A nursing bridging course is an academic program that equips nurses with the knowledge and skills required to advance up the hierarchy. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has a panel of doctors and nurses who create accredited bridging programs. The average duration is usually two years.
The most common is where Licensed Practice Nurses (LPNs) aspire to become Registered Nurses (RNs). Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) take two years to earn their Masters of Science postgraduate degree in Nursing (MSN) and this is the most advanced bridging course in this medical field.
Is The LPN to RN Bridge Program Hard?
This course takes two years however it’s possible to complete it in 18 months through accelerated programs. Most people who find the LPN to RN bridge program hard are usually part-time students who sometimes struggle to find a balance between school and work. Part-time students have to deal with challenges such as…
1. Conflicting Schedules
One major challenge of being a part-time student is that the employer always expects employees to prioritize the job at all times. A student may sometimes have to skip classes because their employer delegated responsibilities without giving any prior notice.
2. Dealing With Traffic Snarl Ups
The clinical practice involves students getting posted for work in medical facilities situated in different cities or towns. This means that a student might have to cover extra distance driving or travel through dense parts of the city. It might be hard to complete assignments or study because traffic snarl-ups are exhausting.
3. Internet Connectivity Problems Disrupt Learning
LPNs can also enroll in online RN bridge programs to enjoy the convenience of learning at home. Sometimes unexpected technical glitches might occur midway during a class or exam and these incidents are frustrating. Especially when the problem persists for days due to bad weather.
What Are The Benefits of LPN to RN Bridge Program?
1. Students Already Have Prior Experience in Medical School
Medical school is tough however students in the bridging program don’t have difficulty adapting to the situation thanks to the prior experience gained during LPN training. High school graduates who go straight to RN school usually struggle a lot and that’s why most give up nursing after freshman year.
2. Student Has Better Employment Opportunities than RN Without Prior Medical Experience
An LPN that’s eligible for the RN bridging program requires two years of professional experience. At this point, the LPN already has gained knowledge of the job market in their city and its surroundings. This makes it easier for an LPN to find a better place of employment than an RN who joined nursing school straight from high school.
RN to MSN Programs
The RN to MSN program is a two-year academic course for registered nurses who want to acquire a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) and become APRNs. However, Medical Assistants and LPNs cannot skip RN school and go straight to MSN.
RNs feel motivated to enroll in this bridging program because it offers the following benefits…
1. APRNs Have The Freedom to Practice Independently in Over 20 States
APRNs have the freedom to launch private medical facilities in over 20 states. In most cases, an APRN has to work under the supervision of a physician for two or three years to meet the main requirement for independent practice. Private practice grants nurses full leadership of daily operations and higher pay than regular employment.
2. APRNs Have Access to More Career Paths Than RNs
MSN training equips nurses for careers that are medical but some of them don’t require daily interaction with patients. Legal nurse consultants, for instance, train in the legal aspects used to determine medical compensations. It’s one of the top-paying specialties for nurses who feel competent working outside medical facilities.
3. MSN Training Activates Leadership Skills
RNs and LPNs are limited to carrying out instructions from APRNs and physicians. MSN training prepares RNs for leadership roles by training them how to create treatment plans for patients.
You Can Sign Up for a Nurse Bridging Course Today
Nurse bridging courses are important because they enable nurses to grow professionally by learning different skills necessary to move up the hierarchy.
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