Third time not the charm

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Hey all,

I have had three failed attempts at passing the nclex-rn. I have purchased books, cd's, flash cards, etc. I even hired a tutor and still had no luck. Does anyone have any words of wisdom or advice for me at this point, if so I would really appreciate it. Thanks :)

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wildcat - I can feel for you. I really do. When I graduated from lpn school I was immediately shipped overseas. Due to my location, I was not allowed to take the nclex for 3 years after I graduated. naturally I failed not once, but twice. I practically gave up. I felt it was unfair of the army to allow me to be trained, then never give me the chance to take the test immediately after i graduated like most other people. Now I am challenging the WV boards for my RN. I took a refresher course this past fall, but felt it was a complete waste of time and money. Sure, it helped me get my lpn license back, but it did not help one bit toward actually refreshing anything. They were more interested in just getting you back on the floor.

Where are you located? I personally, am looking for a study partner. I, to be honest, don't have the self-control to study alone. I am one of those that does better with a partner. Whether it be in person or online, if your interested, please let me know. We are basically in the same boat.

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It's good to hear that I'm not alone southern male nurse. I am in texas but i wouldn't mind having an online study buddy. Just let me know what you have in mind.

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wildcat - I can feel for you. I really do. When I graduated from lpn school I was immediately shipped overseas. Due to my location, I was not allowed to take the nclex for 3 years after I graduated. naturally I failed not once, but twice. I practically gave up. I felt it was unfair of the army to allow me to be trained, then never give me the chance to take the test immediately after i graduated like most other people. Now I am challenging the WV boards for my RN. I took a refresher course this past fall, but felt it was a complete waste of time and money. Sure, it helped me get my lpn license back, but it did not help one bit toward actually refreshing anything. They were more interested in just getting you back on the floor.

Where are you located? I personally, am looking for a study partner. I, to be honest, don't have the self-control to study alone. I am one of those that does better with a partner. Whether it be in person or online, if your interested, please let me know. We are basically in the same boat.

Just a quick question for you, how are you actually challenging the RN boards without attending an RN program? I know that some states will permit the challenging of the NCLEX-PN if you were a medical corpsman in the service, but I have never heard of the NCLEX-RN begin able to be challenged. Documentation of a completed RN curriculum is required for that.

Maybe I am missing something here? Please let me know.

I also suggest that you take a look at the sticky at the top of this forum on how to prepare for the NCLEX exam.

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I've heard how tough it is, I'm sure the test anxiety doesn't help matters. Hang in there! You're almost there, don't let this set-back hold you back! You can do it!!!!

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suzanne4 -

I use to be a 91c (practical nurse). If you were trained by the Army, then you are qualified under West Virginia code 30-24-2 (Qualification for examination for license as a registered professional nurse) It is listed under the chapter, Qualification of Armed Forces Health Technicians for Civilian Health Occupations. You cannot have been trained by a civilian school then gone into the Army as a 91c - the Army had to train you first. Several states allow military practical nurses to apply for the RN boards - due to our training. As a combat medic, which is also a medical specialist, you are trained in suturing, ivs, triage, medication (narcotics) administration and so forth. You have to be a medical specialist just to qualify for the Armys' practical nursing program. I never knew that I could go for the rn board, until I found this site. Thanks Allnurses.com!

Don't get me wrong on the refresher course (it was designed for RNs). I wasn't expecting to learn anything new. The class was cancelled due to several things (instructors being sick, school closing for water breaks, snow, etc.) almost 50% of the scheduled time. One class, our instructor spent almost the entire time going over her resume, and her education future. The tests were useless, they literally gave you the answers RIGHT before the test. It almost seemed pointless to study (I did it anyways - for I was the only lpn in the room, and I wanted to get my stuff together).

Wildcat -

you can pm me if you. I was thinking something on the lines of sending each other multiple questions, and giving so much time to answer them. I can create a forumboard where we can post the questions if you want. Just a thought to get us started. let me know what you think.

Bythe way, what part of Texas? I use to live in San Antonio for awhile. My favorite place of all places.

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suzanne4 -

I use to be a 91c (practical nurse). If you were trained by the Army, then you are qualified under West Virginia code 30-24-2 (Qualification for examination for license as a registered professional nurse) It is listed under the chapter, Qualification of Armed Forces Health Technicians for Civilian Health Occupations. You cannot have been trained by a civilian school then gone into the Army as a 91c - the Army had to train you first. Several states allow military practical nurses to apply for the RN boards - due to our training. As a combat medic, which is also a medical specialist, you are trained in suturing, ivs, triage, medication (narcotics) administration and so forth. You have to be a medical specialist just to qualify for the Armys' practical nursing program. I never knew that I could go for the rn board, until I found this site. Thanks Allnurses.com!

Don't get me wrong on the refresher course (it was designed for RNs). I wasn't expecting to learn anything new. The class was cancelled due to several things (instructors being sick, school closing for water breaks, snow, etc.) almost 50% of the scheduled time. One class, our instructor spent almost the entire time going over her resume, and her education future. The tests were useless, they literally gave you the answers RIGHT before the test. It almost seemed pointless to study (I did it anyways - for I was the only lpn in the room, and I wanted to get my stuff together).

Wildcat -

you can pm me if you. I was thinking something on the lines of sending each other multiple questions, and giving so much time to answer them. I can create a forumboard where we can post the questions if you want. Just a thought to get us started. let me know what you think.

Bythe way, what part of Texas? I use to live in San Antonio for awhile. My favorite place of all places.

What does that do to endorsement in other states that don't have the exception?

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I don't wish to get off topic here, but to answer your question honestly - I am not sure. From what I was told by the WV BON you are able to transfer the license to other states that allow the same exemption. I will list a quote from the code, maybe it will help some.

WV Code 30-24-2

"Any person who has served on active duty in the medical corps of any of the armed forces of the United States and who has successfully completed the course of instruction required to qualify him for rating as a medical specialist advanced, medical service technician or advanced hospital corpsman technician, or other equivalent rating in his particular branch of the armed forces, and whose service in the armed forces was under honorable conditions, may submit to the West Virginia board of examiners for registered professional nurses."

"If the veteran passes such examination or examinations, he shall be licensed as a registered professional nurse, and such veteran shall thereafter be subject to all of the provisions of said article seven. If the veteran does not pass such examination or examinations, the provisions of said article seven relating to reexaminations shall apply to such veteran the same as they apply to a person who does not apply for alicense under the provisons of this article twenty-four."

Examination = RN NCLEX

Now as to which states it tranfers to, I am not 100% sure of to be honest. I want to get my license, but I am also still attending school this semester to help pursue a BSN. So, please don't think that I just want to get a license (RN) then quit learning. I work in the developmentally disabled field - Maryland has a scholarship program where basically if you are willing to work in the field in exchange for the scholarship (and that money is still available that year), they will help you out. You have to do so many hours in the DD field after completion of the school. If you are already in the field, you have priority first when it comes to getting the scholarship, and your hours (that you are currently working) count to paying back the required hours needed. So the way I look at, to be honest, it is free money, I am already working in the field, I want to further my nursing education, so why not get the scholarship.

So in the end, basically, when I get my WV RN license, it is good with working the federal government anywhere in the US, and if I want to work say in Florida as a civilian nurse, with my continued pursuit of a nursing bsn, I will be able to transfer it then.I hope this answers your question. I did not mean to make oit long-winded. If you are interested in more, please let me know. Thanks!

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What does that do to endorsement in other states that don't have the exception?

It doesn't permit endorsement, same thing as for the medics that challenged the CA LPN exam. Remember that NCLEX exam gives reciprocity, but educational credentials must be met. And the requirement in most states is completion of an RN program.

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I don't wish to get off topic here, but to answer your question honestly - I am not sure. From what I was told by the WV BON you are able to transfer the license to other states that allow the same exemption. I will list a quote from the code, maybe it will help some.

WV Code 30-24-2

"Any person who has served on active duty in the medical corps of any of the armed forces of the United States and who has successfully completed the course of instruction required to qualify him for rating as a medical specialist advanced, medical service technician or advanced hospital corpsman technician, or other equivalent rating in his particular branch of the armed forces, and whose service in the armed forces was under honorable conditions, may submit to the West Virginia board of examiners for registered professional nurses."

"If the veteran passes such examination or examinations, he shall be licensed as a registered professional nurse, and such veteran shall thereafter be subject to all of the provisions of said article seven. If the veteran does not pass such examination or examinations, the provisions of said article seven relating to reexaminations shall apply to such veteran the same as they apply to a person who does not apply for alicense under the provisons of this article twenty-four."

Examination = RN NCLEX

Now as to which states it tranfers to, I am not 100% sure of to be honest. I want to get my license, but I am also still attending school this semester to help pursue a BSN. So, please don't think that I just want to get a license (RN) then quit learning. I work in the developmentally disabled field - Maryland has a scholarship program where basically if you are willing to work in the field in exchange for the scholarship (and that money is still available that year), they will help you out. You have to do so many hours in the DD field after completion of the school. If you are already in the field, you have priority first when it comes to getting the scholarship, and your hours (that you are currently working) count to paying back the required hours needed. So the way I look at, to be honest, it is free money, I am already working in the field, I want to further my nursing education, so why not get the scholarship.

So in the end, basically, when I get my WV RN license, it is good with working the federal government anywhere in the US, and if I want to work say in Florida as a civilian nurse, with my continued pursuit of a nursing bsn, I will be able to transfer it then.I hope this answers your question. I did not mean to make oit long-winded. If you are interested in more, please let me know. Thanks!

Your license itself will not permit you to endorse to other states, as they require you completion of a complete program. And I applaud you for continuing on with the BSN. Just be very careful at the program that you will select. Doing a bridge program from the RN to the BSN will still not automatically make it so that you can traqnsfer to all states. They look at the entire curriculum, and most bridge BSN programs do not meet the clincial requirements, since the RN already has the RN degree and supposedly had met them.

If you need help with preparing for the NCLEX-RN exam, I will be more that happy to help you.

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Thanks Suzanne!

I will definitely keep that in mind. I do want a license that I can move from state to state if need be. I plan on attending WVU School of Nursing to complete the BSN part. They are the closest in this area. U of MD is just too far.

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Thanks Suzanne!

I will definitely keep that in mind. I do want a license that I can move from state to state if need be. I plan on attending WVU School of Nursing to complete the BSN part. They are the closest in this area. U of MD is just too far.

Just make sure that you will get enough clinical hours to meet the requirements for the other states, that is what you will need to focus on.

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