LPN to RN program & credit issues

[pinkgirl08]

Hey Everybody,

First, let me say that this is my first time posting on allnurses, though definitely not my first time here. That being said, here's a big shout to everyone who takes the time to read & respond with their expertise & advice!

I have an M.A. in social psychology, B.A. in psychology. I'm 31. Lived in different countries, traveled, & have had many different jobs. I'm currently using my M.A. doing data analysis & can't stand it. I've always been interested in health & have conducted my fair share of research on health related issues, such as HIV & body image. I must have interactions with people throughout the day & I hate to sit still & stare at a computer for hours. I love psychology, I do, but after having given it a lot of thought, I think I'm ready to go for nursing.

I'm concerned about two things. One, time. Two, not truly understanding the nursing profession, & subsequently not enjoying working in the field. My solution to these problems is to become an LPN. I can get in the field faster, which means less time spent in school, plus I can begin the profession sooner, thereby giving me the real world experience in the field I need & crave. I have found a local tech school that requires no prerequisites & takes 11 months to complete. It is accredited by the TN board of nursing.

I remain very confused on the issue of LPN to RN programs, which is key if I want to move on & become an RN. I've read many threads on this site & I've done some research myself, but I'm still very confused. The local community college which has an RN program doesn't accept any credits from the local tech school--none. I will most likely move out of state (TN) after completing the LPN program anyway, but it was kind of a shocker. I would have to start all over again, including science prerequisites. I've read about others on here who go into bridge programs & are exempt from 1 or 2 or 3 semesters. Does it depend solely on your LPN program? Your experience as an LPN? Is it just that my community college isn't a bridge program? I've never taken Ant & Phys, Chemistry, or Microbiology, if any of that matters in the long run. And the LPN program here doesn't require them either.

Honestly, I'm exhausted from trying to figure this all out! Can anyone shed some light for me? :nuke:

[mesa1979, BSN, RN]

It's not that they don't accept the nursing credits, they don't accept the classes like nutrition, A&P for lpn's. you have to find a school that has the LPN to RN program. They give you a few hours off for the professional portion of the RN program, but yes you must take the prereqs.

With you already having a MA, you should be able to xfer over your english, Psychology, Soc, electives, things of that nature. you will only have your Biology's or the Zoology's. Best wishes to ya!

[pinkgirl08]

Hey mesa,

Thanks for responding. So, I think I'm starting to get some of this. I had put this post in two different areas. It's not that my local community college RN program doesn't accept the credits, it's that it isn't a bridge program for LPNs? Someone else had said that the Ant & Phys classes are really important & that I should learn a lot in them, so that's okay. And yeah, I would think a lot of my gen ed courses would transfer. Thank you so much!