Why Take Your LPN to RN Online
As a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), you already know a career in the medical field is right for you. If you are contemplating upgrading your LPN to RN online, reflect on the numerous aptitudes you possess from your LPN experience that are necessary to a RN:
- Sensitivity to others
- Active Listening
- Excellent oral communications
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking
- Good judgment
- Decision making skills
- Self-analysis of your performance
- Self-directed work as permitted by your LPN license.
In addition, consider the duties you perform:
- Provide basic medical care for others
- Monitor patients’ symptoms and conditions
- Administer medication
- Prepare patients for examinations
- Obtain information
- Maintain accurate patient records
- Develop interpersonal relationships with patients and co-workers
Taking your experience and training as an LPN to the next level as a Registered Nurse through an online degree program is a logical step for the following reasons:
Career Opportunities
As a RN, you will be involved in-depth with a patient’s treatment. RN’s are authorized to monitor all aspects of treatment, including ordering diagnostic tests, evaluation of symptoms, modification of treatment and counseling patients and their family members on a variety of issues, such as diet, physical activity, lifestyle adjustments, health management and disease prevention.
While a RN works in conjunction with a health care team, he or she has liberal autonomy in patient management. A RN often implements a care plan for the patient and may provide directions to and supervise a LPN.
A LPN is quite limited in career advancement. Other than employment setting, restrictions are universal. A RN, on the other hand, has extensive options available. While some RNs prefer to remain in a general nursing environment, many decide to specialize in a nursing field of particular interest.
A RN who thrives on a busy, diverse influx of patients excels in emergency care departments offering initial medical care to patients who are often in great distress. An emergency RN may be more inclined to favor trauma evaluation procedures than long term patient care.
Perioperative (or operating room) RNs assist surgeons during surgical procedures. This involves handing instruments to the surgeon and following instructions from the surgeon to perform tasks that enable the surgeon to conduct surgery.
Critical care RNs treat patients with life-threatening conditions. Extensive monitoring and exacting protocols are necessary in the management of critical care patients. Critical care RNs interact comprehensively with other team members.
Psychiatric RNs have unique challenges with patients who suffer from mood or personality disorders. Small improvements in a patient’s condition can translate into major victories. This is fulfilling work for RNs who care for society’s oft forgotten, yet still valuable, members.
As the population ages, geriatric nurses are in great demand. Americans are living longer, but this means the majority will develop health concerns during their lifetime. Medical advances have made extended life spans possible, and geriatric RNs enable seniors to enjoy the best quality of life possible according to their circumstances.
It takes a special kind of personality to offer palliative nursing care. Palliative care nurses regard death as part of life’s journey and their objective is to ensure a patient’s death is as beautiful, peaceful and comfortable as possible for both the patient and their family.
At the other end of the spectrum, maternity RNs welcome new arrivals into the world and provide infant and mother medical care and education.
There are many other RN specializations, including:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Respiratory
- Orthopedic
- Pediatrics
Economics
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes employment statistics, including median wages, expected employment growth, number of people employed in an occupation and projected job openings.
The latest available statistics for the 754,000 LPNs employed nationally show a median wage of $19.14 per hour, or approximately $39,000 annually. The projected employment growth is rated as faster than average with 391,300 job openings available up to 2018. The identical categories for RNs reveal a much more favorable future. As of 2009, the median wage of RNs was $30.65 hourly, or roughly $64,000 per annum. The projected employment growth is equivalent to that of LPNs, but with 2.5 times the number of job openings at 1,039,000 through to 2018.
The Bureau of Health Professions has also announced the RN shortage in the United States will reach 1.7 million positions by 2020. This is an enormous harbinger for future job security.
Clearly, these statistics are significant for LPNs upgrading to RNs.
Advantages of an LPN to RN Online Program
Accredited education institutions offer LPN to RN online programs designed specifically for LPNs who must continue working, fulfill family obligations, cannot relocate and do not have the luxury of expendable free time while they upgrade their education.
A LPN to RN online program is less expensive than traditional education degrees and can be completed in approximately one half the time. Many online degree programs have immediate openings, with minimal or no wait times for admission.
Students must provide LPN certification and work experience evidence for acceptance into LPN to RN online programs. A LPN can choose to earn an Associate’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. The Bachelor’s Degree program takes longer to complete.
Students work at their own pace from their home or location of their choosing. A LPN’s working hours are variable, therefore 24/7 access to course materials is invaluable. Mandatory clinical hours may be arranged through a local preceptor.
A LPN to RN online program is formulated so that course materials taught in a LPN program are accepted as credits towards the RN degree, eliminating duplication and lessening the length of the RN curriculum. Typical courses included in a LPN to RN online program are:
- Composition
- Human Anatomy
- Physiology
- Microbiology
- Algebra
- 4 Nursing courses (theoretical and clinical)
- Health Assessment
- Role Development
- Computer science course
- Social sciences course
A LPN to RN online program is an invaluable investment in your future. RN degrees from prestigious online universities are highly regarded and launch career options you never thought possible.
With the help from Achieve Test Prep, students can complete their program of choice in up to half the time of traditional programs. LPNs, LVNs, Paramedics, and Respiratory Therapists can start this program with NO WAITING LIST. Free books and low cost financing are available, in an instructor-led program that can be done in one of their over 65 campuses nationwide or online.
Here is how ATP can work for you
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