How do you write your credentials after graduating but waiting to take the boards?

Specialties NP

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Hi all,

Weird question but when you graduate with your MSN-FNP and while waiting to take and pass the FNP boards....how do you write your name? I'm assuming since you got your MS degree conferred then it would be First Last, MSN, RN?

Then when you pass the boards and get certified then it would be First Last, FNP-BC or FNP-C?

Specializes in FNP.

I probably should have been clearer. My situation is, BSN RN before graduating from getting a MSN in Advanced Practice Nursing (what it says on my diploma) from UTEP, then MSN RN until getting licensed from the Texas Board of Nursing as an APRN FNP (what is says on the TBON website), then MSN APRN FNP until getting certified from AANP, then MSN, APRN, FNP-C.

So, it depends on your states board of nursing and where you are on your journey.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.
1 minute ago, MikeFNPC said:

I probably should have been clearer. My situation is, BSN RN before graduating from getting a MSN in Advanced Practice Nursing (what it says on my diploma) from UTEP, then MSN RN until getting licensed from the Texas Board of Nursing as an APRN FNP (what is says on the TBON website), then MSN APRN FNP until getting certified from AANP, then MSN, APRN, FNP-C.

So, it depends on your states board of nursing and where you are on your journey.

Admittedly I'm not familiar with how Tx works, but how do you get an APRN without first having your national boards? That's not how the LACE model is supposed to work.

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Specializes in FNP.

Maybe it's Texas. We can't "practice medicine" here, we "practice advanced practice nursing", as stated in the Texas occupation code. It doesn't matter that we do the exact same "thing" (whatever you want to call it, LOL) as MD's do, if you get caught saying that you practice medicine, the Texas Medical Board fines you $1000.

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3 hours ago, TheSquire said:

Admittedly I'm not familiar with how Tx works, but how do you get an APRN without first having your national boards? That's not how the LACE model is supposed to work.

You can't. I know for sure in Texas you need to pass boards before you can be licensed as an NP in Texas and that you cannot use the title APRN until you are licensed in the great state of Texas.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.
15 minutes ago, jbrig said:

You can't. I know for sure in Texas you need to pass boards before you can be licensed as an NP in Texas and that you cannot use the title APRN until you are licensed in the great state of Texas.

That's what I figured. So, @MikeFNPC, you'll be MSN, RN once you graduate until you pass your boards, then you'll still be MSN, RN until you are licensed by the State of Texas, at which point you get to become MSN, APRN, FNP-C

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Specializes in FNP.

https://www.bon.texas.gov/pdfs/newsletter_pdfs/2008/july08.pdf

The only test you take in Texas is a certification test, not a board test. And, the Board of Nursing grants the advanced practice titles, not a certification body such as the AANP.

"Please be aware that Rule 221.2(c)(2) prohibits the use of any titles or credentials that imply that a person is an advanced practice nurse if he/she is not currently authorized to practice as an advanced practice nurse in Texas." page 8 of the link.

Licence comes from the BON, then certification comes from taking the certification exam. You can work in several states as an APRN without taking any tests. However, if applying for a job and others are certified, the employer would more than likely take the certified person over non certified persons.

California, Kansas, and New York do not require a certification exam to work as an APRN. Therefore, you don't need to take any test to work there after graduation. However, as we all know these rules are changing daily, so all of us need to know the rules in our states for working as well as identifying ourselves as advanced practice nurses.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.
Quote

It is also important to remember that the Texas Board of Nursing does not issue a separate “license” for advanced practice nurses in the state of Texas at this time.

Your linked newsletter...from 2008...says stuff like the above that is directly contradicted by the current TX BON website which states that Texas requires National Certification:

Quote

Requirements for Texas APRN Licensure - With Optional Prescriptive Authority

  • Required fee is $100 for APRN licensure only. If you are requesting APRN licensure with prescriptive authority, the required fee is $150. This fee is nonrefundable.
  • Texas RN licensure or RN licensure with compact privilege from a state that is party to the Nurse Licensure Compact for RNs and LVNs.
  • Completion of an advanced practice nursing educational program accredited by an organization recognized by the Board that complies with the requirements in Rule 221.3 (see below).
  • National certification in the role and population focus area congruent with your advanced practice nursing educational preparation. [Emphasis mine] The expiration date of the certification will be requested.

I don't know where you're getting your information, but a quick Google search proved you wrong.

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Yes TheSquire is correct. That article from the BON is outdated from 2008. They changed the rules a couple of years ago I believe on usage of the APRN title.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
57 minutes ago, MikeFNPC said:

The only test you take in Texas is a certification test, not a board test. And, the Board of Nursing grants the advanced practice titles, not a certification body such as the AANP.

You can not be licensed as an APRN in Texas without having passed a national board certification exam.

"Requirements for Texas APRN Licensure - With Optional Prescriptive Authority

National certification in the role and population focus area congruent with your advanced practice nursing educational preparation."

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

After graduating and before boards I wrote my credentials as:

Verene, MN, RN

On my resume I listed my education including Masters degree, and under licenses/Certifications added:

ANCC PMHNP Board Certification - Test date scheduled for [date]

[State] APRN/PMHNP Certification - Anticipated [month, year]

To show that I was in the process of applying and that I expected to have these credentials in near future.

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.
On 3/23/2020 at 8:42 PM, BostonFNP said:

1. According to the TOS it applies here.

2. Your post said that another student privately emailed a professor prior to taking the boards and used a credential. Was that student practicing and taking care of patients an using an unearned credential, or was it just an email signature?

3. The student (apparently unknowingly) used an unearned credential in a private email (and was set straight by your professor). You knowingly clicked on two credentials you haven’t earned and have been posting publicly where thousands can see.

4. I don’t think 3/4ths of AN is using unearned credentials because the mods enforce the TOS.

5. Where did you admit you are a student in the post above?

1. Forgive me for not reading the TOS on an online anonymous message board. You nor anyone can verify who anyone is or their credentials here. Therefore, it is kinda silly isn't it?

2. It is another scenario - in real life, where two people know each other in the real world and they have a professional relationship - PhD/PMHNP professor & student. Telling her professor she was certified when he knew she wasn't. Hardly the same thing as an anonymous forum where things are impersonal and you can't verify anyone.

3. I clicked credentials I am working on - might be against the TOS on this message board, but not illegal. Signing your name from one identifiable provider to a another impersonating a credential, that is illegal.

4. Prove to me you can verify 1/4ths of the people here dude. You have no idea who they are, what they earned, etc.

5. How did you know I was a student?

Regardless, here is the guidance -

https://www.nursingworld.org/~49636a/globalassets/certification/certification-specialty-pages/ancc-credentialsbrochure.pdf

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2 hours ago, adammRN said:

1. Forgive me for not reading the TOS on an online anonymous message board. You nor anyone can verify who anyone is or their credentials here. Therefore, it is kinda silly isn't it?

3. I clicked credentials I am working on - might be against the TOS on this message board, but not illegal. Signing your name from one identifiable provider to a another impersonating a credential, that is illegal.

First step is acknowledging your mistake. Second step is fixing your mistake. The third step Is moving on. It isn’t going on explaining why your mistake is or isn’t valid. we have some honor system on these boards for sure and you choose to or not to abide by that. there’s nobody to enforce credentials, but you can probably be banned for breaking the TOS once you publicly disclose you are. Regardless of your failure to understand those terms.

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