How is the market for LPNs?

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No real place in mind to live, I just want to move to Texas to be an LPN. Would I still have any luck finding a job here stable enough to support after a coast to coast move? I have 5 years experience and trying to get out of the east coast. It seems WA is dry so how about Texas? I know LPNs are being phased out nationally but I just thought I'd ask. I'm also in the process of becoming a RN.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

If you're interested in Tx, you probably need to know that we have LVNs, not LPNs - same in CA.

Many hospitals & LTACs still employ LVNs in bedside roles & they make up the majority of licensed staff in LTC. Nurse practice acts differ, so you probably need to carefully explore LVN scope of practice in TX - ours do a lot more than in many other states. You'll have much more luck outside the major cities.

In the meantime, go ahead and start the ball rolling to get your Tx licensure... this may take some time because of the lack of standardization in vocational/practical nursing programs in the US. You may discover that there are some additional educational requirements that you have to undertake - such as the 'Jurisprudence' educational requirement that Tx grads are required to complete.

Best of luck. Please make sure you have a job lined up before uprooting yourself for the move.

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Jurisprudence wow really? I'm in a state with the Nurse Licensure Compact https://www.ncsbn.org/nlc.htm so does that still apply?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Jurisprudence wow really? I'm in a state with the Nurse Licensure Compact https://www.ncsbn.org/nlc.htm so does that still apply?
Yes, you will need a Texas license to practice nursing in Texas, even if you're coming from another compact state.

People fail to realize that a compact license works exactly like a driver's license. You can legally drive in Texas under your WA license for 30 days. After this 30 days elapses, you will need to obtain a Texas license to legally drive in Texas.

The compact nursing license works in the same manner: you can legally practice nursing in TX under your WA license for 30 days. After 30 days, you will need a TX nursing license to continue to practice in TX.

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if you are moving to houston, I could give you more infomation is you email me... [email protected] i moved here this year from MD.

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There is absolutely nothing here for LVNs unless you want to work at a nursing home, or for home health!!! Trust me!! I have been an LVN since 1988 and have been back in school off and on all that time... My employer is forcing all LVNs back in school to get their RN, there are only a couple of us in the whole hospital, but we had to meet with the CNO and sign a paper stating that we would have our RN by a certain date, or we would loose our jobs!!! Best to have a BSN to get any good positions, at least around Dallas anyway!!!

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