Why do LPN graduates have to wait a year to apply for their RN degree?

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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Hello, I was told that if I enter an LPN program, that I have to wait 12 months before I am eligible to apply for my RN degree? Why can't I work as an LPN nights and continue my education in Registered nursing during the day right after I graduate as an LPN if I chose that path?

Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

If you're in an LPN program, you get your LPN after passing the NCLEX-PN. Then you can enroll in an LPN to ASN/BSN transition program. You must complete that before you can take the NCLEX-RN which you need to become an RN. The length of time that it takes is however long it takes to get into the program, and then to finish the program. Yes you can work as an LPN while finishing your ASN/BSN.

"RN" and "LPN" are not degrees. You finish the LPN program and pass NCLEX-PN, and then you're an LPN.I think what you're looking at is a year (at least) in school to finish an LPN-to-RN program.

In answer to your question, of course you can pursue further education towards an ADN (or BSN) while working as an LPN after you pass NCLEX-PN. As long as it takes.

If, for example, Bippity-boppity-boo! Your fairy godmother magically speeds up time and you finish a whole ADN program in six weeks (with honors!:anpom: congratulations!) and then you pass NCLEX-RN right away, then you're an RN. Or it might take you two or three years. There's nothing magic about the 12 months, though.

Specializes in Emergency Department.

An LVN to RN bridge program that I'm (somewhat) familiar with generally requires that LVNs work at at least 6 months as an LVN before they are eligible to apply to the program. I think it's partly so that you have finished your orientation and are able to begin functioning on your own. I also think that an unspoken reason is to prevent LVN grads from from going immediately into the LVN-RN program and overloading the very few seats they have available. I figure that someone that's been working for a year may find it difficult to either quit or get their work schedule to accommodate the school schedule, which also would have the effect of slowing down LVN-RN program enrollment. They're not allowed to discontinue the program and they do need to be able to find sufficient seats for the students in the bridge class.

Thank you! I was really confused because I am not able to do the Registered Nursing program full-time in the morning because I work but there is an LPN program that has 3 nights 5-10pm and every other weekend for 18mths. I just wanted to be able to leave my current job after getting my LPN and work as an LPN nights. Then go to school for my LPN-BSN.

It depends on the program you choose. Do a little research for programs in your area that don't require you to work for a year. I graduated PN school this past December, and I've already started a bridge program which began in June. My graduation date is set for May 15, 2015. To answer your question, NO you do not have to work for a year in order to apply for a bridge program. Do research and ask questions, I'm sure you will find a program that fits your schedule.

Every program is different. I just graduated from LPN program in July and start the RN program August 18th. However, if a student has to repeat a PN course then they are required to work a full year as a LPN prior to applying for a seat in the RN program.

Sometimes it is better to seek information from program websites and actual program advisors so that one is not confused by a well-meaning person who is not clear in their explanations.

Another reason is that most diploma schools and AD RN degree programs want the applicant to have completed a certain number of prerequisite college courses before they apply, and some actually require the student to have ALL of the non-nursing coursework completed before they start RN classes. Generally they want A&P I&II, Sociology, English, and whatever else they defined as criteria for the competitive ranking of applicants. That's two terms just to get A&P done, and then nursing programs usually start in Fall term, so that's a year. The smart people get all of the non-nursing work out of the way first, so they can just concentrate on nursing. Since you know that's what you want, start knocking off the college gen-ed, math, and sciences.

But, sure all programs differ. Schools are free to set their own individual requirements. Here's a program in WV that doesn't have 1 year waiting, but you do need one semester of college work before you apply.

http://www.kvctc.edu/images/Academics/Nursing/LPNbridge.pdf

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