All National Council member states and territories currently
use the NCLEX-PN® as the standard for licensing
practical and vocational nurses. Practical nurse and
vocational nurse are regional terms; they differ in name
only. Whether referred to as practical or vocational, each
nurse completes similar educational programs, and graduates
from both take the NCLEX-PN®. The terms practical
nurse and practical nursing are used in this book to refer
to both.