LVN to RN nursing schools prepare students to work as registered nurses.
Nursing schools offer LVN to RN bridge degrees, which certify licensed vocational or practical nurses as registered nurses. These nursing programs transfer LVN course credit, providing a fast-track RN option and often saving students tuition fees. LVN to RN degrees are offered by community or four-year colleges, hospital nursing schools and online universities. Salary increases of up to $25,000 provide financial incentive to LVNs looking to further their education and careers as RNs.
Prerequisites
Applicants to an LVN to RN degree program must be currently certified by their states as an LVN. Admission can be competitive, as noted by Mendocino College of California, which initiated a lottery system for qualified candidates. Therefore, good grades on your LVN coursework are important. Some nursing schools may also require at least one year of full-time LVN employment before admitting a student to an RN bridge program.
Education Providers
Aspiring RNs may choose a conventional nursing school or an online LVN to RN program, like the accredited programs provided by Indiana State University and The College Network. According to RNDegrees.net, tuition for an online LVN to RN degree may cost 50 percent less than a traditional nursing school or college program. The time needed to complete the LVN to RN bridge degree varies depending on the type of nursing school. Online programs can be completed in 12 months, whereas college schedules may require two to three years.
Coursework
Depending whether you enroll in a community college or four-year college for the LVN to RN degree, on completion you will receive either an associate or bachelor's degree of nursing. A bachelor's degree requires liberal arts and humanities classes in addition to the clinical RN coursework. Standard RN curricula include advanced medical and surgical nursing, nursing leadership, psychiatric nursing, pathophysiology and pharmacology classes, as well as clinical laboratory and practical nursing training.
Certification
Before practicing as an RN, all graduates of an LVN to RN bridge program must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Regulations regarding the licensing of RNs can vary from state to state; therefore, it is important to contact your state board of nursing to make sure you and your chosen nursing school meet all state requirements.
Career Benefits
LVN to RN nursing schools provide numerous career benefits to students. In addition to a salary boost of $15,000 to $25,000, RN certification allows a nurse to contribute more to the health care team. Not only are the technical, clinical and academic skills of RNs valued, but also they are looked to by other staff nurses as role models and department leaders. Earning RN certification also opens up further educational opportunities; RNs can specialize in a particular field, such as neonatal intensive care nursing or informatics, or pursue master's and advanced practice nursing degrees.
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