RN licensure

[Bidisha]

Hello Everyone,

I am currently trying to finish up my pre-reqs to apply to nursing programs for fall 2011. I have a previous bachelors degree, and would like to pursue an accelerated BSN. However, since I live in California, and every possible program seems to be impacted here, I am currently considering out of state programs. An RN from the hospital where I volunteer recently notified me that if I consider going out of state, I should keep in mind that California, Texas, and New York have the hardest state exams. As a result, if I pass any one these state exams, I can easily get a job in some other state.

I do have plans to come back to California if I end up going to school somewhere else. So should I just consider applying to schools in these three states, or should I just apply schools regardless of where they are located, and eventually if i want to come back to CA, I would just deal with it then? What about schools like John Hopkins, Purdue, they are not located within the above mentioned states, but have really well known nursing programs. So does it mean if I graduate from John Hopkins, and would like to take the CA licensure exam, I would still find it very difficult?

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Bidisha

[Reno1978, BSN, RN]

The licensing exam, NCLEX-RN, is the same no matter what state you take it in.

[elkpark]

The licensing exam, NCLEX-RN, is the same no matter what state you take it in.

Yes -- I don't know what kind of oddball the RN at your hospital is, but the national licensing exams for LPNs and RNs have been nationally standardized for many years now. It's true that each state used to have its own exam and some were notoriously more difficult than others, but it's been literally decades since that was the case.

You only have to pass the NCLEX once, and every state will recognize and honor your results. You can go to school in whatever state works best for you and then apply for licensure in whatever state you choose. Your exam will be the same level of difficulty regardless of which state you're applying to for licensure, and you can apply for licenses in other US states in the future without having to write the NCLEX again.

It's kinda scary to think that there is a practicing RN out there who is so seriously out of touch with how nursing works these days ...

[Vikingkitten]

Yes -- I don't know what kind of oddball the RN at your hospital is, but the national licensing exams for LPNs and RNs have been nationally standardized for many years now. It's true that each state used to have its own exam and some were notoriously more difficult than others, but it's been literally decades since that was the case.

You only have to pass the NCLEX once, and every state will recognize and honor your results. You can go to school in whatever state works best for you and then apply for licensure in whatever state you choose. Your exam will be the same level of difficulty regardless of which state you're applying to for licensure, and you can apply for licenses in other US states in the future without having to write the NCLEX again.

It's kinda scary to think that there is a practicing RN out there who is so seriously out of touch with how nursing works these days ...

X2!

Just my$.02.