LPN-RN Bridge Fast Track

Applicants must complete all pre-requisite courses with a GPA of 2.8 or higher. Pre-requisite courses must be completed by the end of the summer semester of the year the student is applying to the program.

All science courses (BSC 2085/L, BSC 2086/L, MCB2010L) must be completed with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Science courses must be taken within 5 years of application.

All courses must be completed by the end of the summer term of the year in which the student is applying to the program and must have the required 2.8 GPA.

Applicants must score a 55% proficiency or higher on the Nurse Entrance Exam (TEAS) admission test. Scores must be submitted to the nursing department no later than the application deadline indicated on the front of the packet.

Applicants must score an 80 or higher on the Upward Mobility Exam. Exams scores must be submitted to the nursing department no later than the application deadline indicated on the front of the packet. The applicant has unlimited attempts to take the exam.

Applicants must successfully demonstrate competency regarding the following skills: Foley catheter insertion, Tracheostomy care, and basic assessment. Please call Jeanette Blackmon at 386-754-4404 to schedule an appointment to complete these check-offs. Students have the option to practice these skills in our nursing lab before being tested. Please contact Jeannette Blackmon to find out lab open times for practice. A signed skill check-off sheet will be provided when skills have been successfully completed. Please include this signed check-off sheet with the application. No application will be processed without this sheet.

Applicants must have graduated from an LPN program in the state of Florida within the last 3 years.

Applicants must successfully complete a 30-hour IV Therapy course within 18 months of admission to the program. The course must be completed by the end of the fall semester of the year the student is applying to the program. NOTE: If the applicant completed a course over 18 months from date of admission, documentation of IV experience and two successful IV starts within the past 3 months must be submitted.

Applicants may be randomly selected for an interview before final acceptance to the program. If selected, please come in professional attire and be prepared to write a 2-paragraph reflection paper related to an assigned area in nursing.

Applicants need to have worked a minimum of six months full-time as an LPN.  

All the above criteria must be completed before final acceptance into the program.

Prior to starting Associate of Science in nursing program:

1. Prospective students who have completed the steps above will be required to complete the clinical eligibility requirements listed in the Associate of Science LPN-RN BRIDGE: Fast Track application booklet.
2. To meet clinical agency requirements for clinical experience, all students in the Nursing and Health Sciences Programs must meet state and federal regulations as described by Florida Statutes S. 400.211. A Level II background check and drug/alcohol screening are required. Further instructions regarding the background and 10-panel drug/alcohol screen are provided on the first day of the course. Please note that random screening may be required while in the program. Students are responsible for the cost of all screening done for admission and randomly during the program.
3. Additional costs are required when admitted to this program, including costs of uniforms, clinic shoes, liability insurance, health insurance, medical exam, standardized testing, graduation costs, immunizations, Level II background check, 10-panel drug/alcohol screening, books, and licensing fees. 

• The program begins each spring term. 
• There is limited access to the program.
• This program offers students:
  • Low student to faculty ratio
  • Hands-on learning environment 
• The ASDN degree qualifies the graduate to apply to the Florida Board of Nursing to take the National Council of State Board of Nursing Licensing Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

The LPN-RN Bridge Track: Fast-track Part-time component includes 30 credit hours of general education courses, 30 credit hours of nursing courses, and 12 experiential learning credits.

Experiential Credit* 12 Credit Hours

 * 12 college credits are awarded to all students for experiential learning in nursing upon successful completion of NUR 1204C with a grade of C or better, as well as documentation of licensure and a minimum of six (6) months of full-time employment. 

In order to meet graduation requirements, students must demonstrate knowledge of computers as set forth in the Associate in Science Degree General Education Requirements of the Catalog.

Registered Nursing A.S. Total 72 Credit Hours

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NUR 1204C Transition to Adult Health I 

The Transition: Adult Health course introduces the experienced Licensed Practical Nurse to the functional and professional roles of the registered nurse, nursing process, assessment of basic needs, and unmet needs that occur in response to imbalances in homeostasis affecting the biological systems and human dimensions. Students review basic interventions and learn more complex interventions to assist patients to promote, maintain, or restore homeostasis. The professional roles of the nurse as provider of care and beginning manager of care are also emphasized. The clinical focus is on using increasingly complex skills and interventions within these roles to assist the adult patient in regaining optimal health.

NUR 2261C Transition Adult Health II 

The focus of this course is continue transition of LPNs on the theoretical application of the nursing process to selected complex medical surgical conditions, and mental health problems affecting the adult client. Related pathophysiological and psychosocial concepts, principles of nutrition and communication, and pharmacology and critical care aspects are included as they apply to the selected conditions.

NUR 2412C Transition: Maternal Infant Child Adolescent 

Application of the nursing process in meeting the health-care needs of women, children, and families. Roles of the nurse as a provider of care, communicator, teacher, manager and member of the health-care profession provide the framework for clinical application and evaluation. Areas of study focus on reproduction, pregnancy (with emphasis on labor and delivery and complications of childbirth), growth and development of children from birth through adolescence (with emphasis on responses to disease and other stress conditions).

NUR 2801C Transition Nursing Roles and Leadership 

This course focuses transitioning of LPNs on concepts, principles, and theories of leadership, management, role development and administration in a variety of culturally diverse health care delivery systems. It is designed to develop beginning leadership skills for the associate degree nursing students that are necessary to manage clients and health care workers.

• The student will recognize the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient’s preferences values and needs. (Competency: Patient-Centered Care)
• The student will minimize the risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance. (Competency: Safety)
• The student will be able to use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making. (Competency: Informatics)
• The student will integrate evidence-based practice with clinical expertise to include quality improvement methods for delivery of optimal health care. (Competencies: Evidence-based & Quality Improvement)
• The student will function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care. (Competencies: Teamwork, Collaboration, Leadership & Professionalism)

Cronenwett, L., Sherwood, G., Barnsteiner J., Disch, J., Johnson, J., Mitchell, P., Sullivan, D., Warren, J. (2007). Quality and safety education for nurses. Nursing Outlook, 55(3)122-31.

Book list and materials required for the LPN-RN Bridge Fast-Track program will be given to students admitted to the LPN-RN Bridge Fast-Track program at the mandatory new student orientation, that is held before the start of program.