New LVN Graduate moving from Ohio to Texas

[missvickie2011]

Hi,

Was just wondering if anyone out there who has graduated from an LPN/LVN program in Ohio and moved to Texas would be able to answer a few questions regarding obtaining a Texas LVN license? In one week I will be graduating from my LPN program in Ohio with IV certification. I just found out that the Texas scope of practice is somewhat more broad than here in Ohio. I called the Texas Board of Nursing and asked if there would be any additional requirements/certifications that I would need in order to be able to sit for my NCLEX and get a Texas LVN license. The representative told me that I would have to have the Dean of my nursing program send an affidavit listing the classes I took in my program to the Texas BON and they would decide if I needed anything additional. When I asked what that entailed, I was told it could be taking some classes at a community college or some courses online. I'm kinda panicking, b/c I need to work relatively soon, and the idea of having to wait a month to get answers from the Texas BON is upsetting. Also, the idea of having to do months of extra training makes me want to cry. Is there anyone out there who has ever been in a similar situation on here that could tell me what hoops (if any) they had to jump through? Am I going to have to spend thousands of more dollars plus months more training to become a nurse?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I had a California LVN license and obtained a Texas LVN license by endorsement. I didn't need to jump through any hoops because California's educational and clinical hour requirements are more stringent than any other board of nursing.

During my schooling I completed 954 clinical hours in addition to the typical adult med/surg, peds, psych, OB, pharmacology, and so forth.

[missvickie2011]

So I just spoke with the Texas BON again today and was told that my best bet was to apply to take my license in Ohio and then get it endorsed in Texas. She said usually there are not any problems with endorsements but in rare cases she has seen it happen. She said most of the time that even if I chose to take the NCLEX and obtained my initial license in Texas, that my schooling should not be a problem. I went to a community college (not technical school) that was accredited by the Ohio BON, plus I am IV certified, which is a newer LPN requirement....some LPN's from even seven years ago do have this because it was not required at that time (at least here in OH). I'm still not completely reassured, but I guess I have no choice but to wait and see....and just work as a nurse aide until things go through, if they do. I mean, I would just think that if Texas was so strict, they would just say upfront that they do not accept any nursing programs from OHIO if their clinical requirement is so strict. I guess now I just cross my fingers and hope for the best.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

There is an underlying issue with LP/VN programs - the majority of them are 'clock hour' (vocational) programs rather than 'credit hour' programs & most do not have national accreditation because state approval is all that is needed. Program lengths vary a great deal also - from 9 to 18 months. However, since the OP graduated from a college hour program at an accredited community college, I doubt whether there will be any huge problems becoming licensed in Tx.

Best of luck & Welcome to Texas!!!