LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degrees
Many Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) choose to continue their education and pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) and a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Since LPNs already have nursing training, they can obtain their bachelor's degree in less time than those who don't have any medical training. They can see their salary increase substantially as a result of this higher level of education and advanced license.The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) designation is equivalent to an LPN; the content of this article is applicable to both designations.
The projected demand for nurses in the next decade is high and those who earn a bachelor's degree in nursing will have a wider range of job opportunities and significantly higher salaries. BSN degree holders can work in a greater variety of patient settings, work more independently and earn higher salaries than either LPNs or RNs who do not have a bachelor's degree.
Program Options
LPN to BSN programs vary greatly in their content, prerequisites and time to completion. Additionally, since not all LPNs have the same educational background, the amount of time it takes to complete an LPN to BSN program varies by person. Some programs require students take a number of prerequisite classes before entering the nursing program while others incorporate lower-level courses into the program.
When comparing programs, it is important to look at the prerequisite courses and not just the number of semesters required in the program. The number of semesters in the program can be very misleading since it may not be inclusive of all coursework a student will need to take. However, most programs will give credit for college coursework completed previously with a minimum grade point average and some will also give credit for passing subject examinations in nursing topics.
Schools
Many nursing schools including a number of online schools offer LPN to BSN programs. Most programs give credit to LPNs for prior experience and training by having them take proficiency exams. They typically also give credit for college coursework already completed, but nursing courses have to have been taken within recent years. Some programs are designed so that students can continue working for at least some of the program.
Coursework
LP to BSN students may have taken foundation courses in anatomy, psychology and biology in their LPN program. If not, they typically need to take them as prerequisites before starting their core BSN program. Some of the courses students typically take once in the program are described below:
- Health Assessment – Students learn skills to assess the health of an adult patient including conducting a physical exam, gathering health history, patient interviewing, diagnostic testing and integration of all sources of data for a comprehensive view.
- Pediatric Nursing – This course teaches nursing students about the care of patients from infancy through adolescence and includes physiological, developmental and psychological topics.
- Palliative Nursing Care – Students learn to care for individuals at the end of life. Subject matters include understanding physiological, psychological, spiritual and community/family factors with an emphasis on communication skills.
- Medical-Surgical Nursing - This courses includes studies in the care of patients who are preparing to undergo surgery or have undergone surgery. Pain management, administration of fluids and medications, psychological and physiological factors and recovery steps are covered.
- Nutrition - Topics covered in this course include how major nutrients affect body systems and how dietary changes can affect a person's health.
- Pharmacology – Coursework develops student's knowledge of drug classifications, effects of each classification on the body systems, side effects, drug monitoring, safety issues and drug interactions.
Admission Requirements
To be accepted into an LPN to BSN program, one must have a current LPN license and have completed an accredited LPN program. Some programs may have additional requirements such as minimum grade point averages, minimum SAT scores and a minimum number of years of nursing experience.
Career Options
Registered Nurses with a BSN degree can work in hospitals as well as in a variety of other settings such as nursing homes, out-patient surgery centers and doctor's offices. They can also work as visiting nurses in patient's homes.
Related Nursing Programs
Other types of nursing programs available to an LPN are listed below:
- Associates Degree RN program – This is a two-year associate's degree program resulting an RN license.
- LPN to RN Bridge Program – This is the fastest way for an LPN to gain a RN license and also results in an Associate's degree in nursing.
- Traditional BSN program – These bachelor's degree programs are typically four years in length and result in an RN license and a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. An LPN may be able to transfer credits to shorten the length of the program.
How to Evaluate LPN to BSN Programs
Some factors that deserve consideration when choosing an LPN to BSN program are discussed below:
- Credits – Programs have varying rules about what credits can be transferred from an LPN program and whether students can take proficiency exams to bypass courses. These variances can amount to significant differences in the amount of time and money to complete the program.
- Prerequisites - The courses required before ever starting an LPN to BSN program vary widely so prospective students may want to compare the list of courses to those they have completed in the LPN program to minimize extra coursework.
- Waiting Lists - Unfortunately, waiting lists are common for nursing programs so prospective students may need to weigh the pros and cons of waiting to start a program versus selecting a less desirable program with no waiting list.
- Accreditation - Any nursing program under consideration should be accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Resources
National Student Nurses Association
American Association of Colleges of Nursing - Includes school and career information for nurses.
RN.org – Provides links to nursing boards and organizations.
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