Options of becoming an RN

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I plan on getting my LPN certificate soon and i was wondering which program would be faster to become an RN. Would it be quicker to take the LPN to RN(Associates) and then RN to BSN or would it be faster to go from LPN to a BSN program? Are there programs that offer BSN programs for LPNS? I already have a bachelors degree, hence i have alot of pre reqs already. Is it possible for me to go from being an LPN to getting a bachelors RN? If so how long would that program be?

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I am not entirely sure but if you have all the prereqs for the BSN couldn't you do the accelerated BSN program because you already have a bachelors?

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Specializes in Public Health.

^^^ thats what I was thinking....you probably should've done that in the first place

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I've tried that route already and i've applied to schools but since my gpa was a little bit lower than what they want i havent gotten accepted yet so im thinking about going about it a different way and getting more experience and my foot in the door with the cna and lpn program. This way when i do apply for a bsn program later, my application would look better and i would have more experience in the field.

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Specializes in Public Health.

Why don't you just take those classes that you got bad grades in over again that way you won't have to spend all that extra time and money?

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

The route you should take kind of depends on whether or not you want an ADN degree or a BSN degree. If you do well in LPN, you might be able to bring your GPA up to where a BSN program will accept you. Of course another option is going LPN, then going through an upgrade program for RN (without ADN) and then apply for a BSN program through an RN -> BSN upgrade program.

For me, if I had been accepted to a BSN program, the program length would have been about the same as the ADN program I got into, however, there were significant problems with going that route, not the least of which is that for several years the 4 year college was limiting or even not accepting students that already had a Bachelor's degree into an undergrad program...

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The route you should take kind of depends on whether or not you want an ADN degree or a BSN degree. If you do well in LPN, you might be able to bring your GPA up to where a BSN program will accept you. Of course another option is going LPN, then going through an upgrade program for RN (without ADN) and then apply for a BSN program through an RN -> BSN upgrade program.

For me, if I had been accepted to a BSN program, the program length would have been about the same as the ADN program I got into, however, there were significant problems with going that route, not the least of which is that for several years the 4 year college was limiting or even not accepting students that already had a Bachelor's degree into an undergrad program...

yea thats what i was thinking about doing instead of having my bad grades following me its kind of a fresh new start and just focusing and putting my all into the lpn program doing well and then moving up the ladder like that. Im slightly confused on what you are saying though. How could i do the Rn to BSN track from being an LPN without getting the ADN degree? Is that possible? I was thinking something similar as well. I was thinking about applying to regular BSN programs straight after i have a LPN licence that way my GPA would be better and i would also have some experience as a nurse which would spice up my applications. Is that what you were saying as well? I think im leaning towards doing that. I just wonder if thats possible and if that would be preferred by the admissions committee.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

While the ADN programs are currently generally the minimum entry path for RN, there may be an LPN to RN upgrade path that doesn't involve getting an ADN degree. Once you get the RN, there may actually be a diploma RN (or equivalent) to BSN program. This may or may not be an option for you, depending upon your State's BON rules.

If you're leaning towards going to a BSN program, I would first advocate doing whatever you can to bring your GPA up to where you can apply to the program. If your overall GPA is what's dragging you down but your prereq GPA is sufficient, you probably stand a decent chance.

If you are certain that getting the LPN license will provide you with transferable units that will bring your overall GPA up high enough, I'd say go for it. Just be aware that it's entirely possible that the 4 year college you're looking to apply to for your BSN program may not actually have an LPN ->BSN specific program and you may have to start nursing school over from day 1. If they do have an upgrade program, you'd find yourself taking a bridge course that basically gives you credit for the first, maybe second semester also of the program, leaving you with third and fourth and a whole lot of upper division courses to take as well.

Your educational path will not be short. You could, possibly, be looking at a 3-5 year program to get the BSN degree because of the year diversion to LPN.

Investigate all your options. You may find that applying to an ADN program and then to a BSN program for the BSN upgrade may be worth it.

I will likely be going through an ADN program and then doing an upgrade to BSN. Since I already have a Bachelor's, it will only take 30 units to complete the upgrade from ADN to BSN. I actually also have the possibility of completing about 12-15 units in the local BSN program as prep for entry to an MSN program. I'm certainly checking my options. You should definitely be continuing to check your options and once you have decided on what is right for you, grab on with both hands and follow the path and plan you have laid out for yourself.

My ride is about to begin, this August...

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Why so hell bent on going the LPN route? why not just do the BSN route if that is your end goal right away

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wow thank you so much for all the information you have given me. Its beautiful that there are soo many options for anyone to be an RN but at the same time it makes it harder and more confusing as to what to do. yea i understand it will take longer but i think im going to go with the ADN and then the RN to BSN program but im still going to look into my options and weigh them all out it just overwhelms me thinking about every option there is and i want to start already! I want to do something in the nursing field already instead of figuring out what to do. Thank you so much for your help though. Good luck with everything! I would like to get into the MSN program as well. haha Im so ambitious and I want this so bad, time isnt a factor to me anymore. If it takes me 10 years overall so be it but i know at the end of it all it will be worth it. : )

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That Guy: Because i've already applied to those programs and i havent gotten accepted yet so Im trying to spice up my application right now by doing something in the nursing field that way when i do apply to the BSN program if i do, they will see that i've had experience in the field already and it might look better on my application. Also i'm honestly excited to do anything in the nursing field be it CNA or NP. I cant wait to be a nurse in general and i know i will succeed with which ever path i take because i think nursing has become my passion. As long as i become a nurse in the end thats all that matters to me. Time isnt an issue.

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Specializes in Public Health.

Whoa whoa whoa....Im a CNA and i feel it is GREAT experience for NS....becoming an LPN is a waste of time...why not become a CNA first and retake some of your classes and take the prereqs for your BSN that way you can do it all at once? Cheaper...Quicker...and it makes more sense.

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