LPN Petition to Take RN Boards

Jules A, MSN · May 20, 2008

I have had college A&P, Chemistry and Microbiology. I know that LPNs get an overview of these subjects, not the in depth versions that RNs get because I have taken them. But they are now out of date and would have to be retaken. My English and Sociology and Psychology may be accepted, if the school feels the curriculum is comparitive. Ask any person who has tried to transfer college credits from one school to the other and you will see how difficult it is. For Nursing or whatever. I keep up to date and research diseases and medications on an ongoing basis. I even do that for things that are out of my scope like TPN. I want to know how things work and how they effect my patients. I don't think I am approaching this subject from an uneducated standpoint. I can see why some would be reluctant to support this idea, however.

As a LPN I didn't do an overview of the pre-reqs, they were exactly the same classes as the RN students took so they transferred easily. Please investigate this if you are interested because I was accepted into 3 bridge programs with a 20+ year old A&P1. Since I applied to several schools I did end up doing several CLEPs due to the slightly different requirements of each program but at $60 a pop, no big deal. Where there is a will, there is a way.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 20, 2008

I am not very supportive of the idea of LPNs challenging the RN boards. If the LPN designation was the exact smae thing as the RN, then both levels of nurses would have identical scopes of practices and earn the exact same amount of money.

I fully realize that if I wish to be paid like an RN, I must attend school to become an RN. There's no shortcuts involved in the matter.

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · May 21, 2008

I will be finished my LPN course in August and I can already say there is NO WAY I would want to challenge the RN exam. I don't have the education or skills that an RN does.

One day I may go back to school to become an RN. Until then, I'll be happy being a great LPN :)

AntFlip7395 · May 21, 2008

I must agree with the majority of posters. I graduated from an LPN-RN bridge program last year and while I didn't learn anything really new in terms of skills, it helped to solidify theory, rationales, and appropriate delegation. My school did not accept my A&P and microbiology from some years back, but that didn't concern me. I was willing to take the courses over because I feel that after so many years, you probably do need the review. Plus, I like science anyway, esp. micro. They did, however, accept my english, sociology, and psychology though, thank goodness.

If there is not an accelerated program in your area, Excelsior may be the best route for you, if it is accepted by your BON. That is, if you do well in a self-study program. I looked into it and decided that it was best for me to be in a classroom.

Woodenpug, BSN · May 21, 2008

I was an LVN for longer than I have been an RN. RN is very different, however, I do not feel that I benefited from the school. (except for my formal writing and public speaking)

Learning on the job, without a safety net, is what I have found to be most beneficial.

California allows for a 30 unit option for LVN to RN. That is inclusive of pre-requirements. The schools have arranged to make this option, for all practical purposes, non-existent.

I would support the petition.

kakamegamama · May 21, 2008

I agree w/Blue Ridge Home RN. I know many great LPN's & great RN's but the education is different. Best of luck to the OP.

KaroSnowQueen, RN · May 21, 2008

Found from a blog in Advance for LPNs, a petition to allow LPNs with experience to sit for their RN boards. I would love to do that. What does everyone else think? Here is the link:
http://www.petitiononline.com/lps2t/petition.html

Personally I am all for it. At the school I would go to for my RN, if I were going, the LPNs and RNs all take the SAME prereqs. There is a semester long class on Nursing theory, I would be willing to take that. And perhaps a course in procedures that I have not done (removing Picc lines, accessing ports, etc.).

However, having worked in states where the scope of practice between your average LPN and your average RN is extremely similar, (LPNs being able to perform probably 90% of the duties of an average floor RN), I feel very confident that with my experience, that I could pass NCLEX-RN.

Maybe I'm overconfident, but I truthfully don't think so. I know many times I have instructed RNs on what or how or why to do X task or procedure, or why I think Y symptom points to Z disease process.

Jules A, MSN · May 21, 2008

Personally I am all for it. At the school I would go to for my RN, if I were going, the LPNs and RNs all take the SAME prereqs. There is a semester long class on Nursing theory, I would be willing to take that. And perhaps a course in procedures that I have not done (removing Picc lines, accessing ports, etc.).
However, having worked in states where the scope of practice between your average LPN and your average RN is extremely similar, (LPNs being able to perform probably 90% of the duties of an average floor RN), I feel very confident that with my experience, that I could pass NCLEX-RN.
Maybe I'm overconfident, but I truthfully don't think so. I know many times I have instructed RNs on what or how or why to do X task or procedure, or why I think Y symptom points to Z disease process.

You make great points esepcially about LPNs doing 90% of what RNs do and fwiw I'm pretty sure that I could have passed the NCLEX RN with a good review book before I ever set foot in a nursing class however :) that wouldn't have made me a safe or competent nurse. With the bridge program I really have learned more about assessing, more indepth knowledge about the different disease processes and medications etc. so in that respect I do feel that some sort of additional education should be required.

withasmilelpn · May 21, 2008

Personally I am all for it. At the school I would go to for my RN, if I were going, the LPNs and RNs all take the SAME prereqs. There is a semester long class on Nursing theory, I would be willing to take that. And perhaps a course in procedures that I have not done (removing Picc lines, accessing ports, etc.).
However, having worked in states where the scope of practice between your average LPN and your average RN is extremely similar, (LPNs being able to perform probably 90% of the duties of an average floor RN), I feel very confident that with my experience, that I could pass NCLEX-RN.
Maybe I'm overconfident, but I truthfully don't think so. I know many times I have instructed RNs on what or how or why to do X task or procedure, or why I think Y symptom points to Z disease process.

Exactly! I've often wondered why they didn't offer on the job clinical training/ courses to become an RN. I almost took a job at a Rehab Hospital that was working on that kind of program in house, but the hours were terrible, and they hadn't implemented it yet. I'm the same way, usually the one orienting the newbies and bring back what I've learned to my patients and co-workers. I don't think you are overconfident at all. If you are a person who wants to understand the disease process, you will naturally be a "critical thinker". Besides, I was told recently that the LPN program I went to is known for treating its students like RNs and that most of them have no trouble going on to get their RN. I'm actually very surprised that there aren't more LPNs that would accept this proposal. I'll probably go the Excellsior route (sp?), and I promise to eat my words if I was wrong once I'm a practicing RN, but I don't think I'll be much different then I already am. :rolleyes:

Jules A, MSN · May 21, 2008

I promise to eat my words if I was wrong once I'm a practicing RN, but I don't think I'll be much different then I already am.

No worries you won't be eating your words, lol. I transitioned very easily but I did study alot and I really learned more information that I wouldn't have necessarily learned on the floor as a practicing LPN or RN had I not had the indepth lectures and exams. I have always been very proud to be a LPN and protective of our value so that isn't my issue I just think that they are slightly different jobs and the RN is one that requires a bit more education but yes it would be wonderful if the hospitals had onsite instruction.

withasmilelpn · May 21, 2008

You make great points esepcially about LPNs doing 90% of what RNs do and fwiw I'm pretty sure that I could have passed the NCLEX RN with a good review book before I ever set foot in a nursing class however :) that wouldn't have made me a safe or competent nurse. With the bridge program I really have learned more about assessing, more indepth knowledge about the different disease processes and medications etc. so in that respect I do feel that some sort of additional education should be required.

Overtime, though you can teach those things to yourself. I wanted to know how to do a full assessment on my patients, detailed neuro assessments involving the cranial nerves that we were not required to know as an LPN, assessing heart sounds and lung sounds by listening to them on tape (and on line - if I get a chance I'll post a really cool link for you guys regarding these) by reading the RN only magazines, and purchasing those textbooks... LPN or RN regarding proceedures, you are not allowed to perform a proceedure that you have not proven competency in. Which means reading, testing your knowledge, watching, and demonstrating with supervision, until you are sure you will 'do no harm!"

You would be surprised how many times situations have come up where the poor RNs in our facility have been asked to do something, that while in their scope, they have had no experience in (TPN for example!) I think that is awful! I brought in articles and research for them, because I was truly concerned about my patient getting appropriate care. Basic knowledge like using the appropriate filter/tubing, etc, that they probably had forgotten from clinical days. Stuff my facility should've done in my opinion, but also they probably should've taken the time to do or refused the assignment in the name of patient safety. My goal is to be the safest nurse possible. But if you guys are right, as I promised in another post, I do promise to eat my words.:wink2:

justme1972 · May 21, 2008

For what it's worth, my personal experience has been that it's the LPNs who haven't returned to school who think this is a reasonable idea. All the RNs I've known who started out as LPNs and went back to school say they never realized until they went back to school how much difference there really was between LPNs and RNs.
Personally, I would never support such a proposal.

This is the same consensus at my school as well. We have 3 LPN students...we techncally have a bridge program but it requires too many hours in the summer before to be able to work full time as well.

I too, believe that LPN's should be able to be exempt from certain things such as bedmaking, etc...to me that is just a waste of time.

One of the LPN's in my class originally thought that the pharmacology course was going to be a waste of time b/c the LPN's at the hospitals around here give all the meds...the difference was the assessment pertaining to the meds that she didn't get in LPN school. She said at her facility the "assessment" was pretty much limited to blood sugar levels and BP's...anything pertaining to labs, respirations, etc...had to be run by an RN prior to administration.

Think about very, very experienced RN's...they probably know the "call" a physician makes before he makes it. Their orders are rarely a suprise...but no matter how much experience that RN has, or no matter how accurate she is in her predictions, would you advocate an RN with so-many years experience being an MD?