Strategically Bridge Your Practical Nurse Diploma to a BScN Degree
Have you ever felt caught between two choices, unsure which is the fastest, safest, or smartest route to your dream job? When it comes to a nursing career, the path can feel exactly like that. You are passionate about patient care and know you want to be a Registered Nurse (RN), but the four-year degree feels daunting. You might be asking: Is there a way to start practicing sooner, gain experience, and still reach my ultimate goal of obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree?
The answer is a resounding yes.
For aspiring nurses, the journey often doesn’t have to be a single, uninterrupted four-year sprint. Instead, a growing number of students are choosing a two-step, laddered approach: completing a Licensed Practical Nurse (PN) diploma first, and then strategically bridging that diploma to a full BScN degree. This method provides immediate job security, income, and invaluable real-world experience.
The Advantage of Starting with a Practical Nurse Diploma
Choosing to start with a Practical Nurse (PN) diploma isn’t simply a shortcut; it is a calculated career move. The Practical Nursing field is the bedrock of Canadian healthcare, and a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is a critical, high-demand role.
The moment you become a licensed LPN, your entire educational landscape changes. You transition from a student with future potential to a working professional with current earning power and practical expertise.
Accelerated Entry into the Workforce
Oulton College’s Licensed Practical Nurse program is designed to get you career-ready in just two years. This is a significant time advantage over a traditional four-year degree.
Fast Track to Income: You start earning a competitive salary faster. The average salary for an LPN in New Brunswick is approximately $51,160 per year, providing financial stability while planning your next educational move.
Immediate Job Security: LPNs are in critical demand across hospitals, long-term care, clinics, and community health settings. Upon passing the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE), you can start working immediately, ensuring your skills stay sharp.
Building Invaluable Clinical Experience
A successful PN program, like Oulton’s, includes extensive hands-on training. Oulton students benefit from approximately 15 weeks of clinical and practicum experience in real healthcare settings. This experience is the most valuable currency you can have when you eventually enter a BScN program.
Confidence in Care: You develop a strong foundation in patient assessment, medication administration, and communication before tackling the advanced theory of a degree program.
A “Try Before You Buy” Mentality: Working as an LPN allows you to explore various healthcare environments and confirm your passion, guiding your eventual specialization as an RN.
Oulton College PN Accreditation: Your Assurance of Quality
The Pathway to a BScN Degree
Bridging Your Diploma: The concept of “bridging” is what allows your PN diploma to serve as a significant head start for your degree. It means that the knowledge and credits you earned in your diploma are recognized and applied toward the requirements of the bachelor’s degree.
How PN Credits Carry Over: The PN diploma covers core competencies and courses that directly overlap with the foundational years of a BScN program. When you enroll in a bridging path, colleges assess your PN credentials and award you transfer credit for relevant courses, effectively shortening the time needed to complete the degree.
Key Benefits of Bridging:
Time and Tuition Savings: By receiving credit for your diploma coursework, you skip redundant classes, saving both time and tuition fees.
Experience-Based Learning: You enter the degree program with clinical experience that many non-PN students lack, allowing you to focus on higher-level theory and leadership skills.
Oulton College: A Hub for Atlantic Bridging
Oulton College’s Practical Nurse program is specifically recognized for facilitating bridging pathways with other academic institutions across the Atlantic region. This regional recognition means your diploma is a flexible, powerful credential, opening doors throughout Atlantic Canada for your next academic step.
While Oulton College is currently working on developing its own internal PN to BScN bridging course, its PN diploma is a strong foundation for external university pathways, including those at:
New Brunswick: University of New Brunswick (UNB)
Pathway: UNB offers an LPN-BN (Bachelor of Nursing) Nursing Pathway which is a cluster of six required courses.
Outcome: Successfully completing the pathway allows you to apply for transfer into the third year of the four-year Bachelor of Nursing (BN) program in Fredericton.
Transfer Credit: Admitted students are granted a block transfer of 50 credit hours based on their Practical Nurse program.
Requirements: You must hold an active practicing LPN license in good standing, be a graduate of an 18-month or two-year practical nursing program and meet minimum GPA and course requirements.
Nova Scotia: Acadia University
Pathway: Acadia offers a dedicated LPN to BScN Pathway.
Outcome: This route typically shortens the completion time for the BScN program to around two years.
Key Requirements: This pathway is specifically for LPNs who are currently licensed and have a required amount of nursing career experience- typically 1,800 hours of work experience as a licensed practical nurse within the last two years.
Newfoundland & Labrador: Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)
Pathway: MUN’s Centre for Nursing Studies offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Collaborative) LPN Bridging Admission Option.
Process: Successful applicants complete a Bridging Semester (usually in the Spring) consisting of non-nursing and a specialized bridging course.
Outcome: Upon successful completion of the Bridging Semester, LPNs are granted significant transfer credits and are accepted into Year 2 of the four-year BScN program.
The key takeaway is that your Oulton PN diploma is a strategic tool that is recognized and valued by these major Atlantic universities as a clear path to advanced standing in their BScN programs.
Oulton College supports the ease of working in the field upon completion of the PN diploma, knowing that this practical foundation creates better Registered Nurses down the line. It ensures you have the option to enter the workforce, save money, and then continue your studies with purpose and perspective.
Take the Next Step
By starting with the fully ANBLPN-accredited Practical Nurse program at Oulton College, you gain immediate professional licensure and work experience that is recognized throughout the Atlantic region. You then position yourself perfectly to enter dedicated LPN bridging programs at institutions like the University of New Brunswick, Acadia University, and Memorial University.
Your actionable next step is simple: Contact an admissions advisor at Oulton College today to begin the process of enrolling in the Practical Nurse program. Simultaneously, research the specific LPN bridging requirements at your university of choice to align your diploma and work experience with their advanced standing options. Your career as an experienced, successful Registered Nurse begins with a focused choice today.
Don't just chase your dream, strategize it!
Explore Oulton College’s PN program today and picture yourself stepping confidently into your future nursing career. Start your journey to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Remember that by investing in your education, you are investing in your future, gaining the skills and connections you need to thrive in your chosen nursing career and life.
Frequently asked questions:
Is the Oulton College Practical Nurse diploma accepted for bridging at other Atlantic Canadian institutions?
Yes. Oulton College’s ANBLPN-accredited diploma is recognized for its high standard of education, facilitating bridging with universities across the Atlantic region, including UNB, Acadia, and Memorial. This flexibility ensures your PN diploma is a highly valuable first step.
What is the primary benefit of the LPN-to-BScN bridging pathway?
The main benefit is advanced standing in the degree program. Universities grant transfer credits for your PN diploma, allowing you to bypass foundational courses and enter the BScN in a later year, shortening your time to achieve RN licensure.
What are the main benefits of working as an LPN before completing the BScN degree?
The key benefits are gaining immediate income and valuable clinical experience. Working as an LPN allows you to save money and gain real-world perspective, which enhances your performance when you return to pursue your advanced BScN degree.
*Please note that information may be subject to modifications. We encourage current and prospective students to visit the websites and contact your admissions advisor in order to obtain the most recent information.
