Illinois, IL | LPN to BSN Nursing School Program

Why Pursue an LPN to BSN in Illinois?

Working as an LPN in Illinois can be a great career, but for those wanting more diverse workplace opportunities, an LPN to BSN program is an attractive option. A currently working LPN can earn a Bachelor of Science, Nursing (BSN) in under three years and access a plethora of career opportunities that are not available to Licensed Practical Nurses.

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 areas that are of particular interest to a student. From rehabilitation to critical care to nurse management, typical RN occupations are available with a BSN—however, a BSN leads to opportunities outside of hospital and clinical settings as specialized research work in both public health and corporate settings typically recruit BSNs over ADNs. From the instruction of entry-level nurses to research opportunities with pharmaceutical companies and beyond, a BSN provides the opportunity to pursue any number of occupational streams—and an opportunity to make a good salary as well. Currently, the average pay for an RN in Illinois is over $71,000 per year plus benefits, and with a BSN, the opportunities for work in the private sphere can lead to salaries into six figures.

LPN to BSN Requirements in Illinois

In order to enter an LPN to BSN in Illinois, a candidate must first be accepted into general studies at the school in which they wish to study. 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.

Once accepted, general education requirements, such as statistics and English, science courses such as microbiology, nursing theory courses and clinical study are all part of an LPN to BSN in Illinois. The bulk of the program, however, is made up of 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. 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.

An LPN to BSN prepares nurses for the NCLEX-RN, which means it also offers the opportunity for advancement from LPN to RN with the added benefits that come with the specialized knowledge of a BSN. 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.