What Can I Do With A BSN? (Without a license).

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm beginning to think that perhaps Nursing isn't my calling. I love mental health nursing. It's literally my calling. But maybe God is telling me that I can't be a nurse. I've volunteered at a psych unit and did all my leadership clinicals at one. I got through 4 years of school and graduated in December, and I'm 22 years old. But I failed the NCLEX twice so far. First time at 80 questions, second time at 265. I'm defeated.

What can I do with my Bachelors in Nursing without a NCLEX certification license? Job wise, at least. I really don't wanna go looking for a minimum wage job right now if I have a bachelors, you know?

Thank you for reading.

Specializes in Psych, Corrections.

If I were you I would totally just study for a couple months, get all the help you can get with courses, study groups, tutoring, whatever you can do. I failed a semester in school (days before graduation), and it sucked but I repeated it the next year and passed. It really sounds like you will make a great psych nurse. There are jobs in for people with bachelors degrees in the psych field, but I think they are more rare and won't pay you like a nurse (and probably hire psychology majors).

A BSN without licensure is worthless. Well, you could check off that you have a college/bachelor's degree on any job application, but that's about it.

If you really want to be a nurse, roll up your sleeves and do some more hard work. You wouldn't be the first nurse to get licensed on attempt #3. Look at the reports, see where you've gone wrong, and attack. Consider using a course--some here have recommended Kaplan. Figure out what you were doing wrong or should have been doing, and make that change.

This quote's made its way around AN quite a bit over the years, and since it kind of fits this situation, here it is:

The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They're there to stop the other people.” (Randy Pausch)

You're at your brick wall. It's up to you to decide whether it is going to stop you.

Best of luck.

Oh wow. I'm gonna come back to this post a few times to make myself feel better. Thank you, Meriwhen!

If I were you I would totally just study for a couple months, get all the help you can get with courses, study groups, tutoring, whatever you can do. I failed a semester in school (days before graduation), and it sucked but I repeated it the next year and passed. It really sounds like you will make a great psych nurse. There are jobs in for people with bachelors degrees in the psych field, but I think they are more rare and won't pay you like a nurse (and probably hire psychology majors).

Thank you. I love psych. I love the patients and being able to be their strength when they don't have it. Definitely gonna roll up my sleeves. I'm glad this thread is so pro-nursing (haha, it is a nursing thread after-all hehe). But thank you so much!

Some people spend their entire adult life trying to reach their goal. If they can do it, so can you. Study until you pass the NCLEX. Doesn't matter how you study, just study until your studying works for you. Best wishes.

wow. thank you so much. I really needed this especially after finding out that I have to retake a&p. Its going to put me behind a semester. I was going to apply to the nursing program after the fall semester but now I have to wait until spring (because I cant take a&p 2 until I finish a&p 1) it seems like there has been many obstacles throughout my college journey. but that quote helps a lot.

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
wow. thank you so much. I really needed this especially after finding out that I have to retake a&p. Its going to put me behind a semester. I was going to apply to the nursing program after the fall semester but now I have to wait until spring (because I cant take a&p 2 until I finish a&p 1) it seems like there has been many obstacles throughout my college journey. but that quote helps a lot.

I retook a lot of classes. I honestly just wasn't really into it when I did my pre reqs. My goal was to get to nursing school and getting the pre reqs out of the way was my way to do it. I was not a fan of school or science classes. I excelled at Psych and Sociology stuff. So I ended up having to retake multiple classes to pass. It didn't stop me from finishing, it didn't stop me from getting my RN, and when in Nursing school I did great. Granted once I started working and actually became interested in the science behind it all, I wish I would have cared more during those classes, but that's the great thing about learning, there is no expiration date. I never stopped getting massive obstacles during nursing school So much so I won an award at my college for finishing my program on time against all the odds. If this is something you feel passionately about and you want, you don't let obstacles get in the way, you figure out a way around them.

Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Think of it this way:

The first time it only took the adaptive testing 80 questions to know you weren't ready to get your license. The second time it took 265 questions before the computer was sure. The way I see it, you must have been much closer to passing on that second try. I bet with some focused studying and a review course like Kaplan, you will pass on #3. Good luck.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Urgent care, ER, BMT.

You can do this! I agree with using Kaplan.

Honestly, I was a little offended by the minimum wage job crack because I was forced to work a job in retail with a master's degree. Lots of people have to use retail or minimum wage jobs to work their way through achieving their goals. I absolutely hate retail, but maybe you should work part-time to pay for your NCLEX expenses. Be proud that you have a BSN and do whatever you have to do have to do to pass your NCLEX. Kaplan, UWorld, Saunders, Lippincott, or NCSBN (the guys who developed the NCLEX). Just figure out where you are screwing up and work at it. After being dismissed from my RN program twice (once for missing my final class by one point and another time for clinical skills) within a six month period, I went three weeks later and entered the summer session LPN program. I passed it with As and got my LPN in March of 2016, after many months of being afraid that I would not pass the NCLEX. I passed it in 85 questions, but I studied a grand total of 2 weeks and 12 hour days with the NCSBN review. So, grow a pair and keep moving forward if you want to be a nurse!

Honestly, I was a little offended by the minimum wage job crack because I was forced to work a job in retail with a master's degree. Lots of people have to use retail or minimum wage jobs to work their way through achieving their goals. I absolutely hate retail, but maybe you should work part-time to pay for your NCLEX expenses. Be proud that you have a BSN and do whatever you have to do have to do to pass your NCLEX. Kaplan, UWorld, Saunders, Lippincott, or NCSBN (the guys who developed the NCLEX). Just figure out where you are screwing up and work at it. After being dismissed from my RN program twice (once for missing my final class by one point and another time for clinical skills) within a six month period, I went three weeks later and entered the summer session LPN program. I passed it with As and got my LPN in March of 2016, after many months of being afraid that I would not pass the NCLEX. I passed it in 85 questions, but I studied a grand total of 2 weeks and 12 hour days with the NCSBN review. So, grow a pair and keep moving forward if you want to be a nurse!

It wasn't a crack. I worked for 9.25 my whole life and I know I deserve better. That's why I'm asking this question. Thank you for your input though.

I'm beginning to think that perhaps Nursing isn't my calling. I love mental health nursing. It's literally my calling. But maybe God is telling me that I can't be a nurse. I've volunteered at a psych unit and did all my leadership clinicals at one. I got through 4 years of school and graduated in December, and I'm 22 years old. But I failed the NCLEX twice so far. First time at 80 questions, second time at 265. I'm defeated.

What can I do with my Bachelors in Nursing without a NCLEX certification license? Job wise, at least. I really don't wanna go looking for a minimum wage job right now if I have a bachelors, you know?

Thank you for reading.

I think you must have gotten better with your second NCLEX test because you had to go through many questions, which means that it was not so clear if you are able to practice as a nurse or not - the first time was very clear because it shut off after only 80 or so questions.

Your job options will be very limited in terms of nursing jobs that pay well without a license.

I can see how this is easily discouraging but I think that you made some progress in terms of testing from the first to the second test.

The good thing is that you know what you would like to do - mental health nursing. So you have a clear picture of where and what you would like to do.

Mental health is also provided by other specialties including social workers, psychologists and so on - but you invested already 4 years into a nursing degree.

Here is what I suggest to you:

Think about why you did not pass - is it a knowledge deficit, test strategy deficit, test anxiety, all of it?

Sign up to sit for the test in let's say 3 - 6 months so you have a deadline and a goal.

In the mean time, you have to get the Kaplan book so you learn the strategy behind the NCLEX and the saunders for content and such. If you can afford to go to one of those Kaplan courses that is great to learn how to master the test. If you can't afford it read the Kaplan strategy hinters carefully.

You need to sit down and do test questions every single day until you sit for the test. I would say that your goal is to do at least 5000 questions before the test. That translates probably into around 100 or so questions a day given that you may take a day off or do less some days. You should see some progress after 2-3 weeks I think as long as your overall knowledge of nursing is up to par. Even if you have some knowledge gaps - doing a lot of questions with a review of them will help to close gaps.

Don't tell people you are preparing because that puts a lot of stress onto you in terms of expectation.

If you think that you are suffering from test anxiety / mood problems it could be helpful to see a therapist for strategies to deal with that.

I think not passing 2 times is not an indicator that you are not meant to be a nurse. Sometimes the universe / higher power (whatever you want to call it / are inclined to believe) gives us "signs" or something happens that we look at as a "clear message". But I do not think that the message is that you are not meant to be a nurse. Otherwise, why would the same power let you go through 4 years of a very rigorous education without any sign plus you obviously mastered some content because you have a degree. Personally, I would interpret it this way:

You are meant to work in mental health, which is your calling, but with knowledge and expertise and the right credentials so you can make the right impact for those clients that you will serve.

Your influence and ability to make an impact will be less when you work let's say as a mental health worker.

If you decide to sit for the test again (I hope you will), get very organized and make that your priority. You need to sit down every day - make it a habit. Learn the strategies, do at least 5000 questions, make sure you exercise, sleep and eat healthy.

There are many people out there who are not good test takers and who have some test anxiety and such. Don't look at the 2 times as a failure - reframe it as "the first time I did not pass - the second time was better because the test needed more questions to determine - I am getting better at testing - I will prepare more because I am getting the hang of it and try again".

It is not a determination of your intelligence, your character and so on - it is a test that determines if your critical thinking and knowledge align so that you can provide safe nursing care to the public. Tests are just that - tests. And you can easily see that many people struggle with it because Kaplan has good business.

Whatever you decide - good luck to you!

It is easy to feel worthless and defeated after every failure. However, it gives you an opportunity to right the wrong. Assess the way you were preparing for the exam. Obviously the way you are doing things is not working so something needs to change. You've passed your nursing classes, which means you are more than capable for passing the NCLEX. It is now just putting everything together to get over that hump. Don't let failure stop you from achieving your dreams.

Look into Saunders NCLEX-Review book, the questions might be a bit too easy, but the review content is gold. So I would supplement the review content with UWorld questions.

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