The reason for this forum is in regards to finding out any information on paramedic to RN bridge programs and if anyone has completed one. I do first want to say that I understand this is not the traditional route people take to getting there RN license but unfortunately my situation is a bit complicated. I am 25 years old and I was able to complete all my prerequisites for nursing school in order to apply but I just found out my parents are moving out of the State of Georgia and that leads me to having to put my RN school on hold due to how rigorous the course is. I understand that it is possible to work while in RN school but it is not recommended. I can always work two days a week while in nursing school but that is not a sufficient amount of hours to be able to pay for bills.
In my current situation I am considering joining the fire department again while working a side job on the ambulance while attending paramedic school. I am not worried about paying for it seeing that I have scholarships that will pay for my program (hope scholarship). My question is I understand that taking the route of going to paramedic school and then bridging over to RN is going to take a bit longer but the way I see it, I will still be able to work full-time and be able to afford to live on my own. I currently hold an EMT license in the state of Georgia and my fire certifications unfortunately lapsed. Right now I am currently going to be starting paramedic school this spring and before then I am just looking for a job as a firefighter while keeping my current part time job on the ambulance.
My question regarding this post is if anyone has done a paramedic to RN bridge program and if they did how do you feel it helped in regards to you becoming a nurse? From what I been reading a lot of employers are a bit skeptical hiring people who were paramedics and bridged over due to the lack of schooling in nursing. My ultimate goal is to get my RN license and one day go to NP school but as of right now due to finances and me needing to move out, I will not be able to go 4-5 days a week for nursing school (no place to stay).
The reason for my short sob story is so anyone reading this can understand why I am choosing this route because I do understand this may not be the quickest route but at the same time it is a route that allows me to still work full time while being able to afford to live on my own. Thank you to anyone who reads this.
You make a valid point regarding the LPN route and I am willing to take that route if that is my only option over the paramedic. The only thing that I am worried about is I am turning 25 and the time I graduate the LPN program I will be 26 and then I will still need to get my RN license which I would most likely look into an LPN-BSN program and then I will probably be 30 when I finally reach my RN status. Too me thats old but thats life and if thats what I have to do then thats what ill do.
You make a valid point regarding the LPN route and I am willing to take that route if that is my only option over the paramedic. The only thing that I am worried about is I am turning 25 and the time I graduate the LPN program I will be 26 and then I will still need to get my RN license which I would most likely look into an LPN-BSN program and then I will probably be 30 when I finally reach my RN status. Too me thats old but thats life and if thats what I have to do then thats what ill do.
While age can be a determining factor, don't let it drive you to do what's not the best for you.
I became an LPN at 25.
I got my ADN at 28.
I earned my BSN at 30.
I had a lot of classmates that were older than me. I had several that were younger. The bridging method tends to be a common method for those that are not straight out of HS because it allows you to make money sooner, as it's assumed you don't have as much family support. I sure didn't. lol
If you live in an area where you can be hired with an ADN, I definitely think it's smart to bridge from LPN to ADN rather than LPN to BSN, just because of time constraints. ADN to BSN bridge programs are 100% online (or, at most, have a local project....no clinicals) so it's super easy to do the school while making fulltime, RN money and gaining more marketable experience as an RN.
Also, it had sounded like the Paramedic to RN might be a longer path? I don't know, I feel like I read that above. Do you know of several programs to which you'd want to apply after you have become a Paramedic? If that's your chosen path, the program I went to was Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. You can see more information about the specifics of the program if you look at my old posts. But I have no idea how common these programs are. I just assumed they're pretty few and far between given that we had people flying in from all over.
You make a valid point regarding the LPN route and I am willing to take that route if that is my only option over the paramedic. The only thing that I am worried about is I am turning 25 and the time I graduate the LPN program I will be 26 and then I will still need to get my RN license which I would most likely look into an LPN-BSN program and then I will probably be 30 when I finally reach my RN status. Too me thats old but thats life and if thats what I have to do then thats what ill do.
Don't worry so much about your age, you're still young. I was 21 when I graduated LVN school, 27 when I finished my LVN to RN bridge, and will be 29 when I graduate with my BSN in 2020. I worked full time while in all of my nursing programs.
Me personally I am going to apply to the ADN program and if I don't get in then I will apply to the LPN program and proceed to get my LPN and start working in a hospice clinic as an LPN unless there are better choices at there. I'm all for becoming an LPN, i'm just worried that the pay will be very minimal like $12-13.00 an hour which will be hard to live off of.
People always tell me to worry about age and they are absolutely correct. I guess its just apart of life to have these feelings because I think of all these successfull youngings attaining there nursing degrees at such a young age and I'm here struggling to just to get my life started.
My family support is getting slimer and slimer every day and its honestly just too much now. My parents are always aruging now regarding selling the house and I am always having to deal with my father constantly yelling and stressing over the stupid stuff which then he proceeds to take it out on us. Its honestly just way too much after a while and I just want to move out already while attending school but if I hav to get my LPN to be able to move out then I will.
How does an LPN to ADN bridge program work? Is it majority of it online or is it one of those bridge things that require to come into school or do you still need to go into class? I am just worried if I attain my LPN and bridge to RN then it will be the same amount of time if I was not an LPN.
There are three programs that I know of that allow for a paramedic to RN bridge program that only takes three semesters to complete once you get in. This is all according to my friend who did the paramedic to RN bridge program.
How does an LPN to ADN bridge program work? Is it majority of it online or is it one of those bridge things that require to come into school or do you still need to go into class? I am just worried if I attain my LPN and bridge to RN then it will be the same amount of time if I was not an LPN.
How did the LPN to RN bridge program work? How many semesters was it and were you able to work full-time while attending it?
The LPN/EMT to RN program I attended had all of it's classes online. It was one year, January to December. I had to be on campus for a couple days at the beginning of the first semester for orientation and a couple other days for initial skills checkoffs (all skills learned from the LPN program) and then everything else was just clinicals. Not all programs are like that, you have to look at what you have nearby. There are still plenty of programs that want you to be in a classroom everyday. I was lucky to be only a couple hours away from a legit brick-and-mortar community college that was both well-respected and inexpensive. But again, there were plenty of people flying in from out of state for this particular program due to the EMT to RN component. All of the LPNs in the course were from KS.
I was able to work fulltime while completing this program. Like I said before, I worked 4 10-hr days in a clinic.
As far as worrying about the time of a regular RN program vs an LPN to RN bridge.... if you're concerned with how competitive you are as an applicant, it's usually easier to get into an LPN program than an RN program. Get in, bust your butt and do well, and it will make you a much more attractive candidate. I was a terrible student the first time around (non-nursing) so my application was not super great, other than I did really well in my nursing school pre-reqs. My overall GPA was crap, but with the bridging path it was never an issue.
And even if it does take the same amount of time, having the benefit of a higher degree sooner means that you can start working for better money sooner. During my LPN program I didn't work much at all. It was fulltime for 9 months, classes and/or clinicals 4 days per week, plus plenty of homework. I worked every other weekend.
During my LPN to RN program I worked fulltime, and my hourly income was 50% higher. Because I wasn't having to be in a classroom all day 4 days per week, it also felt less stressful, even though I was working a lot more.
Thank you for replying back. That would honestly be really good for me if I could find an LPN to RN program that is mostly or entirely online. The only issue is here in the state of Georgia after looking up for almost the whole day, I have not been able to find any courses that offer strictly online but I could be wrong and maybe you might possibly know more. I decided to go the LPN route and a lot of my classmates are bagging me for it saying I am wasting my time and its not a smart choice. Some of them are even LPN's and told me you are wasting your time. A couple of them even told me that the pay is horrible. They said they were barley making $13-14.00 an hour. Not sure how true this is but it is a bit concerning for me seeing that me getitng an LPN here in Georgia is equivalent to getting my EMT basic over again (pay wise).
Do you have any idea how you were able to find this program honestly? I wish I could find this kind of program but it seems highly unlikely now a days.
I found this college that if I am understanding it correctly, the program only requires one day a week of class time and may require more according to clincals. Maybe this could possibly work when I graduate from the LPN program.
Im currently just hoping I get into this LPN program. If I don't then I will probably just forget the Nursing route in a whole and just join the military if I'm to be honest. The schools here in Georgia are just way to stressful for just trying to get into programs.
I would seriously consider moving if LPNs only make $12-13/hour where you are (are you sure you're not speaking about CNAs - that's about what CNAs start at in my state). Where I'm at, LPNs start anywhere from $20-25/hour. And I'm not in California or anywhere with that kind of cost of living. The absolute lowest I've ever seen people start here is at $18. EMTs make less, but I'm not sure about paramedics.
I think you have a couple options. You can try to work full-time while doing a program like Hutchison's, or Excelsior's. I'm sure there are other programs if you google it. You might have to consider moving away from your state.
If you're set on staying where you are, you may actually reach your goal of becoming an RN sooner if you retake a couple of your lowest-grade classes, study your bum off for the TEAS or HESI or whatever entrance exam required by the school in your area, and going for your ADN. Get a small amount of student loans if you must to pay rent, and either group up with someone or rent a room while you're in school. That way you can keep your loan amount small, especially if you're exceptionally frugal with your choices until you're done with the program.
Im currently just hoping I get into this LPN program. If I don't then I will probably just forget the Nursing route in a whole and just join the military if I'm to be honest. The schools here in Georgia are just way to stressful for just trying to get into programs.
If you're serious about joining the military, you can use that to your benefit in getting an education in the medical field. The most direct way is to look into programs where the military will put money towards your tuition in exchange for obligated service time. I'm sure every branch has their own deal, minus the Marine Corps, but the Nurse Candidate Program through the Navy is the only one I'm familiar with: Accessions
Or if you wanted to go a more roundabout way you could join the military as an enlisted medic, serve your time, maybe take some classes while still active duty if you are able to and then get out and go to nursing school using the GI Bill. I was/am a hospital corpsman in the Navy (prior active, current reservist) and there are a few different bridge programs for corpsman/medics that exist to help you along in getting your nursing degree. Personally I did not go that route and ended up pursuing an Accelerated BSN since I have a degree in another field but I've known a few people to do that and it worked out for them. Good luck with whatever you end up choosing.
From my understanding with the military, if one is to join and get a degree through the military then that person would owe the military years after they graduate. Also I am not really sure how one can get a nursing degree through the military while being enlisted full-time. They only allow nurses who have their BSN already become nurses in the military or I could be mistaken. I'm all for joining the military. My only concern is figuring out how to pay for housing after four years active duty. Not sure how it would be doable. Does the military pay for housing after active duty and transfering to reserves. These are all questions that have question marks for me and it makes me a bit on the ify side when joining.
NYCNative21
150 Posts
You make a valid point regarding the LPN route and I am willing to take that route if that is my only option over the paramedic. The only thing that I am worried about is I am turning 25 and the time I graduate the LPN program I will be 26 and then I will still need to get my RN license which I would most likely look into an LPN-BSN program and then I will probably be 30 when I finally reach my RN status. Too me thats old but thats life and if thats what I have to do then thats what ill do.