Nursing? (bachelor's, BSN, schools, nurses)

[KarlaT2]

I'm confused. LOL.
What is the difference between an LVN and an RN? I always thought you had to have at least 6-8 years in school to be an RN, but my brother in law (works at hospital) said some RN's and most LVN's there start with a 2 year degree. Any nurses out there who can clarify for me? Are there different licensing requirements from state to state? Like if you are a nurse in one state, can you move to another with same status, or do you need to also take their licensing test?

[Katiana]

Here is something about LVNs from the California state website:

BVNPT - Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs)

In some states, LVNs are called LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses). When I was a young nurse and working in the hospital setting (35+ years ago), hospitals employed a lot of LP/LVNs. Now, I think it's different.

The entry level educational requirement to become an RN is the associate's degree. This is referred to as AAS (Associate in Applied Science), or in slang, ADN (Associate Degree Nurse). The degree does not make you an RN. To become an RN, you have to be a graduate of an approved school of nursing, and pass the NCLEX exam (state board). You can also direct enter into the profession with a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) once you have passed the NCLEX. All the rules have changed greatly since I got my RN, someone more knowledgable about them than me will hopefully come on and explain it. I do know that my state, Colorado, now has a "compact" with several states, so that a CO license is the equivalent of a license in any state in the compact. In years past, when I was moving around a lot, you had to reapply and resubmit your credentials in every state.

[Kereczr]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Here is something about LVNs from the California state website:

BVNPT - Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs)

In some states, LVNs are called LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses). When I was a young nurse and working in the hospital setting (35+ years ago), hospitals employed a lot of LP/LVNs. Now, I think it's different.

The entry level educational requirement to become an RN is the associate's degree. This is referred to as AAS (Associate in Applied Science), or in slang, ADN (Associate Degree Nurse). The degree does not make you an RN. To become an RN, you have to be a graduate of an approved school of nursing, and pass the NCLEX exam (state board). You can also direct enter into the profession with a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) once you have passed the NCLEX. All the rules have changed greatly since I got my RN, someone more knowledgable about them than me will hopefully come on and explain it. I do know that my state, Colorado, now has a "compact" with several states, so that a CO license is the equivalent of a license in any state in the compact. In years past, when I was moving around a lot, you had to reapply and resubmit your credentials in every state.

That's how it is with my state, ohio, as well as KY and WV.

[Aconite]

RN licensing is pretty much reciprocal from state to state, which is to say that if you move from Ohio to Florida (for example) you don't have to retake boards, just pay a couple hundred dollars to the Department of Professional Regulation for a new license in the new location.

LVNs (also known as LPNs) used to sit a one-year program. Don't know long it takes now. They take different boards than RNs, and cannot do all the same things.

(Just to really confuse the issue, each state has its own Nurse Practice Act, so what you're considered competent to do in one state may differ from another. For example, when working a contract as an L&D nurse in Ohio back in the 90s, I was permitted to initiate intrauterine monitoring of labor contractions, but when I returned to Florida I was not.)

RNs may have associate's degrees or 3 year degrees (from "nursing schools" rather than junior colleges or universities) or bachelor's degrees. Generally speaking, they do the same stuff as floor nurses with any of those degrees, but AD and 3 year nurses often get passed over in favor of BSNs for management jobs.

Most RNs I've known have pursued certification in a specialty after graduation and working for a year or two; thus the RNC some have after their names. It gets you a few more pennies an hour and you have a much better knowledge base to draw on than those who don't.