Helpful advice needed

[Sierra_R]

Hello. My name is sierra, and I am a 21 year old Lpn. In May 2013 I will be graduating with my bachelors in biology with a minor in chemistry. I really don't know what I can do with my bachelor's. upon graduation in may I plan to go into an lpn-rn fast track program. Do anyone know of any scholarships or grants that will help me pay to get my RN ? Any financial help would be very helpful, thanks for your advice in advance . Oh I live in Mississippi

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

You could consider clinical research/clinical pharmacology research. When I left the industry there was a trend for sponsors to require clinical study coordinators to have a nursing license (I worked in phase I/IIa/IIb research that involved human study participants in a contract clinical pharmacology company clinic. (Phase I is "healthy normal" and phase II is "patient with the condition") The companies were seeking to hire RNs & LPNs who also had a bachelor's degree it didn't matter if it was an RN-BSN or an LPN with a BS in Biology. In fact an RN or LPN with a BS in the sciences could be highly coveted if they had some scientific research background to help understand the scientific rational for the studies. Even more so if a practicing LPN with a BS in biology or chemistry.... Just a thought. There was a recent post for my area in the north east for a clinical research coordinator the primary requirement was LPN or RN with clinical research experience, LPN or RN eligible with BS degree, or a master's degree. I know of at least two pharmaceutical research sponsors that had written into their contract that they want a clinical research coordinator/study manager who also has a nursing license (minimum industry standard for a clinical research coordinator/study manager is a bachelor's degree)

Accellerated BSN programs are competetive and since you'll already have a BS degree financial aid opportunites are limited. You could also consider a direct entry master's program (but you may have a leg up on the competition if you are a practicing LPN as many direct entry master's candidates have limited health care experience and no nursing experience) There are federal financial aid programs for nurses going into primary care NP programs (which you could do with a direct entry master's) and certain BSN's. Most LPN to RN programs are associate's level programs so there would be limited financial aid, if any, (and no federal grants) for someone with a BS degree since the degree is "lower" (financial aid grants and loans are not only based upon aid already received but also credits and prior education.)

Good luck in your endeavors

[Sierra_R]

Thank you SO much for all of your valuable information. I will look into these things, in fact I am doing it now.