In several states, such as New Hampshire and Florida, nursing students working toward an RN degree (ADN or BSN) are able to sit for the NCLEX-PN after completion of educational equivalency, such as what would be required in an LPN program. 

Working as an LPN throughout RN school provides valuable clinical experience. After successful classroom and clinical experience in the acute and long-term care settings consisting of medical, surgical, geriatric, obstetric, and pediatric nursing, RN students are qualified in several states to write the NCLEX-PN. There is a nursing shortage, and LPN's can help alleviate this as valuable members of the healthcare team, especially in the long-term care setting. 

I spoke with a representative from the NYS Board of Nursing. He informed me that allowing nursing students to become LPN's after successful completion of certain education requirements was no longer permissible because some never completed an actual nursing degree following this route to LPN licensure. In other words, they took the LPN exam during RN school, but never completed their degree. If an individual has passed the NCLEX-PN exam and are providing safe and effective nursing care, this should not be a problem. However, a reasonable solution would be to mandate that those who obtain LPN licensure through this route should be required to graduate from RN schooling in 5-10 years, similar to the "BS in 10" law that has been put into place. 

Let's work toward reasonable solutions. Let's acknowledge the financial reality of continuing education and that there are means to assist prospective nurses in their endeavors. Let's reward hard-working and competent RN students who wish to enrich their clinical experience by working as LPN's during school, if a student needs to take time off from pursuing degree due to family, financial, or other reasons. There are qualified nursing students out there, let’s acknowledge this NYS!