Renewal
How many contact hours do I need to renew my LPN license?
LPNs licensed in the state of Ohio are required to meet the CE requirement of obtaining (24) contact hours of continuing education which include one contact hour "Category A". "Category A" means the portion of continuing education that meets the one hour requirement directly related to the law and rules governing the practice of nursing in Ohio. "Category A" must be approved by an Ohio Board of Nursing approver, or offered by an Ohio Board of Nursing approved provider unit headquartered in the state of Ohio. If this is your first renewal after taking the NCLEX for Ohio, you are not required to have continuing education. During the renewal process, you will be asked whether you have completed or will complete the continuing education requirements. You are responsible for maintaining records to prove completion of the continuing education requirements. Records should be maintained for 6 years in case of audit. Do not send documentation to the Ohio Board of Nursing unless requested.
Practice
What is the nurse to patient ratio?
The Nurse Practice Act does not specify nurse to patient ratios in any patient care setting. Other regulatory or certifying bodies such as the Ohio Department of Health, JCAHO, etc. may address staff to patient ratios. In regard to hospitals, legislation enacted in 2008 requires hospitals to create and maintain committees to address nursing staffing levels. You may want to contact your facility leadership regarding the activities of these committees in your institution.
Licensure
How do I get a compact multistate license if I live in a noncompact state?
Only nurses who declare a compact state as their primary state of residence are eligible for a multistate license. As a resident of a noncompact state, you may apply for a license in a compact state, although your eligibility will be limited to a single state license that is valid in that state only. If you declare a compact state as your primary state of residence, your license automatically becomes a compact multistate license, as long as it is in good standing. If you're unsure of your licensure status, use the QuickConfirm tool at www.nursys.com. This report will indicate "multistate" or "single state" in the status column.
Exam
Can I take the NCLEX in a different state?
The NCLEX-PN exam is administered on a computer at approved test sites throughout the United States. First, the nurse graduate chooses a test center where to take the examination. Since all states administer the same exam, it is not required that a candidate sit for the examination in the same state in which he or she applies for licensure. Each exam is individualized according to the responses given to previous test questions but all exams follow a standard plan. A minimum of eighty-five (85) questions must be answered by a candidate in order to determine a pass or fail status. Some candidates may be answering items for up to five hours in order to finish the test. Every question is multiple choice and each item needs to be answered in order to move to the next one. Candidates with disabilities need to notify the test center in order to receive special accommodations. The NCLEX-PN exam has no more than 205 questions but you can pass with only 85 if you answer correctly. Those who fail the test can take it again but must wait at least forty-five days to retest.
Education
What education do I need to become an LPN?
LPNs must be licensed to practice in a particular state and must complete a state-approved training program in practical nursing to be eligible for licensure. Most practical nursing training programs last about one year, and are offered by vocational and technical schools or community and junior colleges. Other programs are available through high schools, hospitals, and colleges and universities. A high school diploma or its equivalent usually is required for entry, although some programs accept candidates without a diploma, and some programs are part of a high school curriculum.
Career
What is a Licensed Vocational Nurse?
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) care for people who are sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. The nature of the direction and supervision required varies by state and job setting. In the U.S. states of California and Texas LPNs are called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs).
Organizations
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used.
Emergency Nurses Association
Originally aimed at teaching and networking, the organization has evolved into an authority, advocate, lobbyist, and voice for emergency nursing. ENA has 40,000+ members and continues to grow, with members representing over 35 countries around the world.