nclex-pn test after 3rd semester

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Hi all! I am starting my final year in my ADN program next week.

After this semester, we have the option of sitting for the NCLEX-PN, which I plan to do.

My question is, how would you suggest preparing for this? I am thinking to get a review book--any suggestions which would be good? Cost is a bit of an issue as I will also be purchasing my books for the final semester and the Saunders review book for the NCLEX RN. Plus even tho I plan to take the exam during the monthlong break between the semesters, I also will need to begin to prepare for the NCLEX-RN in the summer. I really want to get my LPN, but I don't want to confuse myself with the two exams.

Anyone who has taken this test after the third semester---how was it? Did you pass? DId you fail? What worked?

l

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Specializes in OB/PP/Nsy.

No advice for you here - I myself just started my 2nd & final year of RN school. I was curious as to why you are wanting to take the LPN exam when you are so close to being finished with RN? I mean you would only be an LPN for 5 or 6 months before you become an RN. Is it worth the expense?

I'm only asking becuase i considered it myself, and decided against it - figuring I could wait a few more months. I'm just curious of there is a reason that I missed.

It might make the NCLEX-RN easier for you to take since you will have already went through a testing procedure once - that would be a positive.

Anyway, just curious.

PB

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At my current job, when I become an LPN I will be able to pass meds and this will make our clinic run much smoother. Plus, just in case I fail the NCLEX-RN, I will still be able to work as a nurse while I wait out the 90 days to retest. My instructor recommends it and also says that if you can do it, its good practice for the CAT type testing.

The main reason tho, is that I just want to be able say "Yes, I am a nurse." :)

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I do not agree with it and it is just my opinion. By the time that you complete the orientation in your clinic, you will be even closer to graduation. And if you tell me that you don't need an orientation there, with the new job classification, then what ever I am going to suggest won't make any difference.

Your orientation should be about a month or so, and that is if you were working full-time..........you are going to be doing yourslef a dis-service by taking the time away from preparing for your NCLEX-RN exam. A completely different animal form the NCLEX-PN. Just because you have been there under a different job classification should not take away from you getting a full orientation, and it isn't cost effective for the company if you are only going to be there for a few more months in that classification.

Whe you start passing medications, you put your nursing license on the line with each and every medication that you give.........

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Thank you Suzanne for your insightful post. I do appreciate it!

You are right that I don't need an orientation, we are a very small (3 ma's, 3 FNP's, 3 Psych NP's, and a billing rep) site-based school health clinic where I've been functioning as one of the MA's for 6 years. I already do triage, vitals, lab tests etc. One of our services is prn tylenol/advil for cramps/headaches--orders are written in the charts by the NP's. We have a large patient base--there are 2000 students in the school and we serve about 80%!. And if I could give prn tylenols per orders, it would just make our patient flow quicker and get the kids back to class. Plus there is talk of having me do immunizations as well. The rest of the job will remain the same.

I understand what you are saying, and I think its good advice. Unfortunately, I am not going to get a pay raise, as we are state-funded and there is no room in the budget for any new nurses, LPN's or RN's. So I will be working with my same pay for the last few months of the spring semester and then I will have to find a new job anyway when I become an RN. I don't have a problem with not getting a pay increase for getting my LPN because I love the clinic and what we do for our patients and I want to make it run smoothly. Its only a few months anyway and good experience w/ meds and immunizations.

Thank you again for your insights, I appreciate it!

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You do need an orientation, that is my point. You are going into a new job category where you will be using your nursing license, and where you can also lose your license. Just because you have been there for six years, you still need an orientation if you are going from un-licensed to a licensed position.

What is someone turns out to be allergic to one of the immunizations, or even Tylenol? And it does happen............what are you going to do? Remember that your license is now involved.

I commend you for wanting to help out, but you should still be getting the same orientation that a new employee to that job would be getting. You would be taking on many other responsibilites than I think that you are currently aware of. And you are going to have a cost of about $400 for the exam, as well as license.........Have you taken that into account?

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I think what I will do is look up the guidelines for LPN's in my state and then maybe think about this some more. I think what I need is orientation to working with a license, which I think is what you are saying as well. Instead of operating under the NP's license as a UAP, I will have my own license to think about. That is a very good point.

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This is so me! I just finished my third semester (currently in my forth semester) and sitting for the NCLEX-pn on the 15th. I'm mixed about the whole thing. At first I wanted to do it becuase I had no intention of leaving my current facility until I was an RN. Second, I had enormus pressure from my family to do it. Last and certinally not least we are in serious need of greater income on my behalf. Dh already works two jobs and I one job where I cannot work many hrs (still in school). I have found out that the PN test is totally different than the RN test and this was quite the shock to me. I am hoping it does not affect my scores on the pn test. Just in the last week I have a job offer as a tech in the ED. I don't know, but I would think it doesn't look good for me to be taking my NCLEX-PN two weeks after they hire me (if they hire me) and then what? Go up the ladder to LPN and train some more? We also heard that it could help you on the NCLEX-RN (which I'll take in May) as far as having had the experience of a computerized-timed test. Not any help as far as content of the test.

I am going to take it and I'll let you know how I do. I've already paid and scheduled so I'm going to see it through. Just don't depend on job situations. They can change so easily and rapidly. You sound like you know what you're doing and I hope everything turns out fine.

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This is so me! I just finished my third semester (currently in my forth semester) and sitting for the NCLEX-pn on the 15th. I'm mixed about the whole thing. At first I wanted to do it becuase I had no intention of leaving my current facility until I was an RN. Second, I had enormus pressure from my family to do it. Last and certinally not least we are in serious need of greater income on my behalf. Dh already works two jobs and I one job where I cannot work many hrs (still in school). I have found out that the PN test is totally different than the RN test and this was quite the shock to me. I am hoping it does not affect my scores on the pn test. Just in the last week I have a job offer as a tech in the ED. I don't know, but I would think it doesn't look good for me to be taking my NCLEX-PN two weeks after they hire me (if they hire me) and then what? Go up the ladder to LPN and train some more? We also heard that it could help you on the NCLEX-RN (which I'll take in May) as far as having had the experience of a computerized-timed test. Not any help as far as content of the test.

I am going to take it and I'll let you know how I do. I've already paid and scheduled so I'm going to see it through. Just don't depend on job situations. They can change so easily and rapidly. You sound like you know what you're doing and I hope everything turns out fine.

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Thankyou, I look forward to hearing how it goes. I have heard that its the same kinds of questions but you have to remember about the scope of practice for the LPN. What are you using to study? Did you buy any review texts? I;d be curious to see if they helped you on the exam. What did you learn specifically about the differences in the test?

I am a tech in the ED for my second job! There is a year-long orientation for nurses there if they are newly licensed. I am not sure how your hospital does it should you decide to take the ED tech job. Its a lot of work but you learn so much. I am only perdiem and not sure how long I will keep the job; school is first priority and my other job comes next.

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For prep, I'm using an online LPN NCLEX review through ERI. Our school uses this and we have an NCLEX-pn review available to us. It's great and I really love it. AT the end of our ADN program ERI provides us with a week study review for NCLEX-RN. Our hosp. is in desparate need of help right now. I don't know how long I will orientate or if they will even offer me the job since I will hopefully be an LPN in three weeks. But, whatever. I would love the job but I do have one that will pay me much more as an LPN than the hospital. We'll see how this all works out.

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I would do more research because this topic came up a few months ago and I remember someone saying it hurt her to get her LPN before her RN because they couldn't hire her as a new grad RN because she was an LPN. Just check at your local hosp before doing it so you don't waste your time.

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