Can an RN student work as an LPN?

[mbookach]

Hi! Im in my first year of an RN program and I was wondering if after my first year I qualify to work as an LPN or at least take the NCLEX for it? The school offers an LPN to RN transition and they only complete the second year, so Im assuming we learn everything as LPN learn in classes. THanks!!!!

[mbookach]

Thank you so much for all the responses! I have a lot to think about!!

[RED1984, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

My program allows you to sit for the VN NCLEX after the first year of classes if you take an extra summer's worth of clinicals. In Texas :)

It doesn't really seem worth it to me. By the time you sit for the NCLEX and get your results and all that, you're insanely close to being an RN. Most of the people who take the course do it as a backup I'm case they fail 2nd year.

It's not the "program" that let's you. The TX BON states that it is not allowed. You have to have graduated from an approved LVN program in order to write the NCLEX-PN/VN. You cannot endorse into Texas if you obtained an LVN license from another state this way either. Check the TXBON website for more info.

[RED1984, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

My program allows you to sit for the VN NCLEX after the first year of classes if you take an extra summer's worth of clinicals. In Texas :)

It doesn't really seem worth it to me. By the time you sit for the NCLEX and get your results and all that, you're insanely close to being an RN. Most of the people who take the course do it as a backup I'm case they fail 2nd year.

Also, I'd double check that your school is approved to by the TX BON. Apparently there are 5 schools in Texas operating without board approval. Graduates of these programs are not eligible to write the NCLEX. (As per TX BON website)

http://www.bon.state.tx.us/nursingeducation/faq_students.html

[Stephalump]

Also I'd double check that your school is approved to by the TX BON. Apparently there are 5 schools in Texas operating without board approval. Graduates of these programs are not eligible to write the NCLEX. (As per TX BON website)[/quote']

Yes, it is the program that allows us to, because it's the program that considers us graduates of their LVN program after a third optional semester (the LVN class's final semester), much like they consider us graduates of their CNA LVNs can also join in our second year, do that last two semesters, and sit for the NCLEX-RN. It's called a Multiple Entry and Exit Program. If it wasn't an approved program, no one would e sitting for the NCLEX-PN or the RN - we can sit for multiple exams, not none.

[RED1984, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

So it's like an LVN-RN bridge then? Is their LVN program the 1st year, and if you want to go on to RN then you complete the 2nd year? Seems like an interesting program!

I was just going off the TX BON website for my information....

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Some paramedic schools used to do something similar. The first few weeks was a crash courses/review for intermediate/specialist then you could work as a emt-I or emt-specialist depending on the state you lived in. However, they stopped doing that.

[DoGoodThenGo]

Not in New York State

That change came sometime in the 1980's or 1990's, cannot remember but it is on the NYS BON's website.

Apparently there was concern that allowing nursing students to sit for the LPN boards after completing only one year of their education meant they did not obtain the necessary background in certain areas such as geriatrics. Prior to this IIRC you could sit for NYS's LPN board after one year of a RN program which in most schools would have been Med Surg I & II.

Being as all this may there apparently is one nursing program somewhere upstate that RN students can take the LPN boards. This came out a year or so back in the NYS forum during a discussion on the same subject. IIRC this school offers both a LPN and RN program so if true then they must have found a way to satisfy NYS.