If you want to continue your nursing education beyond your LVN Program, you may want to consider the LVN to ADN Bridge program.
What is an LVN to ADN Bridge Program?
An LVN to ADN Bridge program allows Licensed Vocational Nurses to earn their Associate Degree in Nursing by completing required prerequisite and nursing coursework. Once you complete your LVN to ADN Bridge program, you will be able to continue on to taking the NCLEX-RN exam and getting licensed as an RN.
What types of nursing careers can you pursue with an ADN?
In addition to being a Registered Nurse, nurses with an ADN have titles such as Nurse Case Manager, Long Term Care Nurse, MDS Coordinator, and Assistant Director of Nursing.
How much can you make with an ADN versus being an LVN?
The average salary for nurses with an ADN is $33,93 per hour, according to Indeed.com. Licensed Vocational Nurses, on the other hand, have a mean pay of $23,47 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What are the requirements for admission to an LVN to ADN Bridge Program?
Admission requirements for an LVN to ADN Bridge program vary based on the school you choose. Some common requirements include the following.
- A Licensed Vocational Nursing license from the state your school of choosing is located in.
- Completion of one full year on the job as an LVN.
- A complete resume summarizing your educational and job experience. Job experience must include employer, job title, start / end dates, job responsibilities, and types of patients worked with.
- A high school diploma and official transcript, or GED.
- Official transcript(s) from the school(s) where you completed your LVN program coursework and other colleges you have attended.
- Completion of basic college coursework in areas such as English composition, college algebra, sciences, social sciences, public speaking, and humanities.
- Overall GPA of 2.5 or higher for all completed college coursework.
- Passing the current version of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS).
- Completion of a background check, physical examination, and drug screening.
- Proof of current immunizations.
You will have likely completed several of the admissions requirements for an LVN to ADN Bridge program prior to or during your original LVN program. Some schools will require that your basic college coursework be completed prior to entering the LVN to ADN Bridge program, while others will allow you to take required basic college coursework concurrently with your LVN to ADN Bridge coursework. Official transcripts must be sent directly from your high school and colleges - official copies from you and photocopies are not accepted.
If you have a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university, you may have already satisfied basic college coursework requirements.
How long does the average LVN to ADN Bridge Program last?
The time it takes to complete your LVN to ADN Bridge program will depend on a number of factors including the amount of time you have to dedicate to your coursework (i.e., whether you will be a full time or part time student), the amount of prerequisite and basic college coursework you need to take in addition to the main LVN to ADN Bridge courses, and whether you choose a traditional or accelerated LVN to ADN Bridge program. Typically, an LVN to ADN Bridge program will take one year.
What courses can you expect to take in an LVN to ADN Bridge Program?
Coursework for an LVN to ADN Bridge program can vary by school, but generally includes some of the following courses, depending on what coursework you completed in your LVN Program. This does not include basic college coursework.
Prerequisite Course Topics
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Human Growth and Development
- Microbiology
- General Psychology
Core Course Topics
- Professional Nursing
- Transition from Vocational to Professional Nursing
- Healthcare Concepts
- Medical and Surgical Nursing
- Psychosocial / Psychiatric Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology for Nursing
- Nursing Leadership
What is the estimated cost of an LVN to ADN Bridge Program?
The cost of an LVN to ADN Bridge program depends on the type of school you choose, the number of semesters it takes to complete the program, and whether you need to complete prerequisite and basic college coursework along with the program's core courses. Here are a few example LVN to ADN Bridge program costs.
- Alvin College - In-District: $7,000; Out-of-District: $8,000; Out-of-State: $9,000 (estimated)
- Metropolitan Community College - In-District: $15,000; Out-of-District: $24,000; Out-of-State: $31,000 (estimated)
- Galen College - $400 per quarter credit hour (for tuition only)
Be sure to visit your school's website to learn more about costs related to the LVN to ADN Bridge program you choose.
