Re: Questions for Suzanne4

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Please post all questions to me here, unless they contain private information that cannot be posted to the public. It is almost impossible for me to look at every single thread on a daily basis. This will make it much easier for me, and for you to get a specific response. This will also help keep the forum much neater, and easier to find things.

Hi Suzanne,

I was directed to post on this thread because you might know something about this topic...

I am exactly 54 days (yes, i'm counting) from graduating from a BSN program and have just finished interviewing for jobs at the hospitals in my area. They told me that they want the new nurses to start orientation by July 1st and asked me when I thought I would get my RN license. I explained to them that I had already sent in my application to the California Board of Nursing (including live-scan fingerprints) and that I had to wait until my school sent my final transcript to the Board and that then the Board would give me the go-ahead to take the NCLEX.

The California Board of Nursing states on its website that it can take up to 4-6 weeks for them to process your application after they receive your final transcripts...so, say I graduate May 12th...grades are due to the registrar probably by May 16th...my nursing school will hopefully send off a transcript by May 19th....Board of Nursing gets my transcript May 22nd....and 4-6 weeks later brings us to then end of June or early July (which is when they want me to start working as a licensed RN). So best case scenario, I can take the NCLEX in late June...and then add some more time till I get the actual license!

The hospitals here do not hire until you are licensed and are not allowing any new nurses to practice on the interim permit. One of the nurse managers suggested that I take the NCLEX before graduating from nursing school (she said that she knows someone who did it). One of the other nurse managers in the room said that he knew someone who had done this as well but that this person's license was different and said something like "non-graduate RN"...basically he said they don't recognize that you have graduated from a BSN. He didn't know if this was something you could change later after the Board of Nursing receives your final transcripts or if they would issue you another license at all.....

So, has anyone else heard about taking the NCLEX before graduating from nursing school? And if so, what are the negatives to doing so?

I was a little surprised that the nurse managers (who I assume have been doing hiring somewhat frequently for years now) didn't really know about this stuff. July 1st seems like a pretty early start date for new nurses graduating in the middle of May. I'd love to start working right away (got plenty of loans to pay off) but I'm not sure it is even possible by July 1st.

Any advice/information would be really helpful. Thanks!

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Being able to test before graduating is only specific to one or two programs, not the norm for most. Adn they are not speaking of normal BSN programs, neither of them. And they are also speaking of one person each that they knew. And not what is happening now that would include you.

If you are graduating from a program in CA, then your name is on a roster that is sent to the BRN before you graduate and you will be able to test before they receive your final transcripts. This is another reason that CA does not participate in early results as they are unable to release a license or even notify you that you have passed until they have a completed file with you.

If you did not graduate from a program in Ca, then it will be impossible for you to make the July deadline.

Most new grad programs actually start in August in CA.

Best of luck to you.

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Hi Suzanne4,

I went over this question in an ATI practice test but it doesn't have the rationales so i am hoping you could give me the rationale. thanks in advance.

Q: client with chronic renal failure has LABs:

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Ms. Suzanne,

Can you forward me to a link outside or withing allnurses.com that gives me a step by step process from applying for NCLEX to the actual hiring from hospitals.

I will graduate on APril 11,2008. I know I have so much to go through compared to most people here. I am totally oblivious to the process.. Thank you again..

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