7 Months Post RN graduate, still haven't passed NCLEX

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Hi all,

Let me tell you my story, and how I landed this mess in the first place.

I officially graduated from nursing school in Feb of 2010. Technically, I was already done in Dec but due to college's policies, I wasn't considered an official graduate till Feb.

Now as we all know, NCLEX doesn't take non-official RN graduates, so I had to wait till Feb to register for NCLEX. That already took 2 months out of this 8 month period.

Afterwards, I found out I still owe a financial balance from the college so they wouldn't officiate my diploma. No diploma = no NCLEX. It wasn't until April (2 months after Feb.) that I had finally gotten all of this outstanding balance paid off.

That's when I applied for NCLEX. In May, I failed the exam. Hence, another 45 days tacked on.

I've reapplied, and am now going to take it early September.

But in all this time that I've been studying, worrying, fixing my life, I've done nothing to enhance my nursing resume. I've only had ONE job that had anything related to the medical field (I worked as a PCA before).

I've been out of school a total of 7 months, and no experience to my name. I'm beginning to think that I'm never going to find a job (who would hire me?). And I'm seriously losing hope.

What should I do?

- Hopeless and Unemployed

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I meant 8 months.

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don't lose hope. i graduated 8 years ago, i had been working as a nurse for 3 years in a nursing home and clinic then no work for 5 years because i do not have license to work in the US as a nurse and my husband and kids are keeping me away from working as a nurse and study for nclex-rn. since i sent my kids to my mom for a year or two, i have this opportunity to study for nclex-rn. it is a big sacrifice on our part (i miss them so much :[ ). so i think for now, don't worry about having no job for the moment. concentrate to your nclex-rn because it's near you only have 1.5 mos left and once u passed it, job opportunities will knock on your door. LICENSE = KEY to finding a well paying JOB :) btw, you're lucky because you will be writing the nclex on september. while me, i just applied and still waiting for eligibility. so nervous because this is the first time that i will take the exam (if found eligiible, crossing fingers). Good Luck and God bless you.

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It is not 7 years after your graduation. You have not failed the NCLEX for the 7th time. Buck up and get yourself ready to test again. You will do a lot better when you stop worrying about the past. Good luck.

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This sounds similar to my story... I graduated in May but couldn't take the NCLEX until I passed the HESI in January. After passing the HESI, I applied to the state for my license & waited to get my ATT. Three months later (with no word from the state), I sent out a mass email to my classmates to see if anyone else has heard anything. Most of them who had passed the HESI (records are only released if you pass the HESI) had not only taken, but passed the NCLEX! No one told me that I had to apply to Pearson Vue to get my ATT! Once I did that, it took about a week to get my ATT & I gave myself a month to study. On May 21, I took the NCLEX & I failed! I reapplied, & took the test on July 24. I got the good popup on Pearson Vue but still no official word. I just got fingerprinted last week, so I'm expecting my license any day now. My only medical experience is as a Physical Therapy Aide. I know finding a job is going to be hard but the pay off is huge (and I'm not talking about $$$). I have a license that can take me around the world & open so many opportunities. Just don't lose hope & keep your mind open.

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are you able to work as a NA?

(im a student still so im not that informed)

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don't lose hope. i graduated 8 years ago, i had been working as a nurse for 3 years in a nursing home and clinic then no work for 5 years because i do not have license to work in the US as a nurse and my husband and kids are keeping me away from working as a nurse and study for nclex-rn. since i sent my kids to my mom for a year or two, i have this opportunity to study for nclex-rn. it is a big sacrifice on our part (i miss them so much :[ ). so i think for now, don't worry about having no job for the moment. concentrate to your nclex-rn because it's near you only have 1.5 mos left and once u passed it, job opportunities will knock on your door. LICENSE = KEY to finding a well paying JOB :) btw, you're lucky because you will be writing the nclex on september. while me, i just applied and still waiting for eligibility. so nervous because this is the first time that i will take the exam (if found eligiible, crossing fingers). Good Luck and God bless you.

Thank you so much for your kind words. You've totally empathized with my predicament. I really hope I pass this September so that those job opportunities will really come. I just have to remain hopeful and optimistic, I guess. Always easier said than done. You too, you had loads of experience prior to your break; I'm sure once you get the eligibility to apply for the NCLEX, you'll pass it with flying colors.

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It is not 7 years after your graduation. You have not failed the NCLEX for the 7th time. Buck up and get yourself ready to test again. You will do a lot better when you stop worrying about the past. Good luck.

Thank you too for your encouragement. No, it isn't 7 years after my graduation, but I'm still nervous and apprehensive. No one hires old newbies I feel.

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This sounds similar to my story... I graduated in May but couldn't take the NCLEX until I passed the HESI in January. After passing the HESI, I applied to the state for my license & waited to get my ATT. Three months later (with no word from the state), I sent out a mass email to my classmates to see if anyone else has heard anything. Most of them who had passed the HESI (records are only released if you pass the HESI) had not only taken, but passed the NCLEX! No one told me that I had to apply to Pearson Vue to get my ATT! Once I did that, it took about a week to get my ATT & I gave myself a month to study. On May 21, I took the NCLEX & I failed! I reapplied, & took the test on July 24. I got the good popup on Pearson Vue but still no official word. I just got fingerprinted last week, so I'm expecting my license any day now. My only medical experience is as a Physical Therapy Aide. I know finding a job is going to be hard but the pay off is huge (and I'm not talking about $$$). I have a license that can take me around the world & open so many opportunities. Just don't lose hope & keep your mind open.

Congratulations! I hope you do pass! At least a physical aid job is better than nothing! I've had only a PCA job before, and that was while I was in college. I know that works against me, so I'm bothered by it. You, on the other hand, has a good stable hospital job; I'm sure it will boost your resume once your license arrives!

I will keep my chin up, and do my best! I hope we both manage to find jobs in this tepid economy.

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are you able to work as a NA?

(im a student still so im not that informed)

RN graduates still need to take a course and get a license to practice as a NA. At least in Mass that's the case.

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my suggestion for passing the nclex would be enrolling in a kaplan course if that is an option for you. 3 weeks before i took my nclex i buckled down and did all the question trainers and 1000+ q bank questions and reviewed the rationale for all the questions whether i missed it or not. i am also struggling to find a job and i'm from the dfw area. it sucks! i have loans to pay and i've literally applied to every position possible and havn't heard from any of them.

good luck to you when you retake the nclex.

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Hi, I just wanted to tell you I took my NCLEX yesterday all of 265 Questions and I got the CC info on PVT. I came across your video on youtube and I think it was God-sent. I am waiting for the official letter of pearson with my analysis. I just wanted to thank you for posting those videos. I'm going to be purchasing the NCLEX-4000 but instead of princeton I have the saunders book and im also using La Charity's book.

Now do you think the analysis they sent you helped? Were you "nearly level of passing" on almost everything. I mean since we took the whole thing, doesnt it mean we know content just kept getting application level wrong?

I cried and cried yesterday and today and probably will still be down for a few more days but I'm giving myself about a week or so and then is game on! :) I'm going to register again maybe tonight. Theres no way I'll be the one lucky person PVT doesnt work for lol.

I too beleive in the prayer you wrote on your youtube video description box. 1st time around I was too stressed , very anxious and worried about what everyone is going to think. Now, im going to keep my rescheduled date private and study just 4-6 hours a day. I would be studying like 8-12hrs (with breaks) but I feel like I forgot it all during the test. And priority was killing me!

Anyway please offer me any more tips. I know I can do this. I'm so happy I'm not alone in this! By the way did you find a job in jersey? I live in NY.

Thank you!!!

-Yaliz

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