Potential Nursing student in the dark

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Hi, I am new to this site. I am a CNA in the State of GA. I am wanting to upgrade my career. I've been thinking of taking up RN. In order for me to do so, I need to obtain my Associates Degree before taking the NCLEX exam. Right?

Unfortunately, I've been getting nothing but run-a-round by college administrators telling me that in order for me to obtain an associates degree, I have to become an RN or LPN first. To get my ADN. But when I look into on campus or online, it seems to me as if BS Nursing is what is now available. That also comes with the requirements in which brings me back to square one with myself being either an LPN or RN first.

Can someone out there shed a little light for me with this long, dark journey I am struggling to reach? I need to know how and what to do to get my 'first time' Nursing License to get to higher up (RN). If there is also an Online accredited college, one has been to and graduated from, please let me know the name of it?

Thank you for taking time out to read my posting.

To become a RN or LPN, you have to pass the NCLEX to obtain your licensure. However, to take the NCLEX, you have to graduate from an accredited program, which makes you eligible to take the NCLEX. You can graduate with a ASN or BSN, but that doesn't mean you're a licensed nurse until you actually take and pass the NCLEX. Does that make more sense?

You are unclear on the process. I cannot fathom that any college would tell you you need to be an RN before you obtain your associates degree. It's the other way around.

What type of schools are you applying for?

Altra, BSN, RN

6,255 Posts

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

You do not need to be licensed as an LPN prior to being licensed as an RN, so let's take that out of the picture.

Graduation from an accredited nursing educational program approved by the board of nursing in the state in which you are applying to practice is what makes you eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam. The educational program can be an associate degree program, a bachelors degree program, or a diploma school. All are equivalent pathways to initial licensure as a registered nurse.

Education at a bachelors degree or above is strongly preferred in many areas, particularly when planning the long-range, big-picture view of your nursing career.

Hope this helps. Good luck to you. :)

roser13, ASN, RN

6,504 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Hi, I am new to this site. I am a CNA in the State of GA. I am wanting to upgrade my career. I've been thinking of taking up RN. In order for me to do so, I need to obtain my Associates Degree before taking the NCLEX exam. Right?

Unfortunately, I've been getting nothing but run-a-round by college administrators telling me that in order for me to obtain an associates degree, I have to become an RN or LPN first. To get my ADN. But when I look into on campus or online, it seems to me as if BS Nursing is what is now available. That also comes with the requirements in which brings me back to square one with myself being either an LPN or RN first.

Can someone out there shed a little light for me with this long, dark journey I am struggling to reach? I need to know how and what to do to get my 'first time' Nursing License to get to higher up (RN). If there is also an Online accredited college, one has been to and graduated from, please let me know the name of it?

Thank you for taking time out to read my posting.

You have received some serious mis-direction. It's good that you came here.

Sweetcinna

5 Posts

College School of Nursing told me this. Chamberlain College of Nursing informed this similarity to me, Kaplan University said it as well, University of Phoenix for Nursing, said the same thing. They have BSN (RN~BSN) only. I cant be too much unclear because I called them on a 3wy conversation and they too said the same thing to a friend of mine. None of this makes sense, why would they tell me that I need to be a licensed RN or a LPN in order to get the ADN. ADN should come first?...So at least I thought.

I contacted the colleges that I mentioned because I am residing in a city that is 2hr drive to go to a community and a technical campus in which isn't worth the drive and unfortunately they don't provide an online for Associates in Nursing, which sucks.

AnnaN5

429 Posts

Specializes in AGNP.
College School of Nursing told me this. Chamberlain College of Nursing informed this similarity to me, Kaplan University said it as well, University of Phoenix for Nursing, said the same thing. They have BSN (RN~BSN) only. I cant be too much unclear because I called them on a 3wy conversation and they too said the same thing to a friend of mine. None of this makes sense, why would they tell me that I need to be a licensed RN or a LPN in order to get the ADN. ADN should come first?...So at least I thought.

I contacted the colleges that I mentioned because I am residing in a city that is 2hr drive to go to a community and a technical campus in which isn't worth the drive and unfortunately they don't provide an online for Associates in Nursing, which sucks.

All of those colleges require you to be licensed as an LPN or RN first because they only do bridge programs. They do not have programs (as far as I am aware) for people who do not have prior LPN or RN experience.

You won't be able to find an online nursing program that isn't a bridge program (LPN to RN or RN to BSN)

Sweetcinna

5 Posts

Hi Altra,

Yeah it seems I am in the wrong State unfortunately because I cant find a accredited Nursing program that would start the students off with just that ADN for Nursing. Everything else seems to be for BSN (RN's and LPN's only) for the Bachelors Nursing Degree. As if Associates no longer exist. IJS

Altra, BSN, RN

6,255 Posts

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Now that you list the 3 schools you spoke to ... it makes sense. All are for-profit educational institutions with online programs for RNs who already have a diploma or associates degree, who wish to complete their bachelors degree in nursing (BSN). They do not have programs for non-nurses.

Pre-licensure education cannot be solely online - it requires an extensive hands-on clinical component. Listed below is a link to the GA Board of Nursing and their approved list of educational programs.

Nursing - Georgia Board of Nursing

Purple_roses

1,763 Posts

If you are looking for an affordable ADN program, check out the community colleges in your area. A lot of universities (though not all) only offer the BSN (four year degree). If you want to become an RN sooner than later, you can do the ADN RN, then do a bridge program to get your BSN if you so choose. Some people choose to go straight for the BSN because BSNs typically have an easier time finding their first hospital job, though that depends on what area you're from too. Regardless of what route you take, you will almost certainly need to take pre reqs first. These may include: biology, algebra, statistics, microbiology, nutrition, human growth and development, anatomy and physiology 1&2. Different colleges require different pre reqs.

If you have any more questions or need clarification, please come back and ask! It seems the advisors at the colleges you reached out to were confused about this process themselves.

liane90

99 Posts

Georgia most definitely DOES have programs ADN. Have you checked community colleges in your area?

beekee

839 Posts

I think OP is trying to find an online pre-licensure program. If that's the case, you won't have any luck in Georgia or any other state.

You can train to become a nurse by several methods: diploma, associate degree, bachelor's degree or entry level masters degree. Once you complete the training, you can take the test to become licensed as a nurse, also called the NCLEX.

What I think you are confusing are the associate degree and some bachelor's degree programs. Some nurses get an associates degree, pass the NCLEX, and then go back to school to get a bachelor's degree. That bachelor's degree program is often referred to as a RN-to-BSN program or BSN bridge program. Many of these programs are online. You have to have passed the NCLEX to attend. The programs you contacted are this kind of program.

A program that will allow you to take the NCLEX will not be online. You can take the many or perhaps all of the prerequisites (except labs, probably) online, but the actual nursing classes will require attendance for class, labs and clinical.

I hope that helps!

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