LPN to RN 1+1 program doesn't exist for experienced LPN's

saltwaterstat · Aug 13, 2008

All I can say is, if you are an LPN/LVN for more than 5 years, then there is no such thing as an LPN-RN one year bridge program, and I wish the programs would just say that up front when they are advertising and talking about their programs. "Oh you get credit for your work history as an LPN"..ha..ha ha..ha ha ha...want some mayo with that bologna?!:chuckle
I've been an LPN for 26 years and all I've gotten so far with the programs is spending all year including summers doing prereqs :typing for the courses that are "outdated because they are more than 5 years old" or b/c this program requires, nutrition, but this one doesn't..this one requires..microbiology within the last 5 years...but this one will take it, but you have to take religion instead, this one requires public speaking but this one doesn't...good grief..what a ruckus! Oh and by the way..we give credit to the LPN's that recently graduated from our PN program, graduates from other PN programs will be considered on an individual basis, but the PN's from our program are going to get extra admission points.
I know it's my own fault for not just going straight through to RN as soon as I got done with LPN or started an RN program to begin with...but I feel like there is some kind of resentment for trying to go back later to obtain it. oh and... you can't take this course until you take that course and you can't take that course until you take this other course..they must go in a sequence you know....sooooo frustrating!! OK, thanks for letting me gripe...and I'll just keep plugging away. Best of Luck to every "experienced LPN beyond the 5 year mark" and to all LPN's period!!

my sentiments pretty much exactly. ;-

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2008

What state are you in? If your BON is open to it, Excelsior is the way to go.

akanini, MSN, RN · Aug 14, 2008

That's true, Sue. But not everyone can handle distant learning. A lot of people "need" to hear the instructors voice. I'm trying to convince all my LPN classmates to do EC with me and they are scared. UGH!!!!

KaroSnowQueen, RN · Aug 14, 2008

Amen, sister, you are preaching to the choir on this one!! When I first got interested in getting my RN I was already 10 years out of LPN school. :nurse:I started my so-called bridge program, but basically I had to retake everything because it was so old. I finally became discouraged and gave up on it. I had 5 kids at home by then, and the time and money were frustrating to take classes I had already taken before.

And NO PLACE offered me ANY "points", credit, whatever for ANY length of LPN experience. Ever. :banghead: :confused:

Jules A, MSN · Aug 14, 2008

I was so glad to get the the part where you said you will just keep plugging along! The two years or whatever it will end up taking you will pass very quickly whether or not you pursue your RN. :)

Couple of pointers from someone who just finished a bridge program and looks for the shortest most painless route for everything:

1. Meet with the director, dress professionally, bring a resume and copies of your former school transcripts. EVERYTHING in academia is negotiable. You should not have to repeat anything other than possibly science classes and I would go over them with a fine tooth comb to find ways to get around that.

My A&P1 was over 20 years old when I talked the dept. chair into waiving me into A&P2...got an A and then my old A&P1 became acceptable for 4 other colleges. I got a waiver into Statistics without ever having a college Allgebra, again got an A and it will be enough to get me through to my BSN.

2. Find out what they will let you CLEP and get on it. I did 3 different English as well as Sociology. I'm working on studying for a Humanities CLEP now toward my BSN.

3. Take as many summer classes as you possibly can do well in. They are usually very short, challenging but often 1/2 the time. Online classes are awesome time savers also.

4. Find out what gen ed classes you could take while in the LPN to RN bridge program. My school let a couple of students in with a some classes that they needed to finish before graduation. I had finished all mine before starting but did one extra class a semester toward my BSN so even though its hard it is doable and since you have been a LPN for so long I don't think you are a stranger to hard work. Best to you.

Perpetual Student · Aug 15, 2008

The program that I'll be attending starting in 5 weeks is more accommodating than many. It doesn't matter how old most of your pre-req courses are, but for the A&P and microbiology they have to be within the last 10 years, which seems fairly reasonable--or at least more so than 5 years. The fact that every program seems to require slightly different courses is certainly annoying.

PMFB-RN, RN · Aug 17, 2008

All I can say is, if you are an LPN/LVN for more than 5 years, then there is no such thing as an LPN-RN one year bridge program, !!

\

*** Sure there is. In Wisconsin. The technical college system is a 1 + 1 system and the only thing you need for advanced standing into the second year of the ADN program is an active WI LPN license. I started the program in August of 2005 after having been an LPN for 11 years and graduated in May of 2006. I didn't even go to nursing school to be an LPN (challenged the boards in Ca based on being a medic in the army). No pre-reqs, only co-reqs. Here is the web site of the school I went to:

www.swtc.edu

No waiting list for LPN to RN when I did it. They also have a 2 year part time evening and weekend LPN to RN program for those who must work full time while in school.

bema257 · Jan 3, 2009

HALALEUJHA. Oh, how do I agree with your fustration. :banghead:Check this out, if you have taken or attempted more than 50 credit hours, :nono:you can not be a first year Nursing major student you will have to change your major to receive financial aid. Also, :uhoh21:I live in a city that has 3 schools (University, Military College, and Tech. College) only one is offering the "speech" class I need as a pre-requiste. :scrying:Can't be a transit student my first year either. I will have to commute 45miles twice a week to take the 1 speech class that I need. :bugeyes:Oh! have an online class to take also and have to pick up 1 more 1 hour class to meet my 6 hours requirment.

Jules A, MSN · Jan 4, 2009

HALALEUJHA. Oh, how do I agree with your fustration. :banghead:Check this out, if you have taken or attempted more than 50 credit hours, :nono:you can not be a first year Nursing major student you will have to change your major to receive financial aid. Also, :uhoh21:I live in a city that has 3 schools (University, Military College, and Tech. College) only one is offering the "speech" class I need as a pre-requiste. :scrying:Can't be a transit student my first year either. I will have to commute 45miles twice a week to take the 1 speech class that I need. :bugeyes:Oh! have an online class to take also and have to pick up 1 more 1 hour class to meet my 6 hours requirment.

Well you got to do what you got to do. I'm not sure how much your program is but mine at a CC was oly $1,000 a semester so financial aid wasn't needed. I promise you it will be worth it when you are finished.

caliotter3 · Jan 4, 2009

Agree with everything stated. I'm so fed up with repeating classes over and in some cases over yet again. This is the price for not getting the RN education in the first place.

DebanamRN, MSN, RN · Jan 4, 2009

I'm also very frustrated with this situation. My local CC suspended their bridge program. They treat any person with a clue, LPNs, EMTs, Paramedics, Multi-Techs, terribly. They won't negotiate anything. They charge $2600/semester. The nurses that graduated in the last few years with their ADNs may lose them because there is a question as to whether or not the program meets the requirements for ADN. These nurses may be converted to Diploma nurses. I attended but finally got tired of their antics and went over to Ecelsior and what a difference. If you can do EC, do it.

2. Find out what they will let you CLEP and get on it. I did 3 different English as well as Sociology. I'm working on studying for a Humanities CLEP now toward my BSN.
3. Take as many summer classes as you possibly can do well in. They are usually very short, challenging but often 1/2 the time. Online classes are awesome time savers also.]
I agree with Jules. I took lots of summer classes and most were online. I got credit for these classes from EC and they will count towards my BSN. Micro in the summer was fast paced but not terribly hard.
As for CLEP, I checked it out and intend to take the Humanites CLEP also. Most colleges accept CLEP. I figure I'll CLEP until I can CLEP no more.
Good luck. I feel your pain.
I truly like being an LPN and refuse to apologize to anybody for it.