to do the above in IL, there's no point in trying to try to find the Fastest, Cheapest or Easiest State just to avoid the CGFNS exam and English testing of the WI BON.

All that will accomplish is now you must try to endorse-transfer your IL license into WI, but guess what?

Yes, you will still NEED to have the CGNFS AND English exams and testing, so now you will have wasted another few more months doing those, then submitting those results to the WI BON and hope it passes and then, pay more in fee$ to apply into WI.

You must always need to pass whatever desired States' BON requirements are, so now you're back to square #1 with these States hopping around, it doesn't work that way.

If you think it's a "hassle" now, wait till you try to get your IL license endorsed over.

You could even get approved by the Hawaiian BON, which is easy, but do you wish to work and practice there in paradise or come back to WI? It's the same thing, you would still need to meet all the WI BON's requirements.

jumerjumper · Oct 24, 2012

Kabayan, again, do you wish to live and work and move yourself and the family and all the pets to IL, once you pass the NCLEX-RN? Settle down for a few years or more?
If you're not planning to do the above in IL, there's no point in trying to try to find the Fastest, Cheapest or Easiest State just to avoid the CGFNS exam and English testing of the WI BON.
All that will accomplish is now you must try to endorse-transfer your IL license into WI, but guess what?
Yes, you will still NEED to have the CGNFS AND English exams and testing, so now you will have wasted another few more months doing those, then submitting those results to the WI BON and hope it passes and then, pay more in fee$ to apply into WI.
You must always need to pass whatever desired States' BON requirements are, so now you're back to square #1 with these States hopping around, it doesn't work that way.
If you think it's a "hassle" now, wait till you try to get your IL license endorsed over.
You could even get approved by the Hawaiian BON, which is easy, but do you wish to work and practice there in paradise or come back to WI? It's the same thing, you would still need to meet all the WI BON's requirements.

Hey, @steppybay, thank you so much for all the info and suggestion.

So, you mean that passing the NCLEX under IL BON and endorsing my license to WI BON would still need CGFNS and English exams?! WHAT THE.

Okay, so I'm taking the CGFNS exam next month. I think I made a good decision by taking the Cerification Program of CGFNS and passing their exam first before taking the NCLEX since it's all gonna be the same thing.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ENLIGHTENMENT!

But one last question though, can I bypass the English exams since I'm already here in the US? How is the possible? Is that the discretion of the WI BON or the CGFNS?

Thanks!

jadecane · Dec 30, 2012

in my case i didn't took english test they waived it thru my CES for IL

TOEFL / IELTS may be waived by the Department/Division if your credentials evaluation report indicates your

nursing education program was conducted in English utilizing English Textbooks.

Here is part of my CES

Entrance Requirement:Successful completion of ten years of primary and

secondary school education and sufficient scores on the

Philippines' National College Entrance Examination or the

Length of Study: equivalent Four years

Nature of Study:General nursingLanguage of Instruction:English with English textbooks.

Gives Access To:Nursing licensure examination and advanced nursingeducation in the Philippines. May be considered for

graduate admission to most colleges and universities in

the United States. Students whose academic record and

test scores are not adequate for graduate admission in the

United States may be considered for undergraduate

admission with transfer credit determined on a courseby-

course basis or for provisional graduate status.

Comparable To:Comparable to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program

in the United States.

Comments:

This credential, however, represents completion of only ten years of

primary and secondary school education followed by four years of

university for a total of fourteen years of education

March 25, 2011

Illinois Requirements for newly graduate PH Nursing student

Where is the best state to take NCLEX?