How to Graduate from the LPN to RN Bridge Program at LaGuardia Community College, While Working Full-Time

RN bridge program laguardia community college

In June 2020, I graduated from LaGuardia Community College’s LPN to RN Advanced Standing Pathway. I first, became a Licensed Practical Nurse and then “bridged” over to become a Registered Nurse and graduated with my Associate of Science in Registered Nursing.

While studying for this program I was working full-time as an LPN at Bellevue Hospital. Balancing work, school and personal life was not always easy, but through time management, determination and sleepless nights, I was able to achieve my goals.

My final semester is when the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down, and let’s just say I did not have a typical end to my program. Clinicals were canceled and moved to an online format, lectures were online, and exams were online. No pinning ceremony or celebrations. In fact, we are all still waiting for the college to mail us our graduation pins.

I took and passed the NCLEX in August of 2020 while they were under “COVID accommodations”, including a reduced number of questions, and reduced time allotted. The standards and difficulty to pass were still the same.

To add more to my plate, I was pregnant during this unprecedented time and ultimately gave birth to a beautiful, healthy, “pandemic” baby in September of 2020.

Here is my top advice for anyone looking to become a Registered Nurse at LaGuardia Community College.

Pre-Reqs

Always check the LaGuardia website/Nursing department for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Here is what was required of me at the time of my application for the LPN to RN Advanced Standing Pathway program:

  • Have a current LPN registration (licensure)
  • Complete CUNY online admissions application to LaGuardia Community College
  • Transfer or complete the clinical pre-requisite courses: ENG 101, SSY 101, SSY240, SCC110, SCB 203, SCB 204, SCB 260, and MAT 120 (As of Spring 2013).
    • NOTE: SCN 195, Community Health is not a core requirement, but I would highly suggest you take it prior to starting the program to get it out of the way!
  • Receive academic advisement to assure that the applicant meets the admission requirements of the Associate Degree Nursing Program (AAS Degree)
  • Meet the requirements for the TEAS entrance exam by required date, check with the nursing department
  • Upon completion of the pre-requisite courses, a GPA of 2.75 is the minimum requirement to apply for candidacy (LRN000.4799) for the LPN to RN Bridge course (SCR 100)

Candicindy

You will only be able to apply for the program twice. After you complete the prereqs, you must go to the C building and apply for candidacy. All you have to fill out one form and hand it in. Then on your transcript, you will see a code, that reflects which program you are applying for.

Sometime before they announce your candidacy, you will receive a letter in the mail telling you to go to the school on a specific date and time to pick up your candidacy letter. This must be done in person on that one specific date and time they tell you. You will get a sealed envelope stating if you were accepted into the program or not.

I am not sure how many students they accept, and there are rumors that they put the LaGuardia graduates as a “preference” to be accepted over outside applicants.

The bridge program at LaGuardia is getting more competitive as other colleges have shut down their LPN to RN programs. Additionally, LPNs are getting phased out of the workforce, so RNs are in higher demand.

Cost

You have to pay for whatever classes you take, at the cost of LaGuardia Community College credits.

Additionally, there are SEVERAL fees associated with being in the program and unfortunately, there is no way around them. Be prepared to pay for:

  • Castle Branch – when you get accepted into the program, this is used to upload all your medical paperwork, vaccines, background check, and drug screening.
  • ATI – throughout the program, you will use ATI. In each class you will take a proctored exam which is a percentage of your final grade. ATI is not cheap; it averages out to almost $200 a semester!
  • Scrubs, shoes, stethoscope – You will have to buy the scrub top and bottom from a place the school uses. RNs wear dark blue pants and a white embroidered scrub top. You have to wear white sneakers during clinical and you must be prepared with a working stethoscope.
  • Books – You can use the books in the library, rent, ebooks or buy used ones. I found that renting on Chegg was the best option, most cost-effective option for me.   

If you don’t receive any financial aid, I would encourage you to apply for a scholarship. LaGuardia has some amazing opportunities to help you pay for your education and they are super easy to apply for. Right on your “My LaGuardia” home screen, to the right, you should see “apply for scholarships”.

Schedule

The bridge program took 1 and a half years to complete and was made up of the following classes:

FALL I / SPRING I

SCR 100 LPN to RN Bridge Course, 3 credits

Do not think of this class as a review. It was an extremely hard class. You basically cover ALL topics briefly, including pharmacology and you are expected to already have a general understanding of the material. Lecture only, no lab or clinical.

SPRING I / FALL I

SCR 200 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 4 credits

The material in this class can be tricky. Make sure to do A LOT of practice questions to prepare. Lecture and lab and clinical 1 day a week*.

SCR 270 Parent-Child Nursing, 4 credits

An extremely challenging class for me. You learn all about the maternal development from the fetus to the teenage child, with many milestones to remember and detailed drugs. I love pediatrics and the clinical was by far my favorite. Lecture and lab and clinical 1 day a week*.

*These two classes split clinical. You will start out in one clinical, either psych or maternity/peds, then halfway through the semester, you switch to the opposite clinical. Also, this is the semester you blend in with the “generic RN” students. Meaning you join the students who were accepted directly into the RN program and do not have an LPN certificate.

FALL II / SPRING II

SCR 280 Leadership & Delegation, 2 credits

This was taken during the short semester and was mostly writing papers and a video presentation. Lecture only, no lab or clinical.

SCR 290 Medical-Surgical Nursing II, 9 credits

The final class! The material is heavy. Know your PPE, isolation protocols, and study the PowerPoints. The Lippincott Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN book had a lot of great practice questions to prepare for the exams. Lecture and lab, clinical 2 days a week.

Grading and Exams

The most important this to know about the program is you need a culminate average of 75% to pass each class and move on in the program and it is all based on exams. Anything less than 75%, you will get an F. There are ZERO expectations and ZERO makeup exams. People fail the class by .2 or .4 of a point, basically one exam question.

All the exams are done on Blackboard and at the school. During the pandemic, we had to take them remotely but had our cameras on and the teacher was proctoring us. The exams are “NCLEX style” meaning you see one question at a time, choose an answer, submit it, and cannot go back. They are multiple-choice, select all that apply, put in order, hotspot format via a picture or a math calculation. You are allowed to use a calculator and scrap paper for the exam. 

There is a deadline to drop the class and get a W, which some people do, however it will still count as one attempt, and remember, you only get two attempts total to repeat any class in the program.

I recommend reviewing your exams with your teacher if you don’t do well. They will note your effort, answer questions you have, and give you tips for next time. Don’t be afraid of the teachers, they are there to help you!

“Just pick the best answer”

That is my favorite quote from a fellow nurse. It is easier said than done.

Test anxiety is REAL. I never scored super high and was always on the brink of passing, but I never gave up. I was able to manage my time to allow me to work full-time as an LPN, study, attend classes and have a small personal life.

My last semester was anything but ordinary with the COVID 19 pandemic outbreak. I passed the NCLEX just 22 days before giving birth to a healthy, beautiful girl, that changed my whole world. Throughout this program, I sacrificed countless social events, and weekends to study. I knew the sacrifices were temporary and would set me up to be a successful Registered Nurse in the future.

NOTE/DISCLAIMER – ALL OPINIONS ARE MINE AND MINE ALONE. I AM IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR ANY OTHER ENTITY. THESE OPINIONS DO NOT REFLECT ANY ENDORSEMENT BY THE SCHOOL OR ANY OTHER ENTITY. MAKE SURE TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, ASK QUESTIONS, AND GET ADVISED.  

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Pregnant While Working the Frontlines During COVID-19

I found out I was pregnant on January 26, 2020.

On January 27th, I had my first encounter with a patient who we suspected had COVID-19.

I always knew being an Emergency Room nurse had its risks, but never did I imagine I would experience working a pandemic while pregnant with my first baby.

As COVID-19 ravaged our patients and staff we simply did the best we could.

In a matter of days, we made adjustments to wear N95 respirators, face shields and protective gowns for 12+ hours a day.

We quickly learned how to care for patients on ventilators; our Emergency Room went from having 0 patients on ventilators to over 30 patients on ventilators.

We cried on each other’s shoulders and rushed to each other’s sides when we were at our breaking points.

Being pregnant, I was terrified.

I cried both ways to work.

My management and co-nurses knew that COVID-19 posed a serious risk to my baby.

They kept me sheltered, protected me to the best of their ability, I even moved floors to a “non COVID” PACU/ICU.

But nothing at the hospital was “non COVID” in March and April.

As we finally start to gain control over the virus, there is a new sense of normal at the hospital.

I look at my co-nurses in a different way now.

We all have a deeper respect and understanding for one another.

On September 22, 2020, my baby girl was born; healthy.

I will never forget working the frontlines during the height of the pandemic.

I can never forget the sacrifices and prayers that I felt by people who I now consider family, and for that, I wouldn’t change a thing.

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Everything You Need to Know about the LaGuardia Community College Licensed Practical Nursing Program

I recently graduated from the LaGuardia Community College’s Licensed Practical Nurse program in June of 2018. The program was the most difficult 10 months of my life. However, after successfully completing the program, I passed the NCLEX in 85 questions, obtained a job at a hospital, and am proud to call myself a nurse.

Here is what I wish I knew before starting my journey to become a nurse at LaGuardia Community College.

Pre-Reqs

Check the Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse handbook to see the most current list of required classes.

For me, the LPN program pre-reqs included:

ENG 101 Composition I* (Key) 3
SSY 101 General Psychology** (Key) 3
MAT 106 Mathematics of Medical Dosages (Key) 2
SCB 203 Fundamentals of Human Biology I (Key) 4
SCB 204 Fundamentals of Human Biology II (NEW PRE-CLINICAL COURSE**) 4

And for the RN program the prereq requirements were:

HSF090 First-Year Seminar for Health Sciences 0
SCC 110 Foundations of Chemistry (KEY)* 4
SSY 101 General Psychology (KEY)* 3
SCB 203 Fundamentals of Human Biology I (KEY)* 4
ENG 101 Composition I (KEY)** 3
SCB 204 Fundamentals of Human Biology II (As of Fall 2009) 4

**Note: SCB 240, Microbiology, is not a core requirement, but I would HIGHLY suggest you take it prior to entering the RN program, as I couldn’t imagine taking it along with your other nursing classes.

Keep in mind both the ASN and LPN nursing programs are pretty competitive to get into. SCB 203 is counted TWICE towards your GPA for candicindy. To determine who gets in, they first check that the applicants have every requirement met, they then rank students by GPA. Last I heard, the GPA to get into the RN program was around a 3.8 in the core requirements. The LPN program GPA acceptance rate was a bit lower.

TEAS

The TEAS test is required to enter either program. You must meet the current requirements, overall, and in each subject area to be considered. Once you pass, you must print and drop off your TEAS score to the nursing department before the candidacy deadline.

Candicindy

You will only be able to apply for each program twice. After you complete the prereqs, you must go to the C building and apply for candidacy. All you have to fill out one form and hand it in. Then on your transcript, you will see a code, that reflects which program you are applying for.

Sometime before they announce candidacy, you will receive a letter in the mail telling you to go to the school on a specific date and time frame to pick up your candidacy letter. This must be done in person on that one specific date and time frame they tell you.

Cost

You have to pay for your specific classes at the cost of LaGuardia Community College. Additionally, there are SEVERAL fees associated with being in the program and unfortunately, there is no way around them. Be prepared to pay for:

  • Castle Branch – when you get accepted into the program they use this to upload all your medical paperwork, vaccines, background check, and drug test.
  • ATI – throughout the program, you will use ATI. Each class you will take a proctored exam which is 5% of your final grade. ATI isn’t cheap, it averages out to almost $200 a semester!
    • TIP: Use ATI as much as possible as a resource for practice questions during the program!! Our professor even eluded that some questions on our exams were pulled from the ATI question bank!
  • Scrubs, shoes, stethoscope – You will have to buy the scrub top and bottom from a place the school uses. LPNs wear light blue pants, RNs wear dark blue pants, and both a white embroidered scrub top. You have to wear white sneakers during clinicals and you must be prepared with a working stethoscope for clinicals.
  • Books – ask around you might be able to get the ebook for most classes. You can also use the books in the library, rent books or buy used. Having access to the required textbooks are your lifeline for this program. I found that renting mine was the best option, for cost and accessibility.   

Scholarships

If you don’t receive any financial aid, I would encourage you to apply for a scholarship. LaGuardia has some amazing opportunities to help you pay for your education and they are super easy to apply for. Right on your “My LaGuardia” home screen, to the right, you should see “apply for scholarships”. Or you can apply here.   

Schedule

Know that the LPN program is accelerated. In a short 10 months, you cover 5 nursing classes, 29 credits, countless clinical hours, and what will feel like a lifetime of studying. Once accepted into the LPN program, you will be handed a schedule of classes/clinicals. You must register for those classes, you do not get to pick.

You will have classes three to four times a week at LAGCC, plus clinical classes at an assigned hospital. Classes are typically from 9 AM to either 2 PM or 7:30 PM at least twice a week and three times during the short/winter semester. In addition, you will have clinical classes which are from 8 AM to 3 PM, or 4 PM to 10 PM once or twice a week, depending on what semester you are in. Any free time you have needs to be reserved for studying.

People, including myself, were successful in working full or part-time during the program. But, in order to be successful, you must manage your time wisely.  

The LPN program is only offered once a year starting in Fall. If you fail a class, you can repeat it the following year. You can only fail one class a semester in order to be able to repeat the class and then continue the program. You only get one time to repeat any class in the program. So if you are a “repeater” and fail any other classes in the program, you fail the entire program and cannot retake it or continue.  

74.5% is the grade you need

You need a culminate average of 74.5% which rounds up to a 75% to pass each class and move on in the program. Anything less, you will get an F. Many students failed by .1 or .2 of a percent. They are very serious about the passing score grade, and will not budge under any circumstance. You have the opportunity to review every exam, and I strongly suggest you do so.

The program is very, very test-heavy. Tests account for almost all of your grade, with a small percentage being an assigned project. Your test will be taken in a similar format to the NCLEX, only through BlackBoard where you can see one question at a time and cannot go back. The questions on exams will be in multiple-choice, select all that apply, put in order, math-related or hotspot formats.  

Professors

Love them or hate them, they are great nurses and wonderful teachers. The professors have a no bull shit attitude, and frankly, I appreciate that. Be present in lectures, take notes, ask questions, and you will get along fine.

The exams are extremely fair and similar, or the same, for everyone in the program. You are allowed two weeks after each exam to review it, one on one. Additionally, the professors will let you know their office hours and you can even ask them for advice on your group project.  

Laguardia College nursing program
Photo from the LPN Pinning Ceremony, 2018

LPN classes are nursing classes

Every single class I have taken in the LPN program can be transferred and used for an RN program. The LPN program is designed to get you working faster as a nurse. Everyone takes a different path and at the end of the day, it’s what works for YOU that you should follow.

LaGuardia Community College also offers an LPN to RN advanced pathway program. I have applied candidacy and am ready to start, hopefully in March 2019. You can learn more about that program here.  

As I have heard so many people say, “LaGuardia College produces great nurses”.

The program is not easy. But after I graduated I felt prepared and knowledgeable to not only pass the NCLEX but to be ready to work. In my mind, the keys to being successful are to study endlessly, be respectful, smile, don’t do anything stupid, and be on time. It really will all pay off in the end.

Note/Disclaimer – All opinions are mine and mine alone. I am in no way affiliated with Laguardia Community College or any other entity. These opinions do not reflect any endorsement by the school or any other entity. Make sure to do your own research, ask questions, and get advised.