What Do You Learn in an LPN to BSN Curriculum?
Written by:
Wilson College
• Jun 26, 2026
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provide basic patient care, often under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN). LPNs can expand their clinical responsibilities and increase their earning potential by advancing their education and becoming RNs.
The median annual salary for RNs was more than $30,000 higher than that for LPNs, according to May 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). RNs also benefit from strong demand, with over 189,000 job openings projected annually between 2024 and 2034.
By completing an LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program , LPNs can develop the knowledge and clinical skills required for careers as RNs.
What Is an LPN to BSN Degree Program?
An LPN to BSN degree program gives LPNs credit for their prior education while preparing nursing students to become an RN. These nursing bridge programs can save nurses both time and money.
The job duties and responsibilities of an LPN vs. RN differ in critical ways. While LPNs provide basic care, RNs have a broader clinical scope of practice and greater autonomy. For example, RNs can conduct health assessments and create treatment plans. In many healthcare settings, RNs supervise direct care staff, including LPNs.
Bridge programs build on LPNs’ nursing knowledge and skill to prepare them for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and RN licensure. These programs encourage professional development and enhance the diversity of the nursing workforce, according to a 2023 analysis by Nurse Education in Practice.
LPNs who graduate with a BSN enter the workforce with the preferred degree of many employers.
Topics in an LPN to BSN Curriculum
LPNs complete nursing courses and pass a licensure exam. While RNs follow a similar path, the NCLEX-RN covers topics that LPN education doesn’t. An LPN to BSN curriculum builds on previous experience to prepare graduates with that advanced knowledge and training.
Key curriculum areas include:
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Health Assessment: Nursing students learn how to provide comprehensive health assessments that go beyond physiology to assess health risks, stressors, and mental health. Learners explore the nursing process to develop their clinical judgement. This topic also covers health promotion and disease prevention skills.
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Professional Nursing: Learners strengthen their evidence-based practice, nursing leadership, and teamwork skills in courses that emphasize professional nursing. Coursework develops communication and collaboration skills, as well as ethical principles.
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Pharmacology: RNs need a strong understanding of pharmacology to meet licensure requirements and provide high-quality patient care. Nursing students explore pharmacodynamics, medication interactions, drug classifications, and the safe administration of medication.
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Clinical Experience: During BSN classes, nursing students develop clinical skills through hands-on training. Supervised clinical experiences allow learners to apply nursing concepts in clinical settings while strengthening patient care skills.
Nursing schools develop their LPN to BSN curriculum based on professional standards for RNs, BSN nursing competencies, nursing education quality and safety guidelines, and the Code of Ethics for Nurses.
LPN to BSN Classes
Nursing bridge programs build on the knowledge that nursing students bring into the program. The classes that LPNs take during an LPN to BSN program develop the patient care and clinical skills needed to work as RNs.
LPN to BSN classes include:
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Nursing care for the chronically ill
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Nursing care for medical-surgical patients
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Complex care across the lifespan
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Research in healthcare
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Healthcare informatics
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Nursing leadership
Current RNs with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) who enroll in an RN to BSN program complete a similar BSN curriculum to advance their degree level.
Key Skills You Can Gain in an LPN to BSN Program
An LPN to BSN program develops the knowledge and skills that nurses need to qualify for an RN license and advance their careers. In addition to meeting licensure requirements, an LPN to BSN program develops the nursing skills below.
Patient-Centered Care
LPN to BSN programs prepare nurses to provide patient-centered care. This care model takes a holistic approach to nursing by considering medical needs, values, and support systems. Patient-centered care requires nurses to take a collaborative approach to build trust with patients and their families.
Nursing students graduate with the knowledge and skills to develop personalized treatment plans that draw on evidence-based practices. Learners also develop strategies to engage patients in decision-making throughout the care process.
Clinical Decision-Making
RNs work in hospitals, home healthcare, doctor’s offices, clinics, and many other settings. An LPN to BSN program develops the clinical decision-making skills that improve care outcomes.
Nursing students strengthen clinical judgment through BSN classes and clinical experiences. Experienced faculty and supervisors support learners as they expand their critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
Nursing Leadership
RNs draw on their leadership skills to advocate for patients, encourage a culture of safety, and lead nursing teams. Nursing students strengthen their leadership skills during a BSN program.
Critical leadership skills for nurses include communication, collaboration, and professionalism. Nurse leaders also prioritize improving quality of practice and safety. BSN-prepared nurses can take on leadership roles such as charge nurse or nurse manager.
Enroll in the LPN to BSN Program at Wilson College Online
LPNs who are ready to expand their clinical duties and increase their earning potential should consider becoming RNs. The LPN to BSN program at Wilson College Online offers a fast-track path to a BSN. Nursing students benefit from a flexible learning environment and a supportive program that maximizes prior educational experience.
In as little as two years, LPNs can graduate with a BSN, earn an RN license, work in various specialties, or continue their education with a graduate degree. Find out how Wilson can help you take control of your future.
Recommended Readings
5 Benefits of a BSN: What Nurses Should Know
How to Balance Nursing School and Work
Sources:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice
American Nurses Association, ADN vs. BSN: Which Is Right for You?
American Nurses Association, The Levels of Nursing Practice
Health Resources and Services Administration, Nurse Workforce Projections, 2022-2037
Nurse Education in Practice, “Learnings From Nursing Bridging Education Programs: A Scoping Review”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
