Hey RN's that used to be LPN's !

Tieuana · Dec 3, 2015

Were you able to work and go to school? I'm thinking you must have to have a good support system to do both.

Davey Do · Dec 3, 2015

I took the State Boards for LPN in 1984, RN in 1990. LPN was one full day, RN two.

At the time of my RN State Board, I worked with an RN who took her State Boards in 1949. She told me her test consisted of eleven essay questions.

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Dec 3, 2015

My recommendation is to return to school immediately to get your RN license.

The most frustrating thing for me, when I did get my RN, was to be completing forms for various employment, certifications, more college, etc., and they only wanted to know how long I've been an RN. It was if my LPN did not count for anything. This fact come to mind especially when you work for an employer in California that compensates you based upon your years as a Nurse. I've never been able to count my time as an LPN. Only as an RN.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2015

Were you able to work and go to school? I'm thinking you must have to have a good support system to do both.

I worked full-time (32 hours per week) every weekend as an LVN while attending an associate degree nursing program.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Dec 3, 2015

Hello and good morning peeps (EST), I am now a LPN! I am happier than ever, BUT I want to ask those of you who became RN's when is the best time to go back to school? How did it work out for you? I don't want to wait too long but I also want to go get some experience somewhere as an LPN. If you have any advice, it will be appreciated!
I have heard a lot of people who wait to go back to school for a while cannot pass the exam!
Thanks guys!

It took me 7 years to return to school; I wanted to go back to school once I found out I couldn't get certified in the specialties that I worked in (Rehab and Peds). When I graduated my PN program, I already had my associates from most of my pre-reqs to apply to a program-Life got in the way, but I was able to only take three university required courses and my nursing courses when I entered my BSN program; I was 5 years removed from PN school by then.

If anything, school built upon my nursing practice.

Tieuana · Dec 3, 2015

That's the thing -- I enjoy school. You guys are motivating me to go back. I think I will really soon here [emoji3]

Did you have to pay out of pocket, I'm curious?

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Dec 3, 2015

Were you able to work and go to school? I'm thinking you must have to have a good support system to do both.

I went through a part-time accelerated program and worked 30 plus hours while going to school on the evenings and the weekends.

HopefulRN7 · Dec 3, 2015

I became a LPN in July 2014, started as a MA shortly before becoming licensed and then moved into Pediatrics. I will complete the RN program in July 2016.

I think getting back into school immediately has its pros and cons- your first year as an LPN you're basically learning more in depth what was taught in school and applying and evaluating it. It's great because your brain is still very much in learning mode but it can be overwhelming at the same time because while you're still trying to grasp the skills of one role you're also "re-training" your brain to view those concepts differently as an RN.

Either way, I agree with other posters who say it's really up to the person and whether they're ready to commit their time once again to being in school and whether you have support and your priorities in order.

Best of luck to you!

AdobeRN · Dec 3, 2015

I finished the LVN program in July 2005 and started the LVN-RN program in January 2006, finished in May 2007. I wasn't concerned with getting experience as an LVN - I just wanted to make enough money to support my family while going thru school. I worked at an urgent care type of office for the first semester of the LVN-RN program then quit and moved to PRN Pedi Home Health - made good money and was able to make my own schedule according to the time I had available between my family and school.

In my last semester of the RN program I started to look for a job - none of the places I applied at cared that I had some experience as a LVN - I was treated just like a new RN grad. I was hired on a pedi unit before I finished the RN program as a new grad. It was probably a good 9 months later the hospital redid their whole new grad program and pay scale - the hospital went back and actually gave me credit for my LVN experience with a raise and even retro paid me from my first day - that was a nice unexpected bonus check.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Dec 3, 2015

I've been an LPN for 15 years and am just now getting ready to finish the last stretch of my RN transition program. I had originally gotten my LPN first to avoid a wait list of three years (program entry criteria was much different back then) because at the time the transition program did not have any wait for entry. I finished all the pre-requisites but then life got in the way right before I was supposed to start (had been accepted). After a while I just thought it wasn't meant to be and continued to work as an LPN. During this time the job market changed and I could no longer work in the area that I had started out in and had enjoyed the most (acute care).

When my child was old enough to start preschool I finally gave myself a swift kick in the pants and decided to finish what I started. Here's the hard part-a lot of what I had learned in the past, and had done for so long (but had been removed from for five years in regards to acute care), had changed. I had to change what I had known as correct for so long to a new method because evidence based practice had shown that there is a different way to do things for better patient outcomes. If I had it all to do over again, I would have worked through it when I had the first hiccup and found a way to get it done. My advice would be to complete a transition program as soon as you can. The nice thing about nursing is that you can work long shifts and get the hours in for work just a few days a week and many employers are willing to work with you in regards to scheduling and school (because then they have a potential RN), at least that's always been my experience over the years.

Good luck with your career goals, you definitely have the right attitude for success.

Purplepiglet · Dec 3, 2015

Congrats! I became an LPN in 2010 and started finishing up my pre requisites as soon as I graduated. I worked in a clinic for two years with not so great pay and the hours did not work for me to go back (to start an actual classroom based program) immediately. I finished my anatomy and micro in 2013 and started a weekend LPN-RN bridge in 2014. I graduated in May 2015 and just started an RN-BSN bridge three days ago. I worked throughout the RN program (except the last two semesters--- I could have done it, I just decided to focus on school). Best of luck! You can do it!

BerryhappyRN, MSN, RN · Dec 4, 2015

It took me 5 years to decide to go back and finally earn my RN, two more years to complete my BSN, and am now working on my MSN. I recommend diving right back into the deep end as soon as possible. You are already conditioned to study and if you go at least part time you will keep your student mindset and momentum. Otherwise, life can quickly take over and your priorities will change.

I can say this because I was an LPN, but I now see LPN's as being the workhorses. Overworked, underpaid, under appreciated, and all the while worrying about being replaced by a RN. Having a LPN license almost guarantees you a job. Having your RN license also guarantees a decent salary, benefits, room for advancement, negotiating power, and job flexibility.

Also, the NCLEX is the least of your worries. If you pass your RN classes, and really learn, the exam will feel easy. There is very little to gain from being experienced as a LPN on the NCLEX. I think the only advantage was that I knew some of the pharmacology from working on the floor as an LPN, otherwise the scope of being a RN is MUCH broader than I expected, and that scope is not even introduced to LPN's.

Be proud of becoming a nurse, but also become committed to continuing your growth and education, always putting your education first with a little sprinkling of life along the way.