LPN to RN through testing?

[mc3]

I just feel that I'm going to get a lot of flak on this, but here goes...Since there's such a nursing shortage, why not let LPN's take the RN test with some parameters? I just thought of a few:

5 years minimum experience

letter of recommendation from supervisor

must be IV certified ahead of time

More?

They would take the same test, study from the same study guides that are available. If someone felt especially weak in say, med conversions, they could take an algebra review or brush upon on what they learned in school beforehand.

If they didn't pass, well, do what the other students do and try, try again.

You're not going to pass the test if you're not up on the latest information, and it would happen whether or not you were an RN or LPN or BSN or MSN for that matter!

I just think it makes sense in light of the nursing shortage. There won't be a tremendously long wait to get into an LPN-RN school. It would make a hugh difference in patient care. It would also help to keep jobs from being filled from overseas workers. We really should try to hire citizens first, anyway. It seems the RN organizations would be diametrically opposed, but I don't understand why. After all, they are the ones that are crying the most about a nursing shortage and demanding action.

And, BTW, why don't state nursing organizations allow LPN's to joint?? They are nurses, right???

Just a thought..

mc3:nurse:

Kind of simplistic, I know, but I've always wondered about it...

[mgordonlvn]

I maintain: experience is the best teacher.

I agree that it is soooo much more than checking the right answer box. My point is this: given the choice between a seasoned LVN and a new RN...if my baby's life were at stake, I'd take the LVN.

I support battlefield promotion, can you tell?

[futurecnm]

Actually there are programs out there as long as you have a Bachelor's in anything not necessary to nursing you can go into an accelerated BSN program now to me that is much more terrifying to know that someone is taking care of me is a nurse on paper yet has had no clinical or hands on medical experience at all before they get the BSN

People in accelerated programs do go to clinical like the rest of us in nursing school. It is a very intense program that covers all the info that is in a 2 year program, just condensed into 18 months or something like that. They go over the summer, and other programs don't. They get the same education as a ADN does. I would have gone that route in a second if it hadn't cost 25K. I don't think any nursing programs graduate people with no hands on experience. To be an accredited program, they need a certain amount of clinical time.