Lpn to rn - still need prerequisites?

caliotter3 · Mar 18, 2018

Take the prerequisite courses. Almost all schools require they be completed, or with only one or two remaining, before starting the nursing portion of the program. And these courses must be done in order to obtain the degree in the end.

Stephanieperez · Mar 18, 2018

Would these still be needed if you become an LPN though ?

caliotter3 · Mar 18, 2018

Yes. Look at the requirements on the website of any nursing program for RN.

Jamie928 · Mar 25, 2018

I'm in LPN school right now & plan on going straight to a bridge program after graduation *god willing* and my instructors have told me some schools do offer ADN with pre-reqs included. Either way you do have to take those few specific courses its just a matter of deciding whether to do it on your own or finding a program that offers it as a bundle. Also...BEWARE OF JERSEY COLLEGE AMD KEISER UNIVERSITY! I've learned in my searching that 9 times out of10 they have accreditation issues and credits/degrees are non-transferrable. Good luck & happy learning!

moretonel · Mar 25, 2018

Hey there. I had to make the same decision you are facing now. I choose a combination. Knowing the chance of getting accepted into the LPN program was far greater than the ASN program, I applied for and was accepted into the LPN program before I finished all the pre-requisite classes for ASN program. I had already taken 2 pre-requisites (Chemistry and A&P I) when I got the LPN program acceptance letter. I had time to take A&P II before starting the LPN program, though the LPN program had no pre-requisite requirements.

I finished the LPN program, passed the NCLEX-PN 2 months later, got a job at a nursing home 1 month after that (also within that 3 months time enrolled and finished an EMT-B course, and volunteered as an EMT-B for a brief time). I'm now half way through my last pre-requisite, Microbiology.

I have no regrets. In my most humble opinion, working as an LPN directly beside RNs doing everything RNs do, will better prepare you for an ASN/BSN program. In my 9 months working at the nursing home, I'v come across nothing that I'm not allowed to do that RNs are allowed, except one - LPNs aren't allowed to train to be nurse supervisors.

Working as an LPN at the nursing home has given me clearer understanding and cemented a lot of what was taught. And I'm learning different things from experienced nurses (LPNs and RNs) that was not necessarily taught in school. It was especially hard for me to memorize what the different meds were used for, side effects, common dosages for that med; but, seeing it first hand repeatedly, I've began to remember without even trying.

Once I finish Microbiology in May, I'll enroll into Excelsior - the online LPN-to-RN program, but that's another topic.

I have LPN classmates that had all their re-requisites done before the were accepted into the LPN program, and was accepted into the ASN while finishing the LPN program. They went directly into an ASN program straight from the LPN program. They received no credit for finishing the non-collegiate LPN program.

I also have an LPN co-worker that has 4 years experience and really knows her stuff, to finally go back full time for her ASN, yet again, her years working as an actual nurse/LPN and graduating from a non-collegiate LPN program did not put her ahead in classes; but, she's not having no where as "hard" a time maintaining a high GPA as her classmates.

I probably didn't answer your question, but probably gave you more than you wanted. Hopefully I helped.

GapYrs · Apr 8, 2018

Thanks for sharing! Making my decision better.

OcMurse93 · Apr 8, 2018

For my program, LVN to RN students entered the program during the second semester. There was maybe 2 or 3 spots if they were lucky. It is expected that they still have the same foundation of medical knowledge as the regular RN students, so all of the prereqs were still required. How well they did in their prereqs was also what determined who actually made it into the program.