How is your bridge program?

[prettymica]

I started my LPN_RN(ADN) Bride program March 26. The first semster is online and very disorganized. Some of my classmates are not doing well on tests. Think 40 questions 40 minutes. Material is taken from 3 different books sometimes. Also the tests are not always put up on time. Basically all self teaching because we are LPNs. I am hoping future classes will be better when we are sitting in front of a teacher.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Me too prettymica! So, soo, sooooo glad its over. Now, onto NCLEX prep class....just want to take the darn NCLEX and be done with the whole affair. I'm actually glad I took the NCLEX-PN, I know what we are in for. I think when going to take the NCLEX-PN, the fear of the unknown (how the NCLEX would be) just produced way more anxiety that it really called for. Now, going into the NCLEX-RN, I still have a little anxiety but not even close to the amount I had before.

I feel bad for the ones who've never had the pleasure (rolling eyes, voice dripping in sarcasm) of experiencing that lovely test. The don't know what they don't know. :)

[Natasha A., CNA, LVN]

Our LPN to RN bridge course consisted of a 3 credit online class manditated by the State BON. My online class was pretty much self-taught however it was more of a review/refresher of what you learned in LPN school with a little more added in about the RN and his/her added responsibilities (teaching, care planning, blah blah blah). Class was easy enough. The professors who were running the class were very quick to respond to any questions or issues. Don't have too much bad to say about that class.

Then we take 1 credit course at our 'home' school (our RN program school) that entails 25 hours (? something like that) of clinical floor time and 16 hours lecture. Again, easy enough. No complaints. This was done 'in person'. Great teacher!

My biggest gripe about the LPN to RN program is we sort of get thrown into the 2nd year of the nursing classes (this is an ADN program) with no direction or information. No idea how they do their care plans, no idea how clinicals run etc. Yes, we are up to par educationally with the students who had to go through the 1st year of the nursing courses but we lag behind in terms of how things 'run'. Seems like it will be a trial by fire kind of thing with the clinicals when we start back in august. Hopefully the year 2 CI's have a little bit of a heart and give the LPN" a chance to learn what the others have had the last year to (using the hospital computer, how the CI's want paperwork done, where things are, using the equipment d/t the equipment (IV tubing etc) is different that what some of us are use to at the facilities we work at etc.

Hi CT Pixie great tips. How did you prepare for this to have a successful transition? Thank you :)