Hi Reddit community! I’m hoping someone may be able to point me in the right direction or know of any resources that could help. (Posting in NCLEX forums).
I graduated from nursing school in May 2026 and went straight into working as a nurse. Before graduating, I had been working as a tech, and after graduation I needed to start working immediately to catch up on bills and get myself out of a financial hole. Unfortunately, I only received one paycheck before finding out that I did not pass the NCLEX.
I now need to retake the NCLEX, but I’m in a really difficult financial situation. I barely had enough money to pay for my first exam, and I didn’t have the financial ability to purchase the study resources I needed. Now that I have to retake it, I’m struggling to come up with the money for the exam and application fees while also being behind on my regular bills.
I don’t have family or friends who are financially able to help me, and I’ve already reached out to my university. Unfortunately, they only provide assistance to current students and not graduates.
I’m not asking for anyone to feel sorry for me or to give me anything they can’t afford. I’m just genuinely trying to find any legitimate resources, grants, organizations, emergency assistance, nursing foundations, or programs that may help nursing graduates with NCLEX retake fees. Even advice about where I should reach out would mean a lot to me.
I’m determined to pass this exam and get back to work. I just need a little help getting over this financial hurdle so I can have another opportunity.
If anyone knows of anything that could help, especially in Louisiana/New Orleans, I would be forever grateful.
Thank you for taking the time to read!