Do LPN's graduate from "college"?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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My husband made a comment that an LPN should not say she graduated from college. That is reserved for the person that attended a university or private four year college. I disagree since the name of my school was "technical college". On questionnaires they will also ask you to check which box qualifies you. High school graduate, some college, college graduate, or post graduate degree. I always check college graduate since I did graduate from a technical COLLEGE. What are your opinions?

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

I graduated from a community college with a certificate in practical nursing and then sat for an exam. If the school stated it is a college, then, I would feel free to state that I graduated from a college.

i looked it up and if you hold an associate's degree of higher - you're considered a 'college graduate' .. anything like a certificate or diploma .. you don't qualify.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Technically speaking, lauralauranurse is correct. The expression "college graduate" on a survey, etc. usually is intended to mean Associate's Degree or Higher. A certificate or diploma program is not an academic degree.

Consider the following absurd examples: (1) a person who goes to a 2-day course at a college and gets a certificate, (2) a person who goes to McDonalds' "Hamburger University," (3) a 15 year-old who completes a summer program for high school students at a local college and gets a certificate. No one wold consider these folks to be "college graduates" even though they completed a course of study at a college.

With LPN programs, the difference is less obvious because the course of study is long and rigorous -- but it is the same underlying principle. The program LPN's complete gives them a diploma of completion, but it isa not an academic degree -- and in the world of higher education, it is the academic degree that makes one a "college graduate." For a lot of schools, the LPN students take regular college courses, so, it would be appropriate to check "some college" on a survey.

I'm sorry if my response offends some people -- but I do believe it is the technically correct answer. It has nothing to do with the quality of the LPN education or my respect for LPN's.

I'm not sure where you are all located, however in Canada a degree can only be obtained in university. College is for science and technology school's where people obtain certificates, and diploma's. RN's go to school for two years at a technical college and then complete their degree at the university. I am a practical nursing student and when I have completed my education I would be confident to say I have graduated college with a diploma or certificate depending on if the government has approved the change by then. Again it depends where you are located.

Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

i graduated from a "technical adult school" for my lpn so i would just say i have an lpn diploma. i do have an a.a.s. degree in computer science so i check off i am a college graduate. i plan on getting my bachelor’s in this as well after i complete my rn through excelsior college.

there is one community college in my area that issues an associate degree in health science or something when doing the lpn program. they take the same pre-reqs as the rn students in that community college then the lpn nursing classes at the last year. i think it takes them 2 ½ years to complete the lpn program (prerequisites included ofcourse). then after completing the lpn program, they just need to do two more semesters for the rn licensure from that same school (if they want to).

personally, i would not mind if you call yourself a college graduate because you got your lpn diploma/certificate from a technical or community college.

angel :D

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Some colleges and universities offer the AASPN (associate of applied science degree in practical nursing). It is unsafe to assume that all LPNs are educated at the diploma level when many hold associate degrees. Click on the link below to see the course outline for an AASPN program.

http://www.dickinsonstate.com/Catalog/nursing_majors.htm#as

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Technically speaking, lauralauranurse is correct. The expression "college graduate" on a survey, etc. usually is intended to mean Associate's Degree or Higher. A certificate or diploma program is not an academic degree.

Consider the following absurd examples: (1) a person who goes to a 2-day course at a college and gets a certificate, (2) a person who goes to McDonalds' "Hamburger University," (3) a 15 year-old who completes a summer program for high school students at a local college and gets a certificate. No one wold consider these folks to be "college graduates" even though they completed a course of study at a college.

With LPN programs, the difference is less obvious because the course of study is long and rigorous -- but it is the same underlying principle. The program LPN's complete gives them a diploma of completion, but it isa not an academic degree -- and in the world of higher education, it is the academic degree that makes one a "college graduate." For a lot of schools, the LPN students take regular college courses, so, it would be appropriate to check "some college" on a survey.

I'm sorry if my response offends some people -- but I do believe it is the technically correct answer. It has nothing to do with the quality of the LPN education or my respect for LPN's.

I'm not angry...in fact, this was educational for me. I'll know how to fill out an application should the situation arise. The few applications that I filled out would ask about college, and I would mention that I graduated from college with a certificate in practical nursing, and I guess that sufficed. But, it does make sense to say "some college" because I earned 35 credits in college level courses.

Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

When I graduated from the LPN program I said I was a Vocational Technical School graduate with a diploma.

I check "some college" now that I have an A.A.S. in nursing if its the choice between college grad and some college. I didn't know that was wrong. I guess I don't feel it is the same as a 4 year degree.

It seems to me your husband is trying to degrade you. You worked hard for your LPN. I know I did. I wouldn't stand for some man trying to pick me apart.

When I graduated from the LPN program I said I was a Vocational Technical School graduate with a diploma.

I check "some college" now that I have an A.A.S. in nursing if its the choice between college grad and some college. I didn't know that was wrong. I guess I don't feel it is the same as a 4 year degree.

If you have an Associate of Applied Science you definitely are a college graduate. College does not imply a length of time but rather a degree.

yes gooeyrn....you are a college graduate! Be proud.

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