LPN/RN question

Nurses General Nursing

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Ok, I've searched the web and done a fair amount of reading on here. I truly don't know where to post this because I'm kind of a pre-nursing student, but I need input from current nurses. Bear with me please!! I graduated with my ADN back in 2004. Truthfully, I never should have graduated. I'm one of those folks that slipped through the cracks somehow. I was fresh out of high school and newly married and thought it would be as easy as high school, WRONG! I had no previous CNA experience, so I didn't have a clue what I was getting myself into. I failed the NCLEX twice and pretty much gave up after that. From what I had found, NC required a license to take a refresher course, and I am not a "sit down with a book and learn it yourself" kind of person. I need a class, with instructors, and listening and so on. I kept on working as a CNA (in both hospital and long term care facilities) and had two kids.

Fast forward to 2013, I was tired of feeling like a failure and decided that I wanted to get my life back on track. My head and heart are in the right place now and I know exactly what I want. Knowing that I needed the education all over again, I decided to apply to another ADN program because 1) BSN program is too far away right now 2) cost. I applied for that and the LPN. I got alternate for both, and was just offered a spot in the LPN program. Now, my goal is to gain as much knowledge as possible so I can pass the NCLEX-RN and take a refresher course. I have a few days to answer for the LPN spot because the ADN calls have not all been made yet. I am fully aware that the PN and RN NCLEXes cover different scopes of nursing, but in your opinions, would the LPN course help jog my memory and get me close to, or ready for, the NCLEX-RN? Things may have changed, but last I saw there was no time limit to take it in NC. I guess I ought to look into that as well!

You have already obtained a degree. Go to your local community college and/or state school and speak with their guidance counselor. Ask for any and all routes they can advise you on for your future.

For the same amount of money and time, you could re-take parts of your nursing courses. You could find that some online schools will take into consideration (as well as hybrid programs) all of your general ed courses, and you may find yourself nursing courses away from getting your BSN.

But you have to ask. And the person to talk to is an academic advisor/guidance counselor at the colleges in your area.

I spent well over 10 grand and 18 months on an LPN. For a little more time, it would have been in my best interest to get an ADN, however, now BSN is preferred, and in some facilities mandatory.

An LPN course will get you an LPN license, but will not prepare you to take the NCEX-RN. What it will do is allow you to "bridge" but that is a lot of time, money, and such better spent on getting a bachelors.

Here's a weird thought, but I will throw it out there anyways--can you complete a bachelor's degree in anything else--say business (which a lot of facilities really like anyways) then take an accelerated BSN for people who have bachelor's degrees in other fields?

I would make an appointment today to speak with someone. You should not waste that associate's degree. Make it into something. Get every idea, pathway, thought process you can from someone who knows from a college near you.

Best wishes!

All of my general ed classes are still good except for the sciences. Those expired many years ago. I completed A&P 1 last semester and am in A&P 2 and Microbiology right now. This summer and fall I will be knocking more of those BSN basics out of the way also. I know the BSN is where I should be reaching, but I was just trying to get refreshed (I guess) before moving on. I've been planning to make an appt for the closest university, just need to do it and get down there when I can.

I know I'm doing this mess back-ass-wards, I just feel like a chicken with its head cut off trying to figure it all out lol. Thanks everyone!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
There are. CSUDH has an RN-BSN program

You say it's an RN-BSN program. The OP is not an RN.

Besides, any of those programs will not assist the OP with passing the NCLEX, because they don't really cover NCLEX stuff, as the assumption is that the student has already passed the NCLEX.

The OP really will have to go back to basics. I feel like there is a couple options:

Some type of refresher course that can be taken without having an RN

Start over in another program (an RN program, not an LPN program - the LPN program will prepare you to take the NCLEX-PN, not the NCLEX-RN)

Pay a tutor to work with you for several months

Pay a school to audit all their RN courses

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I suggest its time to cut your losses and start form the beginning. I recommend enrolling in a BSN program at a local public university even if the commute is inconvenient. An ADN program at a local community college is your next best option but I would really like to discourage you from going the LPN route. You will really limit yourself by becoming an LPN. A BSN is absolutely within your reach now that you have had the chance to gain maturity and mental focus. Good luck.

Yea, this is what I was trying to say, but I confused myself. Lots of OP's credits will transfer. My stuff from 23 years ago transferred as well as all the Math, English, History and electives from my BA in psych, 25 years ago!

For my RN-BSN bridge I have 26 more credits.

She should ignore the fact that she completed the course, since she did not pass the NCLEX, and transfer what she can towards a BSN.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I'd do what jadelpn suggested and speak w/ a counselor at school, and see if they have any suggestions.

Otherwise, honestly in that situation I think it might be best to just start over. The thing about BSN completion programs--even if you didn't need to be an RN already--is that they won't help much w/ the NCLEX. I'm at the tail end of mine, and very little of what I've learned was on the NCLEX. It's classes like Family Nursing, Community Health, Nursing Informatics, Management & Leadership, etc...that kind of classes. My school did have us all retake Health Assessment and Patho, but otherwise nothing in my other classes was on the NCLEX. And if you scraped by the first time and failed the NCLEX twice, I'm guessing you didn't learn the info well enough anyway. No judgment--many of us have made choices we'd like to take back--myself included. But if you're in a better spot now and still want to be a nurse, even if you have to start all over, you'll do well.

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My phone won't let me quote you, Here.I.Stand, RN, but "And if you scraped by the first time and failed the NCLEX twice, I'm guessing you didn't learn the info well enough anyway" is exactly it. I know that I don't have enough of the info still to review my way through this. How many new meds are there now? How much has changed all over? I know I need to start fresh. I talked to a counselor at my CC today and I think I have my plan locked down. I will be turning down the LPN spot for sure. I am going to press on with as many gen ed classes as I can and try to apply for the BSN program next year. They admit in spring and fall, but have a requirement of 5 certain classes minimum completed before you can apply. It will take me time to get two of those done because I need pre-reqs first.

Over the years I thought about other career paths. I worked as a CNA up until 2010, and left when my second child was born. Most of my time working (while in school and after) was spent with geriatrics. A lot of Alzheimer's/dementia/memory care. My grandmother's Alzheimer's has progressed significantly in the past couple of years, and it has made me realize that this is truly where my heart is. I am a caregiver, and I believe can handle bedside nursing. I'm beyond motivated this time!

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Specializes in TCU, Post-surgical, Infection Prevention.
This program's website specifically says it's for registered nurses. In the admission requirements section, it says you either must have an RN license or provide transcripts showing you are near the end of a program. OP is in neither of those situations, she has an ADN degree from 11 years ago.

Welp.

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It sounds like you have made your decision and I think you are on the right track. I was an LPN for many years before I became an RN. My LPN program was a nice foundation but my RN program taught me to become a better critical thinker. You need those critical thinking skills in order to pass the NCLEX-RN.

The mechanics of the human body can be memorized, drugs can be memorized, critical thinking is a skill that has to be practiced over and over in order to be successful. As I read this thread, my impression is that you are practicing those critical thinking skills already. Best of luck to you in your program.

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Can the OP enroll in Excelsior Distance Learning program,or is that only for Emt's,medical assistants,and Lpn's?

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Can the OP enroll in Excelsior Distance Learning program,or is that only for Emt's,medical assistants,and Lpn's?

My understanding is that not only do you have to have a healthcare licensure of some sort, but you have to also have significant work history in healthcare.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Can the OP enroll in Excelsior Distance Learning program,or is that only for Emt's,medical assistants,and Lpn's?
My understanding is that not only do you have to have a healthcare licensure of some sort, but you have to also have significant work history in healthcare.
Only LPNs an paramedics are allowed to enroll in Excelsior's bridge program.

Excelsior once allowed respiratory therapists, as well as students who completed at least 50 percent of a professional registered nursing program, to enroll in the bridge program. However, the program no longer accepts RTs and failed RN students.

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I'm glad you're following the traditional BSN route and am rooting for you.

Even if you squeaked the NCLEX and got into a refresher course, your foundation isn't strong enough and I would bet you would struggle for years. But with what you're doing, there are a lot of bits and pieces back in the recesses of your partial knowledge base and your learning experience is going to be so much meaningful (and life experience adds to it) and you will come out strong, which is more important than ever these days when they want you ready to go.

FWIW, my sister took the long route after having her kids, and she's had a very full and successful career. She's kicked my traditional BSN obtained at 22 all over the place. ;)

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I made an appt for this coming Tuesday with an advisor at the university. Hopefully I can get a better idea of what track I need to be on. There's no way I will make the spring admission, but hopefully I can get stuff done to make it for fall '16.

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