lpn exam without clinical?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I was taking classes for my BSN and have now decided to enter an LPN class and then go on to the RN- I start clinical in the fall and will graduate with my LPN then another year of clinical and will recieve my RN. My question is that while i was in the BSN program a man told me that he had sat for his LPN having some classes and i believe he was a CNA. He passed the exam and got his license...has anyone ever heard of someone sitting for the lpn exam without having attended a full program? I have clinical experience as medic in the air force and i have a bs in microbiology. I would love to sit for the exam if possible and go forward with the rn program online but i cant see where this could happen?

JP

Wow! A CNA can become an LPN without going to school or going through LPN focused clinicals? I wonder how this can be possible. CNA's focus is totally different. I just don't see how working as a CNA for X-many years without giving meds, doing assessments, documenting, giving injections, etc, can just go and take a test and suddenly be qualified to work as a LPN, giving out narcotics and meds that they haven't been prepared for.

Interesting!

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

yeah this was my thought to when i heard about this deal several years ago. they are required to take a pharm course but there is no assessment skills or anything else. i don't see how they get away with it personally. i don't think it is safe but then who am i. but i have always wondered why ca can allow this for the cna's but have excluded excelsior grads...

wow! a cna can become an lpn without going to school or going through lpn focused clinicals? i wonder how this can be possible. cna's focus is totally different. i just don't see how working as a cna for x-many years without giving meds, doing assessments, documenting, giving injections, etc, can just go and take a test and suddenly be qualified to work as a lpn, giving out narcotics and meds that they haven't been prepared for.

interesting!

Specializes in My first yr. as a LVN!.

I think mostly its because here in CA unfortunately LVNs are limited to SNFs, correctional or Home health. So even though it sounds as if challenging the boards is easy... it isnt considering they have the Pharm course... which usually from what Ive seen consists of 54 hours plus paying on top of it plus the 5 yrs if a CNA it isnt as easy as it sounds... they must have exp. in a lot of floors.. which really, here in CA I dont see how many of them can pull it off 'cause CNAs rarely work hosp. floors... but some of the criteria is Med/Surg/Peds so on and so forth ... I think some one up there posted the exact site and Ive read on that as well... for me, Ive been a CMA (5yr exp) and Ive worked many many areas but Im excluded ... so it doesnt make sense to me either, but it is what it is... and as far as Excelsior, I dont know much about it, but I would never go the online route even if CA accepted it, but Im sur CA doesnt accept it 'cause as for an RN, which Ive read thats what Excelsior is, LVN -RN, the criteria is HUGE... and I think in this state they let little slide AT ALL... it really is a pain out here in CA!!!! So to them Excelsior would be too easy of a route for them to accept it.. they like putting us all through GRUELING criteria ...

Specializes in My first yr. as a LVN!.
http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/Licensing/Method_3.asp#PHARM
Specializes in NICU.
I was taking classes for my BSN and have now decided to enter an LPN class and then go on to the RN- I start clinical in the fall and will graduate with my LPN then another year of clinical and will recieve my RN. My question is that while i was in the BSN program a man told me that he had sat for his LPN having some classes and i believe he was a CNA. He passed the exam and got his license...has anyone ever heard of someone sitting for the lpn exam without having attended a full program? I have clinical experience as medic in the air force and i have a bs in microbiology. I would love to sit for the exam if possible and go forward with the rn program online but i cant see where this could happen?

JP

In my state (Oklahoma) an Air Force medic (or prior medic as long as it was within a certain timeframe) is eligible to take NCLEX-PN and receive a LPN license through the state BON. The other option is that you can challenge the school to test out of fundamentals and med/surg (class, lab, & clinicals for both). You might check the BON in your state to see if the same rules apply.

I did not go the LPN route myself but did opt to challenge the school. It has saved me a lot of time!

Good luck to you!

Medic in the military is one thing. THAT I can understand. But a Nursing Assistant, no matter what floor or hospital or specialty they work on or in, simply doesn't do the same things that a nurse does. The focus is entirely different. Even with the Pharm. course. What about assessment skills? Documenting? Disease processes? Critical thinking? Trachs. and feeding tubes and dressings? Care Plans? etc. etc. etc.

It doesn't matter if the CNA works on Med.Surg. for 50 years. They are still not performing in the role of nurse, and should not be allowed to work as a nurse without going through an accredited program which includes coursework and clinicals.

LPN to RN is a bit different, because LPN has on the job experience as a nurse, many clinical hours, and training to be a nurse. LPN's lack an in depth training on the pathophysiology aspects that RN's do, so Excelsior helps the experienced LPN to complete coursework to become an RN by filling in those gaps.

But I'm sorry, a nursing assistant to LPN without clinicals, etc, is just crazy.

Specializes in ICU, CCU,Wound Care,LTC, Hospice, MDS.

I worked with an LPN in AR who had retired from the Army after many years as a medic. He challenged the LPN and passed after some tutoring in drugs. This was 15-20 years ago. I also worked with and RN grad who failed state boards (now NCLEX) several times and took the LPN boards and passed. I don't know if this can still be done though.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

In my state, you must pass an approved LPN program in order to sit for the NCLEX, and all of the approved programs require clinicals. I spent over three hundred hours in clinicals in my first year (first year of ADN program).

Many colleges here in NH have BSN direct entry programs that you can go into with any BSN. I think there may even be a couple Masters programs that you can also enter into with a different degree.

I assum this is how she got into the BSN program before as she has the micro degree.

+ Add a Comment