[Ms. Nurse Assistant]

I recently just discovered that the nursing school I was accepted in gives you a certificate. I talked to a girl who is going for her RN, and she explained to me that the certificate might cause me problems if I ever go for my RN. Right now, I am in such a desperate situation that I do not have time to finish out my pre reqs at my community college. My family has put so much pressure on me, they encouraged (well my mother pretty much forced me) to quit going to my college where I was doing very well in, and go to this LPN school because it's quicker (11 months)

What does everyone think about this?

[Jules A]

I can't really speak for the issues with your family but if you want to be a nurse and need to support yourself quickly getting your LPN is a great opportunity, imo. It was my experience that being a LPN was helpful with getting into a RN program in my area because there weren't as many LPNs that wanted to bridge to RN as there were new applicants for the RN programs. Whether or not you do your pre-reqs before LPN school or after they still have to be done prior to starting the RN program so I don't really see the problem your friend is concerned about, maybe she could clarify? I wish you well.

[pagandeva2000]

The reason why you will be granted a certificate is because you will not hold a degree as an LPN program graduate (as far as I know, NO LPN program offers a degree-the Associate Degree RN program and Bachelor Degree RN programs issue out, but not LPN because it is considered to be vocational training, basically). It simply shows that you successfully completed their nursing program, but you would not be able to practice or call yourself a Licensed Practical Nurse until you sit for NCLEX-PN and pass. If this school has complied with all of the requirements of your state to operate, then, obtaining this certificate and the opportunity to sit for NCLEX would be possible.

How obtaining a certificate from a vocational program would cause a problem is only that the classes taken in anatomy, english, psych and other pre-requisites are not comparable to the college level courses needed to enter into an RN program, but that is not a big thing, really...just take the classes when you are ready.

[Patrick57]

I plan to start a certificate LPN program next month. I did the A-B-M (AS, BS and MS in Information Systems). I don't want to go for another degree. I figure getting my LPN will be enough to get into nursing informatics.

[TheCommuter]

Originally Posted by pagandeva2000

as far as I know, NO LPN program offers a degree

LPN degree programs exist, but they tend to be concentrated in the upper Midwest part of the country. The name of the degree is the associate of applied science in practical nursing. Click on the link below for more information.

http://www.dsu.nodak.edu/digest.asp?ArticleID=564

[pagandeva2000]

Originally Posted by TheCommuter

LPN degree programs exist, but they tend to be concentrated in the upper Midwest part of the country. The name of the degree is the associate of applied science in practical nursing. Click on the link below for more information.

http://www.dsu.nodak.edu/digest.asp?ArticleID=564

I stand corrected! This is a new one on me. Now, what I am curious about is the advantage of having a degree in practical nursing or a certificate. Maybe it is easier to get into an RN program with this?

Thanks for the information!

[TheCommuter]

Originally Posted by pagandeva2000

I stand corrected! This is a new one on me. Now, what I am curious about is the advantage of having a degree in practical nursing or a certificate. Maybe it is easier to get into an RN program with this?

Thanks for the information!

The advantages of having a degree in practical nursing include, but are not limited to...

1. You are regarded as a college graduate if you have the degree in practical nursing. Those of us who hold diplomas in practical nursing are technically not considered college grads. In reality, we only have attained "some college." The only exceptions are LPNs who have a previous degree.

2. Having a degree from a regionally accredited college does make things easier when bridging to an RN program, when compared to people like me who attended a trade school.

[pagandeva2000]

They should have offered this to us for our program. I attended a community college and took most of the same pre/co-requisites as the RN candidates. The only thing missing was chemistry (if I had decided to go RN). I obtained 35 college credits from them for the required courses and then, an additional 25 for the LPN program (which only the first semester would be skipped over if I ever applied to the RN program). We attended school as long as an associate degree graduate. Oh, well. Thanks for the enlightenment.

[lance1215]

So just out of curiosity how hard is it to get into a bridge program from LVN to RN if you've attended a trade school?? And on a somewhat different note, what is the difference between LVN and LPN?? Thanks!

[TheCommuter]

Originally Posted by lance1215

And on a somewhat different note, what is the difference between LVN and LPN?? Thanks!

There is no difference between the LPN and the LVN. In reality, they are the exact same type of nurse.

California and Texas refer to their basic nurses as LVNs (licensed vocational nurses), whereas the remaining 48 states call them LPNs (licensed practical nurses). The LVN is the exact same designation as the LPN. For instance, if you become initially licensed in Texas as an LVN, your title would automatically change to 'LPN' if you moved east to Louisiana or north to Oklahoma to practice nursing. Anyhow, they're the same.