B careful LPN-RN Online

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Feb 1, 2007

Mel,

Great reminder to check into who recognizes your degree before you sign up, but I think there's a really important distinction that has to be made.

I know there are several recognized online RN-to-BSN programs in California though. CSU-Chico and CSU-Dominguez Hills are two that come to mind.

In addition, Indiana State University offers an LPN-to-BSN program by distance that many in CA are pursuing. Clinicals for this type of program are usually scheduled by the student in the local community.

While you're right that California does not recognize degrees from every school, the problem is not the online nature of the classes, but a lack of concurrent clinical and theoretical instruction.

PralineLPN · Feb 3, 2007

I would like to do LPN-BSN online, but I am very leery. I would like concrete evidence I can work in Maryland as a BSN with a degree from Indiana State U. I don't know, I think I'll just stick with brick and mortar for the actual nursing portion of the program, and take pre-reqs on-line. I haven't called MDBON yet, but Indiana State says they are accepted here. Make me nervous, still.

Paul

MsLady06 · Feb 4, 2007

I would rather go the old school route. Im not with the online education.

Jules A, MSN · Feb 4, 2007

I would like to do LPN-BSN online, but I am very leery. I would like concrete evidence I can work in Maryland as a BSN with a degree from Indiana State U. I don't know, I think I'll just stick with brick and mortar for the actual nursing portion of the program, and take pre-reqs on-line. I haven't called MDBON yet, but Indiana State says they are accepted here. Make me nervous, still.
Paul

I agree 100% with you Paul. The LPN-RN bridge program admission policies are making me nuts. I also wonder if the local Universities would accept that BSN toward a Masters if we are so inclines. Would you be kind enough to post either here or in the Maryland section if you find any answers? Good luck, Jules

erniebobernie · Feb 5, 2007

California does recognize the LPN-BSN degree from University of Phoenix.

They have a program based out of Modesto, CA. The CA state board has UOP on their website as an approved BSN program.

Someone had a link to the site regarding approved schools and they were included. Although it is not all online I still consider it an online program.

oh, found the link....

https://allnurses.com/forums/f233/lvn-rn-california-203606.html

softstorms · Feb 7, 2007

from most of my on-line search....it seems Cali and Texas have different rules than most, but a lot of L.V.N"s have trouble getting thier lisences tranferred to other states also. Any ideas about that?

laizure · Feb 14, 2007

Beware, it has been confirmed that the LVN to BSN course offered by Indiania State University and Sonoma State University is still pending with the California Board of Registered Nurses. The board is to vote on approval/denial of the program on Feb 16th, 2007.

Has anyone heard any other official information from the BRN about this program. It would be a real shame if the College network is taking advantage of this.

Also, there is no official listings on either Indiana State or Sonoma state websites that I can find. It makes me wonder if this is really a fishy marketing campaign from the college network.

Someone correct me with some more information and the I can verify!

TashaLPN2006RN2012, ASN, RN · Feb 15, 2007

i actually spoke to someone at ISU (i didnt want to go through college network, when i can just use CLEP and other undergraduate credits i already have) and this was for ohio, that it was excepted and on top of that the paperwork you get from ISU does NOT single you out that you took all your classes online ect...you get the same graduation paperwork that a graduate from ISU who sat in class everyday does. The lady also told me (because i move around a lot since hubby is in army) that i can actually sit for the NCLEX and put OHIO as my state, and then have it endorsed to whatever state i'm in, should it be a problem to sit for the NCLEX in say TX...i would get my license from OHIO first then endorse it in TX...i hope that makes some sense to ya'll. I think the program and all the info i got from it sounds very legit and i plan on going that route. But my circumstances prevent me from being able to attend a traditional school since we move every 1-2yrs and it's never set and i am TIRED of changing schools!

postmortem_cowboy · Feb 15, 2007

from most of my on-line search....it seems Cali and Texas have different rules than most, but a lot of L.V.N"s have trouble getting thier lisences tranferred to other states also. Any ideas about that?

Remember back when... you were in LVN school? How can you get the clinical hands on by doing your ADN or BSN online? It was hard enough doing it right there with a live patient, seems to me it would be just that much more difficult to do online. Seems to me that the only true way not to "sham" a degree and be able to practice, would be to go the old fashion way... in the trenches. When I was in nursing school the big thing was the "Excelsior" study program that at the end of it you had to do 3-4 days worth of 12 hour clinicals, pay 2-3 thousand dollars to the company to proctor said clinicals, and if you did anything... ANYTHING that was wrong you failed the whole clinical. If you failed it, you would then have to reapply for the clinical, pay a second time, and take your chances that you didn't fail something again. Excelsior is now no longer recognized by the state of California. I'm EXTREMELY cynical of stuff like that. For me, no online anything, no no no. I'd much rather be able to go sit in a classroom and hear/watch a teacher explain the concepts and be able to ask questions and get answers right then and there, and not have to wait two or three days to get an answer.

All comes down to, you get what you pay for, and you get what you put the time into back out of it. If your going to put very little time into it, and do it online and go cheap charley, don't be surprised if you end up the other side of it and not have your RN/BSN and owe a ton of money as a result of it. As for me, no thank you, i'll do it the old fashioned way.

Wayne.

chip193 · Feb 15, 2007

Remember back when... you were in LVN school? How can you get the clinical hands on by doing your ADN or BSN online? It was hard enough doing it right there with a live patient, seems to me it would be just that much more difficult to do online. Seems to me that the only true way not to "sham" a degree and be able to practice, would be to go the old fashion way... in the trenches. When I was in nursing school the big thing was the "Excelsior" study program that at the end of it you had to do 3-4 days worth of 12 hour clinicals, pay 2-3 thousand dollars to the company to proctor said clinicals, and if you did anything... ANYTHING that was wrong you failed the whole clinical. If you failed it, you would then have to reapply for the clinical, pay a second time, and take your chances that you didn't fail something again. Excelsior is now no longer recognized by the state of California. I'm EXTREMELY cynical of stuff like that. For me, no online anything, no no no. I'd much rather be able to go sit in a classroom and hear/watch a teacher explain the concepts and be able to ask questions and get answers right then and there, and not have to wait two or three days to get an answer.
All comes down to, you get what you pay for, and you get what you put the time into back out of it. If your going to put very little time into it, and do it online and go cheap charley, don't be surprised if you end up the other side of it and not have your RN/BSN and owe a ton of money as a result of it. As for me, no thank you, i'll do it the old fashioned way.
Wayne.

Hi Wayne,

There are literally thousands of Excelsior College grads who are working in all areas of nursing, both at and away from the bedside. The EC program began as an offshoot of the NY State Board of Regents (who are the folks who regulate all schools - from pre-K through PhD in NY) for people who had the knowledge but the lack of classroom time to achieve an RN (and was called the Regents External Degree program or REX). After 20 years or so, and a name change to Regents College, the entire college was granted a charter (and left the State behind and became a private not-for-profit) and the name changed to Excelsior College.

It is essentially the same program that existed 25 years ago. Take a bunch of exams (now on computer at a testing center, rather then at a college with a pencil and scantron) and receive credit for the didactic portion of your degree. Then take a three day (really two half days and one full day) practical exam over a weekend. The Friday night practical exam consists of four stations - dressing change, IV push, IV drip, and IM/SQ injection. The Saturday (2) and Sunday (1) sessions consist of a patient care situation with a real patient on a real Med/Surg floor where you are expected to assess and provide treatments. You can fail one (or two?) Friday night stations and one adult PCS and one child PCS and repeat them.

The program is not designed for a bus driver who decides on Wednesday morning that he wants to be a nurse. It is designed for people who care for patients - LPNs, Medics, etc. who want to be a nurse.

I chose the program after being a Medic for 15 years. I would have pulled my hair out (or pulled the instructor's hair out? ) in traditional nursing school. I watched my wife go through the frustration of being told on a regular basis "that's nice, but it's not nursing so you don't know anything" while she went through school.

I finished it in nine months, graduating three years ago. I'm now the night charge in a 55K visit trauma hospital ER. The program does work for the people it was meant for!

Chip

postmortem_cowboy · Feb 15, 2007

Dear Chip,

I'm not saying it doesn't work, I'm saying California doesn't accept Excelsior as a reputable form of nursing school. And also what i'm saying is it may have worked for you, but would not work for me. It may have worked for thousands of people who are now nurses, but I've also heard horror stories about it and I'm simply warning people of the risks they take when going into a program like that. If you choose to take the Excelsior program and it works for you, great! But if you get to the other end and wind up not passing the clinical section of it, and repeatedly, like a few people I know, then it doesn't work for those people and it's been a waste of their time. Might only be a selected few, but I'm not about to take that risk with my education or my pocketbook. If's and maybe's at the tune of thousands of dollars hinged on 1 mistake, to me aren't worth it. And to say that one person that takes the excelsior program and cares about patients and ensinuate that people who aren't comfortable with that type of arena don't, isn't right either. It may have worked for you, and bravo to you. However, I'd much rather go the traditional way, get the degree and the clinical experience along the way, rather than try to prove I know what I'm doing with someone standing over my shoulder watching every little thing i'm doing. But that's just me.

Wayne.