RN student - can I challenge the LVN/LPN NCLEX?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Hello Nurses!

I have just recently failed my fourth semester as an RN student at a community college here in CALIFORNIA.

I would like to take LVN boards so I can work in the summer while waiting to get back in to RN program again in the fall so I can graduate already.

Since I have finished three semesters already, am I qualified to take the NCLEX LVN here in CALIFORNIA?

What do I need to do to apply to take the NCLEX?

How long does it take for the boards to notify you when you can take the test?

How long does it take to receive your test results?

I have so many questions, and I apologize for that.

But I've been so stressed out after failing that I don't know what to do.

I appreciate all the help I can get.

Thanks you guys!

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
This will no longer be true in NYS after June 1, 2007.

I stand corrected...I just saw this over the weekend myself. I wonder if this is going to catch on with other states. I don't think that is a good thing...many want to have the experience before becoming RNs and they have closed the door to that, now.

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I stand corrected...I just saw this over the weekend myself. I wonder if this is going to catch on with other states. I don't think that is a good thing...many want to have the experience before becoming RNs and they have closed the door to that, now.

I don't think it's such a bad idea because most RN students are taught to be autonomous (within the limits of their scope of practice of course)and LPN's are taught to not be autonomous. Right now I am doing the LPN portion of my program and it is constantly drilled into us that while we are learning the same technical skills as an RN we are always going to work under the direction of the RN, MD or DDS. LPN's are not autonomous and a RN student who has been taught from an RN perspective isn't really trained to work within the scope of practice for the LPN.

Now, I know a lot of nurses, LPN and RN, and I know that LPNs do sometimes act autonomously, especially in LTC but the point is that they are not supposed to.

In addition I know one LPN who lives in PA but he has to commute all the way to NYC to work because he got his LPN license after failing 4th semester of RN school. PA will not give him reciprocity because he did not graduate from an accredited LPN program.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I don't think it's such a bad idea because most RN students are taught to be autonomous (within the limits of their scope of practice of course)and LPN's are taught to not be autonomous. Right now I am doing the LPN portion of my program and it is constantly drilled into us that while we are learning the same technical skills as an RN we are always going to work under the direction of the RN, MD or DDS. LPN's are not autonomous and a RN student who has been taught from an RN perspective isn't really trained to work within the scope of practice for the LPN.

Now, I know a lot of nurses, LPN and RN, and I know that LPNs do sometimes act autonomously, especially in LTC but the point is that they are not supposed to.

In addition I know one LPN who lives in PA but he has to commute all the way to NYC to work because he got his LPN license after failing 4th semester of RN school. PA will not give him reciprocity because he did not graduate from an accredited LPN program.

While I can understand that the focus of the programs are different, I still don't think it is fair that a person who received partial education from a higher source should be excluded from sitting for NCLEX-PN. There are those that have failed out of the RN program, that can still create a positive impact on patient care as a nurse, yet, now, the door is being closed to them. Or, has to endure the inconvienance of working out of state, as you mentioned. Basically, I am saying to at least allow them to get into the arena. Yes, and I do know that there are many times that LPNs are placed in positions where they do, in fact, at times, practice more autonomy than we are supposed to. It is interesting to see how this will all pan out.

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It always amazes me that so many RN students want to work as LPNs when read so many of their posts saying how we aren't real nurses. I guess our paycheques are worth something after all.

Graduation from a programme that educates PN is required to write our national exam. University students can work in hospitals but they are not called PNs but titles like "Accredited care worker", "employed nursing student". It's always a grey area for staff because we are not sure what if any insurance they carry and who is responsible for them.

In my province, we do not work under an RN's direction. We carry our insurance and are responsible for our own decisions. The government requires this of us. Lately, critical thinking has been included in our job descriptions.

The Canadian Nurses Assoc. is floating a proposal that nursing education change (yet again, in the 21st century). Basically, they foresee LPN as basic entry to nursing after two years of education, with each level of nursing increasing with 2 or more years of education upto the PhD at ten years of education.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

forgive me i just came off a heated argument and i'm somewhat saucy but ..what is this junk? of course lvn's are autonomous, how do you think we function. i just cant grasp what your talking about here. working autonomously within our scope is something that every lvn does, ltc or hospital. do you think we wait around to ask the rn if we should pass meds or start a iv...yeah maybe we as lvn's work under the direction of a rn but that does not mean that they are there with you at all times. they could be a phone call away and you call them if you need them. your still a student right...well the real world is 360 compared to nursing school....

i don't think it's such a bad idea because most rn students are taught to be autonomous (within the limits of their scope of practice of course)and lpn's are taught to not be autonomous. right now i am doing the lpn portion of my program and it is constantly drilled into us that while we are learning the same technical skills as an rn we are always going to work under the direction of the rn, md or dds. lpn's are not autonomous and a rn student who has been taught from an rn perspective isn't really trained to work within the scope of practice for the lpn.

now, i know a lot of nurses, lpn and rn, and i know that lpns do sometimes act autonomously, especially in ltc but the point is that they are not supposed to.

in addition i know one lpn who lives in pa but he has to commute all the way to nyc to work because he got his lpn license after failing 4th semester of rn school. pa will not give him reciprocity because he did not graduate from an accredited lpn program.

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forgive me i just came off a heated argument and i'm somewhat saucy but ..what is this junk? of course lvn's are autonomous, how do you think we function. i just cant grasp what your talking about here. working autonomously within our scope is something that every lvn does, ltc or hospital. do you think we wait around to ask the rn if we should pass meds or start a iv...yeah maybe we as lvn's work under the direction of a rn but that does not mean that they are there with you at all times. they could be a phone call away and you call them if you need them. your still a student right...well the real world is 360 compared to nursing school....

sigh, :uhoh3: i'm just telling you what is says in the scope of practice for lpn's under the guidelines for nys. you may call it junk or whatever you like but that is what is basically says in the scope of practice. i didn't make it up so please don't shoot the messenger.

http://www.op.nysed.gov/nurse-scope-lpn-rn.htm

the practice of the profession of nursing as a registered professional nurse is defined as diagnosing and treating human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as casefinding, health teaching, health counseling, and provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being, and executing medical regimens prescribed by a licensed physician, dentist or other licensed health care provider legally authorized under this title and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations. a nursing regimen shall be consistent with and shall not vary any existing medical regimen.

the practice of nursing as a licensed practical nurse is defined as performing tasks and responsibilities within the framework of casefinding, health teaching, health counseling, and provision of supportive and restorative care under the direction of a registered professional nurse or licensed physician, dentist or other licensed health care provider legally authorized under this title and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.

now, what actually happens at a facility may be different but according to the state an lpn is supposed to work under the direction of an rn, md, or dds so an lpn is not autonomous in the eyes of the law. please note that the same stipulations are not applied toward the rn. don't get mad at me, i am going to be an lpn before i am an rn and who knows if i will ever make it to rn? so please don't make this an lpn vs. rn debate.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Hospice, Disease Management.
This will no longer be true in NYS after June 1, 2007.

Hi where are u getting this info from? Does this mean if you sat in for the boards you won't be able to renew your license??:o

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Hi where are u getting this info from? Does this mean if you sat in for the boards you won't be able to renew your license??:o

I am getting the information from the NYS Office of the Professions;

http://www.op.nysed.gov/nurse2EQelim.htm As it is written by:

Barbara Zittel, RN, Ph.D., Executive Secretary to the New York State Board for Nursing Click on the link to go directly to the board of nursing.

What this means is that if you are currently a student in an RN program and have completed your third semester you have until June 1, 2007 to file your paperwork to take the NCLEX-PN.

If you have already registered to take the test or already have an LPN license this new regulation has NO effect on you.

If you are in RN school and have passed your third semester and want to do the NCLEX-PN your paper work has to be filed BEFORE June 1, 2007 or you will no longer have that option. From now on if you want to be an LPN in New York you will have to graduate from LPN school.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Hospice, Disease Management.

I read it, thanks..I think it should be that these students can still sit in for the boards as long as they finish RN school ithin 1 or 2 yrs..

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
It always amazes me that so many RN students want to work as LPNs when read so many of their posts saying how we aren't real nurses. I guess our paycheques are worth something after all.

I agree Fiona. It sort of irks me that people having problems with RN school think it makes good sense to try and become an LPN instead. It also scares me to think that nurses on the floor are crossing state lines to circumvent laws that would prevent them from legally practicing in their home state.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Hi where are u getting this info from? Does this mean if you sat in for the boards you won't be able to renew your license??:o

No, it means that as of June, 2007, that an RN student may no longer sit for the LPN exam midway through their schooling. This shouldn't apply to those that did this before. I have a friend that did this last year. He has, since became an RN, but still retains his LPN and wants to keep it active. Only problem with that is although he may be hired somewhere as an LPN, he will be held to the higher license if something should go wrong with a client because since he hold both, he knows better.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
It always amazes me that so many RN students want to work as LPNs when read so many of their posts saying how we aren't real nurses. I guess our paycheques are worth something after all./quote]

I agree Fiona. It sort of irks me that people having problems with RN school think it makes good sense to try and become an LPN instead. It also scares me to think that nurses on the floor are crossing state lines to circumvent laws that would prevent them from legally practicing in their home state.

It is like they are 'settling' to be LPNs and that is a bit annoying to a person such as myself, who, in fact made the decision to be an LPN and is proud of it.

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