losing GN status!?

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Feb 28, 2006

Yes, you loose your GN status if you fail boards and can no longer work as a graduate nurse. You can work as a CNA until you retake and pass your boards. Most employers allow this since they spent so much on orientation already they would hate to spend more to orient someone else. You can retake the test in 90 days. That is why I waited to work until I took and passed boards. I was afraid I would loose my position and be embarrassed. HTH

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Feb 28, 2006

You might try posting in the New York forum since each state's procedures are a little different in regard to failing/retaking the NCLEX.

Good luck though!

AngelsRN · Mar 4, 2006

i'm graduating in may and am hearing so many confusing things about nclex and starting a job. Can i lose my GN status or job if i fail the nclex the first time and how long before i can retake the nclex? If someone in NY can help it would be much appreciated.

In NY you can retake the test in 45 days

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2006

It varies from state to state. However, most that I know of, give you GN status just to bridge the time from graduation to taking the NCLEX at the first reasonable opportunity and passing it. If you fail, you lose GN status.

GN status is a limited privilege and not a "right". Some facilities do not recognize "GN" status and merely list you as a Senior Nurse Tech or some such, due to abuses of GN status (people who did not take the test in a timely manner, or failed and did not notify the facility - actions that can pose legal issues if the staffer works as a nurse, when s/he did not have the legal right to) until you pass the NCLEX.

And to a certain extent, GN status is a relic of the era when the NCLEX was only offered as a written test 2-4 times a year at very limited locations. It also took 6-12 weeks to receive results from the BON. This meant 4-12 or more monthes between graduating and finding out whether you passed. Now that it is possible, to take Boards and receive results within a much shorter period of time, some places have phased out "GN".

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 22, 2006

In most of the facilities around where I live, you must pass your boards before your 90 day probabtion is up. So - most take it before they even start their 1st job in case they don't pass it the 1st time. In my state it's 45 days and you can test again. But there were 2 recent grads that are now techs again until they pass their boards because it was 90 days and they were still not official.

TJRN · Apr 13, 2006

In PA you are a GN until you take your boards, after which you pass and become RN or fail and work as a CNA or nurse intern (as they call it in my factility). As a nurse intern you can do everything but pass medications. If you fail you can retake the boards in 45 days. Good luck!

AngelsRN · Apr 13, 2006

In NY, you can become a GN after graduation -- you get a temporary license which is good for up to a year, or until you take and fail the NCLEX -- obviously, if you pass, you are a RN - if you fail, you lose your temp license and are not covered to work as a GN. Where I work, they keep you on, as a tech, until you pass and then put you back into your nursing role. They have to do that bec you no longer have the temp license. You can retake the test in 45 days.

sbgjohnson · May 12, 2006

i have failed the nclex three times in texas and need any suggestions on where to go from here!

teenynurse · May 15, 2006

yes you lose your GN status and it is best to go somewhere that if praying that you dont will hire you as a CNA I am a LPN so I am staying where I am at till I take the boards