I'm writing for advice and also to find out if anyone has experienced what just happened to me.
I sat for NCLEX on June 19, 2008 in Pennsylvania and found out the next day a license was issued in my name. I was so excited to finally be an RN, but six days later I received a call from the State saying that they issued my license in error. The woman explained to me that I did not pass the exam, however, the person keying in the information made a mistake and issued me a license.
I am so devastated over the news and scared to sit again. Not to mention I sat for the entire exam (265 questions).
1. Has anyone ever experienced this before?
2. Is there any recourse I can take to assure this doesn't happen again?
3. What happens to my license, will it say revoked, inactive...?
If anyone has any insight or can help me to sort out what just happened, please advise
I think I would want some answers too! I'm sorry this happened to you, and hope it is resolved soon, with a satisfactory explanation as to what happened and what they are doing to correct it.
This has to have been the Pearson site that made the error. I dont know that the board of nursing can do anything for you because they get their information from pearson to issue licenses. However, i dont know that i wouldnt contact a lawyer and make sure if i did have to retest that every single bit of that cost was absorbed by pearson, along with some mental anguish and pain and suffering. We all know how physically and emotionally draining that test is.
Dont let it drop, if you have to retest go ahead and do it, because simply put if pearson doesnt pass you you dont get a license. But do find out what legal recourse you might have. Lost wages, lost time, travel time and expense to the testing facility. etc. Get evey penny.
Actually the State is taking responsibility for this error. Pearson failed me on the exam, but someone on the state side typed a number next to my name that issued the license. It wasn't recognized until my file was QA'd (six days later) a second time that this mistake happened. This is a huge mistake for anyone to make, even thought I know people are human. The State is pretty confident that no cost will be absorbed for re-testing since the exam is issued on a National level and the error happened at the State level.
I don't even know when I can test again, I heard a rumor from one of my classmates (who tried to re-schedule her exam) that the testing sites are booked until September.
While I'm very upset about what happened to me, I would like to assure this doesn't happen to someone else.
And more importantly I want my license to be corrected so I won't have to explain the reason for my license being suspended, inactive or revoked (whichever the State chooses to do) for an error that wasn't my fault.
Failing NCLEX would have been better than actually seeing an RN license on my table everyday (that I have to return).
OMG, I have never heard of this fiasco happening to anyone before now. I am so sorry you are going through this; it's inexcusable on the part of the State. Not sure what you meant by "The State is pretty confident that no cost will be absorbed for re-testing since the exam is issued on a National level and the error happened at the State level"....I'd be thinking that ALL the costs would be borne by the State, absorbed by the State, and NO cost to you. Maybe that's what you meant (boy, I hope so).
Me, I'd be grabbing myself an attorney who would be requesting compensation for lost wages (you resigned from a job to take a new job, that obviously you cannot fill). And any other costs associated with this disaster.
They can't be forced to give you a license when you did not pass the exam, but they sure can be made to pay for the error.
I am truly thankful that I hadn't heard of anything like this (nor the power outages, etc) before I took my exam! Had I, I don't know if my nerves would have let me survive.
OMG, I have never heard of this fiasco happening to anyone before now. I am so sorry you are going through this; it's inexcusable on the part of the State. Not sure what you meant by "The State is pretty confident that no cost will be absorbed for re-testing since the exam is issued on a National level and the error happened at the State level"....I'd be thinking that ALL the costs would be borne by the State, absorbed by the State, and NO cost to you. Maybe that's what you meant (boy, I hope so).
Me, I'd be grabbing myself an attorney who would be requesting compensation for lost wages (you resigned from a job to take a new job, that obviously you cannot fill). And any other costs associated with this disaster.
They can't be forced to give you a license when you did not pass the exam, but they sure can be made to pay for the error.
I am truly thankful that I hadn't heard of anything like this (nor the power outages, etc) before I took my exam! Had I, I don't know if my nerves would have let me survive.
Best of luck to you.
What I meant was the State is not willing to pay for the re-test and it can't just be waived since the Vendor (PearsonVue) administers the exam nationally. This would mean the State pays the Vendor...and that's not going to happen. I still have to Legal and the Secretary of the State about this, so we'll see what happens and I'll keep you updated.
I did get some legal advice and it's unfortunate for me that not much can be done. Human error happens and since I'm the only case in years, there's no negligence or class action that can be enforced legally. Just because I'm sad and upset (and of course without a job right now) doesn't justify a suit on a legal circuit.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
If anyone has any insight or can help me to sort out what just happened, please advise
Thank you from Philadelphia
I'm so sorry this has happened!
We urge you to initiate contact with your state's BON for more definitive answers to the questions you've presented. Again, I'm sorry this has occurred.
RedSox33RN
1,483 Posts
I think I would want some answers too! I'm sorry this happened to you, and hope it is resolved soon, with a satisfactory explanation as to what happened and what they are doing to correct it.