Many people decide to make the LPN to RN career change because a nursing career allows them to use their healthcare experience, have higher earning potential, and advance their careers. To transition, you must earn a nursing degree, pass the NCLEX, and register with your state’s board of nursing.
For many, becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN) is an entry point to working in healthcare. As an LPN, you monitor patients, assist registered nurses (RNs), and provide basic patient care; however, it’s natural to want to advance your career. Many LPNs decide to become RNs to leverage their experience, broaden their scope of practice, and earn more money.
To make the LPN to RN career change, you must earn a nursing degree, pass the NCLEX-RN licensing exam, and register with the board of nursing in the state where you will practice as a nurse.
You can make this transition fast at the University of Mount Saint Vincent if you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Through the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, you can earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in nursing in as few as 16 months.
Benefits of Advancing Your Nursing Credentials
Transitioning from LPN to RN has many career benefits. As an RN, you will experience:
- Higher earning potential: Nurses earn more than LPNs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2024 national RN median salary was $93,600, while the national LPN median salary was $62,340.
- Higher demand: While healthcare jobs are generally in high demand, RN employment is expected to grow considerably due to the increased needs of an aging population. According to the BLS, RN employment is projected to grow 6% between 2023 and 2033, while LPNs are projected to grow 3%.
- Broader scope of practice: RNs can provide a greater variety of patient care than LPNs, allowing them to play a more active role in treatment and forge closer bonds with patients.
- Greater autonomy: While RNs must follow physicians’ treatment plans, they do not require the same level of supervision by other healthcare providers as LPNs.
What do nurses do? Learn more about the essential role nurses play in healthcare.
How Long Does It Take to Become an RN?
How long does it take to go from LPN to RN? The timeline varies depending on your educational background. If you do not have college experience, you can enroll in an associate degree in nursing (ADN) program, which takes two years to complete, or a traditional BS in nursing program, which can take four years.
If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, an accelerated BS in nursing program is the fastest way to earn a bachelor’s degree and embark on a nursing career. At Mount Saint Vincent, ABSN students can earn a BS in nursing in as few as 16 months, faster than an ADN program.
Educational Pathways to RN Licensure
You must first earn an ADN or a BS in nursing and pass the NCLEX to obtain an RN license. While both degrees set you on the path toward becoming a nurse, there are many benefits to having a BS in nursing not seen with an ADN.
A BS in nursing education has been shown to better prepare nurses for various complex clinical scenarios and exercise critical thinking, leadership, and health promotion skills. Studies have also revealed a link between baccalaureate-prepared nurses and high rates of positive patient outcomes. As a result, many employers express a preference for hiring nurses with a BS in nursing.
Accelerated BS in Nursing Programs
If you already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you can quickly transition from an LPN to an RN through an accelerated BS in nursing program. Mount Saint Vincent’s ABSN program offers the same quality and rigor as expected from a traditional baccalaureate-level program on an accelerated timeline.
The ABSN program builds on the foundation established by students’ non-nursing bachelor’s degrees and ABSN prerequisite requirements. This allows students to focus on the nursing curriculum throughout the program and graduate with a BS in nursing in as few as 16 months.
In the ABSN program, students participate in:
- Nursing Coursework: Nursing theory coursework establishes the knowledge base students need to develop nursing skills and clinical judgment.
- Nursing Labs: Nursing skills and simulation labs work in tandem to help students build confidence in providing patient care. In a simulated setting, students learn essential nursing skills, such as nasogastric intubation, and collaborate to navigate mock clinical scenarios.
- Clinical Rotations: Clinicals allow students to gain real-world patient care experience by working in healthcare facilities throughout New York City. Students will work under close supervision as they provide direct patient care and learn what it is like to work as an RN.
Role of the State Board of Nursing
Your state’s board of nursing plays an essential role in your journey to licensure. The regulatory board issues nursing licenses and establishes policies to ensure nurses deliver safe patient care. They also review nursing programs to ensure schools provide an education that meets quality standards.
Approval by the state board of nursing indicates that a program meets the standards for a comprehensive nursing education, preparing students to provide safe patient care.
You must enroll in an accredited program to qualify for the licensing exam. Mount Saint Vincent’s accelerated BS in nursing program is approved by the New York State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Once you pass the NCLEX, you can register with the board of nursing in the state where you will practice.
RN Specializations and Career Opportunities
Transitioning from LPN to RN opens more career opportunities. As an RN, you can specialize in many areas of nursing, allowing you to focus on specific medical conditions, patient populations, or both. For example, you can specialize in:
- Mental and behavioral health
- Obstetrics, caring for women during the pregnancy and postpartum periods
- Pediatric oncology nursing, caring for children with cancer
You will also have many career advancement opportunities. For example, you could assume leadership positions, such as becoming a nurse manager and overseeing the nursing staff and patient care quality.
You could also return to school to earn a graduate degree and become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). APRNs provide advanced patient care and can work independently. There are several types of APRNs, including nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and certified nurse anesthetists.
Nurse practitioners are in high demand. Learn how an ABSN program can be your first step toward becoming a nurse practitioner.
Start Your Nursing Journey at the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Making the LPN to RN career change broadens your scope of practice and autonomy, increases your earning potential, and sets you up for greater career advancement. Mount Saint Vincent can help make it happen.
Through the ABSN program, you will take the first step toward becoming a nurse by earning a BS in nursing in as few as 16 months. Through comprehensive nursing coursework, skills and simulation labs, and clinical rotations, you will develop the skills and nursing foundation needed to take the NCLEX and launch your RN career.
Contact an admission counselor today to learn how you can earn a BS in nursing with Mount Saint Vincent.