LPN to RN, BSN, or MSN

Nurses General Nursing

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hey everyone! i'm currently going through the lpn program and i'm contemplating where to go and what to do after i graduate and become licensed. with that being said, can anyone fill me in on some concrete information as to the differences and pros and cons if i were to go straight into either the rn, the bsn, or the msn programs? if i go from lpn to bsn, will be an lpn with my bachelors? ..that just sounds weird. if i get my bsn or msn straight after lvn and one day i decide to work on the floor, would i be able to do the duties of an rn, or will i be doing what an lpn does? i still have some time before i graduate, but i like having my future mapped out, at least for the next few years. i hope this makes sense! thanks to all that reply!

*believe in the power of nursing.* :nurse:

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If you get your BSN you will be a registered nurse. You will take the NCLEX-RN after you graduate from your BSN program, just like all the others. You will just have had the advantage of getting your LPN 1st. So no, you will not be an LPN w/ a Bachelors degree, you will be an RN w/ a Bachelors degree.

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Specializes in Mother-Baby.

If you transition from LPN to RN (either ADN or BSN program) you are an RN. As an RN, your duties in a hospital setting/bedside, would be essentially the same as an LPN. There are a few things LPN's aren't allowed to do - such as give blood, perform initial assessments, etc. but all things considered you'd be the same.

As far as the difference in getting an ADN, BSN, or MSN - there is plenty of information on this site regarding the differing opinions for what is "the best" course of action. However....if you transition to RN with any of the 3 programs, you'd be an RN. You'd be Jane Doe, RN, ADN....or Jane Doe, RN, BSN...or Jane Doe, RN, MSN. However, with an MSN you'd either have a MSN in Education or you'd be a MSN with a clinical specialty(such as Family Nurse Practitioner, Women's, Psych, etc.). It all depends on you, how much time & money you have to devote to school, and your other life issues (family, need to work while going to school, etc).

Education is never a bad thing, just make sure you do what is best for you!:twocents:

Good Luck!

txpixiedust:redbeathe

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Hello:

And good for you for getting your LPN. I was a LPN for 8 years. I started working on my RN almost right away with Excelsior College. This is a test out and on-line program. Some states no longer recognize this program though. If I had it to do all over I would have just did the one year LPN-RN bridge program. I am all for higher education. Go for it.... But, be careful. I have several of my classmates from LPN go straight to a BSN program, well guess what?? they didn't receive ANY credit for their LPN education. So check this out. Maybe you could so the ADN/RN first, then BSN-MSN ect. The ADN-RN is an associates degree. As long as you have all of the pre-reqs this would take you about 1 year additional after you complete your LPN. :nurse::redbeathe:nurse: GOOD LUCK keep us posted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Thank you so much for the feedback, it gave me a lot to think about!

Teena

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
there are a few things lpn's aren't allowed to do - such as give blood

is this a state to state thing? lpns can hang blood in delaware. of course, they have to take a blood course (but so do the rns!) also, since two nurses are needed to initiate blood, there must be one rn present, so two rns or one rn and one lpn.

jess

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