Is and LPN Program a Good Route to Go in Trying to bridge over to RN?

picurn10 · Mar 26, 2009

I decided this time last year to go the LPN to RN route and for me it's been a really great option. My program is just 11mo (full time) but this time last year I hadn't even applied and now I'm about to be a nurse!

In my area of the country, there are tons of options for LPNs. All of the hospitals in my city hire them, and on all floors except ICU/ER. We can do all skills except push IV meds (we can start and maintain IV's and hand IV meds), some facilities won't allow LPN's to hang blood, and we don't do the initial assessment, or write care plans, but beyond that the job looks exactly the same.

We do have far more clinical hours than our RN counterparts because we have 3-4 days of clinicals for the better part of a year, and then at the end of the year we do 40h/wk for 30days of clinicals. So, in that way I think I'm at a huge advantage going into RN (joining the 2yr students in the 3rd semester) because I'll have far more hands on nursing experience and on top of that I'll be able to work as an RN the whole time. So while my classmates will be doing clinicals 1-2x/wk in a very supervised capacity, I'll get that PLUS two days a week working on the floor solo getting that extra experience.

What I've discovered along the way is that at the heart of the issue I want to be a nurse. For me, the fastest way was LPN to RN (it shaved 6mo off the application process) and I couldn't be happier that I chose this way to go. I've talked with dozens of instructors and nurses on the floor who've gone the LPN to RN route and they all felt it was a huge advantage in their RN journey.

Now, I don't know that it will really help you in terms of making stats or A&P any more doable. We had a basic A&P course (but I've already taken A&P I and II before LPN) but we never did any stats (I took it for my first degree) and our pharmacology/dosage calc. was sooooo simple that again I don't think it would necessarily help.

I think the biggest advantage for you would just be getting you out on the floor doing nursing asap, rather than waiting to start over.

If I had gone with my original plan of a 2yr ADN, I would just now be finishing the 1st of 4 semesters (assuming I got in on the first try) rather than about to graduate and start working as a nurse. On a practical level, I would still have another almost 1 1/2yrs of waiting tables ahead of me rather than working as a nurse, but now I'm just a few months away from that reality! For me it was definitely the way to go, and I have zero regrets. Well, only that I didn't know about this option the year earlier.

Logos · Mar 26, 2009

I was going to say no just do the RN- but it's obviously different for everyone.

nurse2b2010 · Mar 26, 2009

Dear April, thanks so much for your advice and encouragement. You have been a big help in addressing some of my concerns. I really think I am leaning towards doing the LPN program to help me become an RN. Best of luck to you!

picurn10 · Mar 26, 2009

oh, and I just wanted to add: LPN to RN programs are much easier to get into than traditional RN because there are a lot fewer applicants. I basically have my pick of which RN program to go with in August, which is another huge advantage. The main school I'm looking at has a set number of seats, but then they also get the extra seats left over by people who failed out the prior semester. From what different advisors have told me, with the bridging programs it's almost a certainty that you'll get in so long as you have the pre-req's done. When I went to apply to my top choice last month, the program coordinator just saw my uniform (came straight from clinicals) and basically said take xyz over the summer to be ready for school in August. She didn't even look at my application, but said I should expect my letter in a few weeks!

picurn10 · Mar 26, 2009

I'll be honest, the only thing I was concerned about were things related to my ego. I had a lot of preconcieved ideas about the quality of education for LPN, rigors of the program, and worried that I would have no respect out in the medical field, but I was wrong on all accounts and I think I'll be a much better RN for having been an LPN!

nurse2b2010 · Mar 26, 2009

Sounds like it was definitely a good move for your April! I have to talk to the director of the LPN program before I make any decisions, but it's helpful to get some suggestions and opinions! I know that when I was doing my first and beginning of 2nd semester of nursing school, I saw firsthand that the students who were either CNA's or LPN's had a huge advantage over me as far as understanding some things better and feeling more confident in the clinical environment. They definitely seemed to be a lot more confident in the environment than I was, and I am sure just having that experience of working in the environment was extremely advantageous. Experience is definitely a plus!

Thank you again and good luck with everything.