why do nurses need to be licensed?

Your name got added on when I quoted it but I noticed in time and deleted it. It's odd.

I've noticed it a couple of times too…I think this is the first time I saw that happen on AN.

Honestly to me (and I know I'll get criticised) but it doesn't matter, as long as I know whoever is taking care of me passed, it doesn't matter HOW many times it took them to pass. Point is they got there and finally proved themselves competant enough. The pace is different for everyone.

That is pretty easy to say on an anonymous message board where lives aren't on the line. When you life is on the line, would you be thinking the same thing? Would you think the same thing about a physician, let's say one that was trained in the Caribbean, who took multiple attempts to prove his/her basic competency? If you were wrongly accused of a crime, would you want a your lawyer--the one who is charged with keeping you out of jail--to be someone who needed multiple attempts at the bar (or multiple attempts to pass law school if you in WI)?

What you are saying sounds nice and you are trying to be compassionate, and that is a good thing. However, in the attempt to make you arguments, you are ignoring the reality of the situation.

I don't dispute your statement, as I have no way of knowing, but this is definitely not the norm.

I know when I was in school I had to get child abuse clearances…I don't remember having to get a generalized criminal background check for school. I definitely did for my license however.