There are a number of LPN to RN programs available at numerous online colleges, and while you may be carefully contemplating your decision to go back to school and become an RN, choosing a program your ideal program requires careful consideration. As with all things in life where unlimited options are available, there are advantages and drawbacks to each RN program. Below we’ll take a close look at some of the major factors involved with deciding on the program that will best meet your needs.
Experienced Faculty
Depending on whether you’re attending an LPN to RN program on campus, or strictly online, your instructors should be authorities on the subjects they teach. That means they should have experience working as nurses, or at least another type of healthcare related position. When researching various nursing schools be sure to interview your instructors if possible, and ensure that they are qualified to teach on the subject matter you will be studying. Oftentimes the program website will have a page detailing the credentials of their professors which will include a brief career history and profile. Otherwise you can simply contact the school to inquire about your instructor’s credentials.
Accreditation
One of the most important factors to consider when evaluating nursing schools is whether or not they are accredited. The primary reason for this is that some employers will require this of their job applicants is an initial filter to weed out a good percentage of them right out of the gate. So the simple step of making sure your nursing school is accredited will save you from having to overcome this potential obstacle. Accredited schools usually require more of their students, and healthcare employers know this. Unfortunately, in an ever growing commercial economy, many institutions act as diploma mills and simply offer a certification in exchange for tuition with hardly any time investment or knowledge acquired by the student. Of course not all non-accredited programs are like that, but if you’d like to work in the medical field, and education from an accredited institution is essential, otherwise one may not qualify for a license. Also, if you are in need of financial aid, many scholarships and grants will require an accredited school.
Hands-On Training
Work in the medical field is very hands-on, so it follows that students should learn the same way. Be sure to research the clinical training requirements for RN programs you’re considering, and what kind of hands-on training will be available. Be sure the school has partnerships with local hospitals that offer their facilities during the clinical portion of the training. Most of the top LPN to RN programs available offer a significant amount of hands-on training in addition to lectures and reading material. So unless this is the case, is probably not one of the top LPN to RN schools online.
Modern Equipment
If you’re an LPN, you most likely know the ins and outs of nursing, however as industry progresses, new treatments, equipment, and techniques arrive every day it seems. The best nursing programs available are quick to adapt, and don’t shy away from these new technologies.
NCLEX-RN Preperation
Lastly, your program of choice should provide ample preparation for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Does the program you’ve chosen offer this? You will need at least a 2.5 GPA in addition to passing the test. Students shouldn’t necessarily have to study throughout the whole semester for the NCLEX-RN, however there should be some attention put toward it during the last few weeks. The school should also help you with your other qualifications to become an RN. Examples include completing the Nursing and Allied Health Application.
The LPN profession should be considered a stepping stone for any aspiring nurse as it has several limitations. After some additional training, help the ends can advance to become a registered nurse which offers opportunities not available to the LPN, such as, many more job opportunities and of course higher wages. But when researching LPN to RN programs, the above considerations should not be ignored. For more information be sure to visit our LPN vs RN page, which discusses many more benefits to advancing your nursing career.
