LPN for 25 years and want to get my RN.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Sep 19, 2017

Online programs offer the flexibility to take the theory at home and usually are tested onsite. They will also require lab times and clinical hours. Many of my fellow bridge students worked full time and had families during the program. Was it stressful, um, heck yeah, but it was only for an 18 month period.

If this is too much maybe consider finding an option that is part time school? It will take longer but at least it would be less stressful during the process.

I don't know of any that are completely online. I did hear about Excelsior and a couple of other distance learning options, but the price of these can run high and then if you don't pass the clinical component at the end you did all that work with nothing to show for it.

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Sep 19, 2017

I don't know of any that are completely online. I did hear about Excelsior and a couple of other distance learning options, but the price of these can run high and then if you don't pass the clinical component at the end you did all that work with nothing to show for it.

I was an LPN for 19 years before I went thru Excelsior 12 years ago for my RN. This is an option you'll want to explore very carefully. I have nothing but great things to say as it was the PERFECT option for my circumstances but it's not for everyone. My thoughts:

1) Take the preparation for the clinical component seriously but don't make yourself nuts. Nothing is going to prepare you better than your 25 years of experience - you'll just need to make sure you understand the little ins and outs that they demand. It is VERY doable. Honestly it was easy. I was in a group of 7-8 others, all with only a couple years of experience. I was first done with no re-takes of any of the components and it was all because of my experience.

2) check your state's acceptance of an Excelsior degree (or any state you might want to work in in the future). I hear there's been a lot of changes & I'm not familiar with who will and who won't at this point.

3) Do not get sucked into signing a contract with any of the publishing companies that sell study guides and make you try to believe you HAVE to go through them to graduate - ultimately the degree if provided by Excelsior and that is all you have to go through. With that said, I don't know about now, but back in the day, those study guides by those publishing companies were very helpful although crazy expensive. I would try a search on ebay or something similar to see if you could find some used ones for much cheaper.

There used to be a whole excelsior thread on here somewhere. Might be worth checking into. Good luck

NurseInWaiting30 · Sep 23, 2017

Congratulations on taking this next step in your career. There are a few programs that are 100% online that you can look into.

1. Indiana State Univeristy LPN-BSN program offers the solution that you might be looking for. You will perform all the exams online and clinicals locally in your area.

2. Oklahoma State University

3.North Dakota State University.