about reputable online LPN to RN programs...

dmarie (GA) · Dec 30, 2007

If there is any possible way you can just bypass the LPN and go straight for the RN, I would do it. It will save you time and money in the long run. There are no 2 yr. RN programs online because you cannot do clinicals online. There are RN-BSN programs online, because RN's have clinical experience already.

There are many benefits to starting out as an LPN. It's helps get you acquainted with nursing in general, much more so than the CNA, and will benefit you when you finally do the RN. So if you choose to do LPN first (which is what I have done), then Excelsior is a good online choice for the bridge. Excelsior can offer the LPN-RN bridge online because LPN's have hands-on, bedside, clinical experience from their program and possibly from working. LPN programs tend to focus more heavily on clinical hours and clinical time than do RN programs. In turn, RN programs tend to focus more heavily on theory and dive deeper into pathophysiology. So Excelsior allows the LPN to cover the theory and deeper pathophysiology with the use of online courses.

I'm planning to start the Excelsior program in the new year. It's a great choice for me because I can work as an LPN full-time making money while I complete it. I'm single with no kids, so I have to pay my bills while I'm in school.

As far as the cost of Excelsior ---- some say it's really expensive, and I agree that some aspects are, but if you add up the time and money it would cost to complete a traditional LPN-RN bridge, it's really not much more. RN programs are fairly intensive and require full dedication. Students are generally discouraged from working while completing a traditional program, because you have to be in class, in clinicals, and all of the homework, etc, it's really difficult to do it and juggle a job along with whatever other responsibilities you have. Excelsior provides a way to complete the RN at your leisure, independently, with whatever schedule you have. You pay a little more for this convenience, but not much.

You might have to jump through a few hoops to get licensed in whatever state you're in with Excelsior. I live in Georgia, and they will only accept Excelsior degrees by having a license transfered in from another state. I will have to get licensed in another state ---- and then have it transfered to Georgia. This process takes a couple of weeks and costs $30.00. No big deal. I will not even need to step foot in the other state to get licensed there, either. I just take the test in Georgia and have the results sent to another state like Tennessee. From there, I have it transfered back into Georgia. It seems kind of silly to have to go through this process, but those are the rules here.

You need to call your state's Board of Nursing to find out for sure what the process is in CO. Some states require that you actually WORK for a certain number of months or even years in another state before they will allow you to transfer it in. So be sure to get your information from the Board of Nursing.

If your plan is to become an LPN first, I would tackle that short term goal, and then set your sights on Excelsior. LPN programs, despite what some people might think, are not easy, and require alot of dedication and hard work.

Good Luck!

SakredStrega · Dec 30, 2007

Excellent reply, dmarie. I agree.

I, too, went through an LPN program first.

But I'm doing a traditional LPN-RN bridge program. I hate to say it, but I'm not disciplined enough to take an online course. It would take me FOREVER!! So this way works best for me. In the end, it will have taken me about 3 years (1.5 for LPN, 1 for core classes for bridge program, and 1 for RN classes) to get a 2 year degree, but I'm very happy with my choice.

My LPN program did a great job preparing me for nursing, and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.

But as for Excelsior.... I work with nurses who got their RN from that program and nurses who are in the process of getting their RN from that program. They have nothing but good things to say about it. I live in Georgia, like dmarie, so they're having to jump through those hoops, too.

My advice: do an LPN program, and then bridge to an RN program. Since your original question was about online programs, I'm assuming you have enough initiative to do well with online courses. If I were you, I'd look into Excelsior and find out what you'd have to do to make it work.

Good luck!

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2007

Been in your shoes. I've got an undergrad in English and a MS in Computer Science (got tired of watching my jobs go offshore / out of town / out of the budget). Just finished my LPN and I'm now looking at the Excelsior program. When I added up the cost, there was only about 2000 dollars difference in the local CC vs. Excelsior. I can test out of classes I'd otherwise have to retake -- no local bridge program, unless I go across the state line, and then get smacked with the out-of-state tuition. From what I've gathered talking to nurses at the local hospital, nobody really cares where your RN came from, just that you have one and passed your boards. If you want to go to somewhere like Emory or Duke for a nurse prac later, they say they want "comparable" quality of education, so that might be a factor, but I don't know yea or nay on that one.

daisymay07 · Dec 30, 2007

Thanks for the replies. I am going to call the technical college to get more info about the slower track 2 year LPN program (I'd prefer to do the faster track year program, instead, but family obligations & the distance make it pretty much impossible for me to commit to traveling to the program 5 days a week). Cost is the same, same classes, they're just spread out over 2 years instead of 1.

I will also call the CO Board of Nursing to find out more about Excelsior, and whether or not they accept it.

And yeah-ideally, I'd be attending an accelerated BSN program at a good school (I had considered some good state schools in the Denver/Boulder area, when we lived nearer to there...), or something like that... but geographically, it is just not possible at this time, so I will take what I can get! I don't plan on doing a nurse practicioner type thing at this time... it's going to be all I can do to get an RN... Should I change my mind at some point, I'd hope that my previous educational background might make me a better candidate for an advanced program...

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2007

I have to say that, as an LPN because I couldn't survive another year of driving 4 hours a day, I see absolutely no benefit to becoming an LPN first.

I am enrolled in Excelsior now and it is cheaper than a brick-and-mortar school, particularly when I factor in $350 a month in gas.

I can't speak to the CO BON's acceptance of Excelsior.

Jules A, MSN · Dec 30, 2007

I've logged quite a few miles/hours for both my LPN and RN bridge program so that is something to consider but the ADN bridge program is only costing me $2,500 plus books. When I looked into Excelsior it was way more than that. My state doesn't accept it and I was concerned about more states following suit. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.