Anyone gone from LPN to RN?

Posts: 1 · Joined: 06 Aug 2005 Posts: 1 Location: st. joseph

If you really want to go from LPN to RN. Go for it. It will be hard but at the end it will be worth it. I know of company that is home based program. There will sent you your course information and you have to go to test center to take your exams. Then once you are finished with the classroom you have one weekend to do your clinicals. I hope this information will help you. Smile

Posts: 1 · Joined: 06 Aug 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Tacoma WA

I just finished a part-time program in the Tacoma area. It took me about 1 1/2 years to get my RN, but it was worth it and I now work in the local NICU's. If you have a dream to become a RN, don't let anyone nay say you. It can be done, no it isn't easy and yes you can do it while working and raising a family Laughing

, I did and so did a lot of my classmates. By the way we were all LPN's.

Now to answer some of your questions. My school was both the old brick and morter and online. We had assignments that we turned in online. We physically went to the classroom once a week one term and then twice a week to clinicals the next term. This left you with plenty of time to get your assignments done and to work part or fulltime.

Both Boards are hard, study, study study....and then study some more. Our class had a 100% pass rate, we did study groups and on your own. The important thing is not so much the answer, but the why of that answer.

I didn't work in the same place, however some of the girls in my class do. They face those issues head on, one thing you can do is ask for the workplace to give you an orientation period with one of your co-workers and see if that helps it did my classmates.

Any other questions? I would be happy to help.

Posts: 2 · Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Florida

I am currently taking correspondence courses through Excelsior College. I've been an LPN for 10 years and ended up w/ a back injury (not nursing related!) that has me out of work for approx. 8-10 months, so I thought I'd use my time wisely. There is a book recommended to me by the college called LPN to RN Transition. It gives you info on how to get yourself back into the swing of things and then what to expect once you finish your degree. Yes, a traditional university would be easier I believe, but if you have the determination and ability to take the time to study, do your thing....GOOD LUCK!

Posts: 2 · Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Burke, Va

HI,

This is my first time posting here. It is nice to meet you, sort of. Smile

I was an LPN for 5 years when I returned to get my RN at Northern Virginia Community College. We were given 7 quarter credits for our previous LPN training.

I was married, working and had 2 kids, so time was limited. To gain the core credits I needed, the first thing I did was to take the Clep exam in College English. I got a perfect score for that, then took college math, passed that test by the skin of my teeth. I then signed up for weekend classes where I completed one year of credits in psych and sociology. I also took "exteneded learning classes" to fill one credit requirements like PE credits and library skills for freshman. So, it took me only one year and one semester to graduate.

I found clinicals to be so simple that we LPN's had to find things to do. We were always done with our assignments long before the generic students. Nursing classes were much easier, too.

I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 9.86 average.

The boards were so easy, that I thought I must have failed. But, I passed it no problems.

If you are thinking of going for it and it means a lot to you to do it, then go for it. If it is what you really want. One tip, though, keep quiet about being and LPN unless asked directly. Some instructors do not like LPN's and will give you the hardest patients and grade you harder than generic students. If they ask you admit, just don't flaunt it.

Good luck. You will make it.

Nurseangel18

Posts: 12 · Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 12

I got my RN degree from Regents (now called Excelisor) after being an LPN for 5 years. I did not find the courses that challenging due to having worked med/surg and as most of us know LPN's in small hospitals do almost everything that the RN's do. I got the same money when I graduated and I didnt fell as stressed as I would having to find time for the brick school

Posts: 2 · Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 2 Location: NY

The Absolute best of wishes to all of you who are trying to enhance your education. It will ony enhance the field of nursing...nursing should have the most educated people that it can afford, taking care of people. Teachers are required to have a masters degree because it has been shown to be effective in teacing I beleve the same about nursing... Maybe then we will get the same retierment benefits....

Posts: 2 · Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Burke, Va

What benefits? About the only benefits we get is a plaque and a gold plated watch. However, we can get a private room if we are hospitalized.

I think that we should have all levels of Nursing. LPN's can take the weight off of the ADN nurse, so she can handle the sicker patients, BSN's would handle sickest patients and MSN or above would be teachers and administrators.

We need to keep LPN's and stop using Med techs who have only a few weeks training to learn to start IV's and, in some facilities, they can give meds without even knowing what they are giving, why and side effects, etc. I find this very disturbing.

Peace,

NurseAngel18