Alabama, AL - LPN to BSN Nursing School Programs

LPN to BSN Requirements in Alabama

All LPN to BSN programs in Alabama first require acceptance into one’s school of choice before applying to the nursing department. Once accepted, sufficient grades, usually a 2.5 or C average, must be achieved in prerequisite courses completed during their first year of study. However, this is not always enough as nursing school, and BSN programs in particular, tends to be very competitive—achieving excellent grades is highly recommended if you wish to enter your program of choice and it is recommended to speak to someone within the nursing department before applying.

General studies in areas like math, psychology and biology prepare students for intensive nursing theory courses and clinical study, which make up the core curriculum of an LPN to BSN in Alabama. Nursing-specific courses with a wide range of topics such as mental health nursing, adult care, maternity care, pediatrics, medication and assessment, legal issues in health care and more make up the bulk of the curriculum. Indeed, it is through the extra time allotted to a BSN that an LPN can pursue the areas of nursing that they find the most interesting towards an enjoyable and personally gratifying career path.

Nurses in an LPN to BSN take the NCLEX-RN during the course of their studies, which means it also offers the opportunity to become a full-fledged Registered Nurse. The exam costs $200 from the exam administrator Pearson Vue, along with an $85 application fee paid to The Alabama Board of Nursing. Students leave an LPN to BSN program with their RN and BSN, as well as a plethora of choices with regards to career path and greatly improved earning potential.

Why Do an LPN to BSN in Alabama?

Although Licensed Practical Nurses in Alabama make good wages, advancing one’s education through an LPN to BSN program can provide a great boost to one’s nursing career. A currently licensed LPN can obtain a Bachelor of Science, Nursing (BSN), in about three years, and in doing so open the door to a wide variety of exciting new career opportunities.

Much like an Associate Degree, Nursing (ADN), a BSN prepares students for the National Registered Nurse Licensing Examination: the NCLEX-RN. Unlike an ADN, a BSN offers further opportunities for targeted learning in specialized areas that appeal to each particular student. With the ability to study in specialized areas such as community health research or pharmacology, a BSN can provide the extra edge needed to pursue the specific niche in nursing that most appeals to a student—and to earn higher wages. From the instruction of entry-level nurses to research opportunities with public and private health organizations and even NGO work in far off lands, a BSN provides the opportunity to pursue any number of occupational streams. Currently, the average pay for an RN in metropolitan Alabama is over $59,000* per year plus benefits, and with a BSN, corporate salaries can move well beyond that. *salary information provided by salary.com