why do nurses need to be licensed?

[Infofreak411]

I know this is probably a random question but it popped into my head and got me thinking, why do nurses ( and other professionals for that matter, ie. Doctors, teachers lawyers) Have to take a test to get licensed to practice AFTER they went all through school. If they went through school and already were able to pass their respective program with good remarks and graduate, wouldn't that already mean they are already qualified to practice?

Kind of like accounting, if an accountant passes an accounting program they don't need a license to do accounting, only if they choose to.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Next time you're in the hospital, pay attention to whether your care is given by a licensed nurse or unlicensed personnel. Then tell us under whose care you felt most comfortable/confident.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Not all nursing programs are created equal. If they were all equal then everyone would be passing NCLEX on their first or second try.

[klone, MSN, RN]

And not all people who pass nursing school are equipped to be safe entry-level nurses, as evidenced by people who fail NCLEX 3, 4 or more times.

[Susie2310]

With professional licensure comes legal and professional accountability to our patients for the care we provide. Patients have the right to know the name of the nurse caring for them, and have the right to file a complaint about a nurse with a state Board of Nursing. Nursing and medicine are professions that are highly regulated by law. Both professions have patients lives in their hands. As a licensed nurse, in order to protect our patients we are held to professional and ethical standards when we provide nursing care; these standards go well beyond just studying and taking exams to demonstrate proficiency.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

With professional licensure comes legal and professional accountability to our patients for the care we provide. Patients have the right to know the name of the nurse caring for them, and have the right to file a complaint about a nurse with a state Board of Nursing. Nursing and medicine are professions that are highly regulated by law. Both professions have patients lives in their hands. As a licensed nurse, in order to protect our patients we are held to professional and ethical standards when we provide nursing care; these standards go well beyond just studying and taking exams to demonstrate proficiency.

THIS.

To I have no qualms of earning and maintaing my ability to safely practice-I wouldn't want it any other way; I'm ALL into accountability.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

You mean I need a license? I have some explaining to do to my Nurse Manager. I only kid.

[enuf_already]

If you need an accountant, you may not want to go to someone that just has an accounting degree. You may require the services of a CPA who has passed a certification exam and is held to higher standard than someone with a general accounting degree.

[joemomma35]

Because the government says so.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

I can't believe this was a serious question.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Because the state gains revenue that way.

Because it holds nurse's to standards of knowledge that all graduating nurses should have absorbed.

In all seriousness, a state grants licenses for many, many professions. It is some sort of acknowledgement that one's nurse, doctor, other healthcare practitioner, real estate agent, hair dresser, manicurist, plumber, electrician, day care provider.....that anyone who is working in a "specialty" career is up to a standard that each state and board in said state sets. Boards are made up of people pertaining to the profession, as well as general public members who are "speaking" for the general public.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

You do realize that not all schools are created equal and many aren't even accredited, right? There are some nursing schools that have a shameful 50% NCLEX pass rate. I would not want to be taken care of by a nurse who couldn't pass a minimum competency test, would you?