Hello! This is my story for those interested or is going through the same things as me being dealing with the concurrency issue with the CA BON, being foreign educated, and struggling retaking the NCLEX RN exam.
2007 in California there was long waiting list just to get into a nursing program so I took my mom's offer of having my BSN education in the Philippines
2011 graduated from the Philippines, skipped the Philippine board exam (since I am an American citizen & don't need a PI license) and applied for the CA NCLEX.
I waited for CA BON to process and review my documents because they kept asking me for more things . . .waiting for almost a YEAR to find out I am not able to take the NCLEX because my education was insufficient! ! ! It did not make sense to me because my friend who graduated with me same school same state same everything as me and she got approved to take the NCLEX. My friend applied 2 MONTHS earlier than I did.
Turns out, between April to July 2011 the CA BON changed regulations or just got more strict with 'foreign educated nurses' trying to apply for the CA NCLEX. I don't know the exact details about the concurrency issue or I call the 'deadline' but the CA BON made it pretty much IMPOSSIBLE for me to get approved because their reason my education was 'insufficient'. They asked for my clinical rotation papers where I assisted with surgeries, the minor, major, etc. and the BON says that the dates of my assisted surgeries were not in the same time/semester as our medsurg classes etc from our class schedule. Ugh! So if I changed the dates (which I could of because those papers were really for the Philippine board of nursing) I could of surpassed their new requirement, or not.
What made it even more frustrating was the BON said I have to retake 2 classes, medsurg and OB, with their clinicals. Sounds do-able right? After calling around 20 colleges and emailing universities, NONE offered those classes separately, you have to take the ENTIRE nursing program again! No way! Also it was up to the dean of that college to make changes or accept irregular students but they never really responded. I heard/read a school in San Francisco let students take separate classes but I couldn't go there, and I bet they have a waiting list already.
Eventually, I had to accept I can't be an RN in my home state, CA, and look elsewhere. My stepdad lived in Florida and I got approved by Florida BON! because I think most states have the foreign education transcripts and papers reviewed by CGFNS or other services that approve foreign education. CA is sooo special and I think the only ones who check your education background themselves, thus able to deny you and you and you. ugh.
2012 a year and half after graduating, I took my Florida NCLEX and failed. I didn't know or realize after you pay pearson vue the $200 you have 3 months to take the NCLEX, I thought it was a year, but that was the state holding your application. I saw my deadline for my ATT was around 2 weddings and had to take the NCLEX right before my vacation to the Philippines I booked months ago. I was not focused on the test at all and took all 265 questions and failed, =(. That meant I was borderline though!
2013 I took my NCLEX again I reviewed with Hurst and they claimed that 'Everything you need to know is in this book, you dont need anything else' so I studied their book three times and did all of their online things and they did NOT COVER ALZHEIMERS! ! ! I got sooo many questions on alzheimers and dementia to leave the door open or not to put them in a room with an abstract painting I had such a hard time, and I actually took the test TOO SLOW and took the whole 6 HOURS and I did not finish the 265 I think I went up to 230ish and I didnt know if you run out of time they only grade the last 60 questions. I did not pass. I don't completely blame Hurst though.
2014 I did a wonderful local review Shiela's review in Florida, yellow saunders book, PDA la charity book, and rescheduled my test because my dog passed away I wanted NO DISTRACTIONS. I'm a really bad test taker and I know I haven't perfected the critical thinking skills but I went through the 265 questions AGAIN I kept praying and breezed through the last 100 question cuz honestly I was sick of nursing questions I've been practicing for 3 years I got the last question wrong thought I failed again did the pearson vue trick 3 hours later. . . couldn't believe it did the good pop and I finally passed. Btw the pearson vue trick is still good my first 2 times it went straight to credit card page cuz i failed and my last time it had the pop up! still works =D.
I can't believe my NCLEX journey took 3 years. . but I did it! I still want to transfer my Florida license to California because my family and friends are there but I heard CA will still look at my education and deny me, =(. But I'll work as a nurse here in Florida I am excited!
Let me know if you guys have updates on the CA Board of Nursing if they changed any regulations to foreign nurses! Cuz that would be great, =D.
Also if you are in Jacksonville, holla! I have no peeps here
THANK YOU! ! ! I'll try that. Actually I always wanted to try applying in person because I think that my resume will just be skimmed and might not even consider me. I was going to call all the schools here in Florida but I haven't done it yet, well don't want to go to school yet haha. Email me! [email protected]
@steppybay I totally agree with you about the applicant frauds in the past even going as far as fake diplomas! Ruining it for us future foreign nurses. I'm pretty sure it's the people who already got caught by the BON years ago but I know nothing about current RNs with fraudulent education, and they definitely wouldn't be my friends! The changing my case date idea was unnecessary of me to say I shouldn't of said that evil idea. It just didn't sound realistic to do 25 cases in 1 semester (18 weeks?) since we BARELY had OR days in our clinical rotation and more than 100 students. . . it just wouldn't work. Hopefully my dean worked it out now with the curriculum and hospitals but am not sure if that would even cut it for the CA BON. Thanks for being honest!
Actually, the CA BRN has recently as of last year hired 14 investigators to look for these suspects and there's probably more than thought, I'm sure going undercover takes longer too.
Here's two recent public postings by the CA BRN, so it's definitely not over by any means.
Yea, I'm not sure if your dean can "work it out" now with the curriculum and hospitals, I mean, it is what it is, so if the dean plans on "adjusting" your transcripts, it would be highly suspect from the CA BRN point of view. However, if the CA BRN does accept the "correct changes", I would not be surprised if one of the CA BRN investigators might let it go (temporarily) to further investigate to see if this is going to be a common practice, which is at the end of the day, a straight forward fraudulent documentation and something the investigators can present a case.
This does mean one day, one year, your own RN license could come into play, meaning it could be subjected to an inappropriate application (from being granted in the first place) and then subject to same scenario as the public postings. Headlines will read "PH dean caught forging students documentations to meet US standards".
The best way to not worry about your license in the future is to simply comply with finding the deficiency courses and passing them. This applies not only to you, of course, but to the many other readers.
The last thing you need to happen is to be called into the HR office, with security or with them armed with a letter stating that your license is revoked and you need to quit today.
Since I don't think there's a statue of limitation on fraud (much like fake doctors with fake documentation with their own practices, clinics or hospital position, many years down the road) could be taken down by the authorities and face criminal and civil ($$$$) charges.
Congratulations on passing the exam!! I too graduated from the philippines and am struggling with the nclex exam. I have a six month old baby which makes it challenging to stick to a study schedule.. I am curious about the Sheilas review course since i live in Florida. HOw is the review program and do you think it helped you alot in passing the exam?? i believe i need good review on content since i graduated 2010.. i have th esuanders yellow book, the lippincotts q and a 10th edition, and the exam cram rn , and PDA by la Charity.. I would appreciated your input in regards to Shielas Review. I live close to Tampa.. thank you;)
@steph whoaa how do you know all of this stuff!?!?! extensive research!? cuz you give facts and resources and i only 'hear' things and i'm not even sure if its true or not! oh i have a question! i 'heard' that current CA RNs when they have to renew their license 'i heard' that if they are foreign educated, CA will look into their education again before they renew their license? I was wondering if that's true because my friend that i mentioned in my story who got her ATT while i couldn't and she's still an RN now, for 3 years. They never asked her for her cases though, or its me applying to take the nclex at a bad time and it was just luck for her. You're so helpful I read in somewhere in your old comments you are getting into law, you're going to be so good at it! ! ! ;D
Congratulations on passing the exam!! I too graduated from the philippines and am struggling with the nclex exam. I have a six month old baby which makes it challenging to stick to a study schedule.. I am curious about the Sheilas review course since i live in Florida. HOw is the review program and do you think it helped you alot in passing the exam?? i believe i need good review on content since i graduated 2010.. i have th esuanders yellow book, the lippincotts q and a 10th edition, and the exam cram rn , and PDA by la Charity.. I would appreciated your input in regards to Shielas Review. I live close to Tampa.. thank you;)
Hellooo booger (haha) ! and thank youuu! I actually tried to study with a newborn too! (but it was my niece & I mostly took care of her the first 6 months) and yes it difficult to study with a little one! I just checked the maps for Tampa and it would be farrr from Shiela's review! Shiela's review is just a local independent review and she really was helpful for me I got to actually understand nursing content! She focuses on nursing content and teaches by body systems and answers any question you have literally any time. Her review was a great influence on my nursing knowledge but when it comes to tackling the question, for me i think its really the CRITICAL THINKING part, which i had to figure it out and practice on my own. You have to find a way or a study plan to absorb allll the nursing content again and once you are done then practice questions. I'm sure there may be another local reviews around you? Or if you really want to drive kinda far? (the review is in orange park) i can give you more details if you want! also try Michael Linares on youtube! when i get tired of reading i just watch him all the time he is really helpful i watch him on my phone while i cook, walk my dog, etc i'm sure you can watch his videos between or during care with the baby! =D =D =D
I am so happy for you and congratulations! I'm a Filipino and from Jax too! I am so glad that I read your post and I am hoping that I can make it too. I am taking my NCLEX RN soon. I am currently working as an LPN at Mayo Clinic.
apparently they said that I lack 13 hours for my clinical in psychiatric and the decision will be on Dec 4.I have excess hours for the other categories. do you happen to know someone who had the same situation as mine? would really appreciate to know what happen with her/ his case.
Hi, I am a Cgfns passer holding a license from the Philippines and planning to apply in Florida BON for NCLEX. I am now based in Saudi and just found out a few months ago that my priority date of September 2008 has become current since July 2014 . I have read from a few blogs here that either a US license or nclex pass letter is required during the embassy interview. I am just wondering how long it takes to apply for the nclex in Florida if you already have a CGFNS (no CES) and IELTS because I am worried that if I apply too early, my att would arrive too soon and I still can't take a vacation from here in Saudi. I'll be needing to fly home to take the nclex.
@tinksa01 when you register and meet all the requirements from FL BON, your registration is good for 1 year. During that 1 year you need to apply for Pearson vue to take the exam. Once you get your ATT from Pearson vue, you need to take the NCLEX within 3 months. Check FL BON for more info.
FYI: You did not get turned down from taking the "CA NCLEX" and approved to take the "FL NCLEX". This is a NATIONAL exam, each state does not have it's own. You were refused a CA LICENSE because (not "cuz") you did not meet the requirements that they have in place.
@tinksa01 when you register and meet all the requirements from FL BON, your registration is good for 1 year. During that 1 year you need to apply for Pearson vue to take the exam. Once you get your ATT from Pearson vue, you need to take the NCLEX within 3 months. Check FL BON for more info.
Thanks shieyecla. That's exactly the answer i was looking for. I have another question though. My arranged 'employer' is in Michigan, but my family lives in Florida. How hard is it to endorse one's license from Florida to Michigan and vice versa? My Michigan employer is a nursing home, which i used only for my petition through my sister's connections. I do not have to work there though. However, just in case i need to, because i might find it hard to get a job right away when i get there, i'd like to know how to endorse one's license in these states. Thanks again!
Shiela's review is just a local independent review and she really was helpful for me I got to actually understand nursing content! She focuses on nursing content and teaches by body systems and answers any question you have literally any time. Her review was a great influence on my nursing knowledge but when it comes to tackling the question, for me i think its really the CRITICAL THINKING part, which i had to figure it out and practice on my own. You have to find a way or a study plan to absorb allll the nursing content again and once you are done then practice questions. I'm sure there may be another local reviews around you? Or if you really want to drive kinda far? (the review is in orange park) i can give you more details if you want! also try Michael Linares on youtube! when i get tired of reading i just watch him all the time he is really helpful i watch him on my phone while i cook, walk my dog, etc i'm sure you can watch his videos between or during care with the baby! =D =D =D
Maddiewee
8 Posts
THANK YOU! ! ! I'll try that. Actually I always wanted to try applying in person because I think that my resume will just be skimmed and might not even consider me. I was going to call all the schools here in Florida but I haven't done it yet, well don't want to go to school yet haha. Email me! [email protected]