Below is a list of all of the Online LPN to RN Programs we could find, from over 2,300 nursing schools across the US.
For Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) many opportunities for career advancement and increased earnings are opened up by enrolling in an LPN to Registered Nurse (RN)/Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. RNs are in greater demand than LPNs and can also work more independently. Going back to school after you've already entered the workforce can be trying though, so some support may be necessary to get over the hurdles and stresses of balancing both work and education. Increasingly, LPN to RN/BSN programs are moving to online models, and this format is often the most convenient and cost-effective for working LPNs.
Saving Time and Money with Online LPN to RN Programs
In the last several years, distance learning programs have sprung up just about everywhere, making higher education possible for LPNs who otherwise wouldn't have been able to pursue LPN licensing. The flexibility of taking classes at your home, whenever convenient, is particularly beneficial for those who have to juggle work and family or both while pursuing a degree. In addition, with an online program, your education doesn't need to be interrupted if you need to relocate either.
Close to Home Clinical Sites
The fact that clinical courses can be taken close to home is a timesaver for both students and schools. It works well because local clinicians are able to arrange clinical sites with students in their home areas. These adjunct or associate faculty members supervise students' clinical work and report progress to a course instructor. When a clinical site is a good fit for a student, it can translate into a job opportunity upon graduation – a win-win situation for students and facilities.
One downside of any online program is lack of face-to-face interaction with instructors and classmates. It's important to ask detailed questions about day-to-day involvement with faculty and peers in order to gain a clear sense of how you'll be spending your time. Since nursing is really all about people and being able to connect and provide therapeutic interventions, the face-time with peers, faculty, and patients is how much of the important therapeutic skill-building occurs. Though the online experience won't be exactly the same as on-campus education, there are online programs that do find innovative ways to still promote interaction within an LPN to RN program.
Physical campuses do have some advantages over strictly online "campuses." Some students become too distracted in their homes, so a true campus can help them focus by providing classrooms, libraries, skills labs, and computer labs. Other non-academic services may be available on a physical campus, too. Services and facilities like counseling and sports/recreation venues, respectively, can help keep students' lives balanced.
Spotlight on Indiana State University
Indiana State University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for Licensed Practical Nurses is a pioneering internet LPN to BSN bridge program. What's most helpful about the unique program is that your previous coursework can be transferred and applied as credit so you can complete your degree more quickly. At the end of the program, you'll be ready to take your RN licensing exam, and will be well on your way to new career opportunities.
