Difference between LVN school and ADN school

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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Can anyone give me specifics on the difference in course work for LVN and ADN school. I know some say LVN is just the first year ADN but I'm thinking this may not be the case because I have viewed the semester schedule for the ADN schools and LVN schools here and ADN schools have the same classes (as the LVN) stretched out over the two year period.

I know that there is a difference between LVN and ADN (chain of command/delegation, allowed tasks, etc.) but I'm wondering what the difference would be in the actual school work.

Thanks!

By the way...my current school does only LVN year, transition, and RN year (if you choose to continue). In this case, I'm wondering if, most of the classes are repeat. For example, doing OB, psych, peds. again but in the new role.

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great question...i am LPN and wonder the same thing..

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I think you could probably get an idea at looking at an LVN to RN program. I tried researching and it looks like it might be a year (3 semesters)?

Here is an example of one:

MiraCosta College - Nursing - LVN-RN Nursing ProgramAlso, I don't know the pre-reqs for an LVN program but Micro, AP1&2 and Nutrition may need to be taken if you didn't take those previously.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

At my school, the LVN program really is the equivalent to the first year of the ADN program, plus a summer session to get more clinical time. The LVN-RN students join the ADN program's 2nd year students.

We also have an integrated curriculum, so that actually works. We cover the same topics every semester...the "patients" just get more progressively ill every semester. If your school is a block program, i would think the classes in the two programs would look the same, but the ADN classes would be more in depth.

Just a guess.

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LVN is condensed, more concentrated on clinicals. ADN is actually only two additional clinicals in most states, but also requires general Ed classes like English Comp 1&2, psychology, sociology, electives etc. Bridge programs vary widely across the country and between schools. My LPN school here in PA has an agreement with a local college ADN program that recognizes all of my LPN classes and I won't need to repeat anything. Depending on where you are,your mileage may vary. Are you in CA or TX? Those are the two states with the LVN designation

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here at our college, we have a choice of testing out of the 1st semester of the RN program if allready a LPN...i asked why not the whole first year and the dean said it cause of the psych rotation in the 2nd semester that we LPNs didnt have....

i did a year of LPN school thru an adult program so i did not have to have any "pre-req"...just had to past an entance exam and the interview.....after i became an LPN 5 yrs ago i thought i would be happy being an LPN....i am...but I want to do so much more....so after working 2 yrs i decided to take my prereqs and then ALL the sciences that went along with the RN program...one class at a time....just finished micro with an A and was accepted back in feb for fall admissions...i chose not to test out as i do not want to miss anything and i also heard the instructors are much harder on the ones coming in for 2nd semester...???who knows...

the closest bridge program to me is 2 hrs away....not doable...

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I'm in Texas.

I have all of the LVN and RN pre-reqs and co-reqs, with the exception of Micro., for my school and a couple of the closest schools, and a couple of extra classes.

I am contemplating the best path for my family and I. I have a desire to work some specialty clinic jobs, such as OB and Oncology and am concerned that I may not be eligible for those jobs if I continue on to the RN year at my school. They give the option to do it or not.

I wanted to take the actual differences in education into account when making my decision. Thank you for all the responses.

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