NCLEX Before Graduation

Published

I came across a few similar threads, but most were dated with different situations than my own.

The summer term (May-July) will be my last term for classes. Then I have August, September, October, November, and the first part of December to simply work 12 precepting shifts. I will be able to complete those in one to two months, max, and will just be sitting around waiting for months to graduate. My question is, will I be able to test before then? Can you get an ATT before you graduate?

Any sources to confirm that? I definitely plan on talking to the school when possible but it seems like this could vary from state to state as each have different requirements.

Then the best place to look would be on your state's BoN website.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Any sources to confirm that? I definitely plan on talking to the school when possible but it seems like this could vary from state to state as each have different requirements.

What state?

NJ no, must be a graduate. (Page #1, requirement #1:

http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/nursing/nurse_app.pdf)

PA must be a graduate of an approved school of nursing: http://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Nursing/Documents/Applications%20and%20Forms/Professional%20Nurse%20Law.pdf

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Then the best place to look would be on your state's BoN website.

I checked already. :/ NCSBN states they don't give specifics because of how it varies and they link you to a page where you choose your state (the state board) and they don't mention anything about this (that I found). Talking to the school is definitely going to be my best bet, I just was trying to see if anyone has had success with this in the past before then.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I checked already. :/ NCSBN states they don't give specifics because of how it varies and they link you to a page where you choose your state (the state board) and they don't mention anything about this (that I found). Talking to the school is definitely going to be my best bet, I just was trying to see if anyone has had success with this in the past before then.

What state? NCSBN isn't the best bet neither is your school. You need to check with your state board of nursing or the state BoN application for licensing by examination. Which state? I've never seen anyone successful. Since anything can happen that may prevent graduation before final grades are released.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.
What state? NCSBN isn't the best bet neither is your school. You need to check with your state board of nursing or the state BoN application for licensing by examination. Which state? I've never seen anyone successful. Since anything can happen that may prevent graduation before final grades are released.

Right, this. To take NCLEX, you must be a graduate of an accredited nursing program. If you finish all your requirements and then, say, kill someone before graduation you probably won't be granted a degree. ;) My school didn't send anyone's information to the board until the day after graduation.

I precepted a senior nursing student who only needed 120 hrs (10 shifts). That's the equivalent of 3 weeks of full-time employment and I can tell you that it took her the whole semester to finish. First, it takes the school a couple weeks at the beginning of the semester to secure all placements and I was on vacation when she first got her placement assigned. Then, I worked day/night rotation so fitting her in to my schedule wasn't always easy. And, to be perfectly honest, I didn't want her with me more than once/week. It was exhausting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

Ok, I confused now more than ever. I'm about to start my 4th semester in 2 weeks. Then in Sept through December we have Leadership, Practicum and Practicum Clinicals. We are not clear as when our pinning/capping will be done (Dec-Jan). My school only had 1 graduation ceremony a year for the whole school and all programs. I was only the impression that when we had our pinning then it would be when the school would let the BON know we had finished, but from reading this posts now I'm wondering if this won't happen until the actual graduation in June? I was set on taking my NCLEX Feb-March now it looks it may not be until June-July???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.
Ok, I confused now more than ever. I'm about to start my 4th semester in 2 weeks. Then in Sept through December we have Leadership, Practicum and Practicum Clinicals. We are not clear as when our pinning/capping will be done (Dec-Jan). My school only had 1 graduation ceremony a year for the whole school and all programs. I was only the impression that when we had our pinning then it would be when the school would let the BON know we had finished, but from reading this posts now I'm wondering if this won't happen until the actual graduation in June? I was set on taking my NCLEX Feb-March now it looks it may not be until June-July???

Just because your school only has one graduation ceremony per year, that doesn't mean that you won't be considered a December graduate. You don't need to put on a cap and gown to graduate from the program. My school allowed summer graduates to walk at graduation in May but they weren't considered to have graduated yet and people who graduated in December came back for May graduation even though they'd already graduated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

That was I was thinking. But there's so many rumors and even the school can't/won't answer a lot of our questions. Now the newest rumor is that our pinning/capping will be postponed until the next group finishes in May 2016 which is totally ridiculous since we didn't go to class together and why keep us waiting a whole 6 months waiting to take our NCLEX...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Tele, Gen Surgical.

Just to add fuel to this....I concur that the BON in any state will not release an ATT to NCLEX until you have satisfied and BON approved school of nursing to sit for RN-NCLEX.....AAAAaaaaannnnd then remember that to actually have your RN license passed the background check (fingerprints and criminal convictions checks via FBI) must also be satisfied.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Any sources to confirm that? I definitely plan on talking to the school when possible but it seems like this could vary from state to state as each have different requirements.

The best source would be your school. Find out when they submit students' ATTs - all at once or bit by bit as the students finish their last requirements. If they do it all at once, then there's your answer.

I was able to finish my 12-shift preceptorship in 3 weeks. I had two preceptors (one did newborn nursery, the other did postpartum moms) and between the two of them, I was able to work 4 shifts a week. It was lovely. I had 2 full weeks off where I didn't have to do a darn thing before our graduation.

I would be HIGHLY annoyed if I had to wait a whole 3 months before I could schedule my exam.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Cardiac ICU.

I'm confused as to why anyone would think they could take an exam when you have to graduate first...My BON required me to send in my final transcripts as part of the application process, and I wouldn't have been able to provide that had I not graduated already. I went to school in PA and I was applying to the SC BON. I graduated April 26 2013 and my school wasn't releasing information to anyone until the middle of May. I had my Transitions Rotation (senior practicum) on a postpartum unit and we were required to complete 270 hours with our preceptor. I got the short end of the stick in that my preceptor not only worked weekends only, but she only worked nights. I had to fit my school and work schedule (I worked once a week as a PCT) which was Days, with my preceptors Nights, which wasn't always easy to do. There were opportunities to shadow another preceptor for a day and a few other things that we could've done if lets say our preceptor was gone or we needed more hours, but for the most part we were with our scheduled preceptor all the time. I couldn't start until two weeks into the semester because my preceptor was on vacation and also her schedule wasn't working with mine in the beginning. We had the whole semester to complete our hours and I worked my last shift on the last day before we had to turn in our hours sheet. I'm writing about my experience so that you don't think that it'll be a piece of cake and you'll have so much time between when you finish and when you graduate. Things come up and you don't even know what your preceptor works yet.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

By nor and am I thinking I can sit for NCLEX before graduating, my confusion is if I get to get ATT from the BON after completing my requisites which would be in December or if I need to wait until

June which is when the school has graduation ceremony for the whole school. See, pinning ceremony for me is being done with all your requisites, am I wrong thinking this?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion