Online LPN to BSN Colleges and Universities
Accredited online LPN to BSN colleges offer licensed practical nurses the opportunities to earn bachelor of science degrees. Upon graduation, a student will be eligible to take the RN licensure exam with the National Council Licensure Examination organization.
Individuals enrolled in the best online LPN to BSN colleges can learn advanced skills in critical thinking, communication and leadership which are becoming more critical as nursing careers grow more complex. Individuals can also receive a greater amount of clinical training in non-hospital environments. This degree can lead to health care careers in teaching, administrative, consulting and research positions.
Program Courses: Overview
The best curriculum of online LPN to BSN programs emphasize health care information, community health, health care management, diversity, health promotion and professional ethics. Several classes will focus on leadership skills.
Online LPN to BSN courses will slightly vary with the area of specialization that students have chosen. Core classes include:
- Statistics
- Bioethics
- Nursing Research
- Social Science
- Physical Science
- Arts and Humanities
- Health/Wellness Assessment and Strategies
- Introduction to Psychology
- Professional Leadership Transitions
- Health Care System Ethical and Legal Perspectives
Skills Taught
Online LPN to BSN degrees provide students with accredited training in how to treat patients, communicate to patients and the general public about medical conditions and how to give emotional reassurance to family members. Specific clinical and medical skills include:
- Recoding patient medical symptoms and history
- Operate medical devices
- Assist in performing diagnostic testing and analyzing results
- Administer medications and treatment
- Providing patient rehabilitation and follow-up
Popular Career Paths
The health care field employs 2.6 million registered nurses which is more than any other health care position according to the 2010-2011 report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. An online LPN to BSN degree often leads to working in a hospital. Over 60% of registered nurses work in major medical hospitals. You can also find them working in doctor’s offices, teaching hospitals, nursing homes and public schools. Some of the most popular jobs include:
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurse anesthetist
- Clinical nurse specialist
- Nurse-midwife
- Pediatric nurse
Field Outlook & Salary Information
Graduates with an online degree in LPN to BSN can expect more jobs in outpatient clinics and doctor offices because more procedures are being performed on an outpatient basis. Specific areas include rehabilitation, same-day surgery and chemotherapy. The average salary for a registered nurse was $63,750 in 2009 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job prospects for registered nurses are estimated to increase due to the growing number of senior citizens that need rehabilitation and long-term care and the growing popularity of home health care.
Continuing Your Education
Graduates of top online LPN to BSN colleges and universities can advance to supervisory and administrative positions with advanced degrees such as:
- Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Informatics
- Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Administrator
- RN to Master of Science in Nursing
- Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator
- Master of Science in Nursing – Leadership in Health Care Systems
The field of registered nursing can make a secure and rewarding career because the demand for registered nurses is expected to increase by 22% by 2018. This is a good reason for students of accredited online LPN to BSN universities to pursue their education in this field.