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Pennsylvania, PA | LPN to BSN Nursing School Program

Why Enter an LPN to BSN in Pennsylvania?

Working as an LPN in Pennsylvania can be a great career, but for those wanting more diverse workplace opportunities, an LPN to BSN program is an attractive option. It takes around three years for a currently licensed LPN to earn a Bachelor of Science, Nursing (BSN), which provides opportunity for a diverse range of new and exciting career opportunities.

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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. And from maternity to radiology and clinical nursing, 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 metropolitan Pennsylvania is over $65,000 per year (according to BLS.gov) plus benefits, and with a BSN, corporate salaries into six figures are achievable.

LPN to BSN Requirements in Pennsylvania

Acceptance into general studies is the first step to entering an LPN to BSN in Pennsylvania. Then, 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.

From statistics to English and anatomy, general studies complement the nursing theory courses and clinical study that make up the core component of an LPN to BSN in Pennsylvania. But after the first year, 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.

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. LPN to BSN students take the RN version of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), which costs $200 from the exam administrator Pearson Vue, along with a $35 application fee to the Pennsylvania 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.