Practical Nurses' Lived Experience of Returning to School.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Qualitative Research
• Phenomenology

Background:

• The transition experience of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) pursuing Bachelor of Nursing (BN) education in Canada is under-researched.
• Understanding this experience is crucial for developing effective educational support systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of LPNs bridging into a BN program.
• To identify the challenges and facilitators of their educational transition.

Main Methods:

• Phenomenological methodology, following Max van Manen's approach.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with LPNs in a BN program.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged: seeking advancement, re-entering the student role, balancing multiple life domains (work, school, family), facing a lack of understanding from others, and developing a changed perspective.
• LPN-to-BN students possess a strong existing nursing identity.

Conclusions:

• LPNs transitioning to BN programs experience a complex journey.
• A tailored, stand-alone bridge course is recommended to facilitate their success and ensure they meet registered nurse (RN) entry-to-practice competencies.