Question about NCLEX-PN

Those are some good questions and points. I spent 18 months in school for my LPN. Right before graduation they had us fill out our paper work to apply to take the boards. We were told then that they would do a background search on us. They didn't tell us that before we went to the school. So some of the students had DUI's and misdemeanor charges. The head person at the school had to then write a recommendation letter to the state regarding letting that person take boards and so on. I would make better sense to do the background checks before you entered school rather than making you spend all that tuition money and spend all those months of hell in school and then tell you.

Anyway, if you don't pass you can take the test again. I believe it is 3 times. After the third time you have to take a refresher course. (I think) Hope this answered your question.

Thread moved to NCLEX Discussion Forum for more responses.

The NCLEX is a licensure exam to demonstrate proficiency. If you don't go through and graduate from a PN program you're most likely not going to be able to pass it. Besides, it is a law that you be a graduate of an accredited RN or PN program to be able to sit for the NCLEX. Besides, I certainly would never want a nurse near me who has never had the appropriate training.

Nursing is not the only profession that requires proficiency exams to be licensed. Physicians, pharmacists and teachers, among other professions, do as well. My daughter is a school teacher and she had to take and pass 2 different PRAXIS exams so she could be licensed to teach math and science.

After you graduate and get your Authorization to Test from your state you can schedule your test. If you fail it, you can take it again. I think that different state BON's have different rules regarding how much time must be between your tests and how many times you can take it without taking a refresher. You'll need to check your state BON website for that info.

Even with passing and graduating from your program you'll need to study and review a lot for the NCLEX. It's not meant to be an easy test. In fact, nursing school isn't all that easy.....as it shouldn't be...

We were told then that they would do a background search on us. They didn't tell us that before we went to the school.... . I would make better sense to do the background checks before you entered school rather than making you spend all that tuition money and spend all those months of hell in school and then tell you. .

At my PN school, we were required to have a local background check done before we were even accepted. We were told up front that a more thorough background check would be done toward the end of the program.

In the state of Ohio, anyone who works with children is required to have a federal background check..... nurses and many other professions fall under the background check rule..... When I worked in the schools, they did a background check on me when I started.... that was 10 years ago.