Questions regarding CNA to RN

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2014

You have no options for online nursing education due to the legally mandated requirements for hands-on clinical practicum that all nursing programs have.

In other words, you will need to attend school, as well as show up for clinical shifts several times per week to accrue hands-on experience providing nursing care to patients. Good luck to you!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2014

Welcome !

thread moved for best response.

You need to look at the school you are interested in. See if they offer online classes. They only classes that you can take online would be prerequisites....Algebra, Anatomy, physiology, chemistry. Nursing classes must be in person in a clinical setting with a specific amount of time by state mandate.

Waiting lists are all too common today. Nursing school has become VERY competitive and are requiring VERY GOOD grades (3.4 or higher) in prerequisites with high TEAS or SAT scores. Cheap? Well...it is not cheap. I have seen 2 year programs for as high as $70,000.00 (WAY TOO EXPENSIVE) and 4 year programs in the six figure range.

An affordable option it the LPN then LPN RN bridge. Be aware that the job market is tight right now even for nurses. LPN"s are mostly hired these days in long term settings and in acute care setting the BSN is strongly preferred. Many facilities right now are only hiring BSN prepared new grads.

I wish you the best.

RunBabyRN · Jul 4, 2014

You need to research the programs in your area. Period. There are no online programs that will allow you to sit for the NCLEX (maybe one or two that will happily take your money, anyway).

CNA is becoming a requirement of traditional BSN programs more and more. As Esme said, there's an increasing demand for BSN-prepared nurses over ADNs or even LVNs, particularly if you wish to enter acute care. If your goals lie in skilled nursing or home health, LVN or ADN will generally suffice.

As far as wait lists go, cast a wide net. Can you bump up your priority in order to get into prereqs? Have you tried crashing classes? I think out of all of the classes I've crashed, I didn't get into one, but I got into all of the others. If you are consistently attending one school, you'll likely have a higher priority, which will help you to enroll in the prereqs you need (which are impacted at pretty much every school).

Livetoride · Jul 4, 2014

First of all, being a CNA is an advantage because nursing programs that I've seen (including my school) have CNA as a pre-req and there are extra points that are awarded to those with experience from what I've heard. That means you'll have a pre-req or two knocked off if it is the case for you.

To become a RN, you can do the pre-reqs like math, english and other humanities online but you cannot do nursing classes online for what was stated by a pp. Depending on your expectations and goals, it may be best to go LPN then bridge to RN especially if waiting lists are a concern. Nursing school is very competitive and there are more applicants than seats (especially for the ADN vs shorter wait time for LPN).

Good luck!

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2014

Good day, mrzabalos1127:

May I suggest finding a good, nationally accredited community college? Their rates tend to be extremely economical; and, they may have a nursing program with a good NCLEX pass rate to boot.

Thank you.