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I wasn't going to engage in any more of the dialog on this thread but your comment requires a reply. YES! Graduate Nurses should not be failing the NCLEX multiple times. I recently read an article here on "allnurses.com" pertaining to an individual who posted on Feb. 16, 2017 that she failed the NCLEX "11 times". That's right "11 TIMES"! The number of blog sites with people complaining about the methodology behind this testing is horrific. As of last week, a legal action has been filed against the NCSBN, placing them on notice they are being sued in Federal Court under the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d) pertaining to "Testing Malpractice" and the inability to administer its NCLEX examination without fairness or without prejudice. I'm sick and tired of the "hazing" it takes to pass this exam. It is unnecessary and unwarranted and ITS GOING TO STOP! On June 22, 2020 a group of parents, on behalf of their minor children, have sued the Educational Testing Services along with The College Entrance Examination Board over Advanced Placement (AP) and the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results and other conditions. What really pissed me off was the most recent audit report from 2018 revealing the College Board has $1,152,226,448.00 in Cash and Investments. GIVE ME A BREAK! How much to you think the NCSBN is holding onto since it costs $200 per attempt at the NCLEX, followed by individual State BON fees to receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter? These numbers make me sick. These agencies, including the NCSBN are creating unorthodox testing standards intentionally. Testing should not be designed to "trick" a student, it should be done in a manner that allows the student to demonstrate their core knowledge of information they can obtain from resources provided to them with the opportunity for remediation if they fail. When a nursing student fails the NCLEX, they get a pathetic Comprehensive Performance Report (CPR) indicating if you were "Above, Near or Below" the passing standard. That's it! No more, no less. There is NO remediation to know what you did wrong. I fully intend to bring this fight to the Courts, to the media and all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) if I must to finally say...enough is enough. Even during the period of a Pandemic, the NCSBN fully support returning the NCLEX testing standard back to its original format of max vs. min questions with 6 hr. limit. The United States is facing a MAJOR nursing shortage and we keep making it harder and harder for students to reach their goals because of a single testing standard. This is not only ignorant, it is reckless. When the opportunity comes for those of you, who at one time or another, failed the NCLEX at multiple attempts are asked to participate as a "Class Member", if you're to proud to ADVOCATE for a system of change, then please...OPT OUT! I don't want any of you receiving any compensation if you have lost your spine to advocate for change. Shame on you and shame on you "CommunityRNBSN" for insinuating I'm only suing because I failed. It's about principals and values, if you don't understand those concepts as an RN with a BSN...get out of nursing now. I'm not embarrassed by my failure(s), I'm embarrassed by the NCSBN setting such an unorthodox standard and obtuse methodology in testing. Bruse O.

Dear HiddencatBSN & Nursing Professionals, I want to thank each of you for your feedback. Some has been helpful while others simply believed I was "ranting" and "angry". Make no mistake about it, I'm depressed and disappointed. I will make this my last statement here so we can move on to other conditions. Before I go, just a few closing statements. HiddencatBSN claimed in a response that Paralegals should be required to take the same Bar Exam as a recent law student. Unfortunately, I disagree and they are not required to. Some states don't even have formal Paralegal training but are hired by law firms and provided OJT and are simply awarded a title. I wanted to make that distinction. I made that comparison based on the on-going dialog between testing and the various levels of degrees in nursing (for those following along). Second, I appreciate "Nurse Beth" who made the recommendation for "Progressive Independence" along with extended precepting periods of 1-yr. for new nurses. Some of the hospitals in my area have already implemented this form of training upon being hired and maybe it's the NCLEX replacement we need to consider moving into the 21st Century. HiddencatBSN along with Londonflo made arguments to suggest it was my responsibility to know what application I was filling out, particularly for a "Nursing Permit". The PA BON has been riddled with complications and although you both provided me with information on where to find the PA Statute in the PA Bulletin, at the time I completed my application to the PA BON the "link" was broken and not available. In fact, there have been so many complaints against the PA BON here is a link to such one article out of many, including 290 Google reviews not in favor of the PA BON. https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/spl/nurse-licensing-board-pennsylvania-delays-complaints-20190911.html I recall looking back at an email I sent to the PA BON claiming various links on their site were broken or did not even exist when it claimed, "Click on this link" and the link was nowhere to be found. I wasn't able to review the information pertaining to the revoking of a "Nursing Permit" as a GN. Hence, I pray you understand some of the frustration with this system and why I have referred to it as a unorthodox, unwarranted "Hazing". Yesterday, I took my niece to a St. Luke's Care Now facility here in PA. She required two (2) vaccine shots for school (University of Pittsburg) but will be doing this semester via long-distance learning because the school is closed to in-person education. She required proof of a flu and meningitis booster vaccine. Initially, I left my niece go inside without me. She returned almost 8 minutes later to tell me they could not give her the shots. I asked for her to elaborate and she said, "The Nurse claims she can't give a meningitis shot" and more-so, "I can't get them both in the same day!" I was floored. In fact, I gasped. I got on of my car and said, "LET'S GO". When I approached the desk to speak with the nurse I asked for clarification why my niece could not get the shots today and she absolutely parroted the same information to me as she did to my niece. Sarcastically, I said, "You are an RN right?...and you're telling me not only can you as an 'RN' not adm. a vaccine but you're alleging she can't receive both in the same day?" I obtained her name and left SMH! We proceeded to a local CVS Pharmacy and presented the paperwork from her physician ordering the vaccines. Within 20 minutes, a Pharmacy Tech emerged and provided my niece with two(2) vaccines adm. in the B/L UE's. DONE! But according to all of you, the NCLEX exam is all about safety and making sure you can function as a RN with competency. Where is the competency in this example yesterday? The RN claimed she didn't know she could adm. a vaccine yet alone two at the same time. I've now switched from drinking to taking pills after this experience! Lastly, another member here made the statement, "There is a strategy to the test!". What strategy? Making the best educated guess makes you a paramount RN or LVN/LPN? Testing should not be designed to "Trick" someone but to test their core fundamental knowledge of material offered in resources and then provide for remediation when they fail. I've taken hundreds of test...all my life. Seemingly, I didn't fail out of high school. I became and "EMT" followed by "Paramedic" and some of you here didn't even know the difference between the two. I spent 23-yrs in the Army, so yah...I've been tested my entire life and I've learned from mistakes and failures. When you fail the NCLEX, you get a CPR (Candidate Performance Report) claiming your either "Above, Near or Below" the passing standard in various categories. There is NO remediation. How do I know if I got the Viagra question right and know if the client gets the medication stuck in their throat if they will get a stiff neck or not, or make a proper decision regarding Interdisciplinary Team questions, etc... I personally don't want to sue anyone. What I want is a fair system of testing so I can continue my education and start learning all there is to know about nursing. I have a thirst for medicine but I also have a disdain for obtuse testing methodologies. When new EMT's or Paramedic's and even RN students come ride with me on the ambulance, I provide them with no tricks or deceptions. I want them to know how we do things and if things go south, how we can have an AAR (After Action Review) to improve on pt. outcomes. WE ALL LEARN by experience. Congratulations to each and every one of you who passed the NCLEX at some point in your life. But you know how that experience changed your life for the good and maybe the bad. I know I'm not alone, I'm just being that guy who is standing on his chair at the moment potentially causing "necessary trouble" to call attention to a system I believe needs review. I was banking on re-entering the military as an Officer because even after 23-yrs., I want to serve my Country at the age of 47 and be proud of my accomplishments. This NCLEX exam is prohibiting me from achieving all of my goals. Thank you again for allowing me on your open forum to "vent", "rant", "shout", "throw things at home" and get it all out. I have a lot of thinking to do on what I need to do next. If you see me on CNN, Fox, NBC or some other news channel...don't judge...just send me a message that my hair wasn't looking stellar that day and we will agree to disagree. God bless to each of you, stay safe out there and GO VOTE in Nov. Bruse O. (No animals, children or feelings were hurt in the creation of this final message.)

Ahhhh, see...now your tracking. You just proved my point. I needed someone to make that statement. Thank you kindly. This form of reasoning says...just know it for the test and then learn as you go. Every facility/institute or agency has their own set of rules on how to do nursing. I loved when my professor would tell us, "Don't answer that question like how you do it in the real world" and I would say, "But I'm not going to be working on mannequins, I will be working on REAL people" in the real world. There was often awkward silence afterward followed by an under the breathe claim of "I know but just follow the book for now". SMH! Bruse

Dear Londonflo, Unfortunately, when a GN files their request for initial testing to the PA BON, their first request must be completed "on-line". During this process, they offer only a box to check asking the GN if he/she also wants to have a "Temporary Permit" issued while they await testing. It is nothing more than a box to check. Once you check the box, additional fees are added to include the cost of a permit when you pay. Just so we are clear, I was never provided with the information you provided for the PDF link regarding temp. permit restrictions if a student fails the NCLEX. Any subsequent applications to the PA BON must be done by paper format and since the permit was already restricted after my January failure, I found no need to request a permit application. I never completed an actual "Permit" application in the first place procedurally. I resent your comment about lawsuits and resolving disputes. 126+ nursing students would disagree with you regarding my level of advocacy to change a system. Sometimes, it takes legal action to shine a light on a broken system. I'm not the party who created the system, I'm just trying to become a better person and I didn't realize this experience was going to cost me my sole. Bruse.

Thank you for the resource. I see you amended your statement about my attending school in PA. I was going to correct you. Unfortunately, neither my school or anyone I spoke with at the PA BON referenced 49 Pa. Code § 21.7. Temporary practice permits. - PA Bulletin. I never saw it. Epic failure! If the school or state didn't bring it to your attention, the student can not be held liable for such ignorance. We live by the expression, "Ignorance of the law is no Excuse". It is impossible for anyone to know every law for every circumstance. I simply feel the PA BON had an obligation to make certain a student apply for such a permit was "aware" of the PA Bulletin and they did not. If it would have been brought to my attention, I would not have paid the extra fee. My apprehension to take the job rested not on my confidence to pass the test but rather listening to my peers who have taken the test previously. In most instances...people would respond with "Good luck with that one" or "I have no idea how I passed that thing". Some claim, "Better you than me because if I had to take it today, I would fail it miserably". If so much credence is placed on a test to clear you to practice but after you start practicing you default to another form of nursing practice, what is the point? As you know, I spent 23-yrs in the Army. We had a philosophy, "Train as you fight" so why don't we "Test as we practice"? It makes common sense! If someone put a blindfold on me and escorted me to a shooting range and said, "Soldier, I need to shot all the targets to prepare for your role as a Soldier and to defend your Country". If I were to deploy into combat with that form of teaching/testing strategy...GOD HELP ME! I'd be dead before getting a single round off. Bruse

The school I attended in FL was accredited. Where did you find the individual state breakdown of NCLEX testing by chance. Is it on the NCSBN site? My cohort (or class) had approx. 52 students. Many of them transferred into the school after having sever difficulty at Broward College in Coral Springs, FL. Bruse

Fortunately, I understood the message "llg" was trying to convey. And to piggy-back on your conclusion, I was told by a host of nurses not to apply at several different hospitals here in the Allentown, PA area if I didn't have a BSN degree or if I wanted to work in the ER. The hospital I referenced before in an earlier blog post, who offered me a GN position in the ER, was a Stewart Hospital based in Easton, PA and was recently bought out by a larger hospital system. Nurses here in the PA area have been told...get your BSN or "find a new job!". The ASN program I attended in FL was closed voluntarily so it could submit the proper documentation to the FL BON to receive BSN level recognition. It was a fully accredited program. My local community college also closed their Associate Degree program. That was a mistake! However, through all my didactic training and clinical periods, I was never required to be a "charge nurse" or make big decisions pertaining to department budgets, staffing, equipment, Q&A or other pt. care aspects...but I was tested on it! Was that fair? Should a Paralegal be required to take the same Bar Exam a recent law student is required to take after completing law school? Bruse Bruse

Wuzzie, I have no idea of what the pass rate is at my school. The school was based in Coral Springs, FL. I live in PA. So, I'm taking NCLEX-RN in PA. Interestingly, all of those students who took the test in FL, have passed from my class. The school had a great reputation but the nursing program closed shortly after my class so it could provide a higher level of education for a BSN program. Unfortunately, the NCSBN is not breaking down pass/fail rates per state. They are only providing National statistics. Sadly, after reviewing the pass/fail rates of the document provided below, there is a significant problem with the pass rates of this test. Pay attention to the time period of Oct. - Dec. 2019 with a 72.5% pass rate for Associate Degree students. What is most troubling are the numbers for the "repeat" test takers and the overall percentage of failures. Only during one period btwn July - Sept. 2019 did the pass rate exceed 50%. Atrocious and disturbing. Now if someone can find a breakdown by individual states, that would be interesting to see, because I thought this was a National test. If one state is doing poorly do you blame the student...the state...or the school? And remember, I came from a FL nursing program after transferring credits from an on-line non-brick & mortar school. Bruse

I will admit, PA is one of those states that will allow GN's to practice prior to sitting for the NCLEX. I was offered a job at a local hospital in the ER, I was beyond tempted because it was what I went to school for. However, I simply wanted to wait until I passed the test so I didn't become confused based on "textbook" practice vs. "real world" bad habits. It was just personal choice. After I tested in January 2020 and failed, the PA BON sent me my failure notice along with a pleasant "STOP WORKING NOW NOTICE" in the mail claiming the permit I applied for (which cost $65.00) in addition to the standard ($75.00 application fee to test) was being REVOKED! The permit had a 1-yr. expiration date on it and nowhere on the application, the PA BON site or any other resource was I ever informed if I failed the NCLEX, the permit would be REVOKED! So, if I was banking on keeping the ER job, I needed to pass the NCLEX and if I would have left my former employer as a Paramedic, I highly doubt I would have just gotten my job back. So let's assume you leave your job, take a GN position and fail the NCLEX. Who is responsible for the failure? You? NCSBN? Your school? Your professors? Who would now pay my bills after no longer being allowed to continue working in the capacity of GN and must wait 45-days just to retest? Unemployment Compensation? Should they pay my bills? WHO? (And I don't mean to shout...just trying to make a stern point). The fact of the matter is, I made a very intelligent decision not to take the GN position in the ER banking on passing the NCLEX. I would have lost my job, my car, my home and dignity all at the same time. I almost forgot to mention the $23K in student loans I have to repay. Bruse

Finally....someone who gets it! (Standing Ovation).

Wuzzie, Thank you for the inquiries. I promise, I'm no Trump and I will be glad to see him go but this a topic for a different venue. I have done extremely well using UWorld, mostly in the 80% area of testing. I require additional remediation here and there on medications because I'm not well versed to using so many in the pre-hosp. arena. Based on all the med questions, isn't that what a PDR is for? I feel like the NCLEX exam is requiring me to take a test for the entry level of Pharmacist! I'm not a Pharmacist. If I don't know a medication, that is what we do research for before administering the medication. I have also used Saunders Comprehensive Review (8th ED.), Exam Cram for NCLEX Review followed by the 5-wk NCSBN study plan. I can't reiterate how the questions I was exposed to on the NCLEX had no reflection on all the studying and review. I don't want to violate any particular rules or regulations but the NCLEX asked me about several medications (at least 5) that I recalled after the test. I went to my car, wrote them down and then went home to my resources. NONE...I mean NONE of those medications were even discussed or listed in any of the resources I utilized. How am I suppose to take a test when material isn't even covered on the exam? I'm just asking? Bruse

Hoosier RN "Boards for licensure are to help ensure public safety at a basic level, not to make people feel bad or feel like failures". I just took a handful of prilosec to swallow that statement. Why are nurses claiming to be suicidal yet along depressed? That was one of the topics Allnurses.com elected to address right? Depression and the nursing practice. So when your entire career is banking on the passing of a single test so you can provide for your family, make ends meet, feel resolved after thousands of dollars of students loans you have to repay...but can't pass a manipulative test, how is a licensure suppose to not make people feel bad or like a failure. Do you even know what it was like to have to tell my peers, my former professors, my employer, my family and friends that I failed for the "second" time. Do you have any idea what that feels like? Bruse

Wuzzie, I'm sorry! I thought nurses were suppose to be advocates? I almost remember eating and regurgitating that statement all throughout school and clinical's. Did I fail to understand what advocacy means? I was never implying that a test wasn't necessary, what I'm implying is the testing methodology. Since when do SATA questions demonstrate someone is competent enough to achieve a nursing license? OK, OK...so I can select 2 out of 3 correct answers. So I'm an incompetent and bad nursing student? I guess since some people claim to fail this test sometimes 5-times in a row and still go out in the world and practice medicine that's OK also, who cares how many times you fail or what it does to you as a person (emotionally). I don't have a "threatening" demeanor, I have the will to support a cause because the system needs to change. It has gone on long enough. When I log into a site like this and someone here (who I read about) claims they want to leave nursing and are even "suicidal" because of nursing...THAT is a problem. For anyone who turns their back on supporting a change to this system, I say this to you...SHAME ON YOU! emtpbruse

Dear Londonflo, I did receive the testing feedback from the NCSBN on my NCLEX failure performance. WOW!, it was stellar, I did worse than I did the first time...even after using the NCSBN's learning exams / 5-week study material. That was 5-weeks wasted! Effective today, I filed notice to the NCSBN in Chicago, IL they have been issued a "Writ of Summons" pertaining to my efforts to bring a "Class Action" lawsuit against the testing methodology. ANY existing Graduate Nurse or existing Nurse who failed the NCLEX 2 or more times will be allowed to enter the action as a "Class Member" and receive compensation. I'm no longer going to tolerate this behavior when we need nurses on the front lines. Nursing students who go through vigorous schooling following by peer precepting when they get hired. If your an unsafe nurse, THAT is the time to correct the actions while you are working with an experienced nurse. That way...YOU LEARN from your mistakes. I fail a test and learn nothing! In Pennsylvania, we have RN programs consisting of diploma programs, Associate Degree Programs (ADN/ASN) and BSN programs. All of which you can complete PRIOR to sitting for the NCLEX. However, all of these program students sit for the SAME NCLEX test. Someone with a BSN is more at an advantage than someone with a ADN/ASN degree vs a diploma certificate. How is this form of NCLEX testing even remotely fair??? I was asked a host of questions on the NCLEX placing me into the role of "Charge RN" and needing to make decisions regarding staff, policies and budgets. How is that relevant to my ASN degree? I'm not a nurse manager. I didn't get exposed to those educational resources. I implore all of you nurses to advocate for this legal action. You are ADVOCATING for change. My comments here will no doubt be modified and that will be another legal matter I will contend with. Respectfully, A competent Paramedic but not competent enough to be an RN!

DEPRESSION...BLAHAHA. Let's talk about depression. You work yourself to death just so you can go to college to better yourself and your education. You forfeit commitments to family, vacations and reduce your work schedule just to study, do clinical's and meet deadlines. You eventually graduate from a nursing program after thousands of dollars in debt and then find yourself struggling to pass the NCLEX exam...which costs another $200 for each attempt followed by additional application fees to your individual state's BON. Oh, and the criminal Hx check each time you need to re-register also. I have failed the NCLEX 2-times and my level of depression is beyond what ANYONE can fathom. I've actually come to hate my decision to become a nurse. Trying to get into the club of nursing is like a "HAZING" an UNORTHODOX HAZING and I'm sick and tired of jumping through hoops. I work as a Paramedic and I can do more than a nurse can do...yet, by failing the NCLEX somebody wants to stand up and shout its all about "safety...safety...safety...". Do you want me to start a laundry list of RN's I've seen in practice who have demonstrated HORRIBLE safety and even based on negligence have KILLED someone???? DO YOU? I can provide a list! I'm in and out of these nursing home daily, I could write a book if you want? So DON'T preach to me about SAFETY and NCLEX style questions of SATA. It's time the NCSBN is sued in a class action lawsuit to stop the madness!