Many foreign-educated nurses have expressed their concerns about taking and passing the NCLEX. It is one shared by many internationally educated nurses who wish to immigrate to the U.S. The NCLEX exam is challenging on its own, but the language barrier creates additional difficulties for test takers. In 2007, only 53.3 percent of foreign-educated nurses passed the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt. Repeat test results were even lower, with just 25.5 percent of foreign-educated nurses passing on the second or third attempt.
While low pass rates such as these can be discouraging and intimidating, do not let the numbers shake your confidence or determination. There are ways to increase your chances of passing the NCLEX successfully on the first try! The best thing you can do to boost your performance on the NCLEX is to undergo the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) certification process. Those with CGFNS certification have an 88.7 percent pass rate on the first attempt.
The CGFNS certification process includes a credentials review, a qualifying exam and an English language proficiency exam (TOEFL). CGFNS also offers a visa screen program to assist with temporary and permanent occupational visas.
These resources, along with CGFNS certification, will provide you with a good foundation to prepare for the NCLEX-RN. Don’t forget that you can also supplement your preparation by forming local or online study groups.
Monday, February 18, 2008
NCLEX Advice for Internationally Educated Nurses
1 comments:
I am a RN from Spain and when I first came to the US is 2000, I got my first RN license in CA by examination. Since then, CA has endorsed it to first Virginia then to SC. I currently hold active RN licenses in CA and SC (Compact for 21 states). I finished my RN to BSN program at the Medical University of South Carolina last year with honors and I am about to be CNOR certified.
I am a permanent resident of the US and have been working as a RN since DEC 2000.
The state of Louisiana does not want to endorse my RN license the regular way. The consider me still a foreign graduate and I have to start the whole process with the Council for Foreign Nurse Graduates or whatever which it could take months and months.
Do you know if this is a regular proceeding? Is there any other way to proceed? I am desperate because my husband is in the military and is transferring to LA for 2 years. We have 2 children and we can not afford not to work. Maybe you can point at some resource or direction or you know about somebody who can help me with this terrible issue.
Thank you very much for all your time and dedication. Best Regards,
Sandra Schimmel, RN, BSN
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