NCLEX Rules... for diabetics

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I just wanted to post this for any other candidates who are type 1 diabetics like myself on insulin pumps. I am taking my examination in feb but wanted to triple check and make sure i could indeed have my insulin pump on me during my exam as that is potentially 6 hours i could be sitting there and i cant go 6 hours without insulin so .. i called my testing center in miami they said it was OK to have it and they will inspect it prior to beginning exam. Called Pearson VUE, they said to check with test center and NCSBN. So i called NCSBN and insulin pumps ARE ALLOWED. I heard some misinformation int his forum stating one candidate had to remove the insulin pump, that is very dangerous especially if your ulucky enough to sit the whole 6 hours. During breaks if you need to bolus for a snack its ok just let testing center staff know they will watch you. I personally will have all my snacks in a clear plastic bag out of the wrappers.

As always just verify with you testing center in your location in advance but you can have it as it is essential.

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I hadn't thought about that angle of the exam until just now. Will they allow you check blood glucose during the exam? I know for myself I try to ensure that I eat 3 hours before a major exam so that my sugars have "settled" by the time I sit for it. I check before I go in, but all sorts of wacky things can happen during a long exam between the stress and everything else.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

NCLEX testing centers have to accommodate test takers with disabilities, and diabetes counts. If you tell them about your insulin pump in advance, there shouldn't be problems. They may want to check the pump when you arrive; apparently people have tried to use fake insulin pumps to cheat on exams.

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Maybe get a doctors note just to be safe with specific instructions you have to follow.

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they said i could check glucose and eat snack during breaks, i schedules an afternoon exam time because during the morning my sugars tend to be low and they level out later in the day ...didnt wanna chance a low in the middle of the exam so im eating 30 min before exam to ensure my sugars are a little higher than i usually run , knowing myself i may not wanna take the break i just wanna get it over with

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I am so glad someone finally posted about this to clear this up. I kept meaning to do it, but forgot. I found this article a few months ago and was relieved when I read that insulin pumps are allowed.

Pearson VUE: Page Not Found

I had also been misinformed and was worried about this. It's stressful enough taking the boards - I am just glad this is now one less thing to have to worry about!

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Well, the link didn't work, but here is a copy and paste of it:

Pearson VUE Comfort Aid List

The below items are comfort aids and do not require pre-approval. They will be allowed in the testing room upon visual inspection by the Testing Center staff before brought into the testing room. Visual inspection will be done by examining the item without directly touching it or the candidate and without asking the candidate to remove the item.

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[TD]Comfort Aids that must be provided by Testing Center:

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[TD]Earplugs

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[TD]Noise Cancelling Headphones

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[TD]Tissues/Kleenex

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[TD]Medicine & Medical Devices

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[TD]Bandages

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[TD]Braces- Neck, Back, Wrist, Leg or Ankle Braces

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[TD]Casts - including slings for broken/sprained arms and other injury-related items that cannot be removed.

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[TD]Cough Drops - must be unwrapped and not in a bottle/container.

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[TD]Eye Drops

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[TD]Eye patches

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[TD]Eyeglasses (without the case)

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[TD]Handheld (non-electronic) magnifying glass (without the case)

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[TD]Hearing aids/Cochlear implant

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[TD]Inhaler

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[TD]Medical Alert Bracelet

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[TD]Medical device attached to a person’s body; including but not limited to, Insulin pump/remote, TENS Unit, Spinal Cord Stimulator, EpiPen - TCAs will file an IR if a candidate uses this aid.

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[TD]Medical/Surgical face mask

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[TD]Oxygen Tank

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[TD]Pillow/Cushion

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[TD]Pills - i.e. Tylenol or aspirin must be unwrapped and not in a bottle/container.

Candidates may bring pills that are still in the packaging if the packaging states they MUST remain in the packaging, such as nitro glycerin pills that cannot be exposed to air. Packaging must be properly inspected. (If candidate brings pills in the wrapper/packaging in the testing room TCAs will file IR.)

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[TD]Mobility Devices:

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[TD]Canes

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[TD]Crutches

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[TD]Motorized Scooters/Chairs

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[TD]Walkers

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[TD]Wheelchairs

This can be found on the Pearson website by searching under "Comfort Aids".[/TD]

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I will be taking the nclex in June. Will I need to put this in accommodations for the nclex application or when I sign up with Pearson? Like how do I get them to know I have a pump/they approve of my wearing it. Thanks!

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Hi all,

Realize this thread was started a while ago, however, I have been encountering extreme issues with sitting my professional exams with Pearson Professional Test Centre. I am a type 1 diabetic on a pump.

Personally I feel the way they have been treating me (and by doing a quick Google.. us) when sitting our tests is unsafe discrimination against diabetics.

What worries me is that younger people sit their theory tests through the same company and will no doubt comply with their rules without arguing - this would just add unnecessary stress. If they are anything like me this stress would set their blood sugars off into cayos for the rest of the day and have a negative impact on the test.

I am not happy with this and have decided to take it further. I intend to try collect as many experiances from diabetics/ people suffering other issues as possible and take it to head office to see what can be done about it.

I would appreciate if anyone could contact me with information on their experiences.

Thanks, Lisa

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