Waste of Talent

I am shocked at the State of Texas. At this point all I can do is laugh.

I was a Navy Corpsman for 8 years. I have been an EMT/Instructor and

a Nationally certified Pharmacy Technician. I have worked in just about

every department in a hospital. I challenged the State Boards in California for Licensure and passed the NCLEX-LVN. But, because the Navy's Hospital Corpsman program is not NLN accredited; Texas will not allow me to get a license. I can't even sit for the CNA exam because I haven't gotten my LVN's license in the past 2 years. I have called every department from Texas all the way through the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. No one has any advice but go back through the whole schooling process. It's really sad when you have someone who was born into nursing and has the skills of a Physician's Assistant that can't get a job as a CNA. And you wonder why our community is hurting for nurses! You'd think that if I could take blood pressure and do sutures under fire that I could empty a urine bag from a geri in a hospital. C'mon you've gotta laugh.

As far as I know California is the only state the allows it. If I remember correctly certain NEC's are even allowed to challenge the RN exam (in California)

Texas is not "hurting for nurses". In fact there are too many nurses here. The pay is low and working conditions awful. I am exiled to TX r/t dh's job, but now you know why I am a traveler, and won't work in Texas.

I agree with the previous post.....Texas is by far "not hurting for nurses!" That is exactly why the pay here sinks...but good luck in whatever you decide to do.

The ability to challenge the Boards in Ca is nothing new by a long shot. I remember that even way back in the early 70s.

I was Corpsman 1968 and 1972, but I know how you feel. Hang in there.

Since people on this thread has stated that Texas is not in need for nurses which states are in need of nurses? Maybe I should travel to get more money.

I agree with the previous post.....Texas is by far "not hurting for nurses!" That is exactly why the pay here sinks...but good luck in whatever you decide to do.

I see tons of ads for nurses in the paper every day. The TMC may not be hurting for nurses, but other areas are. Pay in the TMC isn't too shabby either.

My friend Roger has the same problem here in Georgia. He was a Navy Corpsman for years, but can't work as a nurse here until he goes through nursing school. It burns him up that I could pass out meds as a med tech in assisted living after a one-hour class, but he can't get a job as a nurse even though he has more education.

Some areas must be hurting 'cause there's an ad in our local paper that they are paying $32.00 an hour for RNs.. and I see constant ads such as that.

J-9

Yes, I'd like to know where you get the "Texas isn't hurting for nurses and pay is low" from? granted certain areas are not well paying - but in any major city, you can make PLENTY of money!

AND there are PLENTY of openings!!!