[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Louisiana is a great state to work in for those who are in the health care profession. Demand is high and there are many different opportunities. Let’s take a look at how to [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/louisiana/”]become a nurse in this state[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Entry Level Practice Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 1 | Choose Your Entry Level Option[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) by completing a one year diploma program. Or you can also [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/how-to-become-a-rn//”]become a Registered Nurse[/hen-ui-link] (RN), by completing either a two year associate’s degree (ADN) or a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/rn-and-bsn-degree-differences//”]four year bachelor’s degree[/hen-ui-link] (BSN).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 2 | Complete Your Education Program[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]With all three programs, the first year, which is the only year for the LPN, is about basic patient care and basic nursing skills and knowledge. In the second year, which is the final year for [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/adn/”]ADN[/hen-ui-link] students, you will learn more in depth knowledge and take some specialized courses. The final two years of a BSN program go even further in-depth, looking at topics, such as pharmaceutical research, public health policy, or radiology.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 3 | Pass the NCLEX Examination[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Passing the NCLEX-PN exam allows you to get to work as an LPN. On the other hand, the [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//nclex/things-to-know-about-the-nclex-exam/”]NCLEX-RN[/hen-ui-link] exam allows you to start [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/rn-salary//”]working as an RN[/hen-ui-link]. Because these are national exams, they offer you the opportunity to move to other states as well.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Advanced Practice Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To become an advanced practice registered nurse ([hen-ui-link href=”/careers/advanced-practice-nursing/”]APRN[/hen-ui-link]), you will need to complete the following stages.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 1 | Earn a Graduate Degree[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/”]Louisiana State Board of Nursing[/hen-ui-link] determines which programs meet the necessary standards. To qualify, the [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/types-of-nursing-degrees/”]degree program[/hen-ui-link] must be at master’s level or above. It must also be nationally accredited. A full list of approved programs can be found [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/”]online[/hen-ui-link]. They also have stringent requirements in terms of the courses that have to be included in the curriculum. These courses are:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”number”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Advanced pharmacology[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Advanced pathophysiology[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Management of health care states[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The completion of a 500 hour supervised clinical preceptorship in direct care. If you study towards a specialization, you will need to complete a longer preceptorship. Various specializations exist, looking either at population foci or disease types.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can have prescriptive authority if you are [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/lpn-lvn/”]a licensed nurse practitioner[/hen-ui-link] (LNP). However, you must demonstrate that you have completed 3 credit hours (the equivalent of 45 credit hours) of physiology/pathophysiology training and a further 3 credit hours of advanced pharmacotherapeutics.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 2 | Become Nationally Certified Before You Obtain Your License To Practice[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Various national certification agencies exist that have their own eligibility standards and examination requirements. The Board recognizes four APRN roles:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”number”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]NP – [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-practitioner/how-to-become-a-np/”]Nurse Practitioner[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]CNM – Certified Nurse Midwife[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]CRNA – Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The following agencies are recognized by the Board:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nursecredentialing.org/”]ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Adult Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP), Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner PNP) and the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aanpcert.org/ptistore/control/index”]AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Adult Nurse Practitioner and the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aacn.org/DM/MainPages/AACNHomePage.aspx?pageid=1″]AACN (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses)[/hen-ui-link], which recognize the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nccwebsite.org/”]NCC (National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties)[/hen-ui-link] , which recognizes the Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) and the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/index”]National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses (PNCB)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.oncc.org/”]ONCC (Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation), which recognizes the Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS).[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.amcbmidwife.org/”]AMCB (American Midwifery Certification Board)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nbcrna.com/Pages/default.aspx”]National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 3 | Apply For Licensure[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can apply for your initial license through the [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/documents/forms/APRNExamApplication.pdf”]Application for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Initial Licensure by Examination[/hen-ui-link]. If you want to add an additional APRN role, you must complete the [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/documents/forms/APRNRoleChangeApplication.pdf”]Request for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Licensure in an Additional APRN Role/Population Focus/Specialty[/hen-ui-link]. Finally, if you want to earn your license by endorsement, you must complete the [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/documents/forms/APRNEndorsementApplication.pdf”]Application for APRN Licensure by Endorsement[/hen-ui-link]. Each of these documents requires you to provide different types of documents as well.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To become licensed, you need to have a criminal history background check. Please visit your local law enforcement office to have your fingerprints taken. You can also find blank FBI fingerprint cards in the pack for those who wish to become licensed by endorsement, should your sheriff’s office not have them. Alternatively, you can use the LiveScan facility offered by the Board.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you want to have prescriptive authority, you must enter into a collaborative agreement with a physician. This form must be submitted to the Board.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If your application is pending, you can choose to request for a Temporary Permit to be granted to you. This allows you to work for 90 days, while you wait for your license to come through.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Stage 4 | Renew Your License Every Year, Together With Your Rn License[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You will receive an email reminder and you can complete your renewal completely [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/services/welcome.asp”]online[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In terms of continuous education (CE), you must maintain the standards set out by your national certification agency. Additionally, if you wish to maintain prescriptive authority, you will need to meet CE requirements of 6 contact hours in pharmacotherapeutics.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online MSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/”]Louisiana State Board of Nursing[/hen-ui-link]17373 Perkins RoadBaton Rouge, LA 70810[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Phone:(225)755-7500Fax:(225)755-7584E-mail: [hen-ui-link href=”mailto:lsbn@lsbn.state.la.us”]lsbn@lsbn.state.la.us[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text]