I graduated with my BSN back in 1996.  I was working as a graduate nurse for some time.  I took the NCLEX and failed on my first attempt.  Due to some unfortunate circumstances at that time in my life, I did not repeat the NCLEX and went to work in another field.  I am now a single mother of two with college degree in nursing that is being wasted.  I would love to try to get back into nursing now for the income and the schedule with my two children.

I have tried repeatedly to talk with instructors from my university and counselors with our State Board of Nursing.  I am getting nowhere.  I have contacted several schools and nobody seems to have an answer for me.  Has anyone been in this type of situation that might can point me in the right direction?  I was finally advised by the Board of Nursing that I could take the NCLEX in another state and if I passed, transfer my license to my current state of residence.  I feel that would be a bad idea because I have been out of practice for so many years.  I definitely don't have the time or the funds to devote to going back to school full time.  Suggestions????

I don't think that the recommendation of taking the boards in another state is a good idea at all either.  I don't know what else to do.  I can't get anyone to tell me definitively what I need to do in order to retake the boards here in Tennessee...not even the head of the Board of Nursing (who, by the way, was my advisor during nursing school).  I am about to the point of giving up.  I have been in pursuit of an answer for over 6 months now.  The Board says that this is a unique situation and that there is no definitive answer.  I just don't know where else to turn.  I don't feel like I should have to go back to school all over again either.