My NCLEX/NURSING experience

[souzahanson]

I am a registered respiratory therapist with 20 years in the field. I went through the Excelsior College long distance nursing program, which has no required clinical rotations, just a weekend clinical exam on actual inpatients. I didn't attend any classes, I was just required to clep out of all the nursing theory exams. I graduated from nursing school on 4/18/2008. I had no idea how to study for the NCLEX. I decided to just wing it and see if I could pass without any preparation. I took my NCLEX on 6/12/2008. I had 75 questions, finished in 79 minutes, and passed the test. I will continue in my current position as the lead RRT for adult critical care.

My wife is also a registered respiratory therapist with 20 years in the field. She also went through the Excelsior College program and finished in 5/2007. She prepared for weeks to take NCLEX . She took the exam on 10/8/2007. She had 75 questions, finished in less than 1.5 hours, and passed the test. She now works as an RN in adult ICU.

I've know some nursing programs that try and elevate nursing above RT and the other disciplines. Just remember we are all a team with different responsiblities.

Remember this the next time you call the RT they could be a RN who passed the NCLEX without preparation.

Chris Hanson RN, RRT-NPS

Grand Junction, CO

[futurecnm]

I am a registered respiratory therapist with 20 years in the field. I went through the Excelsior College long distance nursing program, which has no required clinical rotations, just a weekend clinical exam on actual inpatients. I didn't attend any classes, I was just required to clep out of all the nursing theory exams. I graduated from nursing school on 4/18/2008. I had no idea how to study for the NCLEX. I decided to just wing it and see if I could pass without any preparation. I took my NCLEX on 6/12/2008. I had 75 questions, finished in 79 minutes, and passed the test. I will continue in my current position as the lead RRT for adult critical care.

My wife is also a registered respiratory therapist with 20 years in the field. She also went through the Excelsior College program and finished in 5/2007. She prepared for weeks to take NCLEX . She took the exam on 10/8/2007. She had 75 questions, finished in less than 1.5 hours, and passed the test. She now works as an RN in adult ICU.

I've know some nursing programs that try and elevate nursing above RT and the other disciplines. Just remember we are all a team with different responsiblities.

Remember this the next time you call the RT they could be a RN who passed the NCLEX without preparation.

Chris Hanson RN, RRT-NPS

Grand Junction, CO

I have never considered RN as elevated above RT. Not sure what you mean by this post but good for you for passing without prep. However, you did go through nursing school, which is preparing you the entire time. Most people could pass the NCLEX without prep in my opinion, if they got through nursing school and learned the main concepts.

I had 75 questions and finished in less than an hour. I didn't know it mattered how fast you took the test. Faster isn't necessarily better.