Beginning in the 2014 fall semester, the Northwest Mississippi Community College Division of Nursing will offer a Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) to Registered Nursing (RN) Transition program that will enable LPNs who meet certain requirements to enter the college’s Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) program at a sophomore level.
LPNs interested in the program must have met all the requirements and submit their application no later than April 15.
In order to achieve advanced placement in the ADN program, LPNs must meet the following requirements: have proof of their active and unrestricted LPN licensure; completed applications to Northwest and to the Northwest Division of Nursing; have an enhanced ACT composite score of 18 or above; have an applicable score within five points of the national average on the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam; a written recommendation letter from either their nursing supervisor or if not currently employed, from a faculty member from the school of practical nursing they attended; and a GPA of 2.0 or above in courses required for the nursing curriculum. Students must have completed College Algebra with a C or above or have a Math ACT score of 19 or above and have completed Anatomy and Physiology I and II with a C or better within the last seven years. Other requirements include English Composition I and other electives.
If accepted into the transition program, LPNs will enroll in an intensive eight-week summer course designed to facilitate the transition of the LPN to the role of a professional RN. The content of the course is designed to expand the LPN’s knowledge base, and cover any content specific for the freshman level course in the ADN program. The course will include both lecture and lab components.
“We developed the course by doing a gap analysis between what students learn in the LPN program and what our students learn in the first year of the ADN program. We tried to identify these areas and include them in the summer course. With their LPN background and the transition course, they should be at the same level as the first semester sophomore students and be able to complete their ADN in two semesters. We collaborated with our own LPN instructors and program, of course, but they don’t have to have received their LPN training at Northwest. Any LPN who meets the requirements may apply, ” said Dr. Ellen Williams, dean of the Division of Nursing.
Williams explained that there is limited admission for this summer, as it is the first time this course has been taught, but plans are to expand the program for next year and the following years to accept more students. “We are really excited that this program is coming together,” Williams said.
For more information on scheduling the Kaplan Entrance Exam, or any of the other requirements for the program, contact the Nursing Division at 662-562-3283.
Courtesy NWCC communications
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