Difference Between ADN and RN? (LPN ladder programs)

[Justanotherday]

I am beginning prerequisites at our local community college and I saw in the nursing literature they provided me phrases such as "ladder programs" for LPN to RN and "transition courses" for LPN to ADN, but I don't know what the difference is between those two or if they are one in the same. If someone could help me out I would appreciate it, I am just learning the "lingo" and up until a few months ago I didn't even know the difference between an LPN and an RN.

Thank you!

[BR NURSE2BEE]

RN is a general term that is applied to all registered nurses. ADN stands for Associates degree in Nursing however, ever RN does not have to have an ASN. They can have a BSN (Bachelors degree in Nursing) or a Diploma in Nursing. Hope I could be of some help. FYI: RN is a job title not a degree.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

An entry-level RN can be educationally prepared by one of four different pathways:

1. RN-ADN: the ADN (associates in nursing) is the most common track, and nearly 70 percent of all RNs are educated at the ADN level

2. RN-BSN: the BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) is also another common educational pathway to becoming an RN.

3. RN-MSN: only 2 percent of all RNs have attained the master of science degree in nursing. There are direct-entry MSN programs that allow people with non-nursing degrees to earn a MSN in a short amount of time.

4. RN-diploma: the 3 year diploma in nursing used to be the most common educational preparation for RNs, but these programs are fading away.

Any person who has completed one of the four types of nursing programs is eligible to take the NCLEX to become a registered nurse.

Also, the LVN-to-RN bridge, the LVN-to-RN track, LPN-to-RN completer programs, LPN-to-RN laddering, and LVN-to-RN transition programs are all various terms that are used to describe the exact same type of schooling. In all cases, the educational preparation is designed for the LPN/LVN to attain RN licensure after having earned an associate or baccalaureate degree in nursing. There are LPN-to-RN ADN programs, and LPN-to-RN BSN programs.