Online lpn to rn, bsn

Published

Who has done LPN to RN and/or BSN online schooling? With what school? Are these degrees received well? How expensive, financing etc? Thanks to anyone who can help with legitimate facts (not hearsay please). In other words, people who have actually done it. ;-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

You will likely find more answers in the Student Nurse forum. I don't have "legitimate facts" but I'm guessing that your answers will be found there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If the school isn't facilitating clinicals, it's not legit. I have heard of a few lpns getting suckered into non-accredited online lpn to rn programs. Please be careful!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Excelsior College. I'm in the final stretch. All online. You do have to do a three day clinical before you can graduate. Check it out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Excelsior College. I'm in the final stretch. All online. You do have to do a three day clinical before you can graduate. Check it out.

How do you show competency with your "RN skills" such as IV med administration and starts?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
How do you show competency with your "RN skills" such as IV med administration and starts?
Excelsior College only accepts paramedics and LPNs into their distance-based LPN-to-ASN programs. The typical paramedic starts multiple IV lines each shift and administers different drips, and many LPNs are experienced in starting IVs and administering IV medications.

I attended a classroom-based LPN-to-ASN program five years ago and attended clinical practicum shifts weekly. I did not start one IV line, or administer any medications, or even assess one patient during clinical rotations. The truth is that you demonstrate competency with these skills during your first year of working as an RN.

The typical nurse will learn more skills during their first year as an RN than they ever did during school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't know which online school my husband's coworker's wife attended, but she started as an LPN, put in a lot of time and money only to find out upon completing this lpn to rn program, she was ineligible to take boards due to problems with the school. I'm not trying to discourage, just warn because I've even seen mention of problems with exclisor here on AN.

I graduated from a ASN program that was clinical and "skills" intense. LPNs bridged in with us as we began our 2nd year, so they got to experience that emphasis on "skills" too. I belive you and have heard of the students from other schools not being able to administer IV meds (for liability reasons r/t the school or the clinical site). It's funny how schools that offer the same degree can be so different.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I don't know which online school my husband's coworker's wife attended, but she started as an LPN, put in a lot of time and money only to find out upon completing this lpn to rn program, she was ineligible to take boards due to problems with the school. I'm not trying to discourage, just warn because I've even seen mention of problems with exclisor here on AN.

California is the only state that does not accept EC as entry to practice under any circumstances. A select few states will only accept EC graduates by license endorsement. This is very clear on the school website and documents understanding the same must be signed if you reside in an affected state. It's definitely not a secret. The rejection of EC grads by CABRN have been for almost a decade. CABRN also will not accept ISU LPN to BSN grads. In addition several states will only accept EC grads that were LPNs to RN/ASN and not medics or RRT to RN/ASN grads. RRTs are no longer accepted for admission to the EC program. The information is out there and available online on EC or by calling the EC admissions department.

One ongoing issue I have seen is candidates that fail to read the information provided and act shocked at the end, but that is not exclusive to EC as I saw the same pattern of behavior decades ago in my non nursing undergrad studies. Be informed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As Beachy said, be informed. DO THE RESEARCH. Its a pain in the butt I know, I did an online program for my nursing pre-reqs and it took me months of phone calls and emails and going to school to make sure everything was legit, would be worth my time, and there would be no "oops" or "oh ****" moments at the end. My research and time paid off and everything went smoothly. Don't just jump in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
Excelsior College. I'm in the final stretch. All online. You do have to do a three day clinical before you can graduate. Check it out.

THREE days???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
THREE days???

It's an intensive lab practical (wound care, medication prep and administration, patient assessment and more) without input from the assessing professional, independently prepared care plans and 3 direct patient care assignments (intent is at least one pediatric patient) including care plan, assessment (and VS must be within a certain accuracy as obtained by the clinical assessor concurrently to yours). It's not three days of clinical but a challenge exam that is pass/fail called the clinical performance in nursing examination where your clinical skills are assessed in a challenge exam scenario.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
THREE days???
As previously stated, Excelsior College only admits LPNs and paramedics into their distance-based LPN-to-ASN completion program. LPNs and paramedics have thousands of hours of hands-on clinical practice before enrolling.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion