LVN to RN BSN

feelsafewithanurse · Apr 30, 2013

Ill give ya a reply. I am currently a LPN and in school for my BSN. My program at University of Maryland is 2 years of actual nursing school and it took me about 2 years to get the pre-reqs complete. Im doing a traditional program. I will admit. I hated taking fundamentals yet again but it was more in depth than the education i got as a LPN. I would not recommend getting your ASN at all. ASN is not only being phased out in hospitals it is actually being phased out completely because they want to make BSN the standard across the board. IF you go for your ASN it would seriously be a waste of time and money. You can complete your BSN in the same amount of time as a ASN and even though it may cost more it is completely worth it. Apply to more than one BSN program, this will increase your chances of getting accepted. Privet schools are more expensive. REsearch your choices and then make your decision. I hope this helps. GOOD LUCK!!! :)

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Apr 30, 2013

I agree with the above poster.

I went through a four-year university's accelerated traditional program for two years. As a LPN, I had the option to challenge several classes, but choose not too, which proved to be beneficial on my skills and knowledge.

It is worth the wait, and investment to get the BSN. You enter the clinical ladder model, making it possible for advancement; you may be an awesome leader, and you will be able to reap those rewards as a BSN.

dannyi2yu · Jun 19, 2013

Additional inputs?

I am in the same boat as you FFerrer90; I'm an LVN looking to further my education and get my BSN in nursing.

From my own research and talking to other nurses here, they were recommending to go to a school out of state. 'Due to its availability and affordability.

California has many programs but its either way too expensive or just extremely hard to get into....

So I was told to check out Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, which is obviously in Wisconsin..for the LVN to ADN program there. I believe it was around $2400? 9months? REALLY???

So my next question was RN ADNs do not get hired....a lot of hospitals these days require a minimum of a BSN...at least from California, from what im told....

RESPONSE: after you receive your ADN, you can do a online ADN to BSN program at WGU (Western Governors University) which can range from 6months to however long you want to take. (Price is very reasonable also)

So now im in a position contemplating between schools, programs (LVN to BSN, LVN to ADN then BSN **Theres also the option of getting your ADN then going to Arizona University for the ADN to MSN program)

I was also checking out National University, WestCoast University, Holy Names university here in Cali but they just seem too expensive...I already have a loan to pay off for my Licensure in Vocational Nursing.. so PLEASE ALLNURSES.com ADVICE ADVICE ADVICE

Especially to those who transitioned from LVN to RN!!!!! RECOMMENDATIONS!!!!!!!!

Thank you

Thank you!

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Jul 6, 2013

Additional inputs?
I am in the same boat as you FFerrer90; I'm an LVN looking to further my education and get my BSN in nursing.
From my own research and talking to other nurses here, they were recommending to go to a school out of state. 'Due to its availability and affordability.
California has many programs but its either way too expensive or just extremely hard to get into....
So I was told to check out Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, which is obviously in Wisconsin..for the LVN to ADN program there. I believe it was around $2400? 9months? REALLY???
So my next question was RN ADNs do not get hired....a lot of hospitals these days require a minimum of a BSN...at least from California, from what im told....
RESPONSE: after you receive your ADN, you can do a online ADN to BSN program at WGU (Western Governors University) which can range from 6months to however long you want to take. (Price is very reasonable also)
So now im in a position contemplating between schools, programs (LVN to BSN, LVN to ADN then BSN **Theres also the option of getting your ADN then going to Arizona University for the ADN to MSN program)
I was also checking out National University, WestCoast University, Holy Names university here in Cali but they just seem too expensive...I already have a loan to pay off for my Licensure in Vocational Nursing.. so PLEASE ALLNURSES.com ADVICE ADVICE ADVICE
Especially to those who transitioned from LVN to RN!!!!! RECOMMENDATIONS!!!!!!!!
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you!

I just finished University of Phoenix's LPN/VN-BSN program. But I think the only one in Cali is in the Sacramento area....although I am not sure.

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Jul 6, 2013

Can anyone give me suggestions. I'm currently feeling sad because I want to go back to school but i have to wait for applications and all I'm doing is working at a snf. Lets say I hungry for more education and I want to be a rn already I'm 22 btw. what should I do. what do you think about applying to a 2 year bsn program despite the amount of money.I thinking about going national university for the lvn to bsn program ( (I still have to take two classes before applying at national, what if I don't get in? waste of money?) Although im still interested in taking the adn program in other various community colleges. As you know there are more and more info about how hospitals taking only BSN new grads vs hardly any ADNs (trying to be magnet hospital). I live in San Diego California. help please.

Look into University of Phoenix. I just finished their LPN-BSN program. Don't bother with your ASN, if you are going to go back, go get your BSN. I was able to do their program, work full time, and I have 4 kids at home. If I can do it, anyone can!

BDFRN06 · Aug 5, 2013

I went through an LPN to ADN and I see how the ADN is being faded out, I highly recommend going for your BSN, I'm attempting RN to BSN now at UTA. There are a lot more opportunities with a BSN.

andrewschultz, LVN · Aug 6, 2013

Don't do university of Phoenix! They are on notice from the institute of higher learning and could loose accreditation. Got to the UOP site and look under accreditation and you will see the link.

andrewschultz, LVN · Aug 6, 2013

*lose.

cgardner2010 · Aug 24, 2013

I am a LVN here in CA and after being told from University of Phoenix that if you completed English 1A, Psych, Sociology, ect 5 years ago or longer you HAVE to retake those courses! Are you kidding me??? So, then I applied to Holy Names and was not accepted due to the fact that they raised the GPA requirement from 2.0 to 2.75 AFTER I had submitted my application btw that I did not qualify for their program...

Frustrated because of the impacted state of ADN & BSN programs, I finally decided to enroll in Indiana State's Online LVN to BSN program that just started back accepting students from certain zip codes for admittance due to the fact that the BON stated that the only way they could continue to allow CA students into their program (after Sonoma State bailed) was to acquire their own contracts for clinical rotations...so, they currently are contracted with the VA hospitals & clinics, CA Dept. of Corrections and working on getting into John Muir, Stanford, Highland Hospital, Children's Hospital, ect. (all located in Northern CA) along with top Southern CA hospitals.

So, I signed up with the College Network to begin finishing my prereq's for the BSN along with the four nursing courses that you have to test out of and looking to apply to ISU for the BSN portion of the program next year.

I do not understand though all the hype about The College Network because I am very happy with them and really impressed with the level of service provided to me in order to be successful in passing all these courses. The program (Phase 1 & Phase 2) is costing me about $10k. I put a $50 down payment and TCN is making my first monthly payment for me ($150) so I do not have a payment due until the end of October. The study guides to test out of the classes for the prereq's and the four nursing courses are all online and can be printed out chapter by chapter or the entire course (250-300 pages) can be printed out. They also have online lectures that provide a quiz at the end of each chapter once you view the lecture and also give you two practice tests to take to gauge your readiness to complete the exam.

Phase 3 (the ISU portion of the program) costs $19k and can be paid via Federal Financial Aid (FASFA) and student loans...

You have a total of 5 years to complete the program but can be done in 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 years depending on how many general ed classes you still need. All in all, being that I work as an LVN currently full time, I love the flexibility of being able to not feel pressured by a traditional classroom and homework ect. You set your study schedule, goals, ect and the Academic Support Team assists you in every step of the process including helping you set a study schedule, help with concepts you are not clear on and more.

As for UOP, I agree totally with andrewshultz "DO NOT ENROLL IN UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX" they are a rip off and lost their accreditation or close to losing it.

royalnurse2b · Aug 25, 2013

Hey I looked on the California BON and I don't see ISU anywhere as having accreditation. Does anyone know where I can see their accreditation?

cgardner2010 · Aug 25, 2013

Hey I looked on the California BON and I don't see ISU anywhere as having accreditation. Does anyone know where I can see their accreditation?

ISU is nationally and regionally accredited. If you go on ISU's site you can see the accredidation there. Look under the "Distance Education" link or "DegreeLink"

ISU was paired with Sonoma State for a number of years because of the fact that ISU need to pair with a CA institution for the clinical rotation part of the program. When Sonoma State pulled out of the deal with ISU, the students enrolled in the program here in CA were unable to continue with their program as well as ISU was not accepting any new CA students.

The BON in CA stated that in order to continue the program here they would have to either pair with another CA university OR obtain their own contracts for clinical sites.

In July 2013, ISU had secured clinical sites for certain zip codes (you have to live at least 50 miles from the farthest site) in CA with the VA Hospitals & Clinics, along with the CA Dept. of Corrections.

If you look at the requirements for a RN license in CA on the BON website it states that you MUST complete your clinical rotations in a hospital or clinic in CA with a licensed RN (preceptor). ISU has met this requirement. I called the BON to check on this and that is what I was told after being on hold for 45 minutes...

I did the research and would never mislead a future RN to a school that is going to end up in a dead end...all you have to do is look on the website and see the requirements for licensure in CA...easy as pie...then go to ISU's website and look up their accredidation...when you want something bad enough, you move hell or high water to find the info...

HTH!