Rant/question about NCLEX

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Pediatric ED.

The students in my program were told today for the first time that even though we graduate the second week of June, our school won't send our final transcripts to the BON until the end of August.

We got other bad news in addition, so maybe that helped prime the pump, but we were all really angry. Does anyone else have to wait that long to request to take NCLEX? By my calculations from what I've seen on the boards about how long the state BON usually takes, I won't be taking the NCLEX until 4-5 months after I finish practicum (June to August before the school sends my transcripts, another 4-6 weeks before ATT and then waiting to schedule).

I'm afraid this will affect my ability to get a job/get into a residency program because the places I'm looking at have certain "start dates" an if I don't ATT by those dates I have to wait until the next year.

The end was finally looking so close, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel and it's like they came and took it all away.

Of course they also took this opportunity to totally scare us all out of our minds about failing HESI and NCLEX.

*huge sigh*

/rant

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Have they given any reason to why the long delay to sending in your transcripts? Does seem very unfair

Specializes in Pediatric ED.
Have they given any reason to why the long delay to sending in your transcripts? Does seem very unfair

"We've always done it that way" ...and I'm totally serious about that. But it also the end of all the summer classes. Even though Summer A (practicum) ends in the middle of June

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

That is absolutely unacceptable! There have been studies that clearly show the sooner you test the better the odds of passing. I did both my LPN and RN within 3 weeks of graduating. It is so important to fly under the radar at nursing school and not make waves but this would have me climbing the tower. I'd probably take it to the Dean if necessary. Wishing you luck and please keep us posted.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
"We've always done it that way" ...and I'm totally serious about that.

So what, doesn't mean things can change. They should be looking at the idea that the sooner people sit the exam the better they have at passing which may increase their school cred. Seems a shame they can not look at changing

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

before you get all worked up, get proactive. call one or two of the nurse recruiters at the local hospitals and talk with them. they are a great wealth of information. because they are the primary employer of new grads it is quite likely that they either already are aware of this or they need to be told so they can plan for it. find out what kind of orientation programs they have for new grads and how this information you just received is likely to impact their program. chances are that they will change things around to accommodate this. ask when you should put in an application. i was involved in the hiring of new grads. you don't want to wait until the last minute to be looking for a job. if your state has an interim permit clause like california does where you can practice under the supervision of an rn once you are registered for and waiting to take the nclex you want to make sure you get that temporary licensure status and get working asap after graduation. some places will put you on as a nursing tech until you pass the nclex. you won't know this unless you call and ask.

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
Have they given any reason to why the long delay to sending in your transcripts? Does seem very unfair

The delay is because the state board only accepts final transcripts and that must be the earliest that the college can get them finalized.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
The delay is because the state board only accepts final transcripts and that must be the earliest that the college can get them finalized.

But that is just so lame! Our Director signed off and hand delivered ours to the BON two days after our final exam.

Specializes in Pediatric ED.

Thanks everyone. It definitely does have us all "climbing the tower" but several people in the program have been complaining very loudly about minor things for months so everyone is kind of ignoring us.

They're totally not worried about their pass rates bc apparently they've been 96% and above in past years. But then they came in and told us that every time the NCLEX changes their format, like they are for '09 grads, the national pass rate goes down (yay for us).

I have already contacted over a half dozen hospitals I'd like to work at so I am trying to be pro-active. It's just that I was already worried: you hear rumors of hiring freezes and I'm one of those who would die to get into the very competitive ER (ok I probably could've phrased that better) and now this makes me look like a less appealing candidate. :(

Thanks for all your support, though, I really appreciate it.

1. You are an accelerated BSN student at UF? So was I, last year.

2. Took the NCLEX two weeks after receiving my letter to test, even though I submitted my application one week late - took the test on 7/28/08. Got my results the next day, passed with 75 questions.

So...there is a slight wait period, but you'll need the time to study those NCLEX review books. I was told by my professors to take the test as soon as possible and I have no regrets. I think only 1 person from our class did not pass and it was not a huge surprise.

When I graduated LPN school, we were told that our paperwork would be sent in within 2 weeks after graduation. Those students that still had to make up time, (in addition to the 3 days we were allowed) and had to pay for the additional time, would have theirs sent as soon as they finished making up their time and paid their bill. We all sent in our paperwork to the state knowing that as soon as the school sent their paperwork, we would have authorization to test. 6 weeks later we still were waiting. One of the students called and was told that ALL the paperwork had been held up to wait for the students that had to make up time...and pay. We were fuming. It was finally sent that next week. Once I got my authorization, I was able to schedule within the month.

Can you send in all your paperwork now so you can schedule a date as soon as the school sends in thier paperwork? No matter what just keep studying those questions. If you are able to work, that will also help. I had a few questions about the meds I was using in orientation. Keep us posted on the job situation. Daytonite has great advice on that aspect.

I can't believe it takes them so long to finalize the grades. They have to have our grades in RN school within the week after the final.

Good luck!

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