Please help: LPN to RN or LPN to BSN?

picurn10 · Mar 15, 2008

I haven't seen any LPN to BSN programs in my area (OKC). I think there may be one at OU, but they don't take A&P1 and A&P II (you have to take Anatomy and then Physiology) which is what I have, so I don't want to tack on another school year just for that.

My plan is to get my LPN, start working and go straight into the LPN-RN pathway. From there I'll decide if I want my BSN. At this point with being a single mom, and ds so young, I may wait a bit because I've heard the pay is only about $1/hr more and it just adds more responsibility. I absolutely do want my BSN eventually, (actually I'd like to be a Neonatal NP) but I'm not in a huge hurry.

In my area there are several programs where you can get your RN-BSN in less than a year, with classes just 1 day a week, so that seems pretty doable. So for me that seems like the best route. Being a single mom, I'm looking for the fastest way to get to RN where I'll be making a good living and have benefits for ds and I.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2008

I'd go straight for the RN and then pursue the BSN part-time. The money is barely different for the BSN.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Mar 16, 2008

UCO has an LPN-BSN program. They hire most of the LPNs that apply :)

Just wanted to throw that out there.

kgrl819 · Mar 22, 2008

I know this is a little behind, but I just got on this site yesterday. Here's my opinion of RN programs in the Tulsa area. I checked them all out and debated back and forth about which one to enroll in. First, visit with one and see what if any credits they will take from Platt. I'm pretty sure that they wont take many credits if any, plus you'll need gen ed pre reqs. I got my LPN from a community college and was fortunate that most of my credits transferred (plus I had most of the gen eds). If one place tells you something, the others gonna be mostly the same. Second, choose one that's not too far, especially if you have children. My advice is enroll in gen ed courses now (Summer). TCC has a bunch of excellerated courses that can be taken in a week,or mont, plus some are online. I have taken some of them and they are pretty easy. I checked into Platt's RN program for my stepdaughter, plus I work with a gril that graduated from there last fall. It IS VERY EXPENSIVE!! I have taken classes for the last 3 years(part time) and when I graduate this April, I will still have spent less than what their LPN program costs. Plus they have a poor pass rate and are always on probation with OBN. OU-Tulsa is good, but I was gonna have to take a bunch of stuff over and extra classes (because BSN). TCC and RSU are pretty good. I've had a few of their students at work. OSU-Okmulgee has program that's new, but I like it. The instructors are great. If you show a little intrest, they will really go out of their way to help you. Even the gen ed instructors are this way. I struggled through large classes at TCC and asked questions and what I could do to get better and studied constantly and they just didn't bother (gen ed, not nursing). A few of the instructors at OSU-Okm came from Connors (Muskogee) which has had a 95-100% pass rate on the State Boards for the last several years. They are tough and the test aren't easy. They really challange you, but when I take practice questions from NCLEX-RN, I do really well. If you're in a time crunch and don't want to mess with pre-reqs and gen eds and you can afford it, Platt is the only one I know of that doesn't require it before hand.

Most of the hospitals in the area are offering scholarships or tuition assistance for LPN's to get their RN. But it's tough to find a LPN position in the hospitals because they are limiting them, and most LPN's aren't changing jobs because of it.

I know that this is alot of info and probably some rambling, but maybe it helps.

Good-luck at whatever you choose.

travlnurz71 · Apr 22, 2008

Hey there everyone, I came across this forum by searching google for LPN to RN programs for my husband. We are wanting to move back home to OK so we can be closer to his family in northeast OK. There are so many programs out there but don't know which one would be the best option for us (length of the program, tuition, place to live, etc....) I am an RN and he being an LPN, it is kind of hard to get travel contracts for both of us. To make a long story short, he wants to get his RN so we can have more options. We have 3 children ages 4, 3 and 9 months. I am currently not working and my dear hubby is, he works as a physician's sub at a plasma donation center (for now). He doesn't want to do this anymore and so the option of going back to school came about. While he goes back to school, I will be the one working, but he wants to keep on working as well while going to school, which I may find that it could be potentially difficult for him, but who knows, he had a full time job while he attended LPN school! So the question is, which school would allow him to work while he is a student? Where in Tulsa would be a good place to live? kgrl819, which hospitals offer their LPN's these scholarships or tuition assistance? marilynmom, OCU pretty much hires the LPN's that apply...what do you mean by that??? Please any adivice would help, as time is running out for him to apply...oh a bit of his history...he obtained his LPN through Indian Capital Technology Center in 1999. Worked ER for 5 years and ICU 1 year than did travel contracts working in clinics, MS, and neuro since 2004 all over the US (we both did this, I have been a traveler since 2002 and we even had the kids with us.) He is also an Army Veteran...any suggestions would help us out greatly. Thanks in advance..sorry if this post was too long:wink2:

BabyNurse_PJN · Apr 22, 2008

I want to work in the NICU and would a BSN degree help me to eventually be in more of a supervisory position? What all could/would the Bachelor degree do for me with the field I want to work in?

BabyNurse_PJN · Apr 22, 2008

thank you very much for the information and replying to my post. actually, what my husband and i have decided to do is stay in kansas (where we are is about 80 miles from tulsa) and i will continue my education here for what i need to get my rn and probably go ahead and go for my bsn at a university about 30 miles away. we will then move to the tulsa area after all of my schooling is finished. it will work out better for us this way since the community college here is about 2 miles from where we live now versus 35 miles from where we would have lived to go to school in tulsa. thank you again for your help

soicurlpn · May 1, 2008

I am also an LPN, looking fro LPN to RN school, I am looking into OCC and Rose, I graduated from Platt Moore, thier Norht campus has an LPN to RN starting in February, nut the price is crazy!!!!

Has anyone any experience with Rue Education online program?

asoonernurse · Jun 12, 2008

UCO has an LPN-BSN program. They hire most of the LPNs that apply :)
Just wanted to throw that out there.

What is UCO?

asoonernurse · Jun 12, 2008

marilynmom, OCU pretty much hires the LPN's that apply...what do you mean by that???

:yeahthat:

babygirl66733 · Jun 12, 2008

If you are able to move for school you might check out Oklahoma Panhandle University. www.opsu.edu their lectures are online HOWEVER you do have to go to the school for labs, exams, clinicals etc. Hope that helps some.