If you're already a licensed practical nurse (LPN), becoming a registered nurse (RN) isn't very hard at all. It only requires a bit of dedication and a good LPN to RN training program. The vast majority of online RN courses offer all the theoretical material you should need. The subject matter taught in these LPN to RN online courses are vital for any registered nurse job. The one downside to these courses is that some of them may not be able to be learned solely online. Some coursework in subjects such as anatomy or microbiology may require in-person lab work.

My mother (now an RN) went through a similar LPN to RN online course for beginners a few years ago. Upon completion, she continued studying to earn her BSN degree. Many LPNs hold a desire to go back to school and study more to become registered nurses (RNs). Unfortunately, the inability to find time to take classes and hold a full-time nursing job once made this impractical if not impossible, as BSN programs can take up to four years to complete. But nowadays, registering for an online LPN to RN degree program is very simple. And the fact that the majority of the program can be completed online makes it possible to concurrently hold a full-time nursing job and advance toward a degree.

But before you want to advance to an RN from an LPN by earning a BSN, make sure you are ready. Once you’ve become a BSN you’ll have a great amount of medical knowledge and should be able to deal with most of the modern equipment, patients, and -- if you’re good enough -- you might even get paid to train other nurses and help them become BSN nurses. The possibilities as a BSN nurse are increasing every year, and you'll also have the chance to learn screen procedures and nursing case management as you strive to become a BSN from an LPN.

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