Trying to challenge RN boards

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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Is it possible for a 16 year veteren LVN to challenge the RN boards?? And if so how would I go about it??:confused: :confused:

I am a LVN, I do not believe I have the knowledge to challenge the NCLEX. My instructor had a MSN she always told us the LVN does the work and the RN knows why the work is being done. I use to think that was so funny until I started working. I want to become a RN because thats all I ever wanted to be. I am unable to go to a "traditional school" so EC was my choice. I was working home health about 2 years ago. I was at a patient's home when the phone rang. I answered, it was the patients sister. She asked can I speak to the nurse, I stated I am the nurse she stated no I want to speak to the RN. From that day on I told myself okay.... girlie you have to go back to school, that RN that took the phone call was a new graduate who just asked me how to write up her nursing note LOL but because she had that RN behind her name it entitled her to that phone call. My opinion is LVNs should not be able to challenge the NCLEX but should want to further our education to obtain the title for the work we do.

Teresa soon to be RN :)

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I have been an LPN for 8 years. I went back to do the bridge program. I am now in the nursing program after completing the general ed portion of the program. I also used to think I should just be able to "challenge the NCLEX"...but unfortunately after all the classes I have completed I see that the roles are very different. The generals may seem unrelated but actually they refined my knowledge base--hence enhancing my professionalism. The hours I spent trying to master college and algebra and the countless comp papers I wrote actually all do tie in to making me a better nurse. The knowledge I am gaining through the nursing course work is more in depth than I took in my LPN training. Just my opinion but if you want that RN behind your name--you must earn it per the standards your state board sets--there is a difference! Until you take the courses set forth to earn an ADN degree, how can you say you know all of this? Thought I did to.....Please don't take offense, this is just my opinion that I gained through experiencing both sides of this issue!

Kim LPN

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

No offense taken by me, kimlpn, and I doubt the OP is going to be offended, either. I completed the upgrade program, because I had no other alternative, if I wanted to be an RN. I just didn't come out of it feeling I gained as much from it as you and some of the others here did. We all have individual experiences and yours was different from mine is all. I'm glad you are finding your school experience is worthwhile. I still would have loved to have had the chance to attempt to take the boards and skipped all those classes and clinicals. Who knows, maybe I would have failed and had to eat crow and go back to school anyway! I just would have liked to have had the chance.

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

i, too, used to think it was no big deal to go from lpn to rn. however, being in my rn program, with only one semester left to go, i see that it is not so.

what has helped me as already being an lpn is i am able to be more comfortable in my clinical rotations, doing procedures i already know and learning new ones, communication with staff, patients and families. there are other things...

i have more to learn in both my lecture and clinical experiences and loving each as my knowledge base grows.

knowing what i know now, i, too, do not feel we as an lpn should have the option to take the nclex-rn without going to school first and feel "we" really aren't prepared to do so either.

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Research has shown that a person with a BS will survive longer in a prison camp than a person with an AS degree. Might be something here about survival in nursing! :chuckle

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
Originally posted by zenman

Research has shown that a person with a BS will survive longer in a prison camp than a person with an AS degree. Might be something here about survival in nursing! :chuckle

That's interesting! Not doubting it is so, just want to see the research. Got a link to that study?

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I'd also like to see where he got his information......bet I could last longer just being a LVN instead of an AS or BSN.. ever worked in correctional care...now that's a whole different story!!

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In my state, you have to have graduated from an accrdited Registered Nursing program to be able to sit for boards. Whether it be an online program(ADN or BSN) or other, you still have to have the clinical hours and diploma from the program to take NCLEX-RN.

A good bridge program is great. I bridged to RN, bridge programs are usually fast paced, at least 6 weeks of 5 full day a week classes/clincals and then there is still at least another year of a nursing program you need to complete(post-pre-reqs) in a ADN program to sit for NCLEX-RN.

And just my 2cents,,, i also dont think LPN's should be able to challenge boards. Coming from an LPN,, to a RN I doubt that it would be a positive outcome anyway. LPN's know their stuff, but working as a RN is a whole other mind set from the LPN role.

I think u are wrong!! OMG!!The RN's that I have taught are unbelievable!I am 61 years old and am working under a person who has no clinical expertise,no computer skills and is dumb as a skunk...BUT she is an RN from a private school and paid over 25,000 to get in...Give me a break!

I have the expertise,experience,computer skills and critical thinking but because I don't have a "RN" I am the underdog. Is that really fair??

I could not go back to school due to children and sick parents.I have to pay a heavy price. Why don't LPN'S that are skilled and clinically astute be given the opportunity to challenge the boards?

It is time for a change..I am soooo sick of hearing RN (superior,respect etc) that it makes me sick

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.
Research has shown that a person with a BS will survive longer in a prison camp than a person with an AS degree. Might be something here about survival in nursing! :chuckle

:lol2: Is it those world history classes they make you take?

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

OP, I've been an LPN for almost 4 years now and am getting ready to take the CPNE through Excelsior (next month. Yikes!). I highly recommend it. I found that the most challenging part of doing my book work is making myself do it. If you have the motivation and willpower to follow through, Excelsior may be just the route you need to take to get to your goal. Good luck! :)

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