You can change the saying “Once an LPN is always an LPN” by taking a necessary step to proceed towards RN. The LPN to RN which is also called the ladder or the transition program is a common bridge program. These LPN to RN Bridge programs offer you the valuable training you were lacking to take your move one step forward to NCLEX-RN. This ladder program is designed to promote the LPN nurse to registered nurse. This course offers you the training of proper patient assessment and development of patient which also includes the direct clinical practices in different health facilities. It is a great career move for an LPN to become a registered nurse. Some colleges and Universities offer nursing program which directly takes an LPN at a sophomore level of nursing degree. You will higher responsibilities, higher salaries and more varieties of job opportunities after the completion of this bridge program. Nursing is a career field with high demand all around the nation. You can earn a bachelors degree in nursing and make an easy shift to a better paid career with the help of LPN to RN bridge programs.
Moreover, there are many benefits to be a RN after working some years as an LPN. The average salary of a RN is almost 30 percent higher than that of an LPN where a RN makes around $63,000 a year while an LPN only makes around $39,000 yearly. The job availability of registered nurses is supposed to increase by 22% by 2018 which means there will be more job opportunities for you after graduating as a RN. RPNs are involved in the treatment process than the LPNs. While LPNs assist the patients the RNs assist doctors in the treatments of sick and injured people.
LPN to RN Programs
You already have some sort of working experience with since you an LPN and it’s you who knows when you are ready to get into the next step of you career which is to be a RN. The career in LPN isn’t that bad but if you continue your study and get a RN degree you will have more earning potential. All you need to do is, take some classes and pass the National Council licensure examination to be a Registered Nurse. You will be capable to offer a greater depth and variety of care to the patients after becoming a RN. You will even have the responsibility of managing CNAs, LPNs, interns who work under you. You might also be in charge of certain patients and work closely along with doctors, physicians, and other specialists. You will also be responsible for giving some emergency treatment in a hospital. In nursing homes and other health facilities you will also be managing the cases and offering some medical advices. After getting some years experience in RN you can also be an instructor of CNAs. Hence there is no limit in the diversity of job offerings for RNs.
There are many ways to move your career towards RN. In order to be eligible for NCLEX test you need to at least get an associate’s degree. The other way to be eligible is by participating in hospital sponsored RN development programs. The other way is to get a 4 year nursing program from a University and sit in a NCLEX test which is quite expensive. So, the best way to be a RN is by joining LPN to RN programs.
LPN v/s RN
First of all the LPN is not a degree. It is just an entry level licensure while a RN is a degree program. The major differences between these two awesome medical career programs include the responsibilities, salary, career advancement, and nursing practices. Some of the major differences of License Practical Nurse and Registered Nurse are listed below:-
- LPNs offer much of the hands on patient care that most of us are familiar with while RNs have complex training with higher responsibilities of patients
- RNs have more varieties of career options than that of LPNs.
- To become a RN you need to pass NCLEX-RN test while you can be an LPN just after passing NCLLEX-PN.
- You will need 2 to 4 years to complete a degree in RN while you can complete the LPN classes in a year.
- Registered Nurses can even supervise the LPNs.
- The registered nurses are paid way higher than the LPNs. The average salary of a RN is around 63,000 USD while the median salary for an LPN is around $39,000.
- The registered nurses can take some independent decisions while the LPNs cannot make any decision before consulting the RNs or doctors.
Education Requirements for LPN to RN programs
One of the major differences between these two career prospects is that a RN needs to have substantial amount of education than that of LPNs. LPNs need to take go to school for 2 to 3 years to become a RN. Most students either take an associate’s degree in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The associate degree is of 2 years while a bachelor’s degree takes 4 years to complete. You need to have a high school diploma or at least a GED in order to enroll in a nursing class. Sometimes you might also need to pass the National League for Nursing Exam before being accepted in a school. There are different flexible schedules for nursing programs. They offer classes during day, night, part time full time, and weekend. You can continue your LPN job and still complete the RN degree with this flexible schedule.
In a nutshell, the major medical educations of RNs and LPNs are closely, or almost same. It is usually seen as the patients are safer under RNs than the LPNs but this has no evidence to it. However, it is know that the LPNs work under the supervision of RNs. RNs usually have a more diverse career options than that of LPNs and the RPNs are also paid much more than the LPNs. So, it is always a good thing to upgrade from a LPN to a RN and get a higher paid job in this high demand career field.
