Older Students: LPN to RN Bridge

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2008

It's never too late.

However, I'd definitely pursue the RN licensure if retirement is more than 7 years away for you. This will ensure that your time, effort, and money spent on the degree will reap some tangible rewards before you leave the workforce.

karmil · Dec 24, 2008

I am 52.5 years old and have no pre-req's. I have a friend who is 58 and about done. She has been a LPN Neuro trama nurse for years and they bumped her in a buy-out opting for RN's only, despite her 20+ years experience! Now she gets her RN, her husband retires, they were given a Motor Home and her plans are to travel together and do Travel Nursing to support it. Sounds like a great idea to me! I don't want to travel like that, but want to go to South Africa to do mission work. Not too old to dream, I guess.... they bridge program I am interested in is 9 months and $25,000. I don't know how I will pay for it and be a missionary. God only knows!

Jules A, MSN · Dec 24, 2008

Hi,

If you want to do it I sure would although I'm not sure that you would need a RN to do missionary nursing. Wouldn't being a LPN be enough? I mean you are volunteering, right? and LPNs can surely do most all community health tasks. If you do decide to get your RN I'd check into community colleges because my bridge program which was also 9 months only cost about $2,500. Good luck.

kcochrane · Dec 28, 2008

I have two more semesters left and I'm 46. I figure that I will have a lot more options as a RN - especially when the bones start aching more. We had one lady at our facility that went back to get here RN at age 60. In my opinion, I don't think you are to old. Go for it!

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Dec 14, 2011

My mom is 55 and is going through a bridge program. She was 50 when she became an LPN. You are not too old. Good luck to you. I would do research and see what options you have and what each program costs.

Fiona59 · Dec 14, 2011

I won't bridge and I'm 52.

We don't have the ADN to bridge to it's BScN or forget it. Our PN education is the old diploma RN course.

Look at your tuition, calculate your lost wages and pension payments.

I worked it out. I'd lose about $35K/year in income, another $10K in pension payments. Then I'm looking at around $15K in student loans.

I'd have to work full time until 65 to recover my investment. My pension would still be paltry because of service time. I'd be low woman on the pole for vacation time.

No, I'm staying where I am. I make $50K a year working part time. My benefits are good. My scope of practice is very similar to the RNs I work with.

So instead I'm spending my last decade of working life working for my union to decrease the wage gap between RN/LPN and ensure that we get paid what we're worth.

Anne36, LPN · Dec 14, 2011

As long as you have the time and money I would go for it. I am going to be graduating the LPN program at 40. I am not sure if I will go back for the RN myself. I was talking to some classmates about it today. One of the things that has discouraged me is the fact that the hospitals are turning toward hiring BSN more and more. We were also told that when we interview at a hospital we better say we are going for our BSN and then there will be a lot of pressure to do it. I just cannot keep doing this intensive time consuming school thing anymore with a family. It has been very stressful, costly because I am not earning income while going and taken a lot away from my family. My kids need me to be more involved in their lives an not spend every free minute and every single weekend studying. Good luck!

DogWmn · Dec 15, 2011

I chose NOT to bridge at 61 it's not worth it.