Keeping Up Your License!

[kjwrn]

Hello. I wanted to share some information with the group about keeping your License up to date no matter what happens or what path you follow in life so that others would not find themselves in the pickle I am in.

I passed the NCLEX-RN in 1997. I then went to work out of state and obtained my 2nd RN license. I eventually switched jobs and although they wanted an RN for the position, it was not an RN position (i.e. requiring me to carry a license). The company went bankrupt. I moved back home to PA and did not work in the Nursing/Health Care Industry.

During this time I did not renew my PA RN License and I also let my VA license expire.

I recently decided that it was time to re-enter the Health Care field. I called the PA Board of Nsg to pay for my license/reactivate it.

(5 years and a few weeks had passed since my license had expired)

I now have to:

1. Take & pass the NCLEX

2. Provide proof that I had been working as an RN in another state.

3. Take a Board approved Reactivation Program. (theory, clinical and testing...14 to 16 weeks...)

...as they have a 5 year limit on reactivating a license.

NOTE: Each State Board Of Nursing Licensensure has different requirements. For instance: I was able to have my VA RN license reactivated by paying a fee and taking 15 Nursing CEU's, found at various online site

for free, topics of my choice.

From there I was then able to get my WVa license. I am currently looking for work in WVa, but am studying for the NCLEX to increase my odds at finding employment.

I made the mistake in thinking "why pay for something I am not using." "I'll re-pay when I need it, after all, I went to school and passed my boards..."

The moral - although there are no rules and regulations with your license it's a good idea to view your Board of Nursing's policies not just their practice acts.

In closing I would just like to say...

Good Luck to those getting ready to take or re-take the NCLEX, and Congratulations to those that have recently passed.

KJWRN

[suzanne4, RN]

Thanks for sharing this.

And best of luck to you.

[kjwrn]

lol! Thanks! I am preparing using your review.

Have a nice weekend.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

OMG, to miss it by a few weeks!!! Arrgh, how frustrating. I'm sure you'll do just fine. :) Best of luck to you!!

[queenjean7]

My nightmare story - never do this!!!

I can relate to your story completely. I passed the California LVN nclex in 1996 and worked in hospice for several years until my son was born. A few years later I decided to enter the local community college RN program and, since I was going to be an RN, did not renew my license. But in the middle of the program I had my youngest son and did not graduate. Now, my kids are in school and I need to work, but my license has been expired for more than four years. In March I requested an application from the bvnpt - it was difficult to prove my vn education since the school is now out of business. I waited 11 weeks between sending in my application to retest and receiving my availability to test form. It was then another long waiting period before I was able to take my exam. I finally took the nclex the first week of July then had to wait 6 stressfull weeks for the results (California does not have the early online results) The whole process took 6 months, but the good news is I received my passing letter yesterday:yeah: and am now anxious to return to hospice. Please do not make this mistake, it is very stressfull and costly to fix.

[Proverbs 16:3]

Thanks for sharing. I almost got a PA license but since i was going to work in a different state, i got their license instead. i almost regretted it cuz i thought i coulda had the license for $35 if i'd applied for it originally instead of coming back in a few years to endorse there. I'm still a PA resident though i work in a different state but considering how much some of the hospitals pay up here, i may not come back. After reading your story, i don't feel bad anymore cuz i'd have let my PA license expire while working here till i came back home cuz i didn't see the point in getting the license and keeping it active if i'm not working there.

I think the conditions set by the PA BON is a little too much. One thing i like about working that here is that unlike the PA BON, i don't need to take CEU's to keep my license active.

I have a question, can't you endorse the WVA license to PA? or try jersey. Most of the nurses in my former hospital in PA lived in jersey....now i'm not sure if they had a PA license. I do think there's some reciprocity between the two states.