Rumor about LPNs With 10+ years To Take RN Boards

I would not count on it. Dont you just love rumors?

When you hear something like this, your state board of nursing is the best source to check it out. Since licensure issues vary from state to state, that's the only way to know for sure.

There is no basis to that rumor. I can tell you that right now.

While I would tend to agree that experience is a form of education in its own right, the differences between the programs, and the 'differentiation of scope' is such that LPN/LVN experience alone would not provide you the official tools or credentials to be an RN without the additional education.

What I mean is this: how often, in a hospital environment, do LPN/LVNs do initial assessments, charge nurse and management duties, etc.

Oh I KNOW, I work in the trenches, LVN/LPNs do such things all the time, but normally 'off the books'. For instance I've seen many an initial assessment done by an LVN logged into the charge nurse's account.

But, that does not provide an 'on book' credentialing that would allow you to bypass the education.

Another thing to look at: such a practice would eliminate the need to go to a bridge program: and the money you would pay to do so. The educational system would be in a howl!

The movement in nursing academia is in just the OPPOSITE direction, requiring MORE education for licensure. Such a move would be in direct contrast to all the advocacy to any State Board.

The Board Members of the various boards themselves are normally part of the academia that would not sign off on that.

One final issue: such a move, in any State, would immediately threaten the reciprocity of that State's RNs with many many other States. To do so alone, and not in conjunction with the various States, would be credentialing suicide. No State would risk the loss of reciprocity and the impact that would have on the mobility of nurses in their State.

Right now, every State issues its own requirements and EVERY State requires graduation from a validated RN program to take the NCLEX-RN exam. If any State or territory were to change that practice, don't be surprised if the NCSBN issues a decree that IT will not allow such candidates permission to take its NCLEX-RN exam. The pressure on them from other States would be unstoppable. And, the idea would be quashed before it ever began.

There are just too many forces at work against such a possibility. Sorry, just a rumor.

~faith,
Timothy.

This is actually the truth, but it is only applicable to the state of California. Army medics, CNAs, paramedics, EMTs, medical assistants, and just about any experienced allied healthcare worker can challenge the California LVN boards. However, if you challenge successfully the license is only valid in California and cannot be endorsed into any other state.

I know several people who successfully challenged the boards and became LVNs this way. However, you cannot challenge the RN boards in any state without first attending state-approved schooling.

I have heard of medical assistants challenging LPN boards, but don't remember where. And, it is true that while the LPN can imitate the job of the RN, she/he does not have the theory that is involved with it. And I agree with some of the other posters...that then, the schools would lose money, and who wants that?? We already take unnecessary courses to allow these college institutions to rack in the dough...they would fight to the death to retain that ability to have us by the drawer strings...

This was called "Grandfathering" in the 80's; and it never happened. It's just a rumor. Our institutions in Ohio are wanting MORE education for nurses especially if you are in management or a specialty area: i.e. ER,
Education, L & D., ICU.