2023 Best Online Nursing Programs in New Hampshire

Becoming a Nurse in New Hampshire

It takes discipline and dedication to become a nurse in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Board of Nursing licenses several types of nurses in the state, each with their own education and testing requirements for licensure. This includes registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), along with licensed nursing assistants (LNAs). 

New Hampshire faces a critical lack of LNAs and nurses to help staff hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities. This could mean that nurses who finish their education might find steady employment in New Hampshire. But healthcare employers are stretched thin, so there's a chance for high stress and less-than-ideal working conditions.

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How To Get a Licensed Nursing Assistant License in New Hampshire

LNAs are commonly called certified nursing assistants or certified nurse aides in other states. But their duties are the same and revolve around helping patients with activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing, and dressing.

There are several ways to get an LNA license and earn a spot on the New Hampshire Nursing Assistant Registry. First, LNA applicants may pass a competency evaluation. As a prerequisite, candidates must have completed a board-approved nursing assistant program. The results of their competency test must also be no more than two years old to qualify. 

Second, RN or LPN students may apply for a license by comparable education if they've completed the state's Nursing Fundamentals course within the past five years and passed the written and clinical competency test within the past two years.

Finally, aspiring LNAs can apply for licensure by endorsement. This method is appropriate for candidates who already hold a current and valid out-of-state nursing assistant license or certification. The process is not automatic, though. Candidates are still expected to apply with the board, which will issue a reciprocal license at its discretion. Part of the requirements involves either the completion of 200 hours of active practice as a nursing assistant or the completion of a competency exam within the past two years.

LNA licenses in New Hampshire must be renewed every two years. Active LNAs are required to complete at least 200 hours of nursing assistance under the direct supervision of an APRN, RN, or LPN, as well as 12 continuing education hours per year. Alternatively, they might complete a new competency test to satisfy the state's renewal requirements.

How To Get a Licensed Practical Nurse License in New Hampshire

A New Hampshire LPN license allows nurses to assess patient health, collect data, and directly manage safe and effective nursing techniques. To qualify for this level of practice, an aspiring LPN should plan to complete an entry-level education program at one of the schools recognized by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing.

After graduating, a candidate can earn a Granite State nursing license in several different ways. The first method is to take and pass the practical nursing version of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The NCLEX-PN is the industry-standard knowledge assessment for LPNs. 

A second option is to apply for licensure by endorsement. This route is open to nurses who have already earned an equivalent LPN license in another state that's not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. The nursing board can grant reciprocal licenses to applicants who prove that they hold another state's LPN license in good standing. 

Finally, nurses who already hold a license from a Nurse Licensure Compact-participating state may be granted similar practice rights in New Hampshire.

LPNs are required to renew their licenses every two years. Licensees must work at least 400 hours during this two-year period and complete 30 hours of approved continuing education. The board prefers to receive all renewals online.

How To Get a Registered Nurse (RN) License in New Hampshire

Prospective RNs must graduate with either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to secure a license in New Hampshire. RN license candidates need to submit their official transcripts when they apply for the license.

To apply for an RN license by examination, a candidate must pre-register for the NCLEX-RN exam, submit their license application to the NH Board of Nursing, and get approval from the board to sit their exam. Aspiring nurses will receive an RN license once they receive a passing score and pass the state's background check.

There are also options for licensure by endorsement for nurses who have been previously licensed as RNs in non-Compact or Compact states. These applicants have to complete a criminal background check and submit verification of their previous RN license.

A New Hampshire nursing license is valid for two years. The state mails reminders to all licensed nurses approximately six weeks before expiration, and licenses can be renewed directly online.

How To Get an Advanced Practice Nurse License in New Hampshire

APRNs in New Hampshire deliver therapeutic treatments, administer opioid medication, and treat serious conditions like acute or chronic pain. To qualify as an APRN, candidates complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at an accredited college. They also need an active RN license.

The Nurse Licensure Compact's provisions don't apply to APRN licensure. As a result, aspiring APRNs will have to apply for a brand-new New Hampshire APRN license. This process requires aspiring APRNs to obtain and maintain a national nursing certification in a focused specialty. If an APRN allows this certification to lapse and continues working, it is akin to practicing without a license.

An APRN must renew their license every two years. This requires 60 hours of continuing education, 30 of which must be in the nurse's specialty and five of which must relate to pharmacology.