NEED help, advice, suggestion, comments please!

[Teejaysmomma3, BSN, RN]

Hi, this is my second post here and hopefully someone will be kind and I will get response/comments this time....

Here is my situation, I am a foreign educated nurse, graduated in 2009, never worked as a nurse and due to some personal and financial issues, I was not able to take the NCLEX right away. I just took and passed the NCLEX on my second try early this year, Jan 2016.

I reside here in TX but is licensed in Hawaii. I am now in the process of endorsing over to TX. I submitted my application and completed all the other requirements needed for endorsement. I have not heard from TX BON yet. My question is, do you guys think that TX BON will require me to take a refresher course before they issue my license? On their website, one of the requirements to be eligible for endorsement is either you have worked as a nurse within the past 4 years OR have taken and passed the NCLEX within the passed 4 years. Other than that they require you to take a refresher course.

I originally applied to take the NCLEX here in TX but due to the fact that I graduated more than 6 years ago and that I have never worked as a nurse, they wanted me to re-educate! That's why I looked at all of the other states and found Hawaii which does not make the length of time you've been out of school or if you have worked as a nurse as a requirement to take the NCLEX.

Is there anyone here in the same situation or have been in the same situation as I am? I would be really glad to hear from you and how it all turned out!

I am just worried and I am excited to FINALLY start my career as a NURSE! I waited almost 7 years and now I am ready but it seems like it is taking forever!

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Seven years covers a lot of changes in most any profession, but most certainly in Nursing. If I were you, I would take a refresher course for my own safety & protection.

As to the Texas BON requirements, only they can answer your question. Have you looked at the BON website?

[Teejaysmomma3, BSN, RN]

You are absolutely right. I myself really want to take a refresher course. I am just not sure whether to take the regular refresher course or the FENS refresher course and which one will the TX BON require me to take. I guess for now I just need to patiently wait until I hear from them.

On their website it says...

[h=3]Requirements[/h]Per Rule 217.5 (a) To be eligible for licensure by endorsement, you must have:

1. graduated from an approved licensed practical nurse/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) or registered nurse (RN) program
   
2. taken the appropriate US exam, and
   
3. have either worked in nursing or have taken the US NCLEX® exam sometime in the previous four years prior to the application
   

[LeChien, BSN, RN]

I agree with the PP, I would take a refresher just for my own peace of mind. Think about your patients too...if I was a patient I wouldn't want someone who graduated almost a decade ago and hadn't worked as a nurse to be taking care of me.