Need help, Not Insults..

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

..Some of you may know my posts, I posted several threads (the last one being deleted on my request)-due to many members in here that hurled insults my way, by calling me "childish", that i needed "therapy" and implying that i was a bad nurse, having never met me or know anything about me. I swore that i would never come back here because of it. But now i need some help with some questions and i dont know sny other better "resouce" than the people that are here.

My story (in sum)

I tested jan 25th

Everyone in my class (people that tested before me AND after me) have all seen their name online

I called the BRN 4 times and they all say the same thing "you file is complete, and it is being "processeed".(twice , they hung up on my-mid conversation)-

questions

#1 The BRn says you can work on your IP liscence UNTIL you get written notice that you "officially" failed. so, from the time they mail you the noitice, and until you get it in the mail-theoretically, you are not "covered"-so if yo make a mistake during this time, ??? whos responsible for you not working with a current liscense ? --what if theoretically, you NEVER receive it in thr mail ?? mail does get lost. You could, theoretically, work indeffinitely ?? up to you 6 months ??---and if you make a mistake, the BRN will say-"well, we mailed off notification that he failed, so his liscense was null and void-so liabilility falls on him", then person A could say "i never received it in the mail" ??---whos at fault here..----why not just Pull the IP liscence off line IMMEDIALTEy ?? when they mail off the fail letter.

as for me, i didnt want to fall under this scenario, cause being sued is not a good thing right now, so last week-i went on a leave of absence from my work place . even though i need the money, being that i am an ex-cop, i can see this scenario where im working, the BRN mails my letter of failure (ending my ip ) liscense and negating their liability on me, me never getting the letter in the mail, and making a mistake-getting sued and the BRN says "well its not our fault"--and me losing my house and everything that i own.

#2 So it takes at least 30 days to get the fail letter (thats what they said), so when i get it.. I can see what areas i am low in...a person can re-test after 45 days. So that leaves me 15 days to "brush up" on those areas ??--i know some people will say "just wait longer to test"--I need the money, i have to get back to work ASAP, taking in consideration the 45 days i have to wait, coupled with the 30-45 days that it takes for notification that i passed (i know that my second time, i will have to wait along time as well). thats almost 3 months !, i have some savings but not that much--

Im studying right now but it seems like i am spinning my wheels.--

i dont see what i can do differently ??-i cant gain "more knowledge" in 45 days, --i like i said if i had my test result back i could focus in on those areas..but i wont have them until AT least 30 days-so all ican do is assume what areas i need to focus on.

#3 many people say that NCLEX is more about "test taking" strategies than about knowledge. I took a NCLEX review course for a week in frisco, they told us many tips--None of which worked, they said--look out for the questiuon that doesnt seem like the others--I couldnt see that on the test, ?!!..they said avoid words like "never" "all" etc...i dodnt see any of those words...so yeas i did take a course and no i i didnt help me.

My wife is a RN and i have all her books and a bunch of my own-i used them all, I did 100+ questions a day for the last 4 months (while i was in 4th sem on)-it obviously didnt help.

I bought the Kaplan book-(it comes in the mail tommorrow)-everyone swears by it so i thought i would get it.

--i know the first thing some people will say is -"you dont know you failed-you havnt gotten the letter"--i say, no one has ever waited this long (im in california)--i hear stories on here about people waiting a long time to see their name online BUT--they are ALL foreign students with no SSN, i , unfortunatley am american born and have one-everyone in my class has seen their name online.everyone..-its going on 3 weeks now--even the lady at the BRn told me and i will quote" The longer it goes and you dont see your name online-the worse it is"..

So please, if you can offer me suggetions/answers to my questions i would greatly appreciate it.and please dont insult me when im down.

Im expecting a baby next month, i have a 2 year old as well-I NEED to get going for my family, i am stressed beyond, i physically ill-waiting like this, checking everyday at 0500 in the morning for my name to "miracuously" to appear..even though i "know" i failed. but cannot get that little voice of hope out of my soul,

Thank you for any help you guys can offer

JON

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Specializes in Public Health.

JON,

I know it's hard but you have to try to relax. I'm in CA as well and I know many people who passed and had to wait a long time to hear it (citizens). I don't know all the answers to you questions but give yourself a little time to recover from the test. I'm sure you will know one way or the other in less than two weeks. Hang tough and congratulations on your next baby!

Mudget :up:

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I am understanding that in California it can take a full month to get your results. Some people get them in 4-5 days and others a full month. They have no set time frame for results. They must also have all of the appropriate paperwork from your school before they process your test no matter how long that may take. You can try this link to CA license verification:

http://www2.dca.ca.gov/pls/wllpub/wllqryna$lcev2.startup?p_qte_code=RN&p_qte_pgm_code=7800

Every state is different. In TN you can work until you get your pass/fail notice but only for 30 days and during those 30 days you can only precept and cannot give any meds.

When you repeat the NCLEX you get completely different questions. There are some 10-15 different versions of the test. It wouldn't hurt to review the NCLEX books while waiting.

Best of Luck,

I hope you find out very soon. We're all waiting to celebrate with you.

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Specializes in Psych/Rehab/Family practice/Oncology.

Hi Jon. I almost started to hyperventilate reading your post, and I'm slow, deep breathing for you now :). Many moons ago, when we had to wait to get our results by mail (no computer site to look up), I had a similar experience. Of course, we all thought we'd flunked until results started coming in. Everyone had gotten theirs, while I was waiting and waiting. Even though we all addressed our own envelopes, including zip codes (and mine was absolutely correct), they still sent it to a similar sounding town in my state. Of course, you know the postal service goes by "bizzaro" time, and I think I got mine a full 4-6 weeks after everyone else. Oh the agony! I wish I could answer your specific questions, but I have not been in your exact shoes. Also, I do not recall the post that you had removed, but I hope you at least get some encouragement from these current posters. Remember also Jon, there are so many that did not pass even after several tries, but continue to try. I know, that does not help your current family and financial pressures, but I am sending you and your family the very best thoughts, with best luck to you all!

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First of all, you've got to find a way to relax. Being so stressed, and believing that there aren't any answers or solutions to your problems will just bring you further down. Now repeat after me....."It all works out in the end...if it hasn't worked out, it's not the end."

This is not the end of the world. Not even close. My suggestions to you would be to take notes on the chapters in the Kaplan book that tell you how to read the questions. It helps a little. Also, get the Saunder's Comprehensive review book and take the end of chapter quizzes without reading the chapters first. If you get 70% or higher, don't read that chapter. If you score lower--read the chapter for review.

Also, the CD that comes w/ the Saunders is great. It has all these different test modes. I like the study mode b/c you can get instant feedback on your questions. I learned a lot that way.

Some basic things to know....what will kill someone the fastest? Usually airway issues. Practice questions where you have to prioritize which patients you will see first...I remember getting a lot of those (I only just took the test today myself...no garauntee I passed). Know all the basic normal lab values. Make sure you can calculate dosages. For the SATA questions...keep in mind that it's OK to only select two if that's all that you think is right. Know how to eliminate choices so that you can guess better, everyone I know used guessing a lot. Drugs are important, but the things you need to know are so inane that it makes it hard to study. If you have the Lehne Pharmacology book I would recommend reading throught the major drugs classifications in that--he has such a great writing style that it's actually enjoyable reading pharm! Oh, and remember NCLEX land is perfect, always enough time and staffing...it is not the real world and using your real world experience can get you into trouble.

As for work...why not get a job as a CNA? The place you were working at would probably be happy to take you in the interim. Some job is better than none job. It doesn't even have to be health care.

Good luck. All will be fine...you'll see!

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

..Yeah, i agree some job is better than none..I wouldnt mind working as a CNA to provide for my family-but with all the student nurse aids from school AND the other CNA's-theres no vacancy. I used to be a cop, 5 years-i could be one again, my Sgt. would hire me, but he would want me FULL time for a prolonged period, if i got my RN liscense "IF", i would begin work as an RN, immediately-therby "quitting" the force yet again, i wouldnt leave my SGt/ in the wind like that.-I need the money but not at the cost of screwing someone else over.

Yeah, i know airway is priority, that is very basic. BUT when i took the exam the questions was like, who do you see first 1. pt with pole stuck in neck, 2. pt with knife stuck in neck, 3. pt with pole and knife stuck in neck, 4.woman who was screaming , walking around. -this is a little exagerated but you can see my point, there were THREE airway pts that all of themwere critical, !! it wasnt like school where you had 2 good answers and could eventually narrow it down to 1.

My thing is i just want to know, either way--pass or fail, why is it the BRN cannot just "tell you"--what diference does it make ?? its your own livelyhood, whats the big secret ?! in fact why cant you just find ut right after hitting that last question on the keyboard ??---

why is it "processed",

1-the school ensures that ALL of your classess mesh withthe BRn standards-if not you would never have graduated ?!

2-the BRN has cleared you as far as background checks, etc-BEFORE they even give you an ATT code to test ?-

what else has to be processed ?? mabye transcripts, but they told me they had them back on jan 17 -one week before i even tested, ??--

with it being 2008 and the computer generation why does it take so long ?-people say cause its california and we have a lot ot test takers ? well, New york is crowded too, i dont see anyone from new york complaining , just us from CA ?-uggghh so frustrating.

I cannot think of one valid reason why it should take more than 3 days to post online EXCEPT, obviusly that you failed which i beleive they could tell you or at least mail off the "letter" with a week , 2 at most.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I cannot think of one valid reason why it should take more than 3 days to post online EXCEPT, obviusly that you failed which i beleive they could tell you or at least mail off the "letter" with a week , 2 at most.

You're dealing with people on the phone who don't really care if you find out or not. Is the BON close enough that you could go in person?

And check out this post. It will sound familar: https://allnurses.com/forums/f197/california-nclex-exam-results-172638.html

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Jon - I'm with the above posters. You gotta relax or you're going to drive yourself (and probably your family too) absolutely crazy. I'm all for the road-trip to where-ever the BON is located. Go in person. Easier to find out things.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

.I might just do that, The BRN is 214 miles north of where i live...BUT, are they going to give me info in person ?? if so why cant they just do it over the phone ?...if i go all that way..and they tell me "in person" that my file is still being "processed"...the same thing they told me over the phone, it will be ironically funny.

oh 3 more classmates from my class who tested last week got there results today.--so my hope that i "might" have passed has gone to about 2%.---

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
.I might just do that, The BRN is 214 miles north of where i live...BUT, are they going to give me info in person ?? if so why cant they just do it over the phone ?...if i go all that way..and they tell me "in person" that my file is still being "processed"...the same thing they told me over the phone, it will be ironically funny.

oh 3 more classmates from my class who tested last week got there results today.--so my hope that i "might" have passed has gone to about 2%.---

It's harder to look someone (who's polite & genuinely concerned) in the face and tell them "you're being processed" than to blow you off on the phone. I would wait though until it's been over 4 weeks. That seems to be the longest anyone has had to wait.

It wouldn't hurt to wear your police officer uniform complete with the gun....Just Kidding! ;)

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

---DutchgirlRn

...Too funny, that actally made me laugh, havnt had a laugh in a good while, thank you.

Ive decided not to check everyday on the BRN website, im gonna give up on that--i hope it will help reduce my stress.

Since i dont know what areas on my NCLEX i did bad in, and probably wont till its close to my re-test, im focusing on my "weak" areas.

My wife is an OB RN (8 years) and coincidentlly was my highest grade in nursing school, (go figure).on my exam i only had 4 OB questions out of 215..i KNOW i aced all 4 of them..thats why they didnt ask me anymore.

so im good in OB, im good in peds, and psych--I just need meds 9who can study all them meds) and Gen Med/surg--I guess..thats the only area that i think i need help in.---

Still waiting for my kaplan book to come from amazon.com--

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I know it is easier said than done but really try to relax and get out of the house. Spend some good quality time with the family. Ca do their own assessments which is why it takes so long to get the results I know some post they see their name after a few days but majority appear to be weeks rather than days before they get their results and many it is a letter before seeing name on Website.

Not saying you have failed but have you had a look at Suzanne's plan? That does have great success rates

Good luck

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