Hard time going from LPN to RN????

Need2Care · Feb 20, 2010

I am thinking about becoming a LPN and them moving into the RN program...can someone tell me if that is usually an easy transition or is it hard?
What can LPN's do extra to increase their chances in being accpeted into RN programs?

It does depend on your situation I would add however, that what you can do extra is to get the pre-requisites done for the RN program and get good grades! It's all about your grades! That will help you get accepted, depending on where you decide to go to school.

Also, I believe that once you are an LPN you can do an RN bridge program mostly on-line with some clinical work at the end (accredited... but may be expensive).

Good luck to you!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2010

Does anyone know? Here in Lexington, KY, why CMT are being hired instead of RN's in the doctor offices?

If I had to make a guess, I would conjecture that CMTs (certified medical technicians) are being hired in the doctors offices and clinics in your area instead of RNs because the CMTs are probably much cheaper labor.

Doctors offices are businesses, and businesses look for ways in which they can cut costs. Reducing the amount of wages and salaries to pay out is a way of controlling costs. It is all about the almighty dollar.

ncsportsfan · Feb 20, 2010

I agree with most of the other posters have said.

Bridging only added one more semester in my program. It was still 2yrs total, just six semesters 3 for LPN, 3 for the bridge, instead of 5 for ADN. I chose LPN first because one I was clueless, and two I thought I would be able to work and do the bridge. I say clueless because I wasn't aware of the LPN's scope in NC, and that there is a dramastic pay difference unless you want to do LTC. Foolishly I didn't work as a LPN because the job I had paid better than new grad RN's so I couldn't take that pay cut and go back to school. Foolishly I didn't try for a hospital job when they were actually hiring some LPN's in my area like some of my classmates. I could have made up in pay working nights and weekends.

Lucky for me I only had to wait one semester after grauation before entering the bridge program. However when I went on interviews the fact that I had a LPN license and didn't really use it hurt me. I think even working at LTC would have shown my ability to multi task and take care of more than the 3 patients I had in school.

Alot of LTC still offer weekend option jobs that are really helpful when trying to bridge, and the pay is pretty decent at a good facility.

When someone asks me about doing LPN or RN, I ask them about their finances and how soon they need to work. Both programs are time consuming. But can you afford to work 2yrs as a CNA while in RN school, or do you need a 1yr program as LPN but probably won't land that hospital job when you finish.

sweetyam01 · Feb 20, 2010

No, now wait a minute on you, for taking a cheap shot. You are not allowing me to express how I feel and my opinions. You state your opinion but yet, want to judge. No way are you getting by with it. I advised that I was not concerned about my grammatical errors at the time I was expressing. You cheap thing you!!!!

Now, here is what I want people to understand. Nursing jobs are hard to find, and everybody can feel it. And not just doctor offices and whatever you mentioned are the only ones that are cutting RN positions. Honey, the hospitals are too.

Look, you can stay in your state of denial all you want; I don't give a rats butt* But, telling someone to go be an LPN is the poorest educational advice. No one is hiring LPN's. The LPN programs in Lexington KY will take the LPN classes to the hospitals for clinicals.........BUT GUESS WHAT??????..........ALL THE POOR LPN STUDENTS WILL STAND AROUND AND TAKE NOTICE THAT THESE HOSPITALS DO NOT HIRE LPN'S. SO THERE YOU KNOW IT ALL!!!!!

All the RN's are going for NP degrees, now you tell me, how close is that to being a doctor? Go ahead, I want to hear you. And the burn out rate for an RN, I do not care if you do go to nursing school BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HELP PEOPLE.

Yes, going to med school is a challenge, being a nurse is not so much.

I would venture to say that you wish not to take any more science classes, but taking care of someone even as a registered nurse is knowing all the science of the human body. You would be SHOCKED at how much better it is being a doctor instead of a nurse. I guess you are just a limited pea brain.

I will participate in this forum, I am a nurse just like you.

And, I repeat, take all the science classes necessary for medical school. Being a doctor is a wave of the future, I guess I just realize this and am a mature person compared to others. This is reality and it is no bad for you to realize and acknowledge that.

I can be a doctor and take care of people too, just like you can as a nurse. But, I will tell you one thing, a lot of care is being taught to the patient to do self care directed by the doctor...period.

I will tell you one thing, you should always as a nurse be doing research, well that is if you have a BA in nursing, an associate well they are not taught the extent of a BA on research....or do you even know what I am talking about? or this over your head too?

I do not have time for your put downs, do you try to embarrass your patients too?

There are some people that just do not get it.

My husband is an attorney, my brother and mother is a doctor, my sister a nurse, another sister who is the DON of a large hospital, and think you have no ambition for the being the best in life :lol2:

Sorry you feel that way:crying2:

But people choose to limit themselves in society :confused: who knows why. I really do not care.

You may thing about switching from being a Nurse and maybe an English teacher :jester: .

I would like to read some of your nurses notes.....wonder how grammatically they are . Never thought of that did you? :mad: Sorry, you can get mad all you want....but if you cannot stand the heat...get out of the kitchen :yeah:

And, no do not go from LPN to RN. Go from LPN to medical school, show those RN's. You can be a doctor instead, if you definitely want to apply yourself, it not, then maybe not will be smart enough :eek:

I carry a 3.92 GPA, and that is why I made it into medical school. What is your GPA? :rolleyes: That is what I thought :crying2: so sorry, so sorry.

But, there are a lot of people who can just barely handle being a nurse, that all they are capable of:cool:, and that is fine, doctors need nurses to tell what to do:yeah:

sweetyam01 · Feb 20, 2010

I am a nurse too. I just thought that I would help and let everyone know that the trend is medical school.

If you are going to spend a lot of time in college, why not take premed classes, then your butt is covered for nursing classes just in case for some reason one does not get accepted into med school, which depends on GPA to getting accepted into med school. :banghead: Bang your head on a wall all you want with "just nursing". I understand that this is a nursing site, and I am a nurse just like you. But, nursing is falling by the way side FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! College is expensive, spend money for medical school...why not????? answer that one :jester: without making joke of things that I say.

RunnerNurse09, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2010

Going from LPN to RN personally was an easy transition for me. I already knew how to think like a nurse, and scored very high on the critical thinking tests in the beginning (and end) of RN school. I also got great grades, which will help to pursue my BSN. It may also help with the job market. I believe my LPN experience helped me land a job as an RN quickly. The only drawback I see to doing LPN is that, at least in my state of NJ, they are phasing out LPNs, even in long term facilities.

I told my niece, who is considering nursing, to just go for her RN because of job security. Good luck to you in your decision and I hope that helps.

glitter1 · Feb 20, 2010

some colleges have Rn programs where u have the option of taking your LPN boards during your second semester.

RunnerNurse09, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2010

I am a nurse too. I just thought that I would help and let everyone know that the trend is medical school.
If you are going to spend a lot of time in college, why not take premed classes, then your butt is covered for nursing classes just in case for some reason one does not get accepted into med school, which depends on GPA to getting accepted into med school. Bang your head on a wall all you want with "just nursing". I understand that this is a nursing site, and I am a nurse just like you. But, nursing is falling by the way side FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! College is expensive, spend money for medical school...why not????? answer that one without making joke of things that I say.

I dont really think the "trend" is med school. What the trend and concern IS is that the entry level education for nursing does not currently match the entry level of other professions. Most professions require a BS or masters at entry level. Nursing (at this point) does not. Do you REALLY think that they will do away with nursing? Most Drs dont like to get their hands dirty. No Dr is going to be with 6-8 pts for 8-12 hrs. Its just not going to happen. Health care costs would go through the roof, and people that once wanted to be Drs wont because it wont be what they thought it was going to be(if they have to be at the pt's bedside). I really dont know why you believe that nursing is falling by the wayside. Nursing is growing. I started out an LPN and am now an ADN RN, and I am going back for my BS and perhaps my masters. Spewing out your GPA means nothing really. I high GPA does not necessarily make someone "smarter" than the next. It means you can memorize things well.

I agree that telling someone to go and get their LPN is bad advice, since I have seen first hand that they are phasing them out. I also believe having a BS should be the entry level education required for nursing.

Nursing and medicine are two seperate things. I have no desire to be an MD. Nursing is what I chose and I am proud to be.

RunnerNurse09, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2010

HA! Those last two sentences rhymed I really didnt mean for them to!

ferg62003 · Mar 12, 2010

Are you for real? I hardly ever take the time and effort to post, but you have motivated me. Check your self-esteem/bitterness issues at the door. Don't want your care as nurse/MD given your attitude. Your the kind that would be talked about town and with the empty appointment book. Reality check, many of us have the intellectual capacity to do either nursing/medicine. We choose what we do after knowing who we are and what makes us fulfilled.

Sounds like you have alot of work to do....heal thyself!

:twocents:

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2010

Sweetyam01, with that elitist attitude I surmise you'll fit in very well in the medical community. We, here, are a community of nurses. To come here and put down the nursing profession as a whole is neither productive nor wise. Might I suggest you mosey on over to forums.studentdoctor.net where nurse bashing is more warmly received?

buzkil · Mar 20, 2010

Sweety...I'm just reading through this thread and I really am not that interested in the topic but I have to tell you, you sound nuts. Just my observation.