How Exactly Do LPN to RN Bridge Programs Work?

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One of the fastest ways to start working in the nursing field is to become a licensed practical nurse, or LPN. The education required for licensing as an LPN only takes about a year, but your job options and salary are limited if you remain working at this nursing level. Becoming a registered nurse, or RN, typically takes two to four years, but if you’re already an LPN, you can join an LPN to RN bridge program to save time and money.

LPN to RN bridge programs build upon the skills you already have as a nurse or even a paramedic, which is why they don’t take as long as typical RN programs, which teach students who have no experience with nursing. The exact length of the LPN to RN bridge program depends on the end degree you hope to achieve. As an RN, you can get an associate’s degree, which takes about a year with an LPN to RN bridge program, or you can get a bachelor’s degree, which takes two and a half to three years with an LPN to RN bridge program.

In order to apply to an LPN to RN bridge program, you have to show that you have your LPN license, which requires you to graduate from an accredited LPN program. Some programs also require that you have a certain number of months experience in the work force.

LPN to RN bridge programs save you both time and money. Since you already have a base of knowledge, you don’t have to start from the beginning with your education. The best part of saving time is being able to also save money. You’ll pay tuition and other fees every month you’re in school, so by cutting a year or more from you education, you can save a significant amount of money. Since you’re already working as an LPN, you may also qualify for money for your education from your employer. Many hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities pay for their nurses to go back to school.

Don’t forget that an LPN to RN bridge program’s time-saving characteristic will also allow you to get your RN license more quickly. As soon as you’re officially an RN, you’ll start making more money. This is especially important if you continue to work as an LPN while you go to school. Usually, being a part-time student means that it takes a long time to reach your educational goals, so bridge programs put you on the fast track to becoming an RN.

Upon graduation from an LPN to RN bridge program, you’ll have to take the national licensing exam and meet your state’s requirements to begin working as an RN. Most programs fully prepare you to the exam, and some even provide students with additional study help through career services, student groups, alumni associations, and more.

Don’t forget – if you go through an LPN to RN course, you can then consider taking the next step to get your master’s degree, which allows you to work as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, or nurse midwife. You can even get a doctorate in nursing to work in the most advanced nursing positions – but it all starts with becoming an RN.

LPN to RN College Programs

While several schools have online nursing degrees available, few offer LPN to RN programs. What's the good news? We have listed some accredited schools below that do offer the program in addition to schools with other bridge programs available. Find out more information and contact each school by using any of the links below.

Indiana State University—Indiana State University offers a robust online program designed for LPNs wanting to become registered nurses and earn their BSN degree. Since ISU's credits transfer to over 80 campus majors, this is an ideal program for people wanting to open opportunities for their career down the road.

The College Network—The College Network is a partnership with several universities and organizations like the National League for Nursing that focuses on online education and programs, with several courses for nurses or those interested in a nursing career. Specifically, TCN helps students prepare for their PN and RN licensures and move on to earn graduate degrees.

Other Nursing Degrees

Walden University—Walden University is typically a graduate school with several masters and doctoral programs available, but they do have BSN and RN to MSN bridge programs available. Walden is based out of Minneapolis and offers several options in transferring your previously earned credits to and from (or even within) the school.

Kaplan University—Kaplan University is one of the nation's largest and leading online educators and offers several bridge programs for registered nurses to earn their BSN or MSN degree. If you have previously earned credits, Kaplan makes it easy for you to transfer to any one of their undergraduate or graduate programs.

Herzing University—While Herzing University does not offer an undergraduate nursing degree, it is a great choice for working nurses wanting to pursue leadership positions in Nurse Education or Management. With over 10 campuses and 45 online programs available, Herzing has a massive network that makes it easy to transfer to or from the school.

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