Ready to Grad..PLEASE help

[j&jmom]

I am going to be graduating in May with my BSN in South Dakota but will be moving to Missouri soon after graduation. I went to the Missouri State Board of Nursing web page and it says you need to apply for a liscense 3 months before graduation...IS this CORRECT? I tried calling but of course their phone has been busy for a week straight.. Has anyone recently graduating and know how I should start going about things??

PLEASE PLEASE anyone HELP

Thanks =)

[rkrs6673]

Hello... I am also graduating in May... My school had us fill out the paperwork in early December and it was sent off then. Our Dean said something about having to get it in early.. I hope this helps

[BeccaznRN, RN]

I do believe that you must apply early for a RN license in Missouri. I didn't go this route (obtaining my initial license in California, although I attended school in St. Louis), but I do remember that our school had everyone fill out applications and get fingerprinted in mid-to-late September. This was for the December grads, and they actually set aside some class time to do this.

Keep trying to contact the board and/or talk to your advisor at your school. My advisor helped me to apply for California licensure, so I would think he/she would be able to help you as well.

[nurse_nan]

Missouri does finger printing and back ground checks that take a long time. Apply early. Most hospitals will let you work as a graduate nurse until you get the results of your boards. Get going on it, time is flying!

[mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP]

We graduated in Dec and our stuff was mailed to MSBON by October'ish. None of us seemed to have any problems.

Fingerprints are done electronically now which saves the massive headache of...oh crap...the thumb print is bad, re-do. What they do want is the stuff early so that if there are items to explain, you have time to explain.

MO allows you to work 90 days as GN awaiting on your NCLEX so you do have that option.

PS, don't bother calling - just email them. I always get a response back from them w/24 hours tops of when I email.....you'll never get thru on the phone.

[kate1114]

We graduated in Dec and our stuff was mailed to MSBON by October'ish. None of us seemed to have any problems.

Fingerprints are done electronically now which saves the massive headache of...oh crap...the thumb print is bad, re-do. What they do want is the stuff early so that if there are items to explain, you have time to explain.

MO allows you to work 90 days as GN awaiting on your NCLEX so you do have that option.

PS, don't bother calling - just email them. I always get a response back from them w/24 hours tops of when I email.....you'll never get thru on the phone.

I moved to Missouri 2004 and received my license through transfer (sorry, can't think of the official name for it). It took a very long time. One thing that I learned is that I had to stay in fairly constant contact with them to get things moving. I called, and had no problem with calling, but something else to realize is that they renew RN licences once every 2 years, and the license renewal forms just went out a couple of weeks ago, so that might be part of the delay with the phones.

Anyway, I would make sure to keep in contact with them. I started the process a few months before I moved and was worried about getting my temp license in time to earn a living :uhoh21: . Each time I called they mentioned it was on a different desk... I hope things have gotten better in recent years, but you might want to keep in fairly frequent contact with them. Good luck!

[nurse_nan]

Yes, dear, apply ASAP. The fingerprinting and back ground checks can take a long time. That being said, if you submit your paperwork in a timely manner, you have a good interim period to get the actual license.