Ridiculous NCLEX Wait Times

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2016

I honestly have no memory of how long it took me to get permission to sit for NCLEX.

That's how important this will be to you someday as well.

TriciaJ, RN · Feb 2, 2016

Back in my day (in Canada) you could write your licensing exam TWICE PER YEAR, in June or in October! And we did it by paper and pencil! And then we had to wait SIX WEEKS for our results! Kids these days have it EASY. You get to PICK when you want to write?! Good lord.

I took it in Canada and the US. BOTH times involved months waiting to take the test. And then weeks to get the results. And yes, 2 full days of paper and pencil because you had to do the WHOLE test.

Don't even get me started about walking uphill in the snow to get there.

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 3, 2016

Is there currently any legislation or movement to shorten the wait in processing new nurse applications?
I just graduated nursing school in December, turned in my paperwork directly to the state board (Virginia) and have been told that they are still working on applications from then. My friend who is registering in California registered at the same time I did and was told that she would get her ATT for the NCLEX in LATE MARCH. People have issues with state boards across the country and I believe it's enough.
We nurses go through hell in nursing school, spend our careers literally cleaning up **** (and love it) but should not have to wait WEEKS TO MONTHS to take an exam that we've been fretting about since we entered school.
What is being done, what can be done, and what can I do?

First you do realize that while states have banded together for purposes of the NCLEX each individual BON must process applications and issue licenses?

As with everything else done on a state level the service will depend upon how much financial resources are devoted. If you are having issues with how quickly your particular state turns things around address your concerns in that direction.

The issuance of any professional license is not like going to apply for a drivers license. Paperwork once submitted has a lengthy process to go through including verification of submitted information, background checks, etc... State BONs are charged with ensuring only qualified individuals are issued licenses to protect public safety.

To get an idea of the case load for your state's BON go to whatever source lists NCLEX RN and LPN results. Look at how many graduate nurses took the board exam for any given year. That is how many applications (not including out of state transfers, etc....) that were processed. Now dig deeper (if you can) to find out staffing for your state's BON office in particular how many are assigned to vet/process said applications.

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Feb 3, 2016

A lot of it depends on your school believe it not. I did a private LVN to RN program and they had our transcripts done very quickly. They then also assisted us with putting together our packets and hand delivered it the the BRN. I graduated mid January 16th? I had applied for my IP, the day it showed on the board website I knew they had processed my paperwork, I then signed up for my nclex took it few 2nd and found out I had passed boards feb 6th.

My ATT showed up after my RN license did.

so, their processes aren't that slow if you are organized and have a school that gets their end of the paperwork together quickly. Probably is also dependent on the state.

Extra Pickles · Feb 3, 2016

My goodness this new grad must feel like she's been stampeded! Probably don't have to completely stomp her to death do we?

FWIW, terrafermata, I agree with the others that this isn't an exceptionally long wait time. You should be using that time to study anyway. Legislation isn't likely to happen because the only people upset by having wait times longer than a couple of weeks are newly-graduated students who are hoping to enter a profession that is already stuffed to capacity with newly-graduated nurses. There's no need for legislation to somehow get you through the application process faster, so it won't happen.

Relax and study. You'll look back on this and wonder what the rush was for!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 20, 2016

I graduated in June, tested in September, and was darn happy to have a couple of months to study and generally have the pressure off. We could get a graduate license and work before testing...can you do that in your state?

DoGoodThenGo · Mar 21, 2016

I graduated in June, tested in September, and was darn happy to have a couple of months to study and generally have the pressure off. We could get a graduate license and work before testing...can you do that in your state?

Most every state if not all provide for Graduate Nurses (GNs) to work with a limited permit long as certain qualifications are met. Problem is finding places willing to hire a GN.

In the days when state board of nursing administered their own exams only once or twice a year facilities pretty much had no choice but to hire GNs. They were almost always short of licensed RNs and even with restrictions a graduate nurse was better than nothing. If you went through orientation but failed the boards that bridge was crossed if or when it was reached.

Formation of the NCLEX with it being given at such frequent intervals has removed much of the need to hire graduate nurses. Why take on someone and spend money on their orientation/residency if there is a chance they will not pass the NCLEX? Why take on someone who comes with restrictions which affect staffing? A place can hire a freshly licensed RN, give her or him several weeks of orientation (if that) then through said nurse into the deep end (nights with only one other RN around and she or he may be the supervisor), and call it a day.

USMCRN2015 · Mar 21, 2016

Most every state if not all provide for Graduate Nurses (GNs) to work with a limited permit long as certain qualifications are met. Problem is finding places willing to hire a GN.
In the days when state board of nursing administered their own exams only once or twice a year facilities pretty much had no choice but to hire GNs. They were almost always short of licensed RNs and even with restrictions a graduate nurse was better than nothing. If you went through orientation but failed the boards that bridge was crossed if or when it was reached.
Formation of the NCLEX with it being given at such frequent intervals has removed much of the need to hire graduate nurses. Why take on someone and spend money on their orientation/residency if there is a chance they will not pass the NCLEX? Why take on someone who comes with restrictions which affect staffing? A place can hire a freshly licensed RN, give her or him several weeks of orientation (if that) then through said nurse into the deep end (nights with only one other RN around and she or he may be the supervisor), and call it a day.

MA def doesn't offer a temp license.

DoGoodThenGo · Mar 21, 2016

MA def doesn't offer a temp license.

At one time apparently MA did, but it seems that state is on the ball and got rid of "graduate nurses" some time ago: https://allnurses.com/first-year-after/what-states-allow-367185-page2.html

New Jersey and some other states seemed to have followed suit. Without doing deep research of all fifty states will amend my "most to all" statement to at least "most" since don't have the time right now to break down the numbers.

Continue to stand by what made sense for facilities and or the profession late as the 1980's or so no longer applies. With the NCLEX given literally at least every business day and results available not long afterwards there aren't many good reasons to hire a new grad without a license. This is in contrast to back in the day when state board exams were often multi-day affairs with pencil and paper given once every six months (or maybe year?) then took weeks to get results back.