How long does it take to become an RN if i'm an LPN

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This question may have been asked but I can't find it exactly. My current school says it may not accept me into their RN program. My entrance class requirements are not all met, but I can keep taking those classes so that's not my problem. The 4 classes I took in the summer time for Liberal Arts, once I found out I didn't need them for nursing I dropped them online and never looked back. What I didn't know is that summer courses couldn't be dropped online and I had to go in person. This was never the case but apparently this is something new. So my grade point average dropped and when I explained this in the counseling / admissions office they couldn't do anything so it is what it is. I can get that GPA up, and take the classes I need to meet the general entrance requirements. The woman also kept telling me that their program is so very hard to get into and not everyone is accepted. So to avoid from smacking her as she's calling me stupid in so many words....i'm trying to figure out how to overcome this obstacle.

This is a community college and if they aren't going to work with me then I need to find another school that will while I can work during the day.

So If I become an LPN first, how much longer to become an RN afterwards?

Can I go somewhere else to become an RN that I don't have to go 4 years?

Are hospital programs better then colleges?

Would you recommend going to RN school first?

Are online schools better like Phoenix, Indiana or Excelsior?

I really could use some help and advice as my goal seems blocked or harder to accomplish now. HELP

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sant, I did Excelsior and they will give you no crap about accepting you. If you are an LPN you will be accepted.

A couple of caveats: Make sure that your state will accept them. Tell us where you are and we can offer more guidance.

And you MUST be self-disciplined and able to learn entirely on your own. You will get study guides and buy the texts and that is your class.

HTH.

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Specializes in L&D, Orthopedics & Public Health.

If I had it all to do over again, I would find a school that has the ADRN program and go for that. Being a LPN is great, but there is not a lot of opportunities for LPNs. I've been lucky b/c LPNs are in demand here, but in other states not the case. If you can find a school that will accept your credits and you into the associates RN program go for it.:redpinkhe

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I'm not any of the above. I'm an office worker changing fields. So does this mean I may not get accepted since i'm not an lpn first? And how will I know if my credits living in NJ will be accepted when I move to TX?

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Specializes in Mother-Baby, Rehab, Hospice, Memory Care.

You will probably find that LPN schools are not as competitive to get accepted to to. In fact some private vocational schools offer LPN programs that don't require prerequisites at all. Their entrance requirements are usually that you can pass an entrance exam and can qualify for loans or grants because they are usually very expensive ($15-25k). You can go to your state board of nursing website to get a list of approved programs in your area.

Many community colleges do offer LPN-RN bridge programs. If you are an LPN you still must meet the same entrance requirements by completing all the prerequisites. As long as you attend an accredited school, your credits will be able to transfer, which is usually not the case with a private vocational school. Once you are accepted to a bridge program you normally can finish in 3-4 quarters as opposed to 8 quarters for a generic student. For the online RN programs you have to be an LPN/LVN first.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Depending on where you live, some LPN programs are just as competitive as RN programs, especially if the same school offers the bridging to RN.

However, this all depends on a few things-if you were an LPN that graduated from a vocational school, your credits would not transfer into an RN program, because you would be learning college level anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, english and psychology. Taking those pre-requisites and co-requisites alone may take at least a year. Many programs do offer advanced standing once the pre-requisites are completed for LPNs by dropping the first semester.

I think that the advisor was saying that because you did not drop the classes the proper way, that those grades (probably were F) were computed into your GPA, making it drop considerably, which would make you less competitive. However, most schools would not count classes that are not pre-requisites into their RN programs as part of the GPA, and since you are saying that these classes were going towards Liberal Arts, it seems that you may not have taken the core courses I mentioned earlier.

I know you are annoyed with them; but in the future, make sure that you know the policies of the schools regarding dropping courses, late registration, the required GPA for application into nursing programs and whatever so that you don't face this again.

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Primary care, pain management.

Aloha,

I am currently an LPN and working full time. I have since signed up with The College Network to work and get my RN. How do I find out if I get my degree on line if its excepted in the state of Hawaii? I also wish that I knew about this sight before I signed up with TCN as I have read that cutting out the middle man would have been easier and I should have just signed up with Excelsior. Mahalo for any help

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Specializes in Psych/Substance Abuse & School Clinics.

Check with your BON to see if they accept TCN. TCN is NOT a college.

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Specializes in Med Surg, LTC, Home Health.
once I found out I didn't need them for nursing I dropped them online and never looked back...The 4 classes I took in the summer time couldn't be dropped online... The woman also kept telling me that their program is so very hard to get into and not everyone is accepted. So to avoid from smacking her as she's calling me stupid in so many words....

You made 4 F's? You should be smacking yourself, not her. You dropped them online and never looked back? How is that possible if they dont allow it? Nursing school is so competitive. In my area, you need at least a 3.8 to get in. This woman was just telling you the facts, not calling you stupid. Even if you make A's in your next twelve classes, you will still only have a 3.0.

Many universities allow students to retake up to 5 classes, replacing the grades they earned the first time. If yours is one, then you may have to take those classes again to replace the F's. Some colleges give transfer students fresh GPA's. Any classes transferred count as credit but are not factored into the GPA. That could give you a fresh start as well. If nursing is what you want, know from here on out that you will need to make all A's. No excuses...:)

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So do you think if I go to school once I get to Houston and start over and not tell them I attended school in NJ so those bad marks don't show up.....would I be able to do that without them penalizing me and act as though this is my first time, or explain my situation and ask for the fresh start? Some classes I did get A's in, I would hate to lose those...what do you advise because I bet myself up plenty over this

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santgj, not telling them is fraud and they you could be denied licensure on that basis.

You can't do an on-line program to get your LPN.

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ok, I'm reading about the fresh start and it seems if they do give it to you once you disclose your past its all or nothing. I see you can't keep the classes you did good on. So I'll take my chances and keep my classes, transfer and explain and do good and repeat some if I have to. The most important thing is to move forward and complete my schooling.

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