I would not expect to find any. LVNs are trained in programs run by hospitals or stand-alone nursing schools. You may also be able to find them at community colleges. But they take someone with NO medical background and prepare them for work as an LVN/LPN. Online RN programs (associate and bachelor), on the other hand, take advantage of the experience, knowledge and training LPNs and technicians have, then assess it and build upon it. They're designed for experienced medical workers who are looking to upgrade their credentials. (BSN programs are also for RNs who wish to upgrade their educational levels.) Excelsior has some very good programs, but they're not "online." (Learning and competency is assessed by examination and in person.) Of course, I could be wrong. Rich Douglas
Rich, I think you’re on the right track. Nursing is an interesting profession with at least three training models that I’m aware of. There is the traditional three-year hospital-based “diploma” RN program; the university-based BSN model; and the community college-based associates RN model. Although, virtually all the old diploma programs I’m aware of have been phased out. The first two years, the AA in other words, are very heavy on clinicals and the final two years are primarily theory based. I don’t know of any online AA RN programs and I suspect that the primary limitation is arranging for supervised clinical experience. Many of my nursing colleagues have completed RN to BSN programs including online programs that capitalize on the fact that no clinicals are required for someone who already is already a licensed RN. Clinicals kick in again for folk who go on into MSN programs to become either clinical specialists or nurse practitioners. Of course, I've also been known to be wrong.
I would not say that I have done an exhaustive search for nursing programs on line or at a distance, but I have come close. There seems to be the clinical roadblock. You might try getting all the fundamentals and then go to a community college for just the nursing courses. As has been mentioned, once you get the clinicals out of the way the road gets much more simple. California College of Health Sciences offers the Respiratory Therapy degree by Distance Learning if you can find an instution for the clinical part --- this might be a place to start. But, beware - it is DETC accredited. Good Luck. ------------------ Howard Rodgers
There are a few distance learning vocational/practical nursing programs. Northwest Technical College http://www.ntc-online.com/distance/programs/nursing/curriculum.htm has one but it require clinical hours take place in Minnesota or North Dakota. Plus there are skills labs that need to be done on campus. Total of 12 days on campus mre if you don't have some science courses)plus 384 clinical hours as mentioned above. There is one in canada New brunswick community college Distance education nursing assistant (IT IS A LPN program not a CNA) http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/Programs/BRDistEdNurseAsst.asp# This should be eligable for US, but check with your board of nursing first. hope this helps, I think there are more but these are the only ones i can remember right now. Jeremy
But my wife, the RN with a BSN who is studying for her MS to become a nurse practitioner, is seldom wrong. What I know I know from taking three degrees from USNY (now Excelsior) and from Paula. Rich Douglas
