ISU not recognized by all states

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Hi, this is my first post. I have been thinking of going to school to become a nurse for about two years now, and there is a state funded lpn program where I live so right now I am working on my prereqs and hopefully I will start the program in August.

After I get my lpn I plan on going to work right away but want to continue my education as well. If I could, I would love to just take the time to go for my bsn right from the start, but in my position I need to get back to work asap.

So After doing a lot of research online and on this site in particular I really like the idea of the ISU lpn to bsn program. The only thing that worries me is that it is not recognized by all states, two of which that catch my eye are NY and NH. My gf (also a nurse RN BSN) and I talk about perhaps moving to NH someday and if I get a degree that isn't recognized there that just would be awful.

....So my questions are: Is it the BSN that will not be recognized or my RN as well. I do see that the program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, so does that mean I will be recognized as an RN everywhere?

Also lets say I do go through their program and then continue on with another program from another school to get my MS will then my MS be recognized in those states?

Any info would be a great help. I want to make the best and most informed decisions and would like to have this mapped out so I know I am on the right path. Thank you all so much!!

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that "bsn" will not be recognized and those states will not grant you an rn license by reciprocity if that is the basic program you took to take the nclex in a state that accepted that school. to clarify, if you graduate from this "bsn" program in state a and take the nclex in state a and get a state a rn license, when you move to ny or nh and apply for a ny or nh license by reciprocity from state a, you won't get it, because your education does not meet their standards for registered nurses.

forget the mn if you don't get your bsn from a real school.

go to a real school. go to an adn program instead of an lpn program if funds or timing is that tight, making sure that the program you go to will be transferrable to a real bsn program later. you'll take about the same amount of time (or longer) as going to a real bsn school from the git-go if you do it that way, but the timing is up to you.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

Indiana State University (ISU) is a real school. ISU is both CCNE and NLNAC accredited along with regional accreditation. I have read somewhere on the site that many of the schools offering on-line programs are running into problems with states that will not accept their program. I have not seen many of the LPN to BSN programs. Of course, there are several schools offering bridge programs (LPN to RN-ASN). Regardless, if the program is not offered for the state in which you reside, it would obviously pose problems in getting licensed.

GRNTEA, does the board of nursing look at the school from which one graduates? I know in obtaining a new license it is looked at. However, suppose the OP went to ISU, earned a BSN, sat for NCLEX and became and RN in a state that accepts ISU graduates. After obtaining a license number, could he apply for endorsement into another state without problems?

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Specializes in HIV, Psych, GI, Hepatology, Research.

I don't see how someone could say that Indiana State University isn't a real school. It's an actual brick and mortar establishment with students who walk around campus and take classes. They graduate with degrees. I wish people wouldn't be so quick to judge what others plans are. Everyone needs to do their own research and do what works best for them. We aren't all going to take the same route to getting a nursing degree and shouldn't be so quick to put down what other people may be planning because it isn't what we did. Just my two cents. I see this too often on this forum.

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Is the OP talking about Indiana State Univ? or Idaho State University? or another ISU???

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Specializes in HIV, Psych, GI, Hepatology, Research.

Currently Indiana State University is the only LPN to BSN online program that I know of so I would assume that is what they referred to as ISU but I could be wrong.

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From what I see there has been heavy discussion about this on

here..https://allnurses.com/indiana-state-university/indiana-state-university-376186.html.

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Thank you all so much for the friendly and quick responses. Like I said I would love to go for my bsn right off, but I have three children and need to work. The lpn program will at least get me into nursing and earning a paycheck. I did search and read as much as I could about the Indiana State University program, but did not see an answer for my exact question. I will continue reading, but in the meantime thank you!

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my bad for not asking about what "isu" was, apologies. after reading so many posts lately about for-profit schools, my brain just thought it sounded like another one. reminder: please define such abbreviations. we don't all know what you mean! (i just found out that "umd" applies not to university of maryland, but to a state college campus, "university of massachusetts at dartmouth" (not to be confused with dartmouth college in nh :D, which does not, to my knowledge, have a nursing program.)

the rest of my comment about licensure in other jurisdictions stands, as does my recommendation to go to a college with stronger accreditation.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Does the board of nursing look at the school from which one graduates? I know in obtaining a new license it is looked at. However, suppose the OP went to ISU, earned a BSN, sat for NCLEX and became and RN in a state that accepts ISU graduates. After obtaining a license number, could he apply for endorsement into another state without problems?

Many BONs look at the school the applicant graduated from to determine if that nursing program meets their state requirements for licensure. The fact that a school is accredited doesn't mean it's automatically accepted without question (see Excelsior: both NLNAC and NLN accredited, and you still won't get a RN license in Maryland as an Excelsior grad even if you try to endorse in).

OP: if you are planning to relocate to certain states, I'd select a BSN program that you know will be accepted in those states.

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my bad for not asking about what "isu" was, apologies. after reading so many posts lately about for-profit schools, my brain just thought it sounded like another one. reminder: please define such abbreviations. we don't all know what you mean! (i just found out that "umd" applies not to university of maryland, but to a state college campus, "university of massachusetts at dartmouth" (not to be confused with dartmouth college in nh :D, which does not, to my knowledge, have a nursing program.)

the rest of my comment about licensure in other jurisdictions stands, as does my recommendation to go to a college with stronger accreditation.

well said and thank you!

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If you know it is a strong possibility you will go to NH, and you know that NH will not accept ISU, then the logical thing to do would be to go to another school, one that you know that NH will accept.

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