A nurse has an RN but did not get a diploma or BSN

netglow, ASN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

Wut?

Don't understand this. As far as I'm aware, you cannot sit for the NCLEX without completing edu. Was this person possibly an LPN?

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 4, 2012

Yes, this can occur (become RN w/o graduating the program). States like California have allowed this in the past. Not sure if they still do. Prior to completing the RN program, can sit for NCLEX and if pass, become licensed as RN, then never actually graduate the program. BUT, those individuals can only practice in that particular state.

Then, if the individual wants to practice in another state, that state normally will not allow unless graduated from an RN program.

OP, the person needs to speak with the state BON to see what they have to do to become lincensed in that state.

Altra, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

I'm guessing this person is a CA resident. There is a weird quirk of CA RN licensing law which allows LVNs who complete a significant portion of an RN program to sit for NCLEX. But they do so with the understanding that they will be unlikely to get licensed in any other state.

From the CA BON website Board of Registered Nursing - Steps to Become a CA RN :

" LVN 30 Unit Option - Designed as a career ladder for California Licensed Vocational Nurses wishing to become registered nurses. Takes approximately 18-24 months. No degree is granted upon completion. Most other states do not recognize California's LVN 30 Unit Option and will not issue RN licenses to these LVNs. Some LVNs prefer to complete an ADN program in order to obtain a degree and to have the flexibility to get an RN license in other states. Most ADN programs will give LVNs credit for some of the coursework they completed to become an LVN."

As far as comleting the RN education - he/she will have to meet the admissions requirements of the school chosen.

enchantmentdis, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

Yes, this can occur (become RN w/o graduating the program). States like California have allowed this in the past. Not sure if they still do. Prior to completing the RN program, can sit for NCLEX and if pass, become licensed as RN, then never actually graduate the program. BUT, those individuals can only practice in that particular state.
Then, if the individual wants to practice in another state, that state normally will not allow unless graduated from an RN program.
OP, the person needs to speak with the state BON to see what they have to do to become lincensed in that state.

Thank you. That is exactly what happened. He was in a BSN program in California and that year all the students took the NCLEX approximately 10 months before finishing the BSN. He passed and has been working as a nurse ever since, never to return to the BSN program. He has tried to get a straight answer from the online BSN program, but has been unsuccessful. The BON has told him to go back to school to get his BSN or to go into an ADN program. He wonders if there are ANY states which he can endorse to without going back to school.

enchantmentdis, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

Wut?
Don't understand this. As far as I'm aware, you cannot sit for the NCLEX without completing edu. Was this person possibly an LPN?[/quote
I had thought this as well, but he was never an LVN. They allowed him to take the NCLEX as he was getting him BSN and he passed, went to work, and thought he would never have to have a BSN to move out of state.

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 4, 2012

Thank you. That is exactly what happened. He was in a BSN program in California and that year all the students took the NCLEX approximately 10 months before finishing the BSN. He passed and has been working as a nurse ever since, never to return to the BSN program. He has tried to get a straight answer from the online BSN program, but has been unsuccessful. The BON has told him to go back to school to get his BSN or to go into an ADN program. He wonders if there are ANY states which he can endorse to without going back to school.

That's what I figured.

I highly doubt any BON will endorse this license unless he actually graduates from an RN program recognized by that state.

He will probably have to take and complete certain courses as delineated by the BON and graduate before they will consider his request. Again, if one state says no, he'll have to contact the BON in other states.

enchantmentdis, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

That's what I figured.
I highly doubt any BON will endorse this license unless he actually graduates from an RN program recognized by that state.
He will probably have to take and complete certain courses as delineated by the BON and graduate before they will consider his request. Again, if one state says no, he'll have to contact the BON in other states.

Thanks, again. He was never an LVN, and says he can't afford to go back to school right now to complete the BSN; but needs to move to another state to assist in the care of a family member, but will need a nursing job lined up before leaving. He was never told by his school that he should finish the program or something like this might happen later. I'm sure this has happened to other nurses. What a mess.

hgrimmett · Oct 4, 2012

what would they have to go through to get accepted into an online program to finish the BSN?

Apply to whatever college the person is interested in

Have transcripts of all previous college work sent to this school from the previous school(s)

Wait for the college to get the transcripts and decide whether or not the credits will transfer in; at that point the college will evaluate whether or not the person can enroll and how many classes/credits will be needed to get a BSN degree from that institution. It will vary tremendously on things like accredition of all the schools involved, if one school uses semesters versus quarters, and so on. If you don't like the answer you get from the first school you apply to, try a different one. Lots of them out there with online BSN programs these days.

Credits from previous college work technically never expire, although some schools may have policies related to their specific nursing program stating that X Y or Z subject classes (example: A&P) must have been taken within the last 5 years for transfer credit to be given. Every school is different though.

Hope it helps.

enchantmentdis, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

Apply to whatever college the person is interested in
Have transcripts of all previous college work sent to this school from the previous school(s)
Wait for the college to get the transcripts and decide whether or not the credits will transfer in; at that point the college will evaluate whether or not the person can enroll and how many classes/credits will be needed to get a BSN degree from that institution. It will vary tremendously on things like accredition of all the schools involved, if one school uses semesters versus quarters, and so on. If you don't like the answer you get from the first school you apply to, try a different one. Lots of them out there with online BSN programs these days.
Credits from previous college work technically never expire, although some schools may have policies related to their specific nursing program stating that X Y or Z subject classes (example: A&P) must have been taken within the last 5 years for transfer credit to be given. Every school is different though.
Hope it helps.[/quote
Thanks for the info.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 4, 2012

why isn't he asking these questions? Seems he needs to be more pro-active

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

Thanks, again. He was never an LVN, and says he can't afford to go back to school right now to complete the BSN; but needs to move to another state to assist in the care of a family member, but will need a nursing job lined up before leaving. He was never told by his school that he should finish the program or something like this might happen later. I'm sure this has happened to other nurses. What a mess.

Unfortunate for your friend, but the minimum requirement in any State (except CA, I believe) for sitting for the NCLEX is successful completion (graduation) from an accredited nursing program.

Your friend is missing an entire year's worth of education, the last year of the BSN program he was in. It isn't just a couple of credits. It's a YEAR. I can't imagine that he was never told of the loophole he was using to his advantage (that is, getting the RN license without a degree). More likely, he has forgotten about it because he never expected it would be a problem--unfortunately for him, very short-sighted decision-making has left him in a bit of a predicament!

He cannot work as an nurse in any capacity (RN or LPN) without having a valid license/endorsement for the State in which he plans to work. If that State requires him to complete a nursing program before being allowed an endorsement to his license, then he'll HAVE TO DO IT. Otherwise....he won't be working as a nurse.

This situation comes up from time to time, mostly because CA kept their nursing shortage down by creating this loophole, and then when people who have taken advantage of it want to move out of State, they find that they are back where they started: needing to finish their schooling.