Going From RN to BSN or LPN to RN

Return to:Going From an RN to a BSN.--Becoming a nurse

Nursing is a rewarding, yet demanding career. Nursing programs fill up quickly in colleges across the country. For this reason some people opt for the newly expanding online nursing degrees. The flexibility these afford allow a nursing student to continue to work while advancing their degree.

Becoming a nurse / Recommendations for nursing students
Surviving Nursing School, Why I Became a Nurse and Recommendation for Nursing Students

Five essential steps for choosing an online nursing school.
If you are an RN or LPN looking to continue your nursing education, choosing the right online nursing school is essential.

Classes in a RN to BSN program
Hopefully, your ADN program met all or most of the prerequisites but don't be surprised if you need to take a class or two before starting your RN to BSN program...

Online Nursing School Going From an RN to a BSN.

As a Registered Nurses you work long hours in stressful conditions. The thought of taking college courses to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing is too much for many nurses to consider. That is where online RN to BSN programs come in. These programs can be taken at the pace of the student and most allow a relaxed schedule so the reading and assignments can be done at the convenience of the student.

The big question is why BSN? The nature of medicine is constantly changing. As with any field, keeping up with the change is what keeps you ahead of the competition and nursing is a competitive field. The good jobs, with the best pay, are sought by everyone with the appropriate letters after their name (and a few who don’t.) Those with the most education and experience have a better chance of securing the more lucrative jobs and a BSN is often required for management positions

The trend in medicine toward more preventative measures and an overall wellness push is changing the nursing field. Nurses are still needed in hospitals but jobs in the community and wellness centers are becoming more prevalent. These positions require more of a holistic view of nursing and the community medicine model. An online RN to BSN program can give the needed extras that will boost chances to get these jobs.

Online nursing degree programs are available from numerous colleges. It is important to find an accredited program from an accredited college. When using a new degree to advance your career you want the degree to be recognized. There are many quality programs available for nurses looking for online RN to BSN education. To find quality programs sites such as Medi-smart.com can help find accredited programs for quality online nursing degree programs.

Whether looking to advance your career or start it an online RN to BSN education program can be an important tool. The ability to study at home on your own schedule with no pressures will increase the chances of success. One of the major reasons for students dropping classes or dropping out of degree programs is lack of time or inability to meet the schedule. Online nursing degree programs feature many of the benefits of classroom learning such as access to the instructor for questions via e-mail (and sometimes phone), a syllabus to follow, and some offer “classroom” discussions through forums or mailing lists. These programs are also great for those students who struggle with class participation and have difficulty learning in traditional classrooms. No one has to sit in the front or back of the class. The pace is set for each individual so no one is left behind or gets bored with the pace.

Online RN to BSN courses can help to advance your career while allowing you to continue to work full time. The flexibility of online nursing degree programs lets you schedule them at your convenience.

Benefits of Going From a LPN to a RN or BSN Through Online Courses

Whether you're starting your nursing education from scratch or currently an LPN (a licensed practical nurse with one year of education under your belt), you have a major decision to make concerning whether to become RN (registered nurse) and/or get your BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), or even continue your education at all, for that matter.. You're concerned about the time factor, and you already have a busy schedule to deal with without earning another degree on top of it all.

There are three different routes of becoming an RN that each prepare you for a different sector of the workplace. You can receive a two-year Associates Degree, a three-year Diploma, or go the full route of earning your BSN with a four-year degree in Science. With no experience under your belt at all (which is obviously not the case if you're an LPN), it usually takes four to five years to earn your BSN, but those who are LPNs have already completed some of the courses required, so it will take them considerably less time, depending on the courses they opt for and the program overall. The NCLEX Registered Nurse exam offers class credit for those who already have clinical experience and completed necessary coursework during while becoming LPNs. Chances are that if you're already a LPN, you don't have all the time in the world to attend classes, even during weekends or nights. Taking college courses Online to become an RN or BSN provides you with the ability to set your own working and studying schedule (within semester limits, of course). If you have a family, another job, or any other personal obligations to balance along with earning the new degree, Online courses allow you to successfully juggle these without as much stress as other, physical classes. Many Online programs offer an LPN to RN transition in only one calendar year, and many are are specifically oriented to LPN to RN or LPN to BSN transition. There are ways to receive credit for any necessary clinical experience received in your geographical area during the course of your studies, so location never poses a problem. Now you're convinced that getting your nursing degree Online is more time-savvy, but still wondering if it's really worth the hassle. Is the job market really that much different for RNs, with just a few more years of training? It's a whole other universe – in short, yes, yes, yes. RNs have exponentially more job opportunities than do LPNs. They can become legal nurse consultants, forensic nurse specialists, military and uniformed service nurses, geriatric and oncology nurses, and much more. There will be an estimated 800,000 RN shortage by the year 2020. Some hospitals are so desperate that they are even offering hefty sign-up bonuses for RNs – currently up to $14,000; who knows what higher bonuses the future will bring. As an LPN, your options are severely limited. You can take care of the sick, disabled, injured, and convalescent while working in conjunction with doctors and RNs, but you can only give the most basic care. As an RN, you can work in fields like trauma, rehabilitation, surgery, neuroscience, genetics, dermatology, psychiatric, plastic surgery, radiology, and transplant nursing – and that's just the beginning.

An RN makes an average of $13,000 more yearly than does an LPN – a huge salary boost. Those with BSNs have an even higher salary, since the degree equips them with the necessary skills and experience that employers prefer when hiring nurses for high-paying leadership positions. With a BSN, you are prepared to work not only in inpatient settings, like you are as an LPN, but also anywhere within the community.

The variety of career opportunity, higher salary, and great demand for RNs alone is a compelling reason to go from a LPN to a RN. Add the advantages of fitting a higher nursing degree smoothly into your schedule with no travelling or personal sacrifices involved, and LPN to RN Online courses unquestionably deserve serious consideration.