Overcoming barriers to role transition during an online post LPN to BN program

Abstract

Canadian Licensed Practical Nurses continuing their education in an online Bachelor of Nursing program face unique barriers as they transition towards a new and more complex nursing role. This qualitative descriptive study explored Post Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Nursing (Post LPN to BN) students' perceptions of their experiences during their education. George Kelly's (1955/1991) psychology of personal constructs, which seeks to understand how individuals perceive the world around them, was the theoretical framework for this three year longitudinal project in which 10 Post LPN to BN students were interviewed at the beginning, middle and end of their program. Transcripts from the interviews were analyzed and three key themes are presented to illustrate barriers that Post LPN to BN students faced and the strategies they implemented to overcame them. First, workplace mentors helped Post LPN to BN students apply their learning. Second, personal learning goals sustained their motivation. Third, time management strategies included terminating full time employment.

Nurses' perceptions and experiences of work role transitions: a mixed methods systematic review of the literature

“…Gaining a new identity is also associated with changes to attitudes and values for both novice nurses (Fagerberg & Ekman , Glen & Waddington , Bjorkstrom et al . , Etheridge ) and for experienced nurses moving from second to first level registration (Dearnley , Melrose & Gordon ). But for the other two groups of experienced nurses, those undergoing clinical role change and those moving from experienced to specialist practitioner, changes in attitudes and values were not reported in this review.…”

“…These can be a particular problem for newly qualified nurses (Kapborg & Fischbein , Schloessler & Waldo ), although they can also be an issue for experienced nurses (Glen & Waddington ). In addition, in a range of studies (Fagerberg & Ekman , Dearnley , Barton , Melrose & Gordon ) both novice and experienced nurses acknowledged the importance of being able to integrate theoretical with practical knowledge for competence and know how.…”

Licensed Practical Nurses becoming Registered Nurses: Conflicts and responses that can help

“…Transitioning from one nursing role to another can evoke differing emotions and might precipitate intra-and potentially interpersonal conflict between nurse colleagues. LPN to RN learners seek help from workplace mentors to apply their learning [28] . And yet, when they feel other nurses do not respect the LPN role as much as the RN role, do not adequately acknowledge LPN knowledge, and they aren't exposed to RN experiences that help them become part of the RN community, seeking help becomes difficult.…”

Becoming Socialized into a New Professional Role: LPN to BN Student Nurses' Experiences with Legitimation

“…Vocationally educated Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who enter an online university to upgrade their credentials by earning a Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree can find the experience of socializing into a new and more complex professional role challenging [1, 2]. Professional socialization is the process of learning a professional role and emerging as a member of an occupational culture [3].…”