LPN Needs Help!

[NurseLady]

Classes Taken

Ivy Tech Community College (Semester Hours)
English 1 3
Creating writing 3
Biology w/ lab 3
Psychology 3
Development Psych 3
Medical Terminology 3
Interpersonal Communication 3
Sociology 3
Introduction to Computers 3
American Government 3
Anatomy and Physiology 1 w/lab 3

Capella University (Quarter Hours)

Developing a Psych Perspective 6
Learning and Cognition 6
Social Psychology (Grade of a D) 6
Educational Psych 3
Child Development 3
Ethics 6
Logic and Critical Thinking 6

Brown Mackie College #1 (Quarter Hours)
Diploma of Practical Nursing 76

Brown Mackie College #2 (Quarter Hours)(Withdrew from RN program)
Microbiology w/ lab 4 or 5 (can’t remember)
Introduction to Literature 4
College Algebra 4


• I know my classes through Brown Mackie may not transfer to most colleges so I’m looking for alternatives for those classes.

• What AA or AS degree can I complete with the classes I have already taken?

• I’m not sure if I want to go back to nursing school at this point. However, if I do go back, I want to get a BSN so the classes I continue to take will fit into that degree as well.

• My plan was to get a BA degree in psychology and then do the BA-BSN. Now I’m just ready to get a degree because I’m ready to walk down the aisle again! I really just want to take as many gen ed courses I can before I actually apply to a nursing program.

• I should be alright with taking classes through straighterline. I plan to take cultural anthropology, religion, history, and western civilization courses.

• I have never taken clep or dsst exams. I think I will be most comfortable with dsst tests.

• I will be comfortable taking psych and gerontology courses through Uexcel.

• I plan to take all my science course through NMJC.

• NMJC will accept some of Brown Mackie’s credits so I may try to complete an AA or AS with them while fulfilling my courses for nursing.

• I am still open to getting a BA in psych if I take it through TESC. I just don't want to take anymore psych classes.

I was going to try for a BA in health science from Excelsior being as through they will give me 26 credits for my LPN license. I completed the questionaire and the fee was suppose to be waived but there where error messages. I finally talked to someone and they fixed the problem. So... when I filled out the form I got a confirmation page. I sent my transcripts to them and then they tell me they don't even have a application for me. I know that it went through but can't find the information. They are just a headache starting out and I just don't want to deal with them. I spoke to someone and they said they can see where I called and there was a problems but now they don't have my application. I'm not giving then $80 now!

Thanks for all your help!

[cookderosa]

Brown Mackie is nationally accredited, which generally isn't accepted by regionally accredited schools- but that's a general rule. Colleges sometimes make exceptions. I believe that TESC will not make an exception, while EC will, so maybe you can revisit the EC application process. Don't let frustration over a computer glitch derail your future. First, know that it's possible that either school will award credit for your LPN license as opposed to the credit that makes up the license. I know that sounds confusing, but it's a small technical difference that matters. This sometimes happens with EMT training- people get their training in a continuing ed program, so no college credit, but get "college credit" for the LICENCE. In other cases, the courses themselves that make up the license might transfer in. Again, they are two separate things, so be sure to read about the differences before you decide.

Your microbiology with lab under the quarter credit system should have been 6.....but that isn't a big deal and may not count depending on which school you pick.

Can I ask what made you pick the schools you've picked? Respectfully, they are VERY EXPENSIVE options for degrees that are typically very low cost. You can become an RN for under $10,000 at every community college in America. The for-profit schools you picked, in addition to being expensive, don't have the right accreditation to transfer. If you borrowed money, you're probably looking to get enrolled asap to defer your student loans? If that's true, CLEP testing won't help with that- you'll need to be enrolled 6+ credits. Have you considered revisiting your community college? Even if you would have to do clinical work, the gen eds can almost always be taken as a distance learner (even science) and the cost will be about as cheap as you can get. Plus, community colleges almost always accept 15-45 CLEP credits. If your local community college also offers an RN option, I'd probably suggest starting to work on the pre-reqs and gen eds that are used in the RN program. You can actually work on that at your community college while using CLEP exams to fill the gen ed requirements of a BSN (though not being officially enrolled) and once you graduate with your ADN, immediately start the BSN and have only nursing courses left. In other words, you'd be completing 1 degree at a time, but you'd be accumulating credit to use in the second degree ahead of time. Just a thought!

[sanantone]

COSC offers a health studies program, and I think there is a good chance they will award credits for your LPN. Some community colleges have LPN to RN programs, so that's something else to look into. Some universities also offer LPN/LVN to BSN programs. These are just a couple of examples.
NDSU: Distance & Continuing Education (DCE): Online Degrees: LPN to Bachelor of Science Nursing Option

This one even has a partnership with Ivy Tech Community College.
https://indstate.edu/degreelink/lpntobs/

[NurseLady]

My career goal was to become a RN. After having my two daughters, I thought it would be best to take one step at a time. Ivy Tech nursing program was two competitive. I knew once I got into a nursing program I would graduate, so that's what I did. Now, after graduation, I knew that my credits wouldn't transfer and I was wanting to become a RN. I choose to go to another Brown Mackie because they would accept all of my PN credits. I withdrew on the honor roll but had to do so for personal reasons. I sat down with the DON and she told me I was one of the best students in the program and I can always come back anytime. The other school is two hours away and I don't live there anymore. I am just trying to take as many prereqs as I can and just start a nursing program with just the science and/or nursing courses remaining. I do plan on finishing at a community college now. Thanks for responding to my post!

[NurseLady]

I have looked into Indiana State LPN-BSN program. I had someone from the College Network come to my house and talk to me as far as that program goes. I never plan on using the college network but now know what classes I need to fulfill ISU requirements. There are a few Dsst, Cleps and Uxcel exams I can take that will apply to that program. I talk to ISU and they take straighterlines science course which I think I can complete easily. However, I don't know for sure if I am going to do their program. I would rather take my science courses at a community college for I can be for sure they will transfer no matter where I go. Thanks for the info!

[publius2k4]

Depending on your state, you could potentially go to Excelsior. They accept LPN's into their ADN program. As long as your state will grant you a license for a degree from Excelsior, then it might be worth a shot!

[NurseLady]

I can complete the LPN-ASN program with Excelsior in my state. However, I have choosen not to because of the CPNE. I think I will be stressed during the CPNE and won't do well. I would rather take my science courses and enroll in a ASN or BSN program somewhere.

[Erikadawn]

I first started on this site as an LPN, finished threw Excelsior for RN and now just completed My Bachelors of Liberal Arts with Excelsior. The CPNE was a challenge but what isn't. Good luck on your journey this site is a great place to start

[NurseLady]

I have heard many success stories with Excelsior's nursing program. However, I don't think it's for everyone. I know what is best for me and choose to go another route than to finish up at Excelsior. Congrats on your journey!