new nurse trying to statr career

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hi i am a new LPN, i have been licensed since june 22, 2009, and am having trouble getting my career started. i was licensed in arkansas but moved to texas after graduation do to a divorce. however i was under the impression that i could work in texas under my arkansas license because of the nurse compact agreement...... can someone help, i don't know if i'm doing something wrong, or does it take this log to start one career....... I am planing on going back to school to get my RN/BSN, but need to start working first.....:banghead:

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Congratulations on your latest achievements, and your intentions to return to school. Good nursing practice requires an understanding that learning is lifelong. I wish you the best of luck with that, and if I may, I'd like to suggest that you don't delay it any more than absolutely necessary.

Life has a way facilitating procrastination, and after too long the desire and practicality to accomplishing this goal diminishes. I've known a few LPNs that wanted their RN's and aren't that far from having enough credits, but have been LPNs so long that the promotion would mean such a drastic pay cut that it no longer makes good financial sense to proceed. Additionally many hospitals won't even take into account your LPN experience so if you're looking to to specialize, you would still have to get your 1-2 years of med/surg experince before even being considered for many specialty areas.

As for your question to the compact laws, both Texas and Arkansas are compact states. You can work in any compact state under a license from another compact state, provided you claim the compact state you're license in as your primary state of residence. Some states require that you apply for compact status and prove that you meet their qualifications ie; own or rent property there, are registered to vote there ect.

Most compact states are not that difficult about that particular issue as long as you have a local state address on their record of you. I'm not sure about the particulars in either Texas or Arkansas. However since you moved to Texas I am pretty sure that you are only allowed to practice under your Arkansas license for 30 days. After which you're required to apply for a Texas license and relinquish your Arkansas license UNLESS you still claim Arkansas as your primary state of residence.

Hope this was of some help.

Good luck!

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thank you very much, i am in the process of trying to get my texas endorsement i have been in this state since before i took the NCLEX,back in June, but could not find a job as a LPN so had to go back to waiting tables until i can come up with the $200 to get my Texas endorsement

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