LPN-RN bridge clinical experience

[kranken_schwester]

Hi everyone,

I am a recent grad, working my first job as an LPN. I plan to get my RN when time and money allow, and I have a question for those of you currently in a bridge program.

It's my understanding that with most bridges, there are a handful of LPN's mixed in with non-nurses who are doing the regular two-year RN program. So these LPN's have a lot of real-world experience while the straight RN students have none. My question is, does this make clinicals a complete waste of time? Do your instructors take into account that you can flush a G-tube with your eyes closed, or do you wind up doing the beginner stuff with the inexperienced RN students? Do you really learn a lot of new material in the classroom or do you feel that much of your time is being spent rehashing the same subjects you learned in LPN school?

Thanks for any input!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I've heard this saying previously: "You don't know what you don't know."

RN school will teach the LPN a deeper level of head-to-toe patient assessment skills in addition to many other new things. Even though we have acquired many more clinical skills than the typical generic RN student, nursing is a lifelong process of learning and you'll end up picking up things you didn't learn in LPN school.

[charebec65]

I've heard this saying previously: "You don't know what you don't know."

..., nursing is a lifelong process of learning and you'll end up picking up things you didn't learn in LPN school.

I couldn't agree with you more Commuter......... and I'm just a new grad LPN bridging to RN.

[tjb6929]

I am currently enrolled in a LPN-RN transition program. there are only licensed LPNs in this class, so we are seperated from the students going straight for their RN degree. I think it is actually more beneficial this way, because you are already expected to have a solid knowledge base and then they go from there- which is very nice. We still have clinicals but we are expected to already know the basics- so they skip to the important things that as RN we will be doing that perhaps as LPNs we didn't- for example hanging blood, or IV pushes- etc. However every LPN is different and are coming from different places. Some LPN's in the class routinely do IV pushes and hang blood- just depends on the hospital you work for. At the hospital that i am working for, we are allowed to do everything a RN does, except hang blood and IV pushes. hope this was helpful!:nuke:

[nervousnurse, ASN]

At our clinicals, being w/ the inexperienced nursing students doesn't affect me, because I'm placed with an RN and tell her what I'd like to do and learn, if possible. Since every student is different, we all got very different experiences from clinicals.

I think it's cute to see students get so excited over learning new things that I've done many times ...I also like to help them, if I can.....What's sad is that I'm a genuinely nice person and just like to help people, but there are some who think I'm a "know-it-all"..... I wanna tell them---"Honey, in nursing, NO ONE is a "know-it-all!"...we learn new things every freaking day (hour!), things change SO fast, there is always tons to learn!"

As far as the classroom....*sometimes* I get bored because I've already learned it or seen it in real life,----I hate it when they go over BASIC things that we all should've learned in Nutrition or Microbiology or Anat. & Phys!

HOWEVER; I have definitely learned A LOT more and am reading A LOT more than ever! I am realizing there are sooooooo many things I didn't know about as an LPN!

[Jules A, MSN]

...I also like to help them, if I can.....What's sad is that I'm a genuinely nice person and just like to help people, but there are some who think I'm a "know-it-all"..... I wanna tell them---"Honey, in nursing, NO ONE is a "know-it-all!"...we learn new things every freaking day (hour!), things change SO fast, there is always tons to learn!"

Please keep doing what you do. I loved the gals in my class with experience that were willing to pitch in and show me the "real world" way of doing things at clinical.