"What's the Difference Between............"

U.S.A. Texas

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What's the difference between getting your RN through a University or through an on-line course? I am entering my third level at Concorde in Arlington to get my LVN. I want to start getting ready to bridge but don't know the best way?????

I have heard that the only schools that are "accredited" for Texas have to be "Excelsior" schools, but not even sure what that means.

I would appreciate any information including web sites that anyone could offer. By the way, I am new to allnurses so still trying to figure it all out.

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Read the following thread on the many LVN-to-RN bridge programs in and around the Dallas area.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f175/searching-lvn-rn-bridge-program-tx-125709.html

I personally wouldn't do the LVN-to-RN bridge program online, but it's ultimately your choice. Excelsior is just one of many acceptable online RN schools; however, that school is not accepted by every state's Board of Nursing.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

You will likely have a hard time getting any of your coursework recognized for transfer out of Concorde. It isn't an accredited school.

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You will likely have a hard time getting any of your coursework recognized for transfer out of Concorde. It isn't an accredited school.

Your work won't be recognized as college credit at Concorde, meaning you are going to have to do all the prereq's for RN school, but if you do the bridge program your nursing school time is only one year as an LVN. Concorde is an approved vocational nursing school by the Texas BNE, so if that's what you mean by being accredited....

ftp://www.bne.state.tx.us/vnschools.pdf

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Right - the college credit issue. I know the BNE recognizes the graduates of the program as eligible to sit for the exam and apply for licensure.

What is a shame about some of these unaccredited programs is that they are expensive and they take as much time and effort as going to an accredited school but then the credits don't transfer.

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Good to know! I really appreciate the info.

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I already have my BA in Business, and will sit for the boards for my LVN in July, but just trying to figure out the least expensive way to bridge and the best, most recognized way.

Thanks for your advice.

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Right - the college credit issue. I know the BNE recognizes the graduates of the program as eligible to sit for the exam and apply for licensure.

What is a shame about some of these unaccredited programs is that they are expensive and they take as much time and effort as going to an accredited school but then the credits don't transfer.

You're really talking about two different things.

Regarding LVN credit transfers, accreditation is not the issue here.

Whether you get your RN through Excelsior or a community college in TX, LVN credits, for the most part do not transfer.

That is because they are considered to be vocational/technical credits, not actual college hour credits.

Even RN's bridging into BSN programs have the same issues.

Here's how it usually works:

An LVN takes the "bridge" course to the ADN-RN program. Once they pass that class, the school may award a certain number of credits to the LVN, then the LVN continues on into year two with the other ADN students.

As an RN, none of your RN specific classes may transfer into your BSN program. Classes that have prefixes such as RNSG, NSG, etc. will not transfer. The RN takes the a certain number of credit hours and after passing the course or courses, the school grants the RN a specific number of credits in recognition of their previous RN coursework.

As an example, I took nutrition in my LVN program, but the class was called PRNS 1322 because it was part of a practical/vocational nursing program.

It did not transfer into my BSN program because of this, and I had to take nutrition again as a biology course, the way it is classified at most colleges, and the class is called BIOL 1322.

It was literally the same class, but the university wouldn't grant me transfer credits for it because it was a "nursing" class as part of an LPN/LVN program and not a "science" course carrying actual college hours.

Excelsior operates the same way. You don't get automatic transfer credits from LPN/LVN programs. The way that it is worded is that you "convert" LPN/LVN coursework into ADN RN coursework by passing their nursing exams.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Some schools do allow you to transfer credits - just not from unaccredited schools. It really depends on where you go.

For instance - the college I went to for my BS transferred your AD RN work as credit for comparable courses. Save me from having to test out of or take an entire year of classes.

Also - the other basics such as English, Speech and nutrition - which they sometime will make you take at a vo-tech school are not transferrable unless they are taken at an accredited college - and yes some schools WILL take them.

In addition some LVN to RN bridge programs will take your LVN credits as credit for comparable courses - but generally only if they are from an accredited school. - others may accept your LVN license as same.

Just check around and see what is available. Thats about all you can do.

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