NJ Board of Nursing - What the Heck?

U.S.A. New Jersey

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Specializes in Surgical/Stepdown, Home Care.

So I know that the NJ BON is notoriously bad. My husband graduated from nursing school in 2009 and had a six week wait, and my mother-in-law graduated in 2010 and waited two months from start to finish. Knowing this, I sent my paperwork in back in April. I tracked it as being received by April 16th. Check was cashed April 30th. Paperwork was entered into system May 14th. I was expecting about a two month wait once everything was received, and I was prepared for it.

It has now been three months, and I still have yet to receive my fingerprinting paperwork. I somehow got my ATT at the end of June, took my boards a few days later and passed, but they still haven't processed the fingerprinting paperwork. I've repeatedly called because I start my RN job on the 25th, and the BON just keeps saying that they've implemented a "new procedure" that makes them even slower than usual (awesome time to implement it, when everybody's graduating).

It's so frustrating, because I know that I'll have a wait for scheduling my fingerprinting, and then it'll be weeks after that is received by the BON before I get my license. I expected it to take a couple of months; now I'm looking at four (an optimistic outlook) or five months at least that it will take to get my license. I got a great job at a trauma center in south Jersey, and I'm not going to be happy if I lose it because NJ can't send out fingerprinting paperwork.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to light a fire under these people? I don't understand why it is so difficult to send out one bloody letter that says, "you can schedule your fingerprinting." To still be waiting for that after three months is asinine. I'm so frustrated. :madface:

Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

I've heard that this is their slowest summer yet because of the transition to the new, automated system.

When you get your fingerprinting paperwork, if there are no appointments available, try walking in. The whole fingerprinting process takes about 30 seconds, so they usually have some time to take walk-ins- just be willing to wait there for a little bit. It's sent electronically, so I don't think it takes that long for the BON to get it.

They must have changed the system at the BON because last year I received the fingerprinting paperwork just a few weeks after I sent my paperwork- but I couldn't get my ATT until it was done.

So I know that the NJ BON is notoriously bad. My husband graduated from nursing school in 2009 and had a six week wait, and my mother-in-law graduated in 2010 and waited two months from start to finish. Knowing this, I sent my paperwork in back in April. I tracked it as being received by April 16th. Check was cashed April 30th. Paperwork was entered into system May 14th. I was expecting about a two month wait once everything was received, and I was prepared for it.It has now been three months, and I still have yet to receive my fingerprinting paperwork. I somehow got my ATT at the end of June, took my boards a few days later and passed, but they still haven't processed the fingerprinting paperwork. I've repeatedly called because I start my RN job on the 25th, and the BON just keeps saying that they've implemented a "new procedure" that makes them even slower than usual (awesome time to implement it, when everybody's graduating). It's so frustrating, because I know that I'll have a wait for scheduling my fingerprinting, and then it'll be weeks after that is received by the BON before I get my license. I expected it to take a couple of months; now I'm looking at four (an optimistic outlook) or five months at least that it will take to get my license. I got a great job at a trauma center in south Jersey, and I'm not going to be happy if I lose it because NJ can't send out fingerprinting paperwork.Does anybody have any suggestions on how to light a fire under these people? I don't understand why it is so difficult to send out one bloody letter that says, "you can schedule your fingerprinting." To still be waiting for that after three months is asinine. I'm so frustrated. :madface:
I graduated in may and the BON had all my paperwork by May 18th. I just received my fingerprinting paperwork a week ago. Still no ATT!! I have called the board several times and the only thing they tell me is "call back in two weeks if you haven't gotten your ATT". So frustrating! I would also love to know what it takes to light their fire. I am ready to start working :/

Call the acting director of the Consumer Affairs and speak to whoever answers the phone there. I Have done this twice. Once after waiting many weeks for a clinical practice letter and once after waitng 7 weeks for my ATT. Both times I had amazing results. Make sure you stress the frustration youve had with dealing with the BON. If enough of us start to call maybe something will be done. Just last week I sent a letter to both the Consumer Affairs dept. and the Gov. I really hope somebody tries to fix the problem. It has been 3 weeks since Ive passed my boards and I also have a job lined up, but once again I am waing on the board of nursing. I need my license in hand. I will probably be calling the acting director again, very soon.

Specializes in Surgical/Stepdown, Home Care.

I got a real nice guy at the BON finally, and I sat there on the phone as he typed up the letter to "light the fire" under the fingerprinting department, and sure enough, my fingerprinting paperwork arrived today. I have to drive an hour and a half to a testing center that had an opening tomorrow (the ones near me were booked well into August), but hey, at least it's getting done. My job, fortunately, has a few new grads going through the same thing, so they're just paying me the "nurse tech" rate ($10 less than the RN rate, but I'm just thankful they're not rescinding the job offer), and I can't pass meds (which hopefully, the license will be up by the time I get off of orientation).

The same guy said that the governor had instituted major cuts at the Division, and that they'd implemented this new procedure that split up the application into "a million pieces for different people to process." What a pain.

My husband graduated in February - paperwork was submitted end of March, beginning of April, and he still has not received a date to take his test from the BON. He has received his fingerprinting paperwork, but that is it. He has called serveral times and been told they have everything and he is on the list. Is this normal - it is now August - how long should this take - he needs a job!!!

Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

When I graduated in '06 we had to have our fingerprints done prior to the ATT. Good luck!

Specializes in Pediatric Home Health.

I took my NCLEX-RN almost 4 weeks ago and NOTHING!!! Many of my friends out of state took their boards after me and are already licensed. Good job NJ BON :-/

Specializes in Surgical/Stepdown, Home Care.

Yeah, I ended up getting my application sent back after I'd taken my NCLEX and completed my fingerprinting because I didn't check a box. I finally drove up to Newark last week to the BON and I counted nine - yes, NINE - cubicles dedicated to the BON. However, the girl at the front desk was on point and I received my license number on the spot.

So if you can go to Newark, that seems to get things moving faster FWIW. But what a nightmare - four months total from application to licensure.

Specializes in Pediatric Home Health.

Maybe I should drive to Newark. I called a few days ago and the rep on the phone said if I don't get my license by September 3rd then I should call. Sept 3rd will make 7 weeks!!! They have got to be kidding me! If I don't see progress by this Wednesday coming up, then I'm paying them a visit. Sheesh, after I took my NCLEX-PN 3 years ago, I received my license in the mail 11 days later!

Specializes in Pediatric Home Health.

Alibee, did you get a job already? I find it difficult to apply to the online applications because some will not proceed without a license number. Ugh!

Specializes in Surgical/Stepdown, Home Care.
Alibee, did you get a job already? I find it difficult to apply to the online applications because some will not proceed without a license number. Ugh!

I did! I already worked as a CNA at the hospital I'm a nurse at now, so that was an easy transition. However, I know that Cooper, Atlanticare, South Jersey Regional, and Kennedy (south jersey hospitals) all let you apply without a license #.

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