Lpn starting from scratch in RN program

irish6363 · Oct 23, 2008

What school is this ? I thought that if you are a licensed LVN you would qualify automatically into the last portion of the program not take your entire LVN education all over. This of course providing you pass the entry exam etc. Are you not currently licensed and they are willing to accept you under those terms ? I am a little confused. I am looking for a school with an LVN to RN bridge here in los angeles but if they don't have a long wait list then they have a huge tuition cost.

lilthorina · Oct 24, 2008

Im an lvn and currently going for my rn. im an advance placement student at my school. i bridged in to the 2nd semester now, we hv 8 weeks left for this fall sem! i could have bridged in to the 3rd semester but i didnt have any hospital experience and im too scared, i know it's going to be hard and im not confident enough and i might fail, i did not wanna take the chance! my experience as an lvn for 2 yrs were at a nursing home.

i didnt regret going into the 2nd sem, i experienced maternal-child nursing for our first 8 weeks. now we're doing intermediate med/surg. the rest of the advance med/surg and psych would be in the 3rd sem. so im happy and i didnt have to put my name on the waitlist. fortunately for me they have openings. there's 6 of us, lvns, in my class that bridged in for 2nd sem.

have you tried applying to another skool? i applied to 3 skools. first skool is 20mins away from home and put me #11th on the waiting list! but i had to take a TEAS test after waiting for a year and will put me in the program for fall 08 if i passed the teas test. one skool that is 1hr from where i live didnt hv any opening but they will hv one in the spring 09 sem. i cudnt wait that long, also u hv to take a teas test on top of other requirements. the third school, and i almost did not want to apply there. i actually applied in the last minute. it's 45 mins away. i took the lvn-gap test in feb 08, completed all the requirements and turned in my application in march 08. no teas test! and found out i got accepted around june 08! and i started in aug 08! my acceptance got lost in the mail coz we moved to a new apartment! but that was another story....

so here i am, studying really hard. working part time or per diem... im so broke!!!!

well, whatever makes you feel comfortable, just go for it.

Gititgirl7 · Oct 24, 2008

Im in VA. and now that school has started, I'm not sure how I feel about challenging. I think I know alot about the fundamentals of nursing, but Im learning some new stuff I didn't know or maybe forgot. Its all pretty interesting. First exam is Monday. we'll see how much I know then.

june2009 · Oct 26, 2008

In my LPN to RN program, LPNs are automatically excused from the first semester (fundamentals of nursing) and the third semester (geriatric nursing). To be honest, I wish I would have started from the beginning in fundamentals. When I came in, I didn't know any of the students, I didn't have any idea what to expect and I suffered a little with clinical because I wasn't familiar with the paperwork. I would have done better overall if I would have started with fundamentals. I'm doing well now, but it was a tough road to get where I am now.

lizmatt · Oct 26, 2008

My roomate is an LPN, and when she came to our school to get her BSN not only does she have to start from the beginning, they are also making her be undeclared for the first year. This is crazy, she is a nurse and they have not accepted her into the nursing program until they see her math and science grades from the first year. And it is not like they do that to everyone - I was never undeclared at this school.

Gititgirl7 · Oct 26, 2008

June2009,

Thanks for your comments. I thnk overall I'll be happy I started from the beginning. A lot of thngs are familiar, but Its a great review. Things like nursing law and theory are teaching me things I've long since forgotten. So, onward and upward. 5 semesters from now, this will all be a fading memory.

1mrsbug · Nov 11, 2008

1idolwife

How did you do on your Exam? Have you found a good study group yet?

kcochrane · Nov 11, 2008

I was only able to challenge fundamentals of the RN program. That was only 8 credits. It took me 3 1/2 years to do all my prereqs and I'm now in the nursing program doing med/surg I. I have two more semesters of only my nursing classes left. In this area, they don't really have a "bridge" program. If you work in acute, you can challenge med/surg I also. The only advantage to being a LPN is that they slide you right in to nursing school as soon as you get your prereqs done.

Gititgirl7 · Nov 11, 2008

1mrsbug.

First and second exams went fine. Not hard at all. I commented to another student that I was surprised at how uncomplicated the tests were. She rolled her eyes and said"for you." I will keep my comments to myself from now on. Today after the scores for the second exam were posted there were a couple of meltdowns. The one thing I know I have over complete newbies is the medical terminology. At anyrate, we are already half way through the semester (8week semesters) and then I'll be on to basic med surg. no study groups. every one wants to study on the weekend and I work 12 hrs on sat and sun. I'll be changing my schedule in December. maybe next semester I can find a good group. I have a feeling after next semester, the playing field as far as nursing knowledge will level out.

bluerthnu · Nov 13, 2008

1ldowife,

I think it's really cool the attitude you have about starting over. I love school and wouldn't mind doing that either. I'm sure there's a ton you've forgotten or even new things to learn. Congratulations on geting into an RN program and good luck. I'm inspired by you.

Lynebert · Nov 27, 2008

Hi,

I've been an LPN for 19 years now and I've decided to go back to school for my RN. My college is making me redo all my nursing classes. The only thing I don't have to redo is English Comp and General Psych. I was a little miffed at first about having to redo everything; but after really thinking about it, I've only worked in a long term care setting. Maternity and Pediatrics seems like a lifetime ago so I'm ok with it.