LPN Programs

LPN RN Bridge Programs

LPN RN Bridge Programs - What You Must Know


LPN RN bridge programs are designed for people who have completed the LPN (licensed practical nursing) course and want to complete the nursing program by becoming an RN (registered nurse). For states that use the term "LVN," or "licensed vocational nurse," the training course is also offered.

Becoming an RN

An LPN has a good background to become an RN. Sticking with LPN can still let you work in the health care environment, but you are, of course, stuck to being an LPN. This is not to degrade the LPNs and their roles in health care, but an RN does get more respect and more money.

There are plenty of schools offering LPN RN bridge programs. All you need to do is look for one that can accommodate your available hours and accept the credits that you had already earned. Choosing the right school is important as this will determine how you learn the course and whether hospitals will give you priority over other applicants.

It is important that the school where you will receive training is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, which is located in New York. Only graduates from accredited schools will be honored for the NCLEX-RN exam, so beware of schools that are not accredited. Your ultimate goal is to become an RN and serve a good hospital, so pick the school carefully.

A bridge program is helpful to those people who want a degree in associate nursing and take the RN licensure examination. The LPN RN bridge programs are essential because a full BSN course will take long (4 years) to finish, but because LPNs already have practical knowledge, the road to become an RN is shorter. Also, the demand for RNs is quite high, so by finishing the course and becoming an RN in a short time, you can fill in the demand and help the country's health field.

Help in the Program

Nursing education, even LPN RN bridge programs, is expensive. Therefore, you will need the hospital that you are working on as your reference for obtaining scholarships to help fund the training program. Therefore, it is good to inform the hospital administration that you are going to join the program. This can actually add more benefits to you because the hospital may arrange your schedule to accommodate the training program. Also, there are hospitals that have their own scholarship programs for their own workers.

Requirements and Benefits

LPNs who wish to enroll in the bridge program must have credits in psychology, physiology, anatomy, and basic English. There are schools that require more course credits; therefore, check with the school before enrolling and make sure that you take the required pre-requisites.

LPN RN bridge programs have a lot of benefits including brief training necessary to achieve your RN goal. Also, you can learn and enhance your skills to help you with your job. You may also proceed to get a BSN degree, but you have to inform the school of such plan so that the courses or subjects that you will take will those geared towards the bachelor's degree.