new grad-out of state

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Hello all,

Since OR is where I want to live, I thought this might be a good place to post my question. I will be taking the NCLEX in June, or there abouts, to become licensed in the state in which I now reside. This state is not part of the "agreement" region whereby many states allow licensure in one state to be accepted in another. So, how do I become licensed in OR? Do I just take my NCLEX and that will grant me privelege to work in my current state as well as OR? Is there another exam to become licensed in OR? In short, what is the process?

I'm shocked no one has addressed this in my class, come to think of it. However, most are married with families and moving out of town, much less out of state, isn't an option.

dny

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care, Gero, dementia.

When in doubt, check the states BON website

I went to Oregon's and it said this about people licensed in other states:

You can become a nurse (RN or LPN) in Oregon by one of two ways:

  1. by examination (for people who graduate from an approved nursing program and take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX)) or
  2. by endorsment (for those who have held a nursing license in a state or jurisdiction other than Oregon).

Oregon requires a license to practice nursing and considers that practice to begin as soon as you begin orientation to a nursing position. (In other words, you must have a license in hand before you begin orientation.)

You should apply for a license well in advance of accepting employment in Oregon, as securing the required documents during processing may take several weeks. The Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) does not issue temporary licenses. Licenses are mailed daily and cannot be issued on a drop-in basis.

General Licensure Information

  • Education: Applicants must graduate from a state-approved nursing program with a practical nursing certificate, diploma, or an associate, baccalaureate or master´s degree in nursing; or from an equivalent program in a school of nursing outside of the United States or its jurisdictions. Eligibility for licensure is based on the basic nursing education that led to your initial licensure.
  • Practice: Endorsement applicants must practice as a nurse, at the level for which they are seeking a license, for at least 960 hours in the last five years. Graduation within the last five years, from a state approved nursing program, in preparation for the level of license sought, satisfies this requirement. Completion of an OSBN-approved re-entry program within the last two years, in preparation for the level of license sought, satisfies this requirement. Continuing education is not required and cannot be used to meet the practice requirement.
  • Examination: Applicants must have passed the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) before 1988, or the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) after 1988. Oregon requires written verification from the state in which you took the national licensing exam that you passed it, regardless of how many years have elapsed since taking the examination. The only examinations accepted for licensure in Oregon are those that have been developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. No state constructed examination, challenge examination or other method of licensure exam is accepted.
  • License verification: Oregon requires written verification of licensure from:
    1. The state in which you took the licensing examination, and
    2. The state in which you are now practicing or most recently have practiced nursing, if different from the state in which you took the licensing exam.

    [*]English language proficiency: If your basic nursing education was obtained in a United States school of nursing, your academic transcript serves as documentation of English language proficiency. If your basic nursing education was obtained in a school of nursing outside of the United States, you must document English language proficiency.

Copied from: http://www.osbn.state.or.us/OSBN/RN-LPNlicensure.shtml

So, it looks like you just have to provide written proof that you passed the NCLEX, do the normal background check, give them $ and you're good.

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If you are sure you want to work in Oregon, and that you will not be working in your home state, just apply for licensure with Oregon. You can take the NCLEX in your current location--it doesn't matter where you take it. But to get licensed first in your home state, then in Oregon, will just be a waste of time and money unless you plan to use your license at home first.

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You guys are great!!! thanks so much for getting back to me on this. Since I will be new, and out of state to boot, do you think anyone in OR would hire me? I know, it sounds like I'm asking you to play "psychic" but how often does such a scenario work out? I mean, talk about a dream come true. I pass the NCLEX, apply for liscensure in OR, apply at the hospitals up there...and MOVE! I'm so terribly excited, it's almost too good to be true.

further comments all appreciated,

dny

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care, Gero, dementia.

Where in Oregon are you thinking about?

Portland currently does not really have a shortage, particularly for new grads -- there are like 7 nursing programs in the area, so competition is fierce.

OTOH, if you are willing to live in another part of the state, your luck may be better.

I'd suggest you start contacting nurse recruiters and finding out, realistically what your chances would be.

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Marachne, How do I go about contacting nurse recruiters? I would love to live in a rural area, maybe 60 miles outside of Portland or so. More country, with the opportunity to move into Portland, eventually. Thank you for the heads up on the fact there isn't a nursing shortage. I kind of figured there wouldn't be, that'd just be too good to be true!

dny

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Specializes in SICU, CVICU, CCU, Cardiac Rehab.

While Portland is not in need, I know that the Willamette Valley does have openings for new grads. Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis has a couple of different options for new grads. The orientation process is 6 months or greater for the CCI program - which stands for Critical Care Internship, but also supplies nurses to the Progressive care/telemetry areas. The hospital is expanding and will need more RNs next year and I think the CCI program has a summer session that would coincide with your graduation. Here's a link:

http://www.samhealth.org/employment_opportunities/new_grad_rn_opportunities.html

Of course, there are other areas in the hospital too, if you prefer a different patient population. Corvallis is small enough to have little traffic, but large enough to have cultural events associated with the University here. The peolpe are awesome. We moved here from Florida a year ago and I can't say enough what a great hospital this is. The city is centrally located to be within an easy commute of Portland, the Coast and the endless State parks around. And the salary and patient ratios are better than many of the Portland area hospitals.

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ICU chick,

Thank you so much for supplying this information to me. I greatly appreciate it!

take care

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