For those LVN's tha challenged the boards...

caliotter3 · May 30, 2007

Unless it has changed, as I recall, the application states that you must show 60 months of paid bedside experience. My application had to be resubmitted b/c one of my employers put on the paper from the board that they did not know who I was. By that time, I had more experience from another employer. BTW, I used experienced as a CNA for some of my requirement.

RNDreamer · May 30, 2007

sorry, but I do no understand this...you can be a CNA and challenge the LVN boards? how? maybe I'm reading this wrong...please explain...TIA

simu · May 30, 2007

i was thinking abt challenge the board for lvn. i have study lot for lvn. i m ready for the exam but i dont know who to connect.plz help me

caliotter3 · May 30, 2007

NYDreamer

I looked on the BVNPT website under licensing and found the info regarding this method of obtaining a license in CA. It quotes California Code of Regulations section 2615(b) and is called the "equivalency" method. Another method is available for persons who have military experience. I wrongly quoted 60 months (as I recall many years ago the requirement was 60 months), now it is 51 months of paid bedside experience and at least a 54 hour course in pharmacology to be able to sit for the LVN boards. In lieu of paid bedside experience, some education can be substituted. They break down requirements for length of time in different types of nursing. Notably, the Board states that this type of license is not recognized outside of CA and warns prospective licensees that even employers in CA may not accept someone with this license (although I find that hard to believe). If you want to read about this in detail just enter BVNPT in your browser or look under state of california.gov/BVNPT.

RNDreamer · May 30, 2007

wow! thanks for the info

NYDreamer
I looked on the BVNPT website under licensing and found the info regarding this method of obtaining a license in CA. It quotes California Code of Regulations section 2615(b) and is called the "equivalency" method. Another method is available for persons who have military experience. I wrongly quoted 60 months (as I recall many years ago the requirement was 60 months), now it is 51 months of paid bedside experience and at least a 54 hour course in pharmacology to be able to sit for the LVN boards. In lieu of paid bedside experience, some education can be substituted. They break down requirements for length of time in different types of nursing. Notably, the Board states that this type of license is not recognized outside of CA and warns prospective licensees that even employers in CA may not accept someone with this license (although I find that hard to believe). If you want to read about this in detail just enter BVNPT in your browser or look under state of california.gov/BVNPT.

TazziRN, RN · May 30, 2007

A pharm course without practice at med administration?

Flame me if you like, but if I were an employer and someone who challenged the LVN boards this way without actually going through an LVN program applied, I seriously doubt I would be hiring that person. There are other things that are learned in clinicals that CNAs cannot do, no matter how much bedside experience they have.

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 30, 2007

A pharm course without practice at med administration?
Flame me if you like, but if I were an employer and someone who challenged the LVN boards this way without actually going through an LVN program applied, I seriously doubt I would be hiring that person. There are other things that are learned in clinicals that CNAs cannot do, no matter how much bedside experience they have.

I have issues with this, also. It totally diminishes our efforts as LPNs for completing an entire course, and there are so many components missing from a CNA program. I have heard of this before, and to my understanding, if a CNA does, in fact, obtain their LPN license this way, they are limited to work in the state that issued the license.

TazziRN, RN · May 30, 2007

I have no problem with military medics and corpsmen who challenge LVN boards, because their duties are very similar, if not more, than what LVNs do. But to hire an LVN who challenged the boards as a CNA would make me very nervous.

niteshiftlvn07 · May 30, 2007

:monkeydance: WOW!!! I now know california has lost it's mind!!! :uhoh3: When yall say paid bedside experience what comes to my mind is basic cna duties(vital signs, toileting, assist ambulating, hygeine care, asst with feeding, cath care, etc..). Some hospitals/facilities have pct's/nurse techs that are allowed to do extra pt. care skills. But 4 yrs as a cna doesn't = LVN.(But california apparently thinks so! :uhoh3: ) IMO any one who wants to become a nurse needs to go to nursing school(C.C., UNIV.,DIPLOMA, or PRIVATE). How is the california board gonna know if the applicant's "PAID EXPERIENCE" is sufficient enough to be able to perform as a lvn(DUH!! Well I guess this letter is good enough evidence for us:smackingf --LOL:rotfl: ) If the military has a training program equivilent to the lvn program then that's ok, but just cna and a nclex study guide-- I DON'T THINK SO!! REMIND ME NOT TO GET SICK WHILE VISITING CALIFORNIA!!

Dolce, RN · May 30, 2007

From my understanding nurse practice acts for LPN/LVNs vary widely from state to state. In Texas, for example, LVNs do almost everything RNs do including pushing IV meds. I think that California is much more restrictive in what they allow LVNs to do. I think that their role may be more similar to a CNA than in other states. However, if I were a patient I would just die if I found out my nurse didn't even go to nursing school! That is scary, scary, scary.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · May 30, 2007

yep, this is a scary thing.