Taking NCLEX in two weeks! But I have acrylic nails...

joannamdv · Jan 30, 2012

I do realize this. It's been drilled in my head since before I even started nursing school. I only got them for the sake of getting them one last time before I start working. I haven't had fake nails since I started nursing school. It was just to pamper myself which I thought was well deserved after graduating :)

littleone17 · Jan 30, 2012

I took the NCLEX last week having zebra nail art on and they didn't mind. But depends on the staff at the Pearson vue office where you will be taking your test. I agree with you, bring some acetone and cotton just in case.

Last week when I took it I even brought with me those oversized emo glasses with me, I had my eye doctor put prescription lenses so that I can use it as an accessory more. But the lady at pearsonvue said I had to take them off during my test, it was a good thing I brought an extra pair of smaller reading glasses with me that day,lol and yes they allowed me to wear them.

mz.snuggly1 · Jan 30, 2012

I would take them off! Because you should be more focused on the test than your nails! This is a big test and you can always get your nails done which is cheaper than taking the test over........Oh and don't wear big glasses! lol! (WOW! never heard of the eyeglass one)

Raven Sierra, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2012

Glasses' rims too big?? That's crazy...but I guess they've had people try to cheat with those. I will be wearing contacts, then, as my glasses are thick (but cute!). I'm blind when reading without them, though. Not good for test-taking.

OP, if the nails will be distracting you or worrying you, I'd get them taken off and then re-done. Or get a pedicure instead. My guess is the test will be enough stress without the added worry of whether your nails are okay with Pearson Vue.

Lucy12784 · Jan 30, 2012

I think eventually everything worked out for her and she was able to test, I went in before it was settled but I think I saw her when I was coming back from a break. I did hear the proctor say something like she had to take them off and have them examined before the test. I thought it was stupid too, there were a few of us in the waiting room watching this and when this woman about broke down into tears because she was so frustrated someone else stood up and said there has to be a way for her to test and told them that if she wasn't told about glasses then its not her fault! Kudos to that person for sticking up for that poor woman!! And yes, they did mention the fact of the possibility of notes being written along the rims and when she takes them off to rub her eyes or something she could read them but if you check them out before she tests it shouldn't have been this big of a problem. I hope she called or wrote in to complain, and I hope she passed..that's a rough start!

phill_rn, MSN, APRN · Jan 30, 2012

Dont be stupid. You want to be a nurse, acrylic nails are not favourable. They harbour germs and God knows what else and I know of no employer in the medical field who favours them. They'll have to come off eventually and plus dont you want to be comfortable why taking the exam? Isnt it cumbersome to type and with those things on? What if you hit incorrect keys? Anyway, whatever. To each his own.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 30, 2012

AFAIK, you can take the NCLEX with fake nails. If in doubt, call Pearson and ask.

On the other hand, getting a job with those fake nails is going to be a bit harder. Acrylic nails are not allowed in most healthcare settings.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2012

Jebus, not allowing people in the testing room with rims too big? I don't remember reading anything about that on the PearsonVUE website when I had to test. Thank goodness I had wire frames at the time, because I've had thick plastic frames before (which are cute and also really sturdy).

My first thought when I read this thread was that you were making a joke or possibly trolling, but if they give folks a hard time about visual aids then maybe you're wise to worry about it!

joannamdv · Jan 30, 2012

I wish people would not give me such a hard time about these acrylics =/. I appreciate all the advice and I will be removing them prior to the exam.

I am well aware that acrylic nails harbor bacteria (I went to school and heard this the whole time). I decided to get them just because it was graduation and just for FUN! I obviously WILL NOT wear them to a job interview. I know how to look presentable. :uhoh21:

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2012

I wish people would not give me such a hard time about these acrylics =/. I appreciate all the advice and I will be removing them prior to the exam.
I am well aware that acrylic nails harbor bacteria (I went to school and heard this the whole time). I decided to get them just because it was graduation and just for FUN! I obviously WILL NOT wear them to a job interview. I know how to look presentable. :uhoh21:

People often don't read the entire thread before replying (I'm certainly guilty of this when the thread is LOOOOONG, but we've just broken 2 pages here), so they'd have missed your assurances that you won't wear them at work and just wanted to do some pampering in that space between nursing school and starting work as a nurse. Just ignore- you've already addressed that issue and if they can't be bothered to wade through TWO WHOLE PAGES of replies to see that :eek: , then they're clearly not looking to add to the discussion but rather put the smack down on you.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 30, 2012

My first thought when I read this thread was that you were making a joke or possibly trolling, but if they give folks a hard time about visual aids then maybe you're wise to worry about it!

I think the folks at Pearson get twitchy about anything that's unusual because there probably been students who tried pulling something with unusual stuff.

I don't know exactly how long OP's nails are...but perhaps Pearson would be paranoid that she'd write cheat notes on the insides of them in microscopic script :) I've seen some pretty long tips that could hold a lot of notes...that might be the one reason I'd see them saying No to the nails.