Just Graduated in the Philippines want to take NCLEx in California

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Hi, I just found this site and I'm thinking if someone can answer my question.

I graduated on April 2014 in the Philippines but I did not take the local exam since I'm US citizen. Now, I'm here in California for a month now and I was thinking if I'm able to take the NCLEX here. I know the current issues about OB and MedSurg that the cases should be taken same time as you taking your lectures of OB and MedSurg. I have 3 cases of OB for Immediate newborn and I have 4 cases of Surgery (2 minor and 2 major). Those cases are taken the same on my lectures. I know that I need more cases and I do have, however my other cases are not taken same time with my Ob and MedSurg class. I complete the 5 cases of Ob ( 5 for actual delivery and 5 for Immediate newborn) I complete the 5 cases of MedSurg (5 for minor and 5 for major). I know there a lot of issues going on to those graduated outside US and I was just thinking why the others are eligible to take the NCLEx in California though they also graduated outside US. I really want to take NClex in California because i'm tired moving in different places.

Another one if I can not take NClex then can i take LVN exam with my BSN diploma? or i still need to go back school and study?

Lastly, my last option if i join Us Navy with my BSN no license can i practice nursing in their field? or i need to study again like my BSN diploma is useless?

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Bad news CA probably will not approve you for taking the nclex, the US Navy requires to graduate from an approved program, which you did not graduate and needs a licensed. you may qualify for lvn but you need to apply. why did you go to school outside the USA? sorry if your goal was to work in CA you should have gone to school there.

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Oh thank you for answer i think i should really go to navy now :(. I went there because financially affordable but then i guess wrong move. Well, i think is doesn't matter anymore I spent 4 yrs for ??:down: nah maybe God have a better plans for me so am going to navy. :) I know it will take me a long time before getting my RN license in California but i don't care now hehehe I will get it no matter what. Spending yr to yrs to study again i don't care now. I will just enjoy my time :) I submit my application for navy hopefully I will get in. Thank you again

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If you want to join the Navy as an RN, you'll need to have a license in some US state. However, since you are a US citizen, I assume you have a SSN and there are plenty of states that will give you a license. Best wishes.

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

Check the US navy nursing requirements/speak to a nursing recruiter. At one point the military required candidates to be graduates of an accredited US nursing school in addition to having a US nursing license. Plus the competition is high for military nurses some new grads are not being selected as there are specialty experienced nurses applying. There is also a military nursing forum on this board. Good luck.

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Oh thank you for answer i think i should really go to navy now :(. I went there because financially affordable but then i guess wrong move. Well, i think is doesn't matter anymore I spent 4 yrs for ??:down: nah maybe God have a better plans for me so am going to navy. :) I know it will take me a long time before getting my RN license in California but i don't care now hehehe I will get it no matter what. Spending yr to yrs to study again i don't care now. I will just enjoy my time :) I submit my application for navy hopefully I will get in. Thank you again

Yea, as suggested, talk to a Navy recruiter about your situation. But just as a fore warning, my friend's cousin graduated from UST (PH school) and when the recruiter asked him about his BSN degree, the recruiter politely said, " we don't accept foreign grads".

Even if they did, with the very tough competition, they want to see 6 months minimum hospital work and usually want 2 years of experience.

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

Sorry you are not eligible to join the US military as a nurse since you must be a graduate of an accredited US school.

Qualifications and Requirements: Candidates must satisfy specific criteria to be eligible for employment consideration.

U.S. citizenship: Required

Education: Graduate of a U.S. education program granting a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) or a Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN) and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Licensing: License to practice in a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a U.S. territory (must obtain a license within one year of beginning Active Duty service)

Gender: Male or female

Age: 18 to 41

Medical exam: Required

Physical fitness test: Required

Service commitment: Minimum of three years of Active Duty

Source: http://www.navy.com/jobs/nurse.html

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Thanks guys for all your answers. i know i'm not eligible to be a nurse in navy because i don't have license yet and i don't think that i will get my license really soon since i'm here in California. But if i join in navy let say start from the bottom then it will probably help me to get what i really want. If i serve them they might grant me financial support to go back school at the same time I'm earning $? As of now i don't have job and i think it will be hard for me to get one because they will looking for experience. Do you think it is best for me to get to navy or not? i think thats the only option i have? it will help my skills and knowledge which is good thing. what you guys think? :)

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

If you want to be a navy nurse you will need to repeat your BSN at an accredited US school. Even entry level US military enlistments are competitive now and not really a stepping stone to nurse candidate officer status. There are limited funds for education in the military funds it's not like it was years ago. Suggest a read in the military nursing forum under the specialty section.

You need to consider if you wish to practice nursing in the US without repeating your education which state you may want to live and work. CA won't be an option without making up the hours. IN won't be an option since you don't have a license from your country of education. Nevada has been requiring a local license and additional course work of IENs as of recent months.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Thanks guys for all your answers. i know i'm not eligible to be a nurse in navy because i don't have license yet and i don't think that i will get my license really soon since i'm here in California )

You are not eligible for nursing in the navy more so because you did not graduate with a BSN from an accredited US school. Even if you get your RN license from another state you won't be eligible for the navy as a nurse.

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Specializes in Emergency, Tele, Med Surg, DOU, ICU.
Oh thank you for answer i think i should really go to navy now :(. I went there because financially affordable but then i guess wrong move. Well, i think is doesn't matter anymore I spent 4 yrs for ??:down: nah maybe God have a better plans for me so am going to navy. :) I know it will take me a long time before getting my RN license in California but i don't care now hehehe I will get it no matter what. Spending yr to yrs to study again i don't care now. I will just enjoy my time :) I submit my application for navy hopefully I will get in. Thank you again

Like what the others said its tough to go into the military now. OCS is just crazy to get in. Very very stiff requirements especially educational requirements.

BTW i hate to say this but going to another country to get a nursing degree, if you intend to work here in California, is a folly. Just a data point. My entire education ADN was around $3,500 dollars. I'm doing BSN now and even that is manageable with financial aid. It sucks but you know since you are a US citizen why not try places like Florida. I don't think they are doing the concurrency thing. Anyways best of luck to you.

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Hi Sean =) We are in the same situation I am also a U.S. citizen but I went to school in the Philippines, I also live in California. I've also tried the Navy thing but no luck there as you have to be a graduate of a US accredited nursing program. I applied to TX-BoN and process is not that hard in fact after about 2-3 months I'll be taking my NCLEX-RN, you can do it all while your still in California you don't need to move right off the bat. My advice is to try other states that will deem you legible to sit for NCLEX-RN. You may however apply/register to CA BON as an LVN another option is psych tech which I heard pays more. Goodluck!

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