Challenge LVN Board and completed LVN-BSN bridge still not eligible to take RN NCLEX

U.S.A. California

Published

Hello,

I was a Navy Corpsman and was eligible to challenge the LVN board without having to go to school for it. Once I obtained my LVN license, I applied to the LVN to BSN nursing program at National University in San Diego. I completed the program in May and I am still not eligible to take the RN NCLEX because the board says I still need Peds and OB. My school is not helping me at all with this situation. None of this makes sense to me because I should be eligible to take my RN exam and my LVN license should be equivalent to me taking those classes since it's part of the LVN curriculum and not part of the LVN to BSN curriculum. I am wondering if anyone has ever been in this situation and what they did to remedy it. I would really appreciate any information or guidance anyone can provide.

steppybay

1,882 Posts

Just curious, did you get your nursing degree from overseas or in the States since you're posting in the international forum section?

SammiN

152 Posts

I went to school in California. I didn't realize I posted in the international forum. This is my first time starting a thread.

Editorial Team / Admin

sirI, MSN, APRN, NP

17 Articles; 44,729 Posts

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thread moved to CA forum.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

4 Articles; 7,907 Posts

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Unfortunately, the CA BRN is a stickler when it comes to educational requirements. And even though those requirements may not make sense to you and I, the CA BRN wants what the CA BRN wants, and if we want to be licensed as RNs in this state we have to give them what they want.

Also, per your post, you didn't go to LVN school but instead challenged the exam. So even though you were licensed as a LVN, you didn't actually take any classes in a LVN program, and the BRN can't give you credit for classes that you didn't take.

I agree in that it's not fair. Unfortunately, I don't make the rules.

You could try appealing the decision to the BRN...if that fails, you'll need to find a school where you can take these two classes. There are a lot of foreign grads who have to take classes to get licensed in CA: you can search the threads at AN to see if anyone has found schools where you can take the missing classes.

Best of luck.

elkpark

14,633 Posts

"I should be eligible to take my RN exam and my LVN license should be equivalent to me taking those classes since it's part of the LVN curriculum and not part of the LVN to BSN curriculum."

Yes, those topics would be covered (at the LVN level) in an LVN curriculum, but you didn't complete an LVN curriculum; you challenged the exam based on your military experience. Your being eligible for LVN licensure through an alternative pathway doesn't automatically give you credit for completing the ecucation you would have received via a regular LVN program. The BRN says you don't have the education in peds and OB necessary to be eligible for boards, so you can either come up with the necessary classroom and clinical hours, or use your LVN license to work as an LVN. Best wishes!

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

Peds and OB were part of my BSN program. National University did not discuss their curriculum with you before you matriculated? It makes no sense that they would leave out two major components of what is necessary to be able to sit for the NCLEX. In another LVN to BSN program, I noticed that one could receive credit for (as I recall, peds and OB) by testing out. I am certain that in those instances, credit for those areas would be included on the student transcript. As an aside, I tested out of OB for my BSN program at another school in CA, and it showed on my transcript. Perhaps you need to revisit this with National University, as your implied agreement with them must have been that you would be eligible to test. Best wishes.

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

If your school refuses to help you (in the form of including the courses on your transcipt or allowing you to take the courses for addition to your transcript), then perhaps you need to seek legal counsel.

+ Add a Comment