Challenging boards?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

quick question....there's an aide at my hospital that challenged the lvn boards and passed. trouble is, she doesn't have any experience, etc. she's going to start applying for lvn positions and use it to get into an r.n. program (which i totally understand since it's so hard to get in anywhere and being an lvn would help!). but is it safe for her to work?

any thoughts?

pagandeva2000, LPN

7,984 Posts

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Where do you live? I am hearing that this practice is popular in California, where an aide can challenge NCLEX-PN with a few courses. Of course, I say that it is not safe for her to work, but who am I??

Specializes in Cardiac Care.

I didn't know that was possible. I thought that in order to sit for any NCLEX (RN or PN), one first had to graduate from an approved school of nursing. I've not heard of challenging that exam.

I would think that clinical experience (so many hours in school) would be a requirement in order to sit for the test.

Shows what I don't know!

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

are you in ca. that is the only state that i know of that allows non- nursing students or military medics to sit for the exam w/o attending nursing school... i think it is very unsafe..but who am i

Specializes in Med-Surg/Oncology/Telemetry/ICU.

you guys are good!!! :D yup, i'm in california. i didn't know you could do that with the lvn boards and i hope you can't do that with the rn boards! i'm happy that this might make it easier for her to get into a registered nursing program, but i was just wondering about the whole thing cause i thought it was a little weird since she's planning on working....:uhoh3:

smk1, LPN

2,195 Posts

you guys are good!!! :D yup, i'm in california. i didn't know you could do that with the lvn boards and i hope you can't do that with the rn boards! i'm happy that this might make it easier for her to get into a registered nursing program, but i was just wondering about the whole thing cause i thought it was a little weird since she's planning on working....:uhoh3:

no state will allow you to challenge the rn boards, and i am unsure if she will be able to enter an rn class without transcript approval (which she won't have). she may just have to stay an lpn (not that there is anything wrong with that, just saying her plan may not work and even if she does gain acceptance to an rn school she needs to contact the board to see if she will be eligible to sit for the nclex).

njbikernurse

67 Posts

Specializes in LTC, Sub-acute, correctional.

This is the most cukoo thing I have ever heard. I remember being nervous my first day practicing as an LPN because I felt like I didn't learn ENOUGH in school. How can you do it WITHOUT going to school? Just because you can pick out the right answers on the NCLEX doesn't mean you really comprehend all the theory behind the right answer. I mean, you could just be lucky..........

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

:yeahthat:

This is the most cukoo thing I have ever heard. I remember being nervous my first day practicing as an LPN because I felt like I didn't learn ENOUGH in school. How can you do it WITHOUT going to school? Just because you can pick out the right answers on the NCLEX doesn't mean you really comprehend all the theory behind the right answer. I mean, you could just be lucky..........
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
Where do you live? I am hearing that this practice is popular in California, where an aide can challenge NCLEX-PN with a few courses. Of course, I say that it is not safe for her to work, but who am I??

Not just a few courses, but also time served in served in the right areas. Common for Corpsman to challenge when they get out.

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
are you in ca. that is the only state that i know of that allows non- nursing students or military medics to sit for the exam w/o attending nursing school... i think it is very unsafe..but who am i

medics and corpsman with the right experience should be allowed to sit for lpn boards in any state, they have earned the right.

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

what i meant was cna's taking the nclex-pn being unsafe not military medics..sorry for the confusion

medics and corpsman with the right experience should be allowed to sit for lpn boards in any state, they have earned the right.

ZootRN

388 Posts

If I remember right, if you challenged the boards the way others described (being a medic etc), you won't be able to practice in any other state except for California. Might be not in your best interest for the future.

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