ISU not recognized by all states

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi, this is my first post. I have been thinking of going to school to become a nurse for about two years now, and there is a state funded lpn program where I live so right now I am working on my prereqs and hopefully I will start the program in August.

After I get my lpn I plan on going to work right away but want to continue my education as well. If I could, I would love to just take the time to go for my bsn right from the start, but in my position I need to get back to work asap.

So After doing a lot of research online and on this site in particular I really like the idea of the ISU lpn to bsn program. The only thing that worries me is that it is not recognized by all states, two of which that catch my eye are NY and NH. My gf (also a nurse RN BSN) and I talk about perhaps moving to NH someday and if I get a degree that isn't recognized there that just would be awful.

....So my questions are: Is it the BSN that will not be recognized or my RN as well. I do see that the program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, so does that mean I will be recognized as an RN everywhere?

Also lets say I do go through their program and then continue on with another program from another school to get my MS will then my MS be recognized in those states?

Any info would be a great help. I want to make the best and most informed decisions and would like to have this mapped out so I know I am on the right path. Thank you all so much!!

Specializes in HIV, Psych, GI, Hepatology, Research.

The best best is to call the BON directly. What is accepted just fine in one state may not be in another. Non traditional programs are becoming accredited more and more so if non traditional fits your lifestyle more and it sounds like it does then it doesn't hurt to check into them. Without non traditional programs a lot of people wouldn't even be able to go to school and try to better their education for their families. If you can make it work out the more power to you.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Indiana State University is an excellent school. I had no idea that once you graduate that a specific state may not accept your schooling. What the heck?? That just blows my mind. It makes me wonder about the motive behind the behavior. Anyone know? It's not like NH is the mecca of academia.

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esme! dartmouth medical school and associated medical center is excellent. there are many excellent colleges in nh with nursing programs, and more nearby, whose grads populate the area. nh is known for high literacy rates for good reason. and the heavily-populated part of the state, the south, is an hour from the self-styled medical mecca of the us, boston. standards are pretty good there :D

(disclaimer: i hold nh licensure)

and i remember when i took the paper-and-pencil state boards, different states had different minimum passing scores. if i recall correctly, ca, ny, and ma had a minimum of 350 and the other states were 300, or something like that. so if you didn't get 350+ in some other state, you couldn't get a license by reciprocity in those three. same thing. the state boards of nursing are the ones who evaluate credentials of incoming applicants' educational preparation. i do wish we had one national licensure but getting that done would bring its own set of thrashes to be resolved.:D

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
esme! dartmouth medical school and associated medical center is excellent. there are many excellent colleges in nh with nursing programs, and more nearby, whose grads populate the area. nh is known for high literacy rates for good reason. and the heavily-populated part of the state, the south, is an hour from the self-styled medical mecca of the us, boston. standards are pretty good there :D

(disclaimer: i hold nh licensure)

and i remember when i took the paper-and-pencil state boards, different states had different minimum passing scores. if i recall correctly, ca, ny, and ma had a minimum of 350 and the other states were 300, or something like that. so if you didn't get 350+ in some other state, you couldn't get a license by reciprocity in those three. same thing. the state boards of nursing are the ones who evaluate credentials of incoming applicants' educational preparation. i do wish we had one national licensure but getting that done would bring its own set of thrashes to be resolved.:D

grtea......i meant no disrespect to dartmouth. i know about the area, i live there now. i took the 3 days boards myself (being a member of the crusty old bat society;)) and i remember the requirements for reciprocity that was automatic and if you didn't meet the 350 you have to take a "competency" test .....but they didn't outright refuse you based on where you went to school, that's accredited, it was your personal passing scores (or lack thereof). to outright refuse an endorsement, regardless of scores/grades, because of where you went to school (when there are all these online crazy schools)even when that school is accredited, seems crazy to me.

i'm a purdue grad. isu is no slouch either. i guess i was referring to the state of new hampshire alone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_colleges_and_universities_in_new_hampshire in indiana, there is purdue (multiple campuses), iu(multiple campuses),isu(multiple campuses)iupui(indiana university,purdue university, indianapolis, notre dame, valparaiso...to name a few.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_colleges_and_universities_in_indiana

they are all great schools. when you include illinois and you start talking northwestern, loyola, university of chicago, rush

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_colleges_and_universities_in_illinois

these are all well known prestigious universities.

i mean once you pass boards, with a great score, does it really matter where you went to school as long as it was credited? deny or accept based on scores......not where you went to school and how much you paid to go there....i know i know it's awfully naive of me.......we all know if you went to "harvard" it opens doors and impresses people. but a lawyer that didn't go to harvard, but passed the bar, is a lawyer or at least i believe so).

it just seem crazy to me.....what does new hampshire have that indiana doesn't? it just seems wrong to me, to judge, based on the school and not the scores received after graduation. when basing it on the school and not the score earned seems very cliquish to me, very much like "mean girl/popular girl" stuff....if you aren't wearing the right label......you can't join the club. i too wish there was one national license, but history has proven that we can't even decide on one entry level for education....:cool:

very restrictive for the state with the motto "live free of die" jmho.:hug:

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

The reason that some states don't accept the graduates of some schools ... is usually because the schools don't meet the requrirements for licensure in those states. It's often because the online school (or distance ed. program) does not include sufficient clinical experiences. People can graduate without having to do much (or any) actual nursing care at an RN level as a student. If they pass the tests and do the "paper" assignments, they can graduate even though they have had no or minimal practice in the RN role as students. Many people feel that the test-taking and paper writing is not enough ... that students should also participate in supervised clinical practice in the RN role before being eligible for an RN license.

As it is a growing trend to NOT recognize programs without a significant clinical component, I would be very leery of attending such a program -- particularly if you were considering moving to another state.

I don't know the details of ISU's program, but I suspect it might be something like that preventing it from being recognized in New Hampshire.

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The ISU LPN to BS distance option is accredited by the NLNAC (Indiana State University : Nursing : Accreditation).

If a student lives in a state that does not recognize the ISU program (http://www.indstate.edu/lpn-bs/images/icons/states-that-recognize-isu-lpn-bs.gif) , the student may geographically live near a state that does recognize the program and clincicals could be completed in a recognized state. Then, after graduation, the student could take the NCLEX-RN in either the recognized state or Indiana, then complete a “License-By-Endorsement” application where they want to live.

I hear that Kim Kimbler, in the Distance Dept. is really helpful at assisting students with their questions and on helping student understand the logistics of the program and licensing - your best bet is to request information directly from the school - https://indstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_4IWzQymcH7IVvpO&SVID=Prod

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Very informative, Thank you!

The ISU LPN to BS distance option is accredited by the NLNAC (Indiana State University : Nursing : Accreditation).

If a student lives in a state that does not recognize the ISU program (http://www.indstate.edu/lpn-bs/images/icons/states-that-recognize-isu-lpn-bs.gif) , the student may geographically live near a state that does recognize the program and clincicals could be completed in a recognized state. Then, after graduation, the student could take the NCLEX-RN in either the recognized state or Indiana, then complete a “License-By-Endorsement” application where they want to live.

I hear that Kim Kimbler, in the Distance Dept. is really helpful at assisting students with their questions and on helping student understand the logistics of the program and licensing - your best bet is to request information directly from the school - https://indstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_4IWzQymcH7IVvpO&SVID=Prod

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