In search of an answer...Thanks!

deadend · Dec 7, 2003

I don't know where you are from but, I just completed the LPN to RN AD program in May. My school 's critera was that you must have completed the LPN program from an accredited program. So be careful you may receive your license but may not qualify for the LPN bridge program. In my state you also must complete a year of nursing in a clinical setting. The hours you received from the LPN course went toward your degree. 60+ credit hours

Good luck!!!!!! :)

AndiMac · Dec 7, 2003

I had always thought if you hadn't graduated for an accredited program you couldn't take boards ... here anyways ... *shrug* ...

New Castle Ken · Dec 7, 2003

Originally posted by n8isgr8
Could anyone please tell me if it matters if your lpn school is accredited? I know accreditation is important, but as long as you are eligible to sit for the boards and pass, is that all that matters? See I am in a sticky situation(hubby left) I have only a limited amount of time in which to get my goal of an ADN. The colleges I have applied to say that I must first take their biology A&P in order to be eligible to even apply to their ADN courses.Which will set me back a whole year since their ADN programs only start in Sept. There is an Lpn school that I was accepted to, they are licenced by the state board of nursing but are currently not accredited. I will be able to sit for the state boards and if I pass will receive my lpn license. Then I could hopefully take the advanced track lpn to rn program at the college. Would I be able to do this? I mean will their accreditation be a factor in this even though I will hold a license as an lpn? Any info is greatly appreciated. Thank You- Jami:)

I am not sure why your LPN program is not accredited and that may be a key. I can not imagine that a state board would allow students from an unaccredited school sit for boards (unless it is a new school and hasen't been around long enough to be accredited). I am concerned for you that an RN program will not accept your LPN from the unaccredited school. Sorry but I am afraid that the unaccredited school will haunt you down the road. Our community college was the same in that we had to take all the non-nursing courses first. This will not set you back as this is common and it is really difficult taking the sciences and general ed. courses with the nursing clinical courses.

If you are sure the state board will let you take the LPN exam getting right in and finished within a year is also a benefit too. Sorry I am on the fence and see both sides of this issue.

Good luck.

Ken

Trauma Columnist · Dec 7, 2003

Check with your Board of Nursing in your state. I too would be leery of an unaccredited program.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2003

I agree with the poster that while it might matter if you intend on furthering your education.

Suppose one day you really want to go to a good school and have the opportunity to get a BSN. Having undergrad work transfer from an unaccredited school might be a problem. Why shortchange yourself. Anyway to go to a National League of Nursing accredited school now will be a help in the future perhaps.

Good luck.

Dayray, RN · Dec 8, 2003

You can take boards if you go to any school that is approved by the state.

accreditation is different and important if you want to receive credit from another college. It doesn't mean you cant take boards just that you might not be able to get credit transfered if you plan to continue for your RN.

WyomingRN · Dec 8, 2003

I know a couple of people that did and excellerated (9 month) LPN program. I don't know if the program was accredited or not. They could sit for state boards, but none of their hours would be recognized or accepted towards a RN degree. A & P, Pharm, etc. were mixed in with what was being taught in nursing class. Like they said this was fine if you didn't want to further your education, but was the pits if you wanted to get your RN as you had to take A & P and Pharm over again as credit classes.

MarcusKspn · Dec 8, 2003

I know all the colleges around here require your LPN school to be NLN accredited. That way they know that if they give you credit for your LPN schooling, it followed a tough and strict standart set forth by the NLN. Talk to the coordinator of the LPN program and see if you can find out why it isn't accredited. And try to look around for a program that is.

BTW: I have my LPN but all ADN and BSN programm around here that have the fast bridge programm still require me to have A&P. Check with the advisor at your college and make sure you don't add an extra year by going to LPN school.

Personally I really loved LPN school, its more task oriented than RN school in my opinion. A lot more hands on clinicals, thats good experience for when you go to RN school.

colleen10 · Dec 8, 2003

Hi N8,

Based on your other postings it seems that you are really interested in furthering your nursing education some day, getting a BSN or who knows what else the future holds.

In that case I would go for the accredited schools. That way your credits will transfer. My understanding is that univsersitys and colleges will not accept credits from an un-accredited school. i have an aunt who is an excellent nurse that went through a Diploma program at a local hospital. The program is not accredited so if she ever wants to pursue her BSN she basically must start from scratch and take over classes because credits she attained are not transferable.

My understanding of accredidation is that it is given to educational institutions by the State BON. It basically signifies that a nursing program meets the standards of the BON. Accredidation can be given AND taken away by the BON at any time after review. I also believe that part of accredidation is the # of students a program graduates that pass the licensing exam. ie. a school with only a 50% passing rate on the license exam may be reviewed by BON.

There is a very prestigious and expensive private school in my area. They are known nation wide as an excellent school for just about any degree, computers, engineering, law, etc. but they have had their accredation taken away in the past. So, just because a school seems prestigious and expensive does not necessarily mean they are accredited and just because another school is community college and lower priced don't assume that you are getting a bad education.

If any of my observations on accredidation are incorrect please let me know.

Good Luck,

Col

New Castle Ken · Dec 8, 2003

Accreditation is really complicated. Regional accreditation is most common and included the whole college. An accrediting agency must be approved by the Department of Education in Washington. The DOE posts a list of agencies that it approves. Regional accreditation is a specific agency that accredits colleges in a particular part of the country. For instance, in Delaware it is Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Specific occupations are accredited in addition to regional accreditation but these agencies are still approved by the DOE. If not approved by DOE, they are worthless. In nursing 2 agencies are approved, The National League for Nursing (the old stand by) and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. If one of these accredits a nursing school, it is considered accredited. Both of these require that a college program be regionally accredited first, before they will evaluate them.

Each state's board of nursing sets standards for that state. One of their tasks is to evaluate all nursing programs in their state and approve which ones qualify to have their students sit for state board exams. They can accept nursing programs that are not accredited if they want. We had a 2 year diploma school in our state years ago which was never accredited but graduates could take state boards. State boards do not accredit college nursing programs, they merely approve the graduates to take the RN or LPN exam. Hope this helps.