How long did it take you to do the LPN to RN?

GCmomRN · Mar 15, 2010

I think 6 months is almost impossible. I finished all my nursing exams (8) in 6 months and I still have to take the CPNE which has a 4-6 month wait. I hope to be done with the program within a year and I had almost all my gen-eds going in. I think the average is 1-2 years.

dslpninla · Mar 15, 2010

I would agree with MegRT- also in my opinion it depends on your drive and home life- example- I am a full time employee, married with a 8 year old and a 13 month old....whew!!! Definitely have to make time and realize the importance of studying.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 15, 2010

There has been an LPN on this site (Suzy?) who did it in about 7 months. I did it in just over a year, and that was with a wait time of 7 months between CPNE application and CPNE. The nursing exams only took me 5 months. I could have shortened my CPNE wait time, but I didn't want to rush my CPNE prep. So yes, it can be done in a short amount of time ... depends on the student.

caliotter3 · Mar 15, 2010

I have read where several have done it in about nine months, particularly in the past. Then there are others who never finish. It is very easy to have other life situations get in the way, then before you know it, the seven year time limit has come and gone.

NC Girl BSN · Mar 15, 2010

Lunah,

I remember the person who did it in 7 months a while back. I think her name was SuziQ?? My friend that did it with me did it in 9months. If she would have passed the CPNE the first time she would have done it in 7months. But the bubbles in the syringe did her in. I truly believe it can be done in 6 months with lots of motivation but this is definetly not the norm. Even finishing the program in 1 yr. is not the norm. Realistically it can be done in 1 yr. I am a living testimony. Just depends on your motivation and drive and the classes that need to be completed. Don't get caught up in the numbers. Get caught up in completing each test. The rest will follow.

happydrunkcat · Mar 15, 2010

I passed my first test - Micro on Sept. 18th, enrolled on Sept. 21st. Passed all Nursing exams plus 6 gen. ed. courses by the end of November, passed FCCA on Dec. 1st, Passed CPNE on Jan. 10th (I put myself on cancellation list) and had my last test - English Composition - done on Jan. 25th. So, it took me a little over 4 month?

Oh, one more - passed NCLEX on March 3rd with 75 questions! :)) So, 5.5 month from start to finish :)

deemarys · Mar 15, 2010

I passed my first test - Micro on Sept. 18th, enrolled on Sept. 21st. Passed all Nursing exams plus 6 gen. ed. courses by the end of November, passed FCCA on Dec. 1st, Passed CPNE on Jan. 10th (I put myself on cancellation list) and had my last test - English Composition - done on Jan. 25th. So, it took me a little over 4 month?
Oh, one more - passed NCLEX on March 3rd with 75 questions! :)) So, 5.5 month from start to finish :)

WOW!! Thats amazing, thanks so much for responding. I would never have guessed 5 months let alone 4 months. Kudos to you:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:. and to others who did it under a year. So it is possible. I was hoping to finish within a year but its good to know that others have done it a lot sooner.

D:nurse:

LPN

GCmomRN · Mar 15, 2010

I passed my first test - Micro on Sept. 18th, enrolled on Sept. 21st. Passed all Nursing exams plus 6 gen. ed. courses by the end of November, passed FCCA on Dec. 1st, Passed CPNE on Jan. 10th (I put myself on cancellation list) and had my last test - English Composition - done on Jan. 25th. So, it took me a little over 4 month?
Oh, one more - passed NCLEX on March 3rd with 75 questions! :)) So, 5.5 month from start to finish :)

Wow, that's pretty amazing!!! I thought I was moving fast, LOL! How did you prepare for the CPNE in such a short amount of time? I'm nervous I won't be read in 3 months and I'll only be studying for that!

happydrunkcat · Mar 15, 2010

Wow, that's pretty amazing!!! I thought I was moving fast, LOL! How did you prepare for the CPNE in such a short amount of time? I'm nervous I won't be read in 3 months and I'll only be studying for that!

I took Sheri's Taylor workshop at the beginning of my study (actually, I sign up before I became eligible), plus I got an access to her online workshop (she has videos for all labs and assessments, plus she sends you 2 careplans a week to work on). I was sending careplans every day to EC or to Sheri for evaluation. Also, I set up a lab in my dining room (and my family went for Christmas dinner to our friend's house, because our table wasn't available, lol) and practiced all labs every day, so I could do them fast (at the end, I could do wound and IVP in about 8 minutes, 4 minutes for IM/SQ, and about 3-6 minutes for the IV). Was helpful when I had this brain damage during IVP station - I just forgot the next step at some point.. So, I collected the trash and pretended that I knew what I was doing for 10 seconds . I knew I had time. Passed with no repeats :)

I learned the study guide by heart, made my own mnemonics, read all transcripts of the CPNE chats that was available on EPN, scheduled those free phone calls and bugged Dr. A with silly questions... you know, the usual stuff :)

Plus, I had a huge advantage - I wasn't working, my job was to study.

The CPNE itself wasn't bad after all. The two major things are to know the study guide (and your mnemonics) and to get your nerves under control. I kept repeting the mantra "Remember, the passing rate is 68% among the first takers"

Good Luck!