LPNs turned RNs: New Grad?

[Scottishtape]

Hi all :)

Now that I've only got one more semester of the bridge program left, I'm researching where and what I want to do after graduation.

I would love to jump into the hospital environment, so I've been looking at new grad residency programs. They all say you must have less than 1 year of nursing experience.

Well, I've been an LPN for 12 years. Would I be considered a new grad? Does the nursing experience clock restart when you go from LPN to RN?

Not sure which way to look at this. Any advice from LPN to RN transitioners would be really helpful.

Thanks!

[Ladyscrubs]

You are a new grad with the secret powers of being an LPN. Many employers will take your experience into account as a plus (wow, you pick up things really fast), but don't be surprised if the "years you are a nurse" slate wipes clean and the clocks starts with that RN. As Uncle Ben Parker might have said, "With a new title comes new responsibilities and a new grad residency."

I had the privileged of going through a LPN fast track diploma program back in the 1980's. My RN orientation consisted of ...these are your patients...you're the nurse...go!

[Scottishtape]

You are a new grad with the secret powers of being an LPN. Many employers will take your experience into account as a plus (wow, you pick up things really fast), but don't be surprised if the "years you are a nurse" slate wipes clean and the clocks starts with that RN. As Uncle Ben Parker might have said, "With a new title comes new responsibilities and a new grad residency."

I had the privileged of going through a LPN fast track diploma program back in the 1980's. My RN orientation consisted of ...these are your patients...you're the nurse...go!

I love the Spider-Man reference!

I suppose it can't hurt to apply and see what they say about my LPN years. The LTC places around here cut your LPN years in half and give you that as your years of experience.

Ill be finishing my bachelor's in healthcare administration in August as well. Does that count as far as the hospitals wanting a bachelor's prepared nurse, or do only BSN degrees count?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Ill be finishing my bachelor's in healthcare administration in August as well. Does that count as far as the hospitals wanting a bachelor's prepared nurse, or do only BSN degrees count?

This may be location-dependent. In the area where I reside, employers only consider the BSN degree when recruiting baccalaureate-prepared nurses. Non-nursing degrees do not count.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I love the Spider-Man reference!

I suppose it can't hurt to apply and see what they say about my LPN years. The LTC places around here cut your LPN years in half and give you that as your years of experience.

Ill be finishing my bachelor's in healthcare administration in August as well. Does that count as far as the hospitals wanting a bachelor's prepared nurse, or do only BSN degrees count?

A non-nursing BA + RN program (ADN/diploma) does not result in the equivalent of a BSN. Some aspects of nursing theory and research are only covered/studied in-depth in the BSN program. My facility also only considers BSNs as baccalaureate-prepared nurses.

Take full advantage of those LVN years of experience when applying for RN jobs. You have actual nursing experience under your belt, which is more than can be said for your average new grad.

[Scottishtape]

Thank you for the input!

At this point, I'm *so* sick of school, the thought of going back for a second bachelors makes my head hurt. I thought I had read in another thread someone saying they were given bachelors prepared nursing rate for their BHA as a new grad. I can see how this could be location dependent, and probably rare.

Sounds like a year off is in order, then dive back in for the BSN.

Almost there...almost there...

[Bumex, DNP, NP]

Unfortunately yes, you are still considered a new grad since you are changing scope of practice. We had this discussion in NP school- whenever your scope changes you go to the bottom of the line. I don't have a great number of years as a RN, however some in my program where mad- they had 10-20 years experience as a RN but will be considered new grad NPs.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

It really depends where you apply. I was told by one organization that since I had experience as an LPN that I would not qualify for their residency program since it was only for employees with zero nursing experience. However, they would give me a six week preceptorship before going off on my own. I was also paid based on my LPN years of experience, but the top off was 10 years. It was matched 1:2 for RN time so my start rate was considerably hirer. Another organization said that their residency program would be required and I would be paid as zero experience (which wouldn't be much more than I was already making with a much easier position).

Someone I went to school with had a BS in another field. His employer was okay with a 2 year RN as long as he had a prior bachelors in science. If it was a BA he would need to go back to school. Most employers around my area are pushing for a BSN within so many years of hire, some require it prior to employment. The increase in pay is only around 50 cents though from what I've heard.