The Journey from LPN to RN

References

Johnnie_Holiday. (2021) Bright piano 128bpm (ARP).wav. [Audio File]. Free Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons 0. https://freesound.org/people/Johnnie_Holiday/sounds/560760/

Transitioning from an LPN to RN student is challenging but worthwhile. I had the pleasure of interviewing Shelby, my fellow LPN co-worker and current BScN classmate. Shelby is going through the same career move that I am and offers her own perspective on the journey.

Transcription with Mark-Up Notes

TRACKS = not bolded; ACTS = bolded

[00:00]

<<VOICE-OVER>>

HI EVERYONE. I’M GOING TO BE JOINED TODAY BY SHELBY, MY LPN COWORKER AND BSCN CLASSMATE. SHELBY IS A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE WHO BRIDGED INTO THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PROGRAM WITH ME, AND IS CURRENTLY A FULL-TIME RN STUDENT.

<<INTERVIEW BEGINS>>

HI SHELBY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME HERE AT TRU TO TALK ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY FROM BEING A WORKING LPN TO A FULL-TIME RN STUDENT. HOW ARE YOU?

SS: I’M GOOD THANKS, HOW ARE YOU? <<cold audio>>

I’M GOOD, THANKS. CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?

SS: WELL, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WILLIAMS LAKE, I’VE BEEN A NURSE FOR THE PAST SIX, ALMOST SEVEN YEARS I THINKK. I HAVE 12 DOGS AND LOTS OF CHICKENS.

OK, AWESOME. SO YOU SAID YOU’VE BEEN AN LPN FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS, WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GO BACK AND GET YOUR RN?

SS: UM WELL I GUESS I KIND OF WANTED A BIGGER SCOPE OF PRACTICE, MAYBE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO (LIKE) WORK MORE IN THE COMMUNITY AS I GET OLDER BECAUSE THERE’S LIMITED LPN SPOTS AND, UM (small pause) OH THE PAY INCREASE OF COURSE. (giggles)

OF COURSE, YEAH, FAIR ENOUGH. WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WHEN YOU WERE PREPARING TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL?

SS: WELL I THINK PERSONALLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS THAT I WORKED FULL-TIME AND MORE, SO IT WAS DEFINITELY FINANCIAL RELATED BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO BE IN SCHOOL FULL-TIME. BUT ALSO PROBABLY (small pause) GETTING ALL OF THE COURSES REQUIRED TO APPLY AT A UNIVERSITY LEVEL RATHER THAN A HIGH-SCHOOL LEVEL.

OKAY <<cold audio>>. HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES?

SS: PROBABLY LOTS OF MENTAL BREAKDOWNS, LOTS OF CALLS TO MY MOM (background giggles). BUT MY MOM DEFINITELY HELPED ME GET READY WITH ALL THE PREREQUISITES AND JUST KEEPING REMINDING ME THAT IT’LL BE WORTH IT IN THE END AND DOING IT EVEN THOUGH I DIDN’T WANT TO DO IT.

YEAH <<cold audio>>, THAT’S FAIR. HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU GOT YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER?

SS: UH, WELL, I WAS IN VANCOUVER ON MY WAY TO A CONCERT, SO I OPENED IT AND I GUESS I WAS EXCITED, BUT I INSTANTLY ACTUALLY FELT STRESSED BECAUSE THAT MEANT THAT I WAS GOING TO BE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL FULL-TIME AND NOT WORKING. AND I STILL HAVE TO SOMEHOW PAY A MORTGAGE WHILE GOING TO SCHOOL FULL-TIME.

YEAH, FOR SURE. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE TRANSITION FROM WORKING FULL-TIME AS A NURSE WITH YOUR OWN VERY AUTONOMOUS SCOPE TO BECOMING A FULL-TIME STUDENT. WHAT DID YOU FIND THE EASIEST WITH THAT TRANSITION?

SS: UH WELL, I GUESS, I HAD A LOT OF REALITY, SO OF LIKE, WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS, THE BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE OF ALREADY KNOWING SOME THINGS. SO I’D SAY THAT WAS PROBABLY THE EASIEST.

YEAH. WHAT DID YOU FIND THE HARDEST?

SS: UM PROBABLY BEING RESTRICTED IN MY SCOPE. LIKE, OBVIOUSLY AS AN LPN, I COULD GIVE MEDS AND START IVS AND INSERT CATHETERS. AND THEN AS A NURSING STUDENT IN SECOND YEAR, UM I COULDN’T DO ANY OF THAT UNLESS WE DID THE SKILLS RETURN IN LAB AND THEN ALSO, UNLESS WE HAD OUR STUDENT INSTRUCTOR WATCHING US, WHICH JUST KIND OF FELT LIKE A BLOW BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A NURSE FOR THE PAST, YOU KNOW, 6 TO 7 YEARS SO IT WAS A HARD ADJUSTMENT, BUT, YEAH.

DID YOU FIND IT GOT EASIER THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM?

SS: YOU JUST KIND OF LEARN TO DO WHAT THEY WANT.

YEAH <<cold audio>>. WHAT ABOUT THE TRANSITION TO KAMLOOPS IN THE FALL, ARE YOU EXCITED? DO YOU THINK IT’S GOING TO BE EASY?

SS: WELL, I DON’T THINK IT’S GOING TO BE SUPER EASY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I’M QUITE TECHNOLOGY NOT-INCLINED, UH BUT I’M EXCITED TO JUST KIND OF BE MOVING FORWARD TO GRADUATING AND FINISHING THE PROGRAM. THEY HAVE A PHENOMENAL CENTER. IT JUST FEELS OVERWHELMING BECAUSE IT’S SO LARGE COMPARED TO WHAT I’M USED TO.

YEAH, OKAY. LASTLY, IF YOU WERE GOING TO GIVE ANY ADVICE TO AN LPN IN YOUR POSITION A YEAR AGO BEFORE YOU STARTED THE PROCESS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

SS: MAYBE BEING COMFORTABLE AS AN LPN, LIKE NOT BEING AN LPN FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS AND THEN BEING LIKE, OH, I’M GOING TO GO BACK (small giggle). GIVING YOURSELF THAT TIME TO BE AN LPN AND LEARN, AND THEN, NOT RUSHING IT.

THAT’S AMAZING ADVICE. SO TRUE. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, SHELBY, FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HELP MORE LPNS POTENTIALLY BRIDGE INTO THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PROGRAM AND WORK TOWARDS THEIR RN.

<<VOICE-OVER>>

SHELBY WILL BE OFF TO KAMLOOPS IN SEPTEMBER. SEE YOU THERE SHELB!  

<<NATURAL SOUND, slight overlap with voiceover>>

AUDIO OF TRUCK STARTING AND DRIVING AWAY <<fade out>>

[04:57]

Upgrading the “LP” to an “R”: How to go from LPN to RN

What a difference a year can make! This time last year I was a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) waiting to hear if I had been accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Program, and now I’m sitting here writing this story as a BScN student. My story starts a few years ago in 2022 and is ongoing. I’m sharing my journey because nursing is a fulfilling career and although the transition from LPN to RN student has been challenging at times, it is a worthwhile process.

2022: Deciding to Apply

I made the decision to go back to school in 2022, mainly because of

• Increased opportunities
• Increased money
• I love my job so I wanted to grow as a nurse

My journey started with what felt like endless emails to different programs around BC. After a lot of research, I chose to pursue bridging into year 2 of the program at TRU. I completed the pre-requisites and then applied to the program.

2023: Getting Accepted and Becoming a Student

I waited anxiously to hear if I had gotten in. Months passed and my hopefulness was low. Yet, one day I got a phone call from TRU, followed by an email… I was in! September quickly came and my life went from working as an LPN to being a full-fledged student again. 

Challenges

The biggest challenge of my transition was the massive change in scope. I went from being able to do most nursing skills independently to needing to have an instructor watch me giving an oral medication. While it was frustrating at times to be learning things that I already knew, it was vital that I stay humble and appreciate the chance for review, as well as appreciate a slower start to the program.

Helpful Tips

A few things that I would have liked to know about the process back when I was starting out:

Give yourself time

The whole process can take a while, so start looking into your options at least a year or two before you want to actually start the program

Do your research

Research what school is the best fit for you

• Athabasca University (an online option, 5-7 years at your own pace)
• TRU (3-4 years full-time years)
• UNBC (3-4 years full-time)
• Camosun College (2 years 8 months full-time)

+ many more!

Get advice

Get in contact with an advisor because they can help determine what pre-requisites you need

Know the deadline

Deadlines are often months in advance to the intake (often January to March of Fall intake), so make sure you know when to apply by!

Tune out the negativity

I was told numerous times that “barely any students get in”, “it’s super competitive”, etc., making me feel discouraged. But if I had taken those remarks to heart I may not have even bothered applying, and then I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Go for it!

It can be tough at times but it’s worth the hard work!

Lastly, Canada is in the midst of a nursing shortage, with 27,000 nurses needed by 2031, and shortages getting out and hand and leading to Emergency Department closures throughout BC (BCNU, 2023). Because of this, however, different programs and funding options are coming out to help with the financial transition of becoming a nurse, plus help with preventing burnout and increasing retention of nurses.

• BCNU Laddering Fund
• Government of Canada’s Nursing Retention Toolkit

Everyone’s journey is different, and each will come with its own challenges to overcome. Although it scared me, I made the decision to take the leap and work towards my goal of becoming an RN, because (as cheesy as this may sound) the time will pass anyways, so why not pursue your dreams?

References

Athabasca University. (2024). Post-LPN bachelor of nursing. https://www.athabascau.ca/programs/summary/post-lpn-bachelor-of-nursing.html

BCNU. (2023). Sustaining nursing in Canada. Update Spring 2023. https://www.bcnu.org/news-and-events/update-magazine/2023/spring-2023/sustaining-nursing-in-canada#:~:text=The%20latest%20workforce%20numbers%20from,BC%20is%20not%20alone

BCNU. (2024). LPN to RN laddering fund. Member Services. https://www.bcnu.org/member-services/bursaries/lpn-laddering-fund

Camosun College. (2024). Practical nurse to baccalaureate in nursing bridge.  https://camosun.ca/programs-courses/find-program/practical-nurse-baccalaureate-science-nursing-bridge

Government of Canada. (2024). Improving the working lives of nurses across Canada. Health Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2024/03/improving-the-working-lives-of-nurses-across-canada.html

Thomspon Rivers University. (2024). Advanced placement for licensed practical nurses. TRU Nursing. https://www.tru.ca/nursing/programs/lpntobscn.html

Thomspon Rivers University. (2024). Bachelor of science in nursing. TRU Nursing. https://www.tru.ca/nursing/programs/bsn.html  

University of Northern British Columbia. (2024). Nursing (BScN program). https://www.unbc.ca/calendar/undergraduate/nursing#northern-baccalaureate-nursing-program