LPN to RN with NO Hospital Clinicals

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 2, 2022

I'm honestly not sure how/if this would work but I think it might be possible if you enroll in an online program where you set up your own clinical location. Perhaps your current employer would allow you to complete clinical hours there?

Some online programs are pretty well regarded plus they have the advantages of being self-scheduling and generally lower cost than traditional brick and mortar.

As I said though I am not at all familiar with this so some research on your part is definitely needed before enrollment. The possibility of trying this route just popped into my head and I figured it might be worth looking into.

Of course just figuring out a good option to complete an LPN to RN bridge is only the first step with an encumbered license. Despite being eligible to sit the NCLEX there's no guarantee the state would issue a license after passing and no state BON that I have heard of will give you any guidance on your chances of being approved for licensing prior to spending all that money on school. I can pretty much guarantee if you asked the BON if you would be approved for an RN license after finishing school and taking the NCLEX you'll just get the standard every application is considered individually blah, blah, blah answer which is no answer at all.

Tim Parr, LPN · May 2, 2022

Great response. I did try Distance Learning Systems, but they have partners where you must complete clinicals and all refuse anyone with encumbrances. I'm not sure "find your own clinicals" is available anywhere. I'm checking on an out of state online program to see if I can make that work. Clinicals will again be the hard part. Do they have partners, will they let me in, will I have to live there the entire program? I will post back if I find anything

Tim Parr, LPN · May 17, 2022

Well, Excelsior seemed like an answer. They are all online. They used to run their own clinicals but no longer. Now they use hospitals. They said they would accept me into their school and the the instructors would "work to get me placed in clinicals". That's a crock. It's certainly not a "our hospitals will accept you". I'm shocked they would take my money and let me study for 2 years just to get turned down for clinicals. I still can't find anyway to proceed.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 17, 2022

I am so sorry. What a mess! I wasn't aware you had already finished two years of school before finding out you can't find a clinical placement to proceed. Have you and the school exhausted all options? Clinical hours don't necessarily need to be in a hospital setting. The SNF I used to work in hosted clinicals for a local school as did another SNF close by. Maybe there is an option outside of the hospital setting?

Another option is to look outside Ohio for out of state options that might be able to accommodate you and will also accept your earned credits for transfer. That would be a pain to first find a program in another state that works and then likely move but if you already have two years time and money invested it might be worth it to you.

Unfortunately though even if you are able to find a program that works and can finish school then you will have to get over the hurdle of getting licensed. A degree and even passing NCLEX does not guarantee the license application will be approved by the state. But that's a whole other issue you can face later. If you are determined to get inventive in finding a place to finish school that's only the first step.

Tim Parr, LPN · May 17, 2022

No, I didn't do the two years of schooling. I balked as soon as they said "will try and place you into the two hospitals they use". That's a total b.s. answer. Being eligible to sit for NCLEX is not separate from receiving a license (at least in Ohio). They will approve the license, but they will try and keep the sanctions in place. Lawyers have been able to fight that. The problem is finding the program.