RaycerX

Hi MedSurg32RN, No, my step-daugther is not practicing in her home country (the Philippines). She's in the San Fran area married and with a 9-year-old child where she's essentially been a stay-at-home mom for the last year. She's taken the NCLEX two times in the last 10 months. I also thought it would be a good idea for her to start working while she studies for the test, but for some reason she didn't want to do that. Maybe she thought she'd just whiz bang through it or something. I did recommend that she not wait so long to take the test a third time. While things are still fresh she should get back in there and try again. For what it's worth.

Thanks for the updated info on passing rates for the NCLEX for 2009. Very helpful and interesting. I noticed that the pass rate is much lower for foreign educated students when those who failed the test take it for a second time. Anyone know why that would be. Seems a little disheartening to see that. Ray

Thanks for telling your story NurseGloria. I find it very disturbing that only a year or two ago nursing jobs seemed to be a dime a dozen and now it's looking like any other type of job out there. What happened? Budget cuts? Did hospitals fill all the needed positions? I find this worrisome for all the current students who have been told the demand for nurses is going to go on for a long time to come. In any case, I hope you find something soon. Is there another area you can go into that your extensive background in nursing can take you. Things are tough for a lot of people, but I never suspected nurses would be feeling the pinch too. Ray

Foxygirl, Your problems with the NCLEX and the others you know of who've failed the test begs the question; has the test become too hard? Could there be a little min-conspiracy to make the test so hard that a lot of people have to retake it thus filling the coffers of the various states. If you're able to competently do your job and even get kudos from co-workers it really makes me wonder if I should put my tin-foil hat on.... Ray

Thanks for the advice everyone is giving. I'll make sure to pass it along to my step-daughter. It's interesting that 45% of International students fail on the first try. I saw some stats in another thread stating that 85% of people taking the NCLEX for the first time here in the States pass. I wonder if there are cultural reasons for this. My daughter is fluent in English so I don't think it's a language thing. In any case, she's going to have to put her nose to the grindstone and study in a more proficient way. And also not get worked up when exam day comes. I think that's been part of the problem, as well. Ray

Thanks for your quick reply. I know that my step-daughter took the Kaplan course and has been plowing through thousands of questions from various review books. I can't tell you her study methods though since I'm not around to see how she does that part of the preparation. I'm glad that you stated that the NCELX is the same from state to state. That's what I thought originally, but then my wife was saying the test was different in Illinois than in California. That didn't make sense to me, but I couldn't be sure until now. Anyway, she's going to have to do some soul-searching and figure out where she's going wrong. I suspect, too, that the test has gotten harder over the years because I have several relatives who've been nurses for quite a long time and they are definitely not the brightest bulbs in the room. Quite the opposite, in fact. Well, who knows. Maybe the third time will be a charm. Thanks, Ray

I'm asking this question because my step-daughter has taken, and now failed, the NCLEX in California twice. She's beside herself and can't understand why this is happening. She graduated at the top of her class in the Philippines, passed the Philippine board on the first try and spent months studying for the test in California. She was even scoring around 70-75% on the Pearson practice exams she's been taking for weeks now...and still. Anyway, I just had to ask if she'd be better off taking the test in another state (like my state of Illinois) if the test was, in fact, that much harder. The blow to her confidence and the cost for retaking the exam over and over again is getting to be a bit much for her. Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks, Ray

I've posted in another thread about this same issue, but this thread also seems to be relevant to my problem. I have a step daughter from the Philippines who just graduated from nursing school and is looking to practice in Illinois. She needs the CES, the TOEFL (maybe) and the NCLEX. Does anyone know how long each step takes if she wants to practice in Illinois. Does she need the CES and TOEFL before she can take the NCLEX. Is she better off doing this stuff in Wisconsin (where she would be only 40 minutes from us). She also has a six-year-old son which I know throws a whole new nugget into the mix. Thanks for any help you might have. Ray

Thanks for all the helpful comments regarding my step daughter. I'll look at all the suggestions and see what works best for her situation. With this thread moving to the International forum I'd be interested in what route other nurses from the Philippines took to get to the States. For some background info; I'm an American (born and bred) and my wife is a Filipina. She received her green card when we got married 2.5 years ago. She's not in nursing though. I don't think I mentioned this before, but my stepdaughter also has a 6 year old son which I know complicates manners. Any suggestions here would be great. Besides her daughter wanting to come to practice in the States my wife also has a sister (with two daughters) who also just graduated from nursing school and will most likely use an agency to come here. She thinks that will be the most uncomplicated way to do it. In any case, my head is spinning with all of this activity and strategizing we're trying to do to prepare for all these family members coming over in the next year. Did I mention she has a son too (also in nursing school....... :-) This is an exciting time for us, but also very stressful as we try to figure out how best to do things. Having a very limited budget doesn't help much either. We'll figure out a way though. And hopefully, the best way. Thanks for all everyone's input and suggestions, in any case. Ray

Hello Everyone, I have a step daughter who just finished a four-year degree in Nursing in the Philippines. She wants to work in the States, but has a couple of questions about where she should take her NCLEX exam. It's mostly about waiting times she's concerned about. 1) She has the option of taking the NCLEX in Guam or Saipan but... 2) ...she'd prefer to take it here (in the U.S.) if the processing times won't be too long. It would be most convenient for her to take the test here in Illinois (Chicagoland) but she's heard that the times to get a test date and for her to get the results are very long (months and months). Does anyone know how long it does take get these things in Illinois. Is it as long as she's heard. Would it be faster if she took the test in Wisconsin or Michigan? Would it allow her to then practice as a nurse in Illinois? Sorry for all the newbie questions. I'm having a hard time finding the answers elsewhere. Thanks for your help. :) Ray