Bachelor's Degree
LPN to BSN/ASN
Program Options - Nashville, TN
Bachelor's Degree
LPN to BSN/ASN
Program Options - Nashville, TN
Bridge from LPN to RN with Herzing University in Nashville
Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
---|---|
Curriculum | Designed for current Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) to bridge to an ASN/BSN faster than a traditional program |
Transfer credit | Up to 52-90 approved credits |
Format | In-person classes at our Nashville, Tennessee campus + online gen eds |
QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
Nursing Bridge Options for LPNs – Nashville, TN
The LPN to RN educational pathway includes associate and bachelor's degree in nursing program options which prepare you for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN). Each Nashville campus program provides students with the fundamental knowledge and skills to help you leverage your abilities as an LPN into a career in nursing.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Experienced faculty
Get face-to-face instruction from experienced and credentialed faculty with real-world success in the field.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Classes Start September 4th
Learn More Today
You may qualify for our online option
We now offer an online BSN Bridge option for LPNs featuring asynchronous didactic (lecture) courses, meaning you can complete all gen ed and core nursing courses online on your own schedule.i
The online bridge option includes practical, hands-on training including clinicals and intensives, which you must attend at a designated Herzing or partner site.
This can be a great choice if you are seeking maximum flexibility in completing your didactic coursework throughout the program.
i. The online and on-campus programs have unique enrollment requirements. View our online LPN to BSN Bridge Option admission requirements.
Curriculum
Classes & curriculum details
Our curriculum is designed to build on your previous training and professional experience as a practical nurse, with classes focusing on providing quality, evidence-based patient care.
- On-campus. Complete core coursework on campus in Nashville.
- Online. You may complete your general education courses online.
- Clinicals. Clinical experience is vital to thrive in your new career as an RN.
Program | Monthsi | Credits |
---|---|---|
Associate of Science in Nursing - ASN Bridge Option | 20 | 72 |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - BSN Bridge Option | 28 | 120 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program
Bridge to ASN - Associate of Science in Nursing
Required Courses in Nursing
All courses, 31.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Courses in General Education
Students enrolled in the ASN program must complete a minimum of 26.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. The Herzing University General Education offerings are listed below. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for additional information on general education requirement. 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications EN 104 English Composition I Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 EN 111 Information Literacy Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 11.00 Semester Credit Hours in in Science SC 154 Anatomy and Physiology I for Nurses Semester Credit Hours: 4.00 SC 254 Anatomy and Physiology II for Nurses Semester Credit Hours: 4.00 SC 166 Microbiology Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities HU 140 Cultural Diversity Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics MA 109 College Algebra Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social or Behavioral Science PS 105 Developmental Psychology Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 * Transfer students may transfer courses that are within 1.00 semester credit hour of the courses listed above to meet these discipline requirements. Any resulting deficiency in the total of 26.00 semester credit hours required in general education may be made up with general education electives from any of the listed disciplines. Science courses being transferred in from other institutions must meet the nursing program science requirements.
Special General Education Grading Requirements
The following general education courses must be completed with a grade of "C" (70%) or better for a student to continue in the nursing program. SC 166 Microbiology Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 PS 105 Developmental Psychology Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 MA 109 College Algebra Semester Credit Hours: 3.00 The following science courses must be completed with a grade of "B" (80%) or better. Only two attempts are permitted for each course and a student who fails to successfully complete in the maximum attempts is subject to dismissal from the nursing program. SC 154 Anatomy and Physiology I for Nurses Semester Credit Hours: 4.00 SC 254 Anatomy and Physiology II for Nurses Semester Credit Hours: 4.00 A student who is dropped from the nursing program for failing to achieve the minimum grade specified in the courses listed above, but who otherwise meets the academic standards of the University may transfer to another Herzing degree program and/or may appeal to reapply to the ASN/AASN nursing program in a future semester.
LPN to BSN Option - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Tuition & Cost
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculums and processes to make our nursing program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
With Herzing University, you are never alone, and we offer many options to help you invest in yourself and earn your bachelor’s degree. Financial aid options include:
Enrollment requirements
To be considered for admission into the ASN or BSN Bridge Option in Nashville, you must:
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent (Diploma, HSED, or GED)
- Hold a PN diploma. If you have not received licensure, you may be provisionally admitted, in which case you must provide evidence of a current, active, and unrestricted license as a practical nurse by the end of the first 8-week session
- Minimum GPA of 2.5i
- Earn a minimum score of 58.7 on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) from the Assessment Technology Institute (ATI)
If you do not meet the GPA or TEAS requirements, you may be eligible for our Associate in General Studies - Pre-Nursing program as an alternative pathway. Please contact admissions for further details.
i. Students with 18 or more transferable collegiate credits will be assessed on their collegiate cumulative GPA. Otherwise, the high school GPA will be used.
Now Enrolling!
Waived Enrollment FeeYour nursing career is possible
Join Emily and embark on a complete, holistic, career-focused education preparing you with the skills and knowledge to succeed as a registered nurse.
Job outlook and pay potential
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurse is expected to increase 6% from 2022-2032.*
Registered nurses earn an average salary of $94,480 per year ($45.42 per hour). That would represent a significant raise for the average LPN/LVN in the US ($60,790 per year, $29.23 per hour).
You can take a big step forward in your nursing career by becoming an RN.
Going from LPN to RN
As a registered nurse you’ll be the backbone of day-to-day operations in many healthcare settings. RNs help to:
- Develop and direct treatment plans
- Counsel patients and family members
- Ensure patient comfort
- Serve as the key connection between doctors and patients
Registered Nurse ranks as the #8 Best Healthcare Job for 2023 according to U.S. News & World Report.
Approved roles and responsibilities for both LPNs/LVNs and RNs vary by state. But generally speaking, RNs enjoy a significantly broader scope of practice than LPNs. Earn an undergraduate nursing degree and you can discover new levels of career mobility.
Transitioning from LPN to RN represents an expansion of your scope of practice, higher salary potential, and greater career prospects in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a question of:
- What your goals are
- How quickly you want to reach them
If your goal is to go from LPN to RN quickly, the best choice may be an associate’s degree program since you may be able to become an RN in less than 2 years.
If your goal is to become an RN and potentially advance further by working towards a master’s degree in nursing (MSN), your best option is a bachelor’s degree in nursing program.
Read about the most basic differences between ADN vs. BSN and discover what's best for you.
Our nursing programs are designed to be challenging, but not impossible. Your career as a registered nurse will be demanding, and our goal is to help you succeed and become the best healthcare provider you can be. We won’t do you any favors by making things too easy.
Learn more about how hard nursing school really is from Herzing graduates who have been through it. You will have support from Herzing University faculty, staff and other students every step of the way. Never be afraid to ask for help when you need it!
The length of the degree program roughly estimates a baseline for how long it would take for you to go from LPN to RN.
Earning a degree does not by itself make you eligible to practice. You’ll need to pass the NCLEX-RN and meet the Board of Nursing requirements in your state. These additional steps don’t take too much extra time after graduation. How long you have to wait after graduation to take the NCLEX depends on state requirements, but you can generally expect to take the exam within 1-2 months.
You can potentially get an education and become an RN faster on the associate degree path. With prior LPN education and experience, you can earn an ASN in as few as 16 months through our program.
The LPN to BSN pathway takes longer (28 months through our program), but there are many benefits to taking the extra time to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Regulation has been deliberated for many years. There is currently only one state which has taken concrete action to make BSNs effectively mandatory for nurses – New York. Their “BSN in 10” bill, passed in January 2017, requires registered nurses holding an associate degree to earn their BSN qualification within 10 years of their initial RN licensure.
Two primary competing factors cloud the issue:
- Hospitals are incentivized to hire more BSN-prepared nurses. Organizations seeking Magnet Recognition must require all nurse managers to hold a BSN.
- Nurses are in very high demand. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) calls it a shortage in nursing. Raising minimum education requirements may decrease the pool of eligible employable RNs.
Because of the high demand for nurses, sweeping legislation making bachelor’s degrees mandatory across the board seems unlikely. However, make sure to keep an eye on what’s happening in your state!
While Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) often work together in collaboration in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, their roles and responsibilities are very different. Learn more about the biggest differences between practical nurses (LPN/LVN) and registered nurses (RN).
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for registered nurses is $94,480 per year ($45.42 per hour)*. Nurses with a bachelor’s degree tend to fall on the upper side of that average due to their advanced education and their qualification to help hospitals earn Magnet Recognition.
The BLS projects a 6% increase in need for registered nurses from 2022-2032.* RNs are in demand, and earning a BSN can help your resume stand out and give you a better chance of getting the job you really want.
The advantages of a BSN can include:
- Increased autonomy in decision making while on the job
- Open doors to more specialties in the nursing field
- Become a more attractive candidate for hospitals seeking Magnet Recognition
- Build a foundation to grow into education or leadership pathways
- Positions you better for nursing jobs with higher pay
- Qualify to enroll in an MSN program
- Become more familiar and educated with evidence-based practice opportunities
- Increase knowledge and understanding of RN specialties and skills
- Transition from “technical” to “professional” RN
- Gain a deeper knowledge of nursing theory and leadership theory
A 2022 study from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) indicates employers have the level of education at top of mind in the hiring process. Based on responses from nursing schools, the survey revealed 69.8% of employers show a strong preference for BSN graduates.
The ultimate benefit is bettering yourself, becoming the best nurse you can be and following the career path of your choosing.
There are many different nursing specialties to choose from. Depending on your personality, educational background and preferred working environment you can follow your own personalized path in the nursing profession.
Here are a few popular nursing specialties you may consider:
- Aesthetic or Cosmetic nurse
- Assisted living nurse
- Cardiac/cardiovascular nurse
- Emergency room nurse
- Flight nurse
- Home health nurse
- Labor and Delivery nurse (L&D)
- Med/surgical nurse
- Neonatal/NICU nurse
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Oncology nurse
- Pediatric nurse
- Public health nurse
- Travel nurse
You can take our nursing personality quiz to get a better idea of what you might prefer in your nursing career.
The cost varies based on several factors, including credits you’re able to transfer, campus location, and financial aid for which you are eligible.
You can use our Tuition Wizard to estimate tuition, discover scholarship and grant possibilities, and find out how much transfer credit can lower the cost.
Come visit our campus in Nashville for a personalized look at our school and get a feel for our learning environment.
Herzing University - Nashville
100 Centerview Drive, Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37214-3439
(615) 206-2858
View all Nashville nursing programs.
Disclosures
Disclosures & accreditation
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Effective May 7, 2024, this Associate of Science in Nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on May 7, 2026.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.com/candidates/candidacy.asp
Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.