Every member of the nursing team has a vital role in the provision of compassionate care to patients in need. As a profession, nursing offers different paths to entry – starting from the certified nursing assistant to licensed vocational nurses to registered nurses. If you’re currently licensed to practice as a vocational nurse, you can easily transition to registered nursing through LVN to RN bridge programs and obtain more autonomy in practice. The transition might be challenging as you navigate the work-school balance, but the rewards are worth it. The LPN transition program takes your wealth of knowledge and experience into consideration, and awards credit, so you can complete the requirements for an associate degree in registered nursing in 12 to 15 months. At the conclusion of the training and licensure as a registered nurse, you will not only increase your income earning potential by as much as 40 percent but also enhance your job opportunities and have greater autonomy in the care of patients.
Tarrant County College
Licensed Vocational Nurses seeking entry to the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing at Tarrant County College can receive credit by examination for first-semester courses. This fast-track option is available for licensed vocational nurses, paramedics, or military medics. Current certification as a LVN is required for admission. Credit (9 credit hours) will be granted for Nursing Skills, Clinical-Foundations for Nursing Practice, and Foundations for Nursing Practice. The credit granted will shorten the program completion time to 15 months. Applicants must schedule and take an exam after completing the online preparatory course. LVNs will then start the program with a 10-week summer session where they will complete Mental Health Nursing and Clinical-Mental Health Nursing. Graduates are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX for Registered Nurses. They can also enroll in an RN-to-BSN program to complete a bachelor of science degree in nursing.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 51
Duration: 15 months
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
General Education Courses – Anatomy and Physiology I (Lecture and Lab), Anatomy and Physiology II (Lecture and Lab), Microbiology for Non-Science Majors (Lecture and Lab) or Microbiology for Science Majors (Lecture and Lab)
Core Courses – Common Concepts of Adult Health, Clinical – Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Life Span Growth and Development, Mental Health Nursing, Clinical – Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Care of Children and Families, Clinical – Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Complex Concepts of Adult Health, Clinical – Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Creative Arts/Language, Philosophy and Culture
Admission criteria:
- Apply to TCC and obtain a Student ID number after acceptance
- Apply for admission to the nursing program
- Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better before applying to the nursing program
- Complete the TOEFL or IELTS if native language is not English
- Take and pass the HESI A2 with a score of 75 or higher on Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar, Anatomy and Physiology, and Math
- Submit official transcripts of college courses for evaluation before applying to the nursing program
- Must obtain a negative drug screen
- Complete Declaratory Order Process if required
- Complete a satisfactory background check – applicants with a history of criminal charges, mental illness or chemical dependency must request a Declaratory Order from the Texas Board of Nursing to determine eligibility for licensure
- Provide proof of medical insurance
- Must have a current LVN license
- Must have current Healthcare Provider CPR course – approved by the American Heart Association
- Must have a valid social security card
- Participate in a nursing program orientation
- Submit a record of immunization – 2 doses MMR, Tdap, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, seasonal flu
- Must have a negative TB skin test or T-spot
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $64 per semester hour for legal resident of Tarrant County and $126 per semester hour for legal resident of another Texas County. Legal residents of another state will pay $305 per semester hour. Other charges for books, fees, supplies, and uniforms will apply.
Website: https://www.tccd.edu/
Address: 245 East Belknap Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: 817-515-2339
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 86.99%
Brookhaven College
Brookhaven College offers an Advanced Placement Associate Degree Nursing program for licensed vocational nurses to transition into the second semester of the Associate Degree curriculum. With advanced placement, they will complete the final three semesters of the traditional associate degree nursing program. Applicants to this pathway must have a valid, unrestricted/unencumbered LVN license. After completing the program, students will be awarded an additional 8 semester credit hours of equivalency credit for Foundations for Nursing Practice, Nursing Skills I, and Clinical Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. Graduates will be eligible to apply to sit the NCLEX-RN Examination to become licensed as a Registered Nurse (R.N.) in Texas.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 60
Duration: 1.5 years
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
Prerequisites – Composition I, Anatomy and Physiology I or Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Introductory Chemistry I or General Chemistry I, Lifespan Growth and Development
Core Courses – Nursing Skills II, Mental Health Nursing, Clinical – Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Common Concepts of Adult Health, Clinical – Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Microbiology for Non Science Majors, Maternal/Newborn Nursing and Women’s Health, Clinical – Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Care of Children and Families, Clinical – Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Complex Concepts of Adult Health, Clinical – Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Introduction to Ethics
Admission criteria:
- Meet all the requirements for admission to the Brookhaven College
- Complete the designated assessment testing process and and any required remediation including the state TSI math requirement
- Complete the prerequisite courses with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
- Submit a completed application packet to the Allied Health Admissions Office via email during the designated filing period
- Must have a current, unencumbered vocational nursing license
- Submit official transcripts of college courses completed
- Must obtain a negative drug screen
- Complete a satisfactory background check – applicants with a history of criminal charges, mental illness or chemical dependency must request a Declaratory Order from the Texas Board of Nursing to determine eligibility for licensure
- Provide proof of medical insurance
- Must have current Healthcare Provider CPR course – approved by the American Heart Association
- Must have a valid social security card
- Participate in a nursing program orientation
- Submit record of immunization – 2 doses MMR, Tdap, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, seasonal flu
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $79 per credit hour for Dallas County residents and $135 per credit hour of out-of-county residents. Out-of-state students will pay $200 per credit hour. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
Website: https://www.dcccd.edu/pages/default.aspx
Address: 3939 Valley View Ln, Farmers Branch, TX 75244
Phone: 972-860-4700
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 86.96%
Navarro College — Waxahachie Campus
The Associate Degree Nursing program at Navarro College is open to current licensed vocational nurses who plan to complete the requirements for a registered nursing degree. The LVN-to-RN bridge option gives them the opportunity to enter the associate of applied science degree in nursing program at the second year of the program. The curriculum covers classroom learning activities, campus skills labs, faculty-directed low tech clinical simulation exercises, and clinical learning experiences. Graduates will be eligible to take the licensure exam to become a registered nurse.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 61
Duration: 15 months
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
Prerequisites –Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II
Degree Plan – Integrated Care of the Patient with Common Health Care Needs, Clinical – Nursing Care of Clients With Common Health Care Needs, Microbiology for Non-Science Majors, Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family, Clinical – Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family, Integrated Care of the Patient With Complex Health Care Needs, Clinical – Integrated Care of the Patient With Complex Health Care Needs, General Psychology, Approved Language/ Philosophy/ Culture or Creative Arts, Integrated Client Care Management, Clinical – Integrated Client Care Management
Admission criteria:
- Must attend a program information session
- Apply for admission to Navarro College and select the degree plan during admission
- Request all college transcripts to be sent directly to NC Registrar
- Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade C or better
- Submit an ADN application for admission before the published deadline
- Must have a current unencumbered vocational nursing license
- Provide documentation of current immunizations – hepatitis B vaccine series, two MMR or a positive antibody titer, 2 varicella, 1 dose of Tdap, influenza
- Register for fingerprints – after offer of admission
- Submit blue card sent by TxBON
- Register for drug screening
- Provide proof of American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider CPR
- Provide proof of TB skin test
- Attend a mandatory program orientation
- Provide verification of social security card and driver’s license
- Provide proof of health insurance
Program Cost:
The total estimated program cost is $9,373 for in-district students and $14,143 for out-of-state students. The cost includes tuition, program fees and additional student costs, which includes textbooks, immunizations, supplies, and background check.
Website: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/
Address: 1900 John Arden Drive, Waxahachie, TX 75165-5220
Phone: (972) 937-7612
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 93.33%