To be eligible for an LPN RN bridge program, you have to complete a few admission requirements. It depends a lot on the school of your choice. In most cases, you have to pass the college or university’s qualifications first, and be eligible for its nursing department. Most of them require applicants to pass a pre-admission test that usually consists of basic reading, writing, math and science. Failing this exam will forfeit your ability to apply in 1 to 3 years.
Other requirements that are necessary for admission to an LPN RN bridge program are a practical nursing certificate and an LPN licensure. These documents may still vary from state to state.
An LPN RN bridge program is designed to promote the career advancement of licensed practical nurses. It provides an option to complete an associate nursing degree in one calendar year and full bachelor’s degree in less than four years. LPN certificate holders are allowed entry to a full nursing course by letting the LPN training replace the first two semesters of the program through an LPN-RN articulation plan. This means that an LPN graduate only need to take courses that will preempt transition to a higher degree. After garnering credits for the courses, the LPN student is admitted to the sophomore nursing class. It has to be noted that the courses for the articulation plan also depends on the school. It is best if applicants should go directly to the office of the school’s registrar or the nursing department to find out more about their LPN RN bridge program.
However, there are courses that you must complete before you are allowed admission to an LPN RN bridge program. Some schools give interested applicants the option to complete the credits for the course by taking an exam. This is specifically preferred by LPN practitioners who don’t have the time to take another course. Instead, they just have to take an additional examination before admission.
Those who are practicing as LPN may opt for an online LPN RN bridge program. It is a good way to finish a registered nursing degree without affecting your current workload. The coursework are usually delivered online so that students no longer need to attend school. The only time they need to spend outside is when fulfilling clinical requirements. Some schools, however, require students to have their clinical training in an affiliate health care facility. You must check this with the admission staff if it is somewhat an issue to you.
LPN students who will be admitted for the bridge program are selected based on their previous grade point average; pre-admission test; SAT/ACT scores; overall transcript of records and completed coursework; performance in math, science and English; and an interview with a panel of nursing faculty. Most of the time, admitted students are not selected based on their grades but on their ranking. However, those who have failed the admission test are most likely dropped from the list.
Those who are interested to take an LPN RN bridge program are discouraged from working any more than 20 hours a week. The courses require every student to prepare for the class, read textbooks and submit assignments and care plans on time. There are no special treatments given to working students. Aside from that, students should also allot time for at least two shifts of clinical training and time to perform service learning.