Enrolling in a licensed BSN program is a natural progression for many LPN’s looking to advance their nursing career. While working as a practical nurse is a great starting point in the health care industry, registered nurses are eligible for advancement opportunities and significantly higher income levels. Many LPN’s choose to pursue additional training to obtain a BSN while continuing to work as a licensed practical nurse.
Students who are not licensed nurses can attend a basic licensed BSN program that will take four years to complete. The class sequence requirements for the basic BSN program are 6 semesters of full time course work, equivalent to 3 academic class years, or 8 semesters of part time course work. The LPN to BSN bridge program allows LPN’s to matriculate any formal training acquired during LPN courses, which will count towards the BSN degree.
The courses offered to LPN’s are designed to build on previous nursing experience and eliminating unnecessary classes and clinical studies. Classes include pharmacology, advanced clinical nursing, acute and chronic health care, pediatric nursing, public health and geriatric nursing. The class sequence requirements for the LPN to BSN bridge program are 5 semesters of full time course work, equivalent to 2.5 academic class years.
After acquiring the BSN degree, passing a national standardized nursing test will be required in order to obtain licensure to become a registered nurse. For those RN’s who are AND-prepared and would like to earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree, there is the RN to BSN bridge program.
Licensed practical nurses who enroll in a BSN bridge program are often pleased with the greater career potential that accompanies a BSN degree. Specialized, advanced training in a licensed BSN program allows nurses the advantage of pursuing their choice of specialties in the medical field with less limitations than a general LPN.
After completing a licensed BSN program, students can pursue a career as a registered nurse in hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, long term health care facilities and in-home health care.