I need help :( from mn

[LJCNA]

I really need help.... I went to Rasmussen college in St.Cloud MN. I have my cna and never really wanted to be a nurse but as i got older I knew that is what I wanted to do. My brother in law keept talking up Rasmussen but now I regret it BIG TIME. I went in and they made me take this test to get into the LPN program well it was so long that I had been in school that I failed big time. They told me to take it again in a year and I can do the CMA program and all the courses would transfer to the nursing program and it would only be a year to graduate once I transfer programs. In the fall I rocked the test but missed only by one point everything was passed with flying colors except ONE FLIPPIN QUESTION!! I was so sad, I just went on with my cma program. Then I notice that I graduate soon with my CMA. I was going to take the test once more but I was told by the dean of nursing that they had lied not only to me but a few other students and none of the courses transfer. I called around and found out that most schools say you have to have your LPN first then you can apply for your R.N. I dont want to go to school for another 4 years I have already went for two years I know I had a gf go for her two year R.N. in MN and she didnt have her LPN degree but I lost her number and have no idea where she is at right now. Does anyone have any adivce for me ? Does any one know of a good school that is a two year R.N. program in MN without having to have your LPN? I will be done with my CMA next semester feeling beat THIS SUCKS!!!!!

[Saysfaa]

I tried to sort it out for you from the website.

Rasmussen's MA requires 93 credits, their LPN requires 96 credits. Of these, 48 are the same in each of the programs (if you take the College Algebra instead of the Statistics - MA give the option, LPN does not). These 48 are the same course numbers, they will work for either program. There must be some misunderstanding .... maybe it was worded so you thought y'all were talking about all 93 credits and the advisor thought only the credits specific to the MA degree (beyond the 48 overlapping credits). I don't know if that is the misunderstanding but there is one somewhere... unless this is one of those stereotypical for-profit schools that specialize in problematic policies (I have no idea if it is, I didn't look for that).

Here is a list of state schools in the central and Metro areas that offer RN without getting an LPN first (most also offer LPN or LPN-RN mobility (bridge) programs): http://www.mnscu.edu/programs/FindAProgram.php. Most will take 2 years for the nursing classes, the general ed classes you took toward your MA should take care of most of the general ed classes you need for the RN. You will need a few classes more general ed classes for most of these: chemistry with a lab, and perhaps microbiology, human development or speech if G124 wasn't speech. That would take a semester, maybe two semesters.

P.S. three on that list offer only LPN and LPN-RN bridges, not the RN by itself. Minneapolis Community and Tech and the two Ridgewaters.

I would talk to the advisor again, and be very specific. If there was no misunderstanding about the general ed classes and you cannot use them for nursing instead of medical assisting, then I would change schools, that is utterly rediculous. But if you really want to stay there, you can try appealing: Handbook page, section 8, subsection e.

You might search for more information in the threads under the regions tab across the top of this page.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I would think as long as the MA program is not considered "continuing education" the classes should transfer from one program to the next.

I know at my community college even if the classes are similar, if they are listed under a continuing education umbrella they won't count the classes toward a degree, only a certification.

Having said that, the program at Rasumussen appears to be an actual degree program and the courses should co-mingle. I think there is definitely a misunderstanding somewhere.