Licensure question

You are not eligible to sit for NCLEX until you graduate, even if you do not take any nursing courses in your final semester.

Nope, it's fairly common here for students to take the NCLEX before they graduate. We're eligible after our second-to-last semester and can then work as RNs during our last semester if we like.

wendy79

where are you from and what school do you attend? I never heard of students taking the nclex-rn before graduation, now I do know of some schools where students can sit for there nclex-lpn board after they've reach a certain semester. anyways, just wondering bc I never heard of that.

I agree. Are you sure this isn't an LPN/LVN license? Lots of students at my school were taking the LPN NCLEX. My understanding is you have to have completed the full program, pre-req, co-reqs and all the nursing courses before you sit for the RN.

YES. I am absolutely sure. People do this ALL THE TIME at my school and other state schools here. NCLEX RN.

I don't identify my school, but it's a state university in California. Our last semester we take nursing courses required for the BSN, but we've already completed everything required for the RN (so, as much as the ADN nurses take).

But I guess since no one's heard of this, no one has any insight into the question! :)

Sorry, never heard of it. I only know that you can take your LPN boards before you graduate nursing school as an RN.

If you are worried about the term "non graduate" on your license, I would wait until graduation. OR if you are abel to sit for the NCLEX before graduation, can you change the status to "graduate" on your license after graduation? Ask your state BON about that. I have never heard of taking the NCLEX before graduation. Just a personal question...why in such a hurry to take it before graduation? Go with your gut. If you are confident enough to take it and pass first go around go for it, just see if the graduation "status" can be changed after you walk across that stage. Congrats on graduation and good luck in your career :smiley_aa

Thanks for the advice. I know it must sound like I'm in a hurry to those of you who live where this isn't common, but it isn't so much that; it's just that for various reasons it would be more convenient to study and take it this spring than this summer; the knowledge from previous classes is also fresher in my head right now. The nurses on the unit where I precept even think it's a bit strange that I've been planning to take it after graduation! Another friend who is pondering this issue has also been encouraged by nurses to take NCLEX now because "only a couple of states don't accept the non-graduate license"--and yes, it does stay "non-graduate" unless you take the NCLEX again--but based on what you're all saying, it sounds like maybe more states don't accept a non-graduate license than we've heard.

I guess I am not understanding anyway because I know if one is an ADN and licensed, they do not have to sit again for boards if they go through an RN to BSN program.

Also, what exactly can you do as a "non-graduate RN?" Every job description I have applied for says: Must be graduate of RN program and be licensed in the state of ..... blah blah blah.

Guess I am just curious where you can work since I haven't heard of this before.

There's not much more I can say about this. You can work anywhere, and the hospitals do hire people with this license, while they're in school. Here's a link about it from Chico State (not my school, but same idea):

http://www.csuchico.edu/nurs/student/studentguidelines.shtml#LICENSURE

Having moved a number of times, and endorsed my license to 5 different states, I would recommend against this, unless you are absloutely willing to commit yourself to re-taking NCLEX as soon as you graduate so that the "non-graduate" wording will be removed from your license. If you don't do it immediately upon graduation, chances are that you never will.

While you may think that you will always live and work in CA, life has a way of changing unexpectedly. I never dreamed I would leave my home in Chicago, let alone live and work in 6 different states, some of which would probably not accept your non-grad license. If you think that passing NCLEX will be difficult at the completion of your BSN program, just imagine how difficult it would be 5 or 10 years from now, especially if you choose to work in a specialty area. I have 11 years of experience in OB/NICU, and although I have excellent skills and knowledge in that area, I doubt I could pass NCLEX right now without serious study.

Good luck and let us know what you decide. It is always interesting to learn how licensing practices differ from state to state.