Anyone take LPN program just to make it easier to become RN?

LadyKLibra · Mar 17, 2006

actually, I just turned 60 and get my Masters this July.

Good for you, Baambi.....You give me hope.

L&D_2b · Mar 19, 2006

I'm so glad that someone posted this option - going from LPN to RN. I'm 50 and really don't have the patience to wait for nursing slots to open up if I can be dong something else educationally. I never thought about the LPN route until now. I have most of the pre-reqs done. I'm currently in Michigan but will be relocating to Maryland in the Baltimore area. Can anyone tell me how I can find out what schools teach the LPN program in a particular state, especally in Maryland? Thanks

Do a program search at: http://www.discovernursing.com. You can also check Maryland's BON for a list of approved programs.

Good luck.

quet1006 · Mar 20, 2006

I'm in Excelsior now and finished all written NCs except NC7 (will take it in 2 days). I think Frank has answered your questions but I want to throw down my thoughts maybe useful to you.
I finished my LPN school mid-05 and got licensed two months after that. Then I started a job in a local hospital right away as well as started with Excelsior. First of all, the Excelsior program DOES NOT teach you anything. You are self-taught based on the study guides for each exam and then go take the exams (I'm sure you're already knew this). Same situation for CPNE. So, you have to read, think, digest, make rationale and apply the material during your self-taught process. Then you will be successful. I have been always telling people that Excelsior is not for everyone, some people have to be in the classroom and some are totally independent (me). Excelsior program requires lots of self-motivation and initiative. The double sided sword is you can schedule your exam date based on your own pace. Some people will just drag on it and ended up doing the program very slowly or never finish. But I set myself an exam schedule, book the exam and study my butt off to beat my own deadlines.
I am the luckier one because I ended up quitting my job (that's another story - a typical terrible place to work for a new grad) and full time doing Excelsior (I have some money that my dad passed on to me after he passed away). I enjoy the Excelsior studying a lot more compare to my LPN school. I actually have time to really dig up answers that I did not have time to dig up during LPN school. This works better for me because I cannot simply do hardcore memorization without really understood the subject matter.
I think I'll be better prepare after grad Excelsior because I take the time to digest the material. While as a new LPN grad, I was really not knowing what I was doing because I was not learning in that LPN school. I was only brain washed with nursing facts designed only to pass the exams.
Hope this helps.

Hello

Im new here so Im not sure of excately how this site works so please excuse any mistakes...This questions is directed to you or anyone elese who can help. I to just graduated Lvn in july 2005 in Ca took my test Nov 2005 and successfully passed, stated working in In jan at a care center (60 bed )nights bymyself with 3 cnas (Was beyond overwhelmed but managed, )however wished there was someone with experience to ask for help when I needed it (which was often) or at least be there to guide me during ermegencys, and not wait for the next shift. Anyhow I have managed. My question how ever is I am relocating to AZ would like to start Excelsior , but I do not know what to expect, im still waiting for my info packet to arrive.

Just a few of the questions I have.

Do you need to be working at a hospital? Do you have to find your own clinical sites or is it worked based? Would you or anyone else suggest that I have more experiecne? Since you were not working how and whrer did you do clinicals? Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Quet1006:confused:

cowgirlred · Mar 25, 2006

I'm in the same boat. I took all my prereqs for the RN program then went on the waiting list. I will graduate from an LPN program in May. I'm planning on bridging into a RN program starting in August. They save spots just for LPN's to bridge.

onehusbandsevenkids · Mar 30, 2006

I really want to take an ADN program but it is several years waiting list and very competitive in my area. However the LPN program has openings for August and it is only 12 months. There's not many LPN openings here but I've seen a lot of LPN to ADN programs with no wait-even online courses. Is this a good idea? Anyone else have any experience with this? Thanks in advance for any advice you may have!

Yes, exactly what I've done. Our area ADN program receives 600-800 applications each semester for 120 spots. I can't afford to sit and wait, I need to be working. So I applied to the LPN program thats affiliated with the ADN program and am about to finish my first semester.

Once we're done with the LPN program, we have nursing I, II, & III completed. We apply to the RN program in the beginning of our thrid LPN semester and if accepted, take nurisng IV which they offer during the summer for May LPN graduates. We then only have two semesters left, nursing V & VI, then we're RNs!

Another benefit for me personally was that I can work as an LPN on a parttime basis while finishing the RN.

Good luck!

onehusbandsevenkids · Mar 30, 2006

It all depends on your situation. My story is I wanted to be an "RN" and decided to research what programs were available in my area (Los Angeles). I quickly found out as with all community colleges there is a big wait.In my case time was a factor I was in my thirties and had a family to look after. My wait for the RN program was going to be about 3 semesters so I went ahead into the "LVN" program at a private college here. I finished obtained my license and almost immediately applied to an RN program and was accepted and placed in the 3rd semester. To make a long a story short...there is no disadvantage to that route. I later pursed my "BSN." I graduated in the summer of '2005." at the old age of 42.
Nothing is impossible...I went thru all of nursing school with a not so supportive spouse, and 4 children under 11 years of age. The rewards are far greater than any hardship along the way.

Thanks for replying, postmortRNhere, you give me hope! I'm almost 35 & in an LPN program. We have seven kids, my marriage is definately on the rocks - husband not really supportive. I want to become a CNM, but am feeling that I'll be too darn old by the time a CNM degree comes along!

Its nice to hear of others in similar situations "beating the odds."

mr passionate1 · Sep 11, 2006

Hi hello how are you all ,anyway i am new member and i am so happy to be here ,well i am interested to do the lpn program online ,but i am not sure of the best school to attend ,so can someone please give me the best option.Thanks inadvance.

mr passionate1 · Sep 11, 2006

I am trying to find a online lpn program ,because i am too busy working and no time to go to regular classes,thanks inadvance.

jlhayes · Sep 12, 2006

I did the LPN first and am working on figuring out which school will best for RN mobility. Minnesota has long waiting lists and even have started waiting lists for LPN's. The Mobility programs here are geared to the working LPN and most are 9 months but still hard to get into. I am wondering about the on-line RN classes but do not know enough about them to pay that kind of money-need to work firt and make some $.

Good luck!

Coolgramma · Sep 12, 2006

Hi Everyone who posted comments about the LPN vs RN dilemma!!! I posted the following information about one year ago in this forum and hoped that during this time there would have been programs like the following in many more places than it appears to be.

I am a Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant, nationally certified in both fields with a Master's in Education focused on Curriculum Design and Development and am currently pursuing a second Master's in Nursing Education, focused on teaching nursing. I am the mother of seven children and the grandmother of 15 (God's gift to me for not killing my kids (; -}....) I am currently employed by a private two-year college in New York State. I was hired to design, create, and also teach, an LPN program specifically focused on encouraging folks to begin at the LPN level, and when completed and pass NCLEX-PN, there are college credits, equivalent to the first year of the ADN program, that transfer into the second year of the ADN program.

The PN program is 15-months, WEEKENDS ONLY, to accomodate folks who work and/or have families...you can keep your job...hopefully child care is easier on weekends.... The first class graduated this past August, received a Certificate of completion and are about to take the NCLEX-PN exam. The folks who said in their postings that their LPN experience was valuable are right, and those folks do better in RN programs than many "newbies" going directly into an RN program. Our college is now exploring the addition of the BSN which would allow that credential to follow the RN. It takes 4 years to do that in a traditional college without a license to practice until the four years are complete. This new "series will also take 4 years but goes 1+1+2...LPN to RN to BSN. The PN students loved the program, even though giving up weekends for 15 months is HARD...but are finding it worht the time. Several are in the ADN program, several are working for a year before going on, some wanted the LPN and are happy doing that level of nursing. I'd encourage anyone who wants nursing as a profession to sign up for an RN program that will accept LPN's as advanced placement students, and then take the LPN courses while you are on the RN "waiting list".

PS Last year, after my first posting, a young woman came from Alaska to this college and is now in the PN program, heading for the RN in a year...Good luck everyone!!!

jlhayes · Sep 12, 2006

Do you know anything about these on-line programs?

I am just concerned about them and do not want to start one then find out it is not what I needed. Do you feel it is better to wait on the waiting lists and continue working as a LPN? MN is a bit hard to find LPN jobs, everyone wants 6 months -1 year experience with the exception of Home Care and nursing homes. After my home care diaster, I am very turned off that type of work and am not thrilled about nursing homes.

Thanks for your advise!

I am a recent graduate and need all the advise I can get:)

mr passionate1 · Sep 12, 2006

Hi hello to everybody there,i am trying to find a online lpn program that fit my busy lifestyle ,so if thier is anyone out there with that information ,can u send it to me .Thank you inadvance .