I just graduated from a LPN program, PROUDLY! I learned so much, and am very thankful for the year. I know my LPN program has prepared me well for the kind of nurse I want to be (patient-centered, not just "theory"-centered).
I started a regular RN program last week. I don't tell people I'm an LPN, but it's getting out since I'm at the same school I did the LPN, and some instructors know me. I just wanted to start off on "equal" terms new RN students (no LPNs here) and didn't want people to think I'm "different".
These new RN students generally have no health care experience. I'm talking, we're learning to make beds, learning which end the probe goes on the thermometer, etc. No problem here, but the problem I'm having is their opinion of themselves as the "leader" in the clinical setting. There are LPNs at the clinical site, and EVEN our instructor overlooks the LPN. She tells us to go to the RN for ANY questions. Let me tell you, I KNOW the LPN is the one who knows what's going on with the patient, as I saw HER doing all the meds, interacting with the patients, etc. It's not the set-up that is bothering me, rather the overt disrespect that is given to the LPN by our instructor in front of these students who walked in without an opinion of LPNs. Walking out, our instructor is leading this group of RNs on step one of the path of the negative labelling of LPNs. Our instructor clearly gave the role of the RN, the role of the nurse tech, and then said that she's surprised that LPNs are still here at the hospital. I just had to ask, who do we go to if our all-mighty nurse (she wouldn't acknowledge the LPN as "nurse") goes on break? Can we go to the LPN if we have a question?? NO!!! She said to go to another RN! I know for a fact that the LPN and RN don't take lunch the same time, and the RN doesn't even give a report about patients to any other RN, as she knows that the LPN is overseeing the patients.
I'm just seeing that the LPN identity crisis (at least in my region) and blatant disrespect starts right on the first week of nursing school. If these students only realized that many people who aren't RNs have a bit of wisdom to share, those students might have a chance of getting in on it. What a shame, and how enlightening, yet disappointing, for me to see.
Wow, you $150 a piece to "prove" your worthiness. I'm sure there is logic in there, but if I were in your shoes I would just go right into the ADN program. It's not worth it to spend $10,000 on an LVN program just to turn around and pay an additional $750 to prove you retained something. On the other hand, you could always look into another program. Or is that how the entire nursing system is set up in Florida?
Yikes! Good luck with that.
I sounds as if this program knowcks off a few semesters if you test out. That's worth a $750 investment.
Wow, you $150 a piece to "prove" your worthiness. I'm sure there is logic in there, but if I were in your shoes I would just go right into the ADN program. It's not worth it to spend $10,000 on an LVN program just to turn around and pay an additional $750 to prove you retained something. On the other hand, you could always look into another program. Or is that how the entire nursing system is set up in Florida?
Yikes! Good luck with that.
$10,000!!!! Wow. My program was $3000. Look into other venues. Lots of programs will be glad to have you.
I would have gladly paid this to knock off a few semester. My local CC makes you repeat everything.
yeah i am really excited about it! i am just gonna have to take the exams one per month for a few months so i can afford to do them all. it's just unnerving because i want to make sure that i pass them... i have test anxiety soo bad.
i'm hoping and praying that since i got such good grades in LPN school that i can get a scholarship into this program.... but who knows.
I sounds as if this program knowcks off a few semesters if you test out. That's worth a $750 investment.
There are plenty of programs out there that do NOT make an active LPN take a course to knock off semesters. She should just be able to go into a bridge program without paying an additional $750 to "knock off" classes. At my institution your one year in LVN school is the same as the first year in RN school. So, when you go for the LVN-ADN transition program, you only have two RN semesters. No silly $750 to pay, you've already paid.
There are plenty of programs out there that do NOT make an active LPN take a course to knock off semesters. She should just be able to go into a bridge program without paying an additional $750 to "knock off" classes. At my institution your one year in LVN school is the same as the first year in RN school. So, when you go for the LVN-ADN transition program, you only have two RN semesters. No silly $750 to pay, you've already paid.
My local CC has suspended their bridge program on the ground that LPNs do not have sufficent knowledge to bridge. When they did have a bridge program, LPNs had to pay over $1500 in fees to test out. It depends on the school and how much they want to gouge out of your pockets.
There are plenty of programs out there that do NOT make an active LPN take a course to knock off semesters. She should just be able to go into a bridge program without paying an additional $750 to "knock off" classes. At my institution your one year in LVN school is the same as the first year in RN school. So, when you go for the LVN-ADN transition program, you only have two RN semesters. No silly $750 to pay, you've already paid.
What she should be able to do isn't what she can do. Her circumstances are different than yours and, with the difficulty of finding bridge programs, let alone getting in, $750 seems, to me, to be rather paltry when her salary increase should be around $5 an hour initially, or $200 a week, which means a complete ROI within 4 weeks.
My local CC has suspended their bridge program on the ground that LPNs do not have sufficent knowledge to bridge. When they did have a bridge program, LPNs had to pay over $1500 in fees to test out. It depends on the school and how much they want to gouge out of your pockets.
Sad but true.
Very sad. If programs would "up" the LPN/LVN programs we wouldn't be running into this problem. In defense of the decision to knock out your bridge program, I will say that the way I am learning nursing for LPN/LVN compared to the RN program is different. RNs study in a more in-depth level than LPN/LVN programs do it seems.
I'm completely in favor of boosting passing requirements in the LPN/LVN programs. There's no reason why I shouldn't be learning like an RN learns. Right now our "failing" grade is anything below 76. I want that changed to 80, perhaps even 85. After all, do you want someone who crammed for an exam just to earn a 75.5 caring for you or anyone you cared for?
Hm... off my soap box. I'm still grateful for being in my LVN program, but I do think they should up the standards.
I'm completely in favor of boosting passing requirements in the LPN/LVN programs. There's no reason why I shouldn't be learning like an RN learns. Right now our "failing" grade is anything below 76. I want that changed to 80, perhaps even 85. After all, do you want someone who crammed for an exam just to earn a 75.5 caring for you or anyone you cared for?
Hm... off my soap box. I'm still grateful for being in my LVN program, but I do think they should up the standards point wise and critically thinking wise.
My school (I went to Owens CC in Ohio) had a tough program, and I'm now able to attend my RN there mostly part-time because many classes transfer. I took pharm, anatomies, micro, math, humanities, nutrition, and all with other RNs or pre-RNs. We also used the ATI like the RNs, which has a comprehensive final that we must earn a certain percentile ranking to pass the program. We had to earn a 77% to pass our classes (no different from my RN classes), and they were intensive. I think to give such a broad generalization about LPN schools needing to raise their standards is a little flawed, personally. I hear that some schools are not even accredited, often have outrageous tuition rates, and classes don't even transfer to other colleges...these are some of the "red flag" schools that probably aren't doing anyone a favor. But, I do think there are some very solid, well-established schools out there.
My program cost me around $5000 in total, and I'm going to be working 1.5 years in the role of an LPN, gaining valuable experience and earning an income that comfortably pays my LPN year, RN program ahead, and living expenses nicely. Most importantly, though, is the experience. I learned SO much in my LPN program, and I know that when I'm in the role of RN, I will at least have the concept of having an open mind/being without prejudgement or labeling (so important for mastering "critical thinking") down pat!
I was fortunate to go to a very good LPN program, which actually set higher standards than the local CC RN program. Most of the instructors had in fact graduated from this same CC, so they incorporated their RN training into our program. I had a doctor compliment me on my nursing training. It really depends on the LPN/LVN program you attended, the CC or University you want to attend, and, ultimately, your goal in life. I'm doing Excelsior College. I have learned more at EC than my local CC. There are many very good RN programs in NJ, and many fine nurses graduating from them. I'm actually looking at things differently since commencing my RN training. Again, there is the good, the bad and the in between, in nursing school as in all other schools. Any training I get makes me a better nurse, and ultimately, giving good care, no matter what your title, is the goal.
i'm a new graduate of an lpn program and honestly i dont care how much credit others give me for my work accomplished. I understand being frustrated by it though
SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN
10,263 Posts
I sounds as if this program knowcks off a few semesters if you test out. That's worth a $750 investment.