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 Iām sitting here writing this story as a BScN student. My story starts a few years ago in 2022 and is ongoing. Iām 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 emailā¦ 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 ābarely any students get inā, āitās super competitiveā, etc., making me feel discouraged. But if I had taken those remarks to heart I may not have even bothered applying, and then I wouldnāt be where I am today.
Go for it!
It can be tough at times but itās 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.
Everyoneās 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