LPN to RN through testing?

[mc3]

I just feel that I'm going to get a lot of flak on this, but here goes...Since there's such a nursing shortage, why not let LPN's take the RN test with some parameters? I just thought of a few:

5 years minimum experience

letter of recommendation from supervisor

must be IV certified ahead of time

More?

They would take the same test, study from the same study guides that are available. If someone felt especially weak in say, med conversions, they could take an algebra review or brush upon on what they learned in school beforehand.

If they didn't pass, well, do what the other students do and try, try again.

You're not going to pass the test if you're not up on the latest information, and it would happen whether or not you were an RN or LPN or BSN or MSN for that matter!

I just think it makes sense in light of the nursing shortage. There won't be a tremendously long wait to get into an LPN-RN school. It would make a hugh difference in patient care. It would also help to keep jobs from being filled from overseas workers. We really should try to hire citizens first, anyway. It seems the RN organizations would be diametrically opposed, but I don't understand why. After all, they are the ones that are crying the most about a nursing shortage and demanding action.

And, BTW, why don't state nursing organizations allow LPN's to joint?? They are nurses, right???

Just a thought..

mc3:nurse:

Kind of simplistic, I know, but I've always wondered about it...

[mixyplixy]

Letting an LVN only test to be an RN is like learning to ride a bike reading a book...doesnt work

[loriannlpn]

Really? I've never heard of a program not having ANY hospital clinicals. I'm an RN, but still I just can't believe that they wouldn't at least spend some time in the hospital arena.

My LPN clinicals were all hospital except for the first semester.

[loriannlpn]

I Think that paramedics with college back-ground and x-years of experience should be allowed to enter a LPN/LVN to RN class.

Your skills may be up to par, however, two different scopes of practice. I would be afraid to challenge the RN-NCLEX without nursing classes. As a RN you need to know your scope.

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

They just started one like this in my area...but it's for EMT's as well as LVN's and paramedics....

I Think that paramedics with college back-ground and x-years of experience should be allowed to enter a LPN/LVN to RN class.

[puglie]

The nurses (RN) that come out of school and work at my facility ask a LOT of questions and they are asking the LPN's

There is nothing like good old fashion experience ! No matter what you do for a living and that includes nursing.

I went to LPN school way back in the 70's and I had A&P and it was a huge book and I had to learn a lot of stuff . I hear today that LPN school is about 12 months in NJ .

The grads I talk to now did not learn a lot of the stuff I did when I went to school. I went for almost 2 years to be an LPN .

Didn't go back for RN due to having children and raising a family all these years. I am back in school now. All the pre reqs UGH . IT's terrible. Where are all the diploma schools when ya need them? But you will have an associates degree the college counslor said .. HA I told her I'm 53 years old I don't want nor do I need and Associates degree LOL. I just want my RN.

*SIGH*

I helped a coworker study for her RN . We studied from the big huge RN book. I pretty much aced most of the questions . If it was the real test I would have passed with flying colors.

As far as hiring forigners . Well we had a resident that had a hair line fracture and I was taking a report from said RN and I asked her where the hair line fracture was . She looked at me like I was an idiot and said

You know the fracture thats at the base of her head , the hairline . I thought it was a joke until on of the other nurses told me that this person was 1 shy of a 6 pack and she was serious with what she has said !! I just shook my head.

I guess the standard of education is not as high as it is here LOL . I do agree that they make it extremely difficult in the USA to get your RN. I am trying to go through Excelsor college , No math required ( thank heavens )

It's a tough way to do it so we shall see. I dont know what the answer is but I am sure a lot of us could pass the RN test with no problem at all .

The whole thing boils down to $$$$$$$$$ The colleges would NEVER let it happen . The problem with that is our residents are suffering and will continue to do so as long as money is more important to these big corps.

Where I work we had 56 patients 2 nurses and 2 nurses aids last night . I am dog tired physically and mentally . And NO a lot of the people DID NOT get the care they needed. Treatments ?? LOL what are they ??

And they wonder why there's a shortage !! They better do something and do it fast. There are 4 nurses where I work that are leaving nursing all together . Can't blame them .. So ya Give the LPN's their test If you have enough experience to pass it then more power to ya . As I said eariler . There's nothing like good old fashion EXP !!!!

And if I had my RN,BSN,any kind of N I would welcome the new new RN's with open arms and thank heavens for the help.

[muffylpn]

I don't think there should be any shortcuts to becoming an RN. In the time it would take to get the five years experience as an LPN one could have already completed an LPN-RN program. However, I do think that employers paying for LPN-RN bridge programs are a great idea. And remember, there is no nursing shortage...

This is like a Dental Assistant wishing to become a Dental Hygienist if she studies real hard and passes the test (because after all they do a lot of the same things). But in reality the formal education is what separates the two professions. I can see where you are coming from so I hope you don't take this the wrong way.

No it is not like that-why can I say this-I was a dental asst for several

years before I was an LPN- never ever was I allowed to clean someone

teeth nor was any other dental asst I know. I do not agree that

an LPN should just be able to study and take the test- first of

all really a slap in the face to all RNs- but there really should be a

bridge program of an additional year that would allow LPNs to sit

for another 10 months- that would be fair- but to allow ? RN to

come from other countries with a peice of paper stamped/ noterized

by their school and allow them to sit without fully checking what

classes they took and how well they read or understand English is

not acceptable either

[muffylpn]

Ok I have read all the posts now- first if your state says you need

English 1+2 then you do- unless you clep it. LPN with numerous years

of exp in a certain field should allowed to sit for a clinical final with

a college professor of nursing, they should be the ones allowed to

decide if that person has enough skill to pass an RN boards tests.

No, there should be no easy road but it should be a better road t

In Mass. if any of your sciences are over

5 yrs old you MUST re-take them, so that fact that after LPN school

I went and sat at a community college took AP 1+2 and Micro 10yrs

ago and then life got in the way means nothing- see that is not fair.

[RN34TX]

but to allow RN to

come from other countries with a peice of paper stamped/ noterized

by their school and allow them to sit without fully checking what

classes they took and how well they read or understand English is

not acceptable either

I totally agree, yet it seems that this board gets more up in arms over an LPN becoming an RN by any means other than a traditional program that may be seen as some "short cut" (Oh no, not that!!) than a nurse who's English is not even remotely close to understandable to us, let alone a hard of hearing and/or elderly person.

But then again, it's politically incorrect to say such things and it's much more in style to gloat about:

1. How hard one's nursing program was

2. How hard their program was to get into

3. How long or grilling their clinicals were

4. How it therefore made them a much better nurse than a graduate from some other program....

It's funny how some ideas of superiority are considered to be "in style" while others are considerd to be discriminatory and/or closed minded.

[feltmeyer]

I believe that many LPN programs are wonderful I am completing an LPN to RN bridge program I have learned alot and have found the critical thinking above and beyond that which is taught in LPN is quite a benefit. Actually there are programs out there as long as you have a Bachelor's in anything not necessary to nursing you can go into an accelerated BSN program now to me that is much more terrifying to know that someone is taking care of me is a nurse on paper yet has had no clinical or hands on medical experience at all before they get the BSN

[luv4nursing]

I Think that paramedics with college back-ground and x-years of experience should be allowed to enter a LPN/LVN to RN class.

My LPN to RN program accepts Paramedics and Respiratory therapists but they have to have documented clinical experience.

Many mentioned a transition program should be available, and they are available widely now. There are usually about 6 pre reqs that need to be done before you can apply, but the program itself is one year. The program I am getting ready to start in January at my community college is actually online. We have to go to clinicals once a week for 12 hrs, and the rest is online except for some lab check offs and midterms/finals. It works out well since I would say most who are transitioning probably work and need to be able to continue working...it makes it more convenient bc you can do your school work on ur own time (say for instance at 2am in your underoos if u want! lol)

I would also like to add that for many LPNs, getting their RN is considered a formality as far as the education/classes required. I have met many LPNs who transitioned to RN and who say they learned absolutlely nothing new. I also compared the NCLEX review books for LPN and RN and they are identical, word for word,page for page except for a section on delegation. Its all the same information that we are required to learn over again, possibly in slightly more detail. I just consider it something that I have to do to get paid more. Ill let you know if my view changes while Im in the program, but that seems to be the general view.

[mgordonlvn]

This is another area where we are feeding on our own...

If I, the lowly LVN, can correctly demonstrate to a competent assessor all of the skills that RN students must learn, and pass the NCLEX-RN, then I certainly must possess the knowledge that a formally trained candidate possesses. Regardless of the source of your knowledge...if you know it, you know it.

:trout: to the person who suggested that RN's should be able to take a test and be doctors. Same principle. If you know it, you had to learn it somewhere. The crap they ask on boards is not stuff you know inately.

As far as Excelsior goes...I would take someone who demonstrates the discipline to study independently and fulfill all of their requirements(esp. CPNE) before I would trust some suburban housewife who attended the local community college because she was bored...or her husband left her...or whatever other lame scenario you can come up with.

:nono: :nono: :nono: :nono: :nono: :nono: :nono: :nono: :nono:

Is it just me...or do those look like middle fingers?

[mixyplixy]

Oh come on, if an LVN wants to be an RN, go to school and become one. If an RN wants to be an NP, get the necessary education and degrees. A test of any kind is just a small part of what is necessary. A person has to learn to THINK like an RN, not just know what box to check on the test. Its hard to explain...