Are there any online programs for LPN/LVN or ADN?

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Hello and thank you for your time in reading this post. It is a long story so I will try to keep it short and sweet. My nursing trajectory began many years ago when I was caregiving for my mother who had type 2 diabetes that was not well controlled. This led to leg ulcers that were down to her bone and the doctors were talking about amputation. I began to take over the wound care (which was basic daily wrap changes, using ace bandages for compression and monitoring for infection). After two long years mom's legs were fully healed!

Fast forward to 2013 when we found out mom was in ESRD 3 which would soon require dialysis. We were enrolled for one of the only at home hemodialysis programs offered in the state of Colorado. I was fully trained on how to cannulate the access, monitor for hemolysis (and other conditions) and preform the entire hemo dialysis which lasted about 3 hours a day 5 days a week. It was then I felt nursing as a calling.

I soon applied to a local assisted living facility to get started. About a year later mom had passed and nursing went to the wayside. I have always heard the saying "once you get into nursing, you never get out of it" and I believe this whole heartedly. Since I have been working in AL I have gained quite a bit of experience. I am certified QMAP (Qualified Medication Administration Person) am currently working on getting my CNA license this summer and have worked alongside many nurses and cna's these past few years.

I also am planning on going for a phlebotomy certificate this summer/fall as well.

The dilemma I have is this, I live in a ski town in northwestern Colorado. The only nursing school is about 50 miles away and is very competitive (as there are no other options for nursing school in the area). Are there any accredited programs that can be taken online for either LPN or RN? I understand clinicals would still need to be done before the NCLEX. Does anyone know if these programs exist or am I looking at going in person for any nursing programs? If I can take most of the classes online this would save tremendous time and money.

(Plus my sister just had a little girl, so needless to say I will need to stay in the area for a while).


Thanks for any information!

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I know of no online programs. Clinical education is paramount to any nursing education, so it is unlikely that an online program exists

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Almost all of the programs have partial online components, but all of them require a clinical component along with didactic. Therefore any program that is 100% online is going to be highly suspect regarding the quality and marketability of that education. Medical/nursing training is hands-on. That doesn't translate well to online.

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49 minutes ago, not.done.yet said:

Almost all of the programs have partial online components, but all of them require a clinical component along with didactic. Therefore any program that is 100% online is going to be highly suspect regarding the quality and marketability of that education. Medical/nursing training is hands-on. That doesn't translate well to online.

My understanding is that most (all?) BONs have requirements for how many hours of clinical must be offered by a program. A "100%" online initial nursing program would not pass muster with any BON. No permission to sit for NCLEX, no nursing license.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

Please be wary of any on-line program - many require you to find your own preceptoring gig which may be darn near impossible. Given the specifics of what you describe you'll either need to defer this dream or make some life changes. Work as a CNA, decide if you really want to do this or not, and take it from there.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
2 hours ago, Horseshoe said:

My understanding is that most (all?) BONs have requirements for how many hours of clinical must be offered by a program. A "100%" online initial nursing program would not pass muster with any BON. No permission to sit for NCLEX, no nursing license.

Excellent point and one I failed to consider in my response.

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The only information that I could find was the BSN pathway.

I have worked as a cna for about 4 years now (just waiting to get licensed) and have spent a good amount of time in medicine.

I was looking for a possible adn program which would allow pre reqs such as a&p and clinical calculations to be done online. I would fully expect hands on learning as well.

Mainly the only info I can find is either bsn or MSN pathway, or as others stated I would have to set up my own clinicals which would be near impossible. I just wasnt sure if there were other options.

Thank you all for your input

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Look at your local community college district and see if any of the pre-reqs are offered online. There is a good chance that some are.

Pre-licensure programs, however, will not be online. Your years as a med tech or CNA are important, but do not replace any hours in an RN program.

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