Online LPN to BSN Programs
LPN to BSN - What is it? Do you want to know more about taking these career enriching programs? This page provides resources and links for Licensed Practical Nurses.
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LPN to BSN - the next step after becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse |
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Why take an LPN to BSN?
Find a nursing program
and school near you
If you are a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), you may wish to upgrade to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Special programs have been created to help you do this - they are LPN to BSN programs and can be studied online. This page considers reasons for taking such programs and looks at LPN vs BSN qualifications in the nursing profession.
For an LPN nurse, there are several advantages to getting your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree if you have the time and money to do it.
Most LPN's take a BSN program in order to achieve a Registered Nurse (RN) certification.
But the BSN will also give you a solid foundation in the theory behind nursing and in how nursing practice fits into the overall environment of health care. This greater contextual understanding equips you to take on interesting work in emergency rooms, trauma units, or pediatrics, or even administrative jobs. Many of the best nursing jobs - specialties like Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA), Nurse Administrator, and so on - require a BSN degree or even a Masters degree as well.
And you can usually earn a higher salary after completing a BSN.
What is studied in the program?
Nurses who have their LPN license should have already taken courses in first aid, patient care, medical terminology, and medical equipment. An LPN to BSN Program extends this basic knowledge by combining general education, with science, nursing theory and clinical nursing. Typical courses might include: English and Communications; Introduction to Algebra; Psychology; Human Development; Sociology; Statistics; Microbiology; Anatomy; Physiology; Biochemistry; Gerontology; Nutrition Science; Nursing Science; Pharmacology; Professional Nurse Caring.
Earning a BSN will take two years for a nurse with an LPN license.
Taking the NCLEX to become a Registered Nurse
To become a Registered Nurse, you will have to pass a nursing certification exam - the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in the US and the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) in Canada. These exams test the knowledge and problem solving skills needed to provide adequate health care to patients and are needed in order to work in any health care facility.
Graduates of an LPN to BSN program are well prepared to take the NCLEX or the CRNE exams for Registered Nurses.
For more details read how to become an RN.
How much can you expect to earn after completing an LPN to BSN?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual earnings of registered nurses are over $57,000, whereas the median annual earnings of licensed practical nurses are over $36,000.
More information
After completing this program, you are encouraged to pursue graduate education as one means of lifelong learning.
If you don't find what you want here or want to make a comment, you can always discuss it in the Forum under the online LPN to BSN topic.
