LPN to RN program & credit issues

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

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Hey Everybody,

First, let me say that this is my first time posting on allnurses, though definitely not my first time here. That being said, here's a big shout to everyone who takes the time to read & respond with their expertise & advice! :bow:

I have an M.A. in social psychology, B.A. in psychology. I'm 31. Lived in different countries, traveled, & have had many different jobs. I'm currently using my M.A. doing data analysis & can't stand it. I've always been interested in health & have conducted my fair share of research on health related issues, such as HIV & body image. I must have interactions with people throughout the day & I hate to sit still & stare at a computer for hours. I love psychology, I do, but after having given it a lot of thought, I think I'm ready to go for nursing.

I'm concerned about two things. One, time. Two, not truly understanding the nursing profession, & subsequently not enjoying working in the field. My solution to these problems is to become an LPN. I can get in the field faster, which means less time spent in school, plus I can begin the profession sooner, thereby giving me the real world experience in the field I need & crave. I have found a local tech school that requires no prerequisites & takes 11 months to complete. It is accredited by the TN board of nursing.

I remain very confused on the issue of LPN to RN programs, which is key if I want to move on & become an RN. I've read many threads on this site & I've done some research myself, but I'm still very confused. The local community college which has an RN program doesn't accept any credits from the local tech school--none. I will most likely move out of state (TN) after completing the LPN program anyway, but it was kind of a shocker. I would have to start all over again, including science prerequisites. I've read about others on here who go into bridge programs & are exempt from 1 or 2 or 3 semesters. Does it depend solely on your LPN program? Your experience as an LPN? Is it just that my community college isn't a bridge program? I've never taken Ant & Phys, Chemistry, or Microbiology, if any of that matters in the long run. And the LPN program here doesn't require them either.

Honestly, I'm exhausted from trying to figure this all out! Can anyone shed some light for me? :nuke:

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Specializes in Nursing home/home health/Rehab.

Hi, I am in LPN school right now graduate Aug. 2009. I am at a tech school also and with us the only thing the LPN classs does as far as credit toward the LPN-RN is that you come in during the 2nd semester of RN school. That's it! The A&P that you take as a pre-req to RN is a bit different than the A&P you take in LPN school. It's similar in content it's just that LPN A&P isn't in as much depth. We didnt have to have pre-reqs for LPN school either so if you haven't had any of the sciences prior to LPN school it is like starting over if you want to continue on to get your RN later. I know it sucks but I had A&P 1&2, micro, chemistry prior to LPN school and I can tell you its easier to grasp. Not just because of my prior exposure but we only covered the basics.

Also are you sayin that they won't accept credit from your tech LPN class because if that is the case then it makes sense, since the LPN class isn't a credit class it's based on hours. Well at least thats how it is in most schools. No matter where you go you will need those science classes outside of your LPN training if you want to get your RN. Hope this helps a little bit.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.

I'm in a bridge program at a community college. 1st year is LPN, 2nd year is RN. We have pre-reqs that we have to have before we can even apply for the nursing program. One of which is A&P. Like one of the other posters said on your other post you may be able to transfer your psych, eng etc., but you will most likely still be required to take sciences. A good A&P is soooooo important you won't regret it later. Its the basis for everything you'll learn.

Can I ask what LPN school you are looking into? I live in TN also but attend school in KY. I'm not sure I understand when you say that they won't accept any credits from the local tech school. Is that where your degrees are from? I know that its very common here for people to go to my school and then transfer to LMU....LMU won't accept some of our electives but for the most part they will accept the standard classes like psych, english, communications etc.

Wherever you decide to get your LPN, once you are in the nursing program it is a totally different ball of wax then just "taking classes". At my school the program is its own "class". You just have a lecture and lab schedule.

But programs may vary and some might receive credit in the bridge if they have been lpn for a long time.

Good luck

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I don't think this is uncommon when getting your LPN through a tech school. I'm big on getting the most bang for my buck and time and since you are pretty sure you will continue on for your RN I would find a LPN program at a community college where your credits will transfer easily. There will still be some different pre-reqs required by the different RN bridge programs but not many. Inquire as to what you may be able to CLEP also. Good luck.

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Hi, I am in LPN school right now graduate Aug. 2009. I am at a tech school also and with us the only thing the LPN classs does as far as credit toward the LPN-RN is that you come in during the 2nd semester of RN school. That's it! The A&P that you take as a pre-req to RN is a bit different than the A&P you take in LPN school. It's similar in content it's just that LPN A&P isn't in as much depth. We didnt have to have pre-reqs for LPN school either so if you haven't had any of the sciences prior to LPN school it is like starting over if you want to continue on to get your RN later. I know it sucks but I had A&P 1&2, micro, chemistry prior to LPN school and I can tell you its easier to grasp. Not just because of my prior exposure but we only covered the basics.

Also are you sayin that they won't accept credit from your tech LPN class because if that is the case then it makes sense, since the LPN class isn't a credit class it's based on hours. Well at least thats how it is in most schools. No matter where you go you will need those science classes outside of your LPN training if you want to get your RN. Hope this helps a little bit.

Hi! Thank you so much for responding! You are probably right about the tech college basing their classes on hours not credits. They didn't explain it to me like that, but that does make sense.

I think I'm starting to chip away at some of this. It sounds like I need to find an LPN--RN bridge program--that's key. I am totally cool with skipping 1 or 2 semesters of an RN program! So, another question for you...In your opinion, any LPN to RN bridge program would require some science pre reqs, right? So I take these pre reqs & then come into the program 1 or 2 semesters late? Is that right? If so I'm totally fine with all this!

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I'm in a bridge program at a community college. 1st year is LPN, 2nd year is RN. We have pre-reqs that we have to have before we can even apply for the nursing program. One of which is A&P. Like one of the other posters said on your other post you may be able to transfer your psych, eng etc., but you will most likely still be required to take sciences. A good A&P is soooooo important you won't regret it later. Its the basis for everything you'll learn.

Can I ask what LPN school you are looking into? I live in TN also but attend school in KY. I'm not sure I understand when you say that they won't accept any credits from the local tech school. Is that where your degrees are from? I know that its very common here for people to go to my school and then transfer to LMU....LMU won't accept some of our electives but for the most part they will accept the standard classes like psych, english, communications etc.

It's good to know that the science classes are really important. And yes, I'm sure my gen ed courses will transfer & maybe stats too if that is required. So, I doubt I'd go full-time for any period. (That's cool!) And no, my degrees are from universities. I've never attended this tech school. It is called the TN Tech Center in Memphis. The program runs on trimesters & there is no gen ed in it, & no required pre reqs either, which is a big reason why I'll probably apply there! I'm from Chicago originally but every LPN program in the city of Chicago I've come across requires several pre reqs. I live in TN for the moment & would love to go back to Chicago, but will stay here if I can get in to this LPN program. What bridge program are you at in KY? Would you recommend it?

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Specializes in ICU.

I attended a tech school for my LVN. What counted when I applied for the LVN-RN bridge program at a community college was my LVN license, not credits or hours or units. I did my science pre-reqs at night while going to the tech school during the day.

I also have a BA in another field, and for me, choosing to do the LVN route first was about timing. I had a year where I had enough income to just go to school and not work, and that's what I chose to do. If there had been an accelerated BSN program available at that time for people who already had bachelor's degrees, I would have chosen that route. Much quicker.

There are so many roles in health care. The LVN then LVN-RN road is a long one. With your experience and the degrees that you already hold, there is probably a quicker jump to an area in health care where you would have contact with patients. In psych, there are people with your background leading group therapy sessions, for example. Lots of health care social workers in hospitals, too. Just a thought.

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Specializes in Nursing home/home health/Rehab.
Hi! Thank you so much for responding! You are probably right about the tech college basing their classes on hours not credits. They didn't explain it to me like that, but that does make sense.

I think I'm starting to chip away at some of this. It sounds like I need to find an LPN--RN bridge program--that's key. I am totally cool with skipping 1 or 2 semesters of an RN program! So, another question for you...In your opinion, any LPN to RN bridge program would require some science pre reqs, right? So I take these pre reqs & then come into the program 1 or 2 semesters late? Is that right? If so I'm totally fine with all this!

Yes that is correct if you do LPN you will come in 2nd yr. not semester as I stated b4. Sorry about that. But also you will be competing with others who are fresh from taking their pre-reqs so doing LPN to RN sounds good but it might take a year to get your pre-reqs complete, plus on top of that most bridge programs want you to have at leat 6 months experience before starting the program. It's alot to think about.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.
It's good to know that the science classes are really important. And yes, I'm sure my gen ed courses will transfer & maybe stats too if that is required. So, I doubt I'd go full-time for any period. (That's cool!) And no, my degrees are from universities. I've never attended this tech school. It is called the TN Tech Center in Memphis. The program runs on trimesters & there is no gen ed in it, & no required pre reqs either, which is a big reason why I'll probably apply there! I'm from Chicago originally but every LPN program in the city of Chicago I've come across requires several pre reqs. I live in TN for the moment & would love to go back to Chicago, but will stay here if I can get in to this LPN program. What bridge program are you at in KY? Would you recommend it?

I currently attend Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College in Pineville KY. Yes, I recommend it for the most part. There has been some restructuring before this year started so we are experiencing some growing pains, but I do like it. Usually in order to apply to a nursing program you need to have Micro and A&P (at least). Once you are an LPN, in my program, you can brdige right into the last year (two semesters) which is RN. To be honest, I would be a little leary of a program that does not require some sciences, unless they are incorporating them into the program. And I would clarify with a counselor at TN Tech where you are going to learn A&P if it isnt required.

The nursing program is one thing and then the classes needed for acceptance are generally another. Just cover your bases and don't gip yourself out of anything because of the "time" factor, in the long run it will make you a better nurse.

Good Luck!!

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