LVN with 35 year old expired license seeks RN preceptor

Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation!

Published Feb 6

I was an LVN in the Army and after my Army retirement for about 20 years. I want to be reinstated as an LVN. My license expired in the late 1990s. I can take care of the CEU and BLS requirements on my own, but can't find a local RN preceptor for the 80 hospital setting hours I need for recertification in the Cypress/Houston TX area. The state nursing board can't even give me a list of possibilities, as that would appear to be "preferential" on their side. Almost all of my nursing experience was in an ICU setting. I just want to be an asset to my community and supplement my fixed income. No matter how I phrase it in a Google search, no leads can be found. It doesn't have to be an ICU preceptor, but just an RN in a hospital setting. Are there any leads or help you can share with me? Thank you.

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Career Columnist / Author

Nurse Beth, MSN

145 Articles; 4,466 Posts

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Feb 6

Your license has been expired for 35 years. The Texas BON requires you to locate a preceptor for 80 hours. Did you read this on their website, or have you had a direct conversation about your situation? According to the website, LVNs whose licenses have expired over one year must complete 80 hours of preceptorship. However, since yours expired 35 years ago, you should discuss your case directly with them.

I'm confused about how you can administer medications, insert Foley catheters, place NG tubes, or even physically touch patients without a license or being a student affiliated with a school that partners with the hospital. Understandably, a facility would want to avoid such a risk.

Even if you locate a willing RN, they remain bound by hospital policy and cannot operate independently.

I hope a community member can spot something I might have overlooked or suggest a resource to assist you. I'm sorry that I can't provide more help myself.

Nurse Beth

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