NJ BON AKA Dante's Inferno

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Just need to vent! I check for my license number and it is still in pending purgatory! I amgetting sick of calling Newark to see if there is anything missing or anything I still need to do. Save 2 employees who were very helpful, I get cocky responses or sent to voicemail and a DIFFERENT answer from everyone. "It takes 4 weeks, miss."" No it's 25 business days" "They are backed up." "When we have a blue moon and Venus goes retrograde" (ok the last one I made up) They don't seem to care or want to help (again except for 2). It has been 5 weeks since I took the NCLEX and passed. My unemployment is running out and I need a job Tout de suite !! This was an expensive process that is why my license was on the layaway plan(graduated 5/12) Anyway, I wish I knew how to get a real response. I'm considering driving to Newark or at least going to my State Rep and see if they can untangle all of the red tape! Sigh

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Send a certified letter asking for a response in writing. You'll at least get the little green card back indicating that it was received, and you can call the person who signed for it every single day.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Some members have posted that they had success going up to Newark.

However the current turnaround is 6-8 weeks as passing the NCLEX and background check is not the final step. All applications are reviewed by a BoN committee and approved before a license is issued. The committee supposedly meets weekly and sometimes 2-3 times a week.

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Specializes in Pain, critical care, administration, med.

Sounds like NJ hasn't changed!

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I feel your pain. Its been 4wks for me. I check their website daily. I might have to go to Newark if I don't get it soon.

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Some members have posted that they had success going up to Newark.

However the current turnaround is 6-8 weeks as passing the NCLEX and background check is not the final step. All applications are reviewed by a BoN committee and approved before a license is issued. The committee supposedly meets weekly and sometimes 2-3 times a week.

I wish that someone told me 6-8 weeks because then I could be patient about it. The problem is that everyone is on a different page; you get a different answer from every single person up there. In addition, I understand that the background checks and things take time but as I said I did this a bit piecemeal

so the BG was done a couple of months ago. My fingerprints are already in the system because I'm an

LPN. I also get that it is renewal time as well. My main concern is that nobody will give you additional information ie am I missing something from my packet etc. they just tell you to keep waiting and hang up. From my research, I have all of my ducks in a row just need BON approval. I just hate telling potential employers I passed but I dont have my license yet in which case they move on.

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Re: certified letter not a bad idea! Thanks all!

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Driving there will get you the number. Show up early, if they're busy go get some lunch and then go back. I know many of my classmates got their number the same day they showed up in person.

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May go there in person as some have suggested but I highly resent having to hire a babysitter and pay $50 in gas to drive 5 hrs to tell people to do their job, y'know? I mean why does it have to come to that ESPECIALLY when these are the same people who govern how we are to perform our jobs... Guess it is just the good ol' double standard

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
May go there in person as some have suggested but I highly resent having to hire a babysitter and pay $50 in gas to drive 5 hrs to tell people to do their job y'know? I mean why does it have to come to that ESPECIALLY when these are the same people who govern how we are to perform our jobs... Guess it is just the good ol' double standard[/quote']

Where are you coming from that it would be a 5 hour drive? Heck I'd take the kids so they may help you faster to get you out of there quickly. If your background check was done more than 6 months ago it must be repeated.

It took 5 weeks from NCLEX to license when I tested 2 years ago. It 2 weeks from online license number to paper license since they insisted on mailing to street address instead of PO box (my town has no home delivery it's all PO box only )

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Five hours roundtrip from GSP Exit Zero where I live :dead:I mean I love to drive and all but I don't want to devote an entire day especially if there is a good chance of not getting a license number. Taking my 2 year old daughter on that long a drive just for this would be cruel, in my eyes. BG check is still good according to my checklist.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Yes 148 miles each way on the GSP plus traffic is quite a ride, its one thing if they were going to hand you your license and buy you lunch its another thing to kill an entire day driving (ugh!) with no guarantee of success. :eek:

However, if they aggravate you enough, and your daughter is in a foul mood you could always go up there and let her loose in the office until they release your hostage license. :sarcastic::mad:

Hurry up and wait is the hardest thing to do especially when you are so close and waited so long!

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