Cna challenge lpn boards

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 29, 2009

If they met the criteria and pass the boards why not? RNs go to nursing school and get some hands on experience, but not on everything out there that they will ever do and they are aloud to practice. How much more can an LVN do than a CNA? This can be learned fairly easily.

elkpark · Jul 30, 2009

I've heard of this, but thought that, in addition to the required minimum amount of experience, the CNAs also had to complete a pharmacology course. I don't know for sure, though.

marineswife0809 · Jul 30, 2009

yes i understand but cnas arent taught fundamentals of nursing and the nursing process--but i guess this can be learned over time

MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2009

I think LPNs that have been CNAs really need to answer this one....sorry, but I think it is the establishment attempting to further dumb down nursing. What happened to nursing as a profession?

PAERRN20 · Jul 30, 2009

Sorry but I think this is terribly scary, pharmacology course or not. The job of an LPN/RN needs to be protected. CNA's are NOT nurses unless they go to nursing school and pass the NCLEX after graduation. Period. I am not undermining the work of CNA's because we would all have difficulty without our assistants. I think for the safety of our patients and the nursing profession nobody should be allowed to challenge the NCLEX.

Batman24 · Jul 30, 2009

Sorry but I think this is terribly scary, pharmacology course or not. The job of an LPN/RN needs to be protected. CNA's are NOT nurses unless they go to nursing school and pass the NCLEX after graduation. Period. I am not undermining the work of CNA's because we would all have difficulty without our assistants. I think for the safety of our patients and the nursing profession nobody should be allowed to challenge the NCLEX.

I'm with you.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Jul 30, 2009

Sorry but I think this is terribly scary, pharmacology course or not. The job of an LPN/RN needs to be protected. CNA's are NOT nurses unless they go to nursing school and pass the NCLEX after graduation. Period. I am not undermining the work of CNA's because we would all have difficulty without our assistants. I think for the safety of our patients and the nursing profession nobody should be allowed to challenge the NCLEX.

i'm with you and batman... you can't be a nurse until you go to nursing school, take the nclex and pass.... eeyup really scary... :banghead::banghead:

Midwest4me · Jul 30, 2009

ok hear this out! i lived in california and i would hear cnas say they are going to challenge the california lpn boards. im like ''ok lets be serious''! lol. so i took it upon myself to see if this is possible.damn i was shocked its really true!! you have to be a cna for 5 yrs with x-amount of expr.in certain areas. personally i think this is crazy and dangerous. its just some roles as a nurse cnas just dont undertsand or know. tell me what ya think????

if i were you, i'd double-check the source of information. did you check with the board of nursing about this in ca? does one not have to graduate from an accredited nursing school to be a nurse there? it seems to me that by allowing cnas to do this, the bon removes the requirement to attend nursing school. furthermore, if the cnas are allowed to do that, then we seasoned lpns(20+yrs' experience/education) should be allowed to challenge the rn boards. i don't see any of it happening...without a whole lot of outrage by current nurses.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Jul 30, 2009

Well this is scary. :down: There is a whole lot more to being a nurse than doing treatments and passing meds, even if one takes a really good pharmacology course. What about having a good knowledge base of diseases? Is a CNA turned LPN without schooling going to notice subtle symptoms that may mean a patient is having further complications? If a CNA wants to be an LPN... Go to school to be an LPN. Same with an LPN who wants to be an RN... Each are very respectable roles, but each are very different. I have done all 3 roles, and the thought really scares me to just "test out" after taking pharmacology.

lerabelle · Jul 30, 2009

This is crazy and dangerous! I am a LPN and I went to school for 2 years to get the education to be able to sit for and pass the boards. I do not think that just because you work as a CNA in a hospital along side a nurse that you get all of the education that you need to be a capable nurse (although some think they know more than the nurses!) I say let them take the boards and see how they do....I think they will be shocked!!!!!

MiaNJ · Jul 30, 2009

If they met the criteria and pass the boards why not? RNs go to nursing school and get some hands on experience, but not on everything out there that they will ever do and they are aloud to practice. How much more can an LVN do than a CNA? This can be learned fairly easily.

I disagree. Being a nurse is not only about 'doing' skills. When I was in nursing school, I remember a very good, highly experienced clinical instructor once told us that 'anyone' can actually 'learn' to do certain nursing skills, even a monkey. Of course, she was joking, but she meant that anyone can learn to insert a foley or an IV, with enough practice. BUT that doesn't mean they know WHY they are doing certain things or how can a certain condition affect another, and what symptoms to recognize, etc. etc. etc.

That's the point of taking Anatomy & Physiology, Pathophysiology, etc. etc. We need to not only 'do' things as a nurse, but know why we are doing them and the possible consequences of each action.

I know some CNAs may be aware of the anatomy and diseases, etc. but they haven't taken all the courses necessary to really 'critically' think as a nurse.

I think some people can actually memorize 'how' to pass the NCLEX with practicing enough questions and retaking it several times if needed. But that doesn't mean they will still understand disease process, pharmacology, etc.

I think it makes nursing less respectful as a profession, if people who didn't attend nursing school are allowed to challenge the NCLEX.

There are already people who think nursing is an 'easy' degree, since it can be completed in 2 yrs. Little do they know how much studying and work is involved in nursing school, and how much we have to learn.