54 Weeks
Available methods of delivery: Blended*
The objective of the LPN to RN Bridge program is to prepare the graduate to function as a member of the healthcare team within the scope and practice of the Registered Nurse as defined by the West Virginia State Nurse Practice Act. Students will utilize the nursing process in assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation of persons, families, and communities in a diversity of healthcare environments. Nursing courses are taken sequentially as defined by the West Virginia Junior College Nursing Program Student Handbook. An NCLEX-RN review course is required after completion of all coursework and prior to graduation. The program seeks to prepare the student with accountability for their personal and professional conduct as nursing graduates and to meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. Successful completion of the NCLEX-RN and application for licensure as a registered nurse in the state of their choosing is the responsibility of the graduate. The College will confirm program completion of graduates to the State of West Virginia Board of Nursing. An NCLEX-RN review course is required after completion of all coursework and prior to graduation. LPN to RN Bridge students will take courses according to the sequence listed below.
Transitional Courses
Students who are accepted into the LPN to RN Bridge Program will complete the following courses during their first quarter.
Transfer Courses
Successful completion of the transitional quarter requires a minimum grade of “B” in every course. Students who successfully complete the transitional quarter courses will be awarded transfer credit for the following courses.
Remaining Courses
Following successful completion of the Transition Courses, LPN to RN Bridge students must complete the following courses to complete the program.
LPN to RN Bridge students must adhere to the ATI Progression and Remediation Policy for the LPN to RN Bridge Program. LPN to RN Bridge Program students are bound by all program policies in place for the nursing program.
*This Campus has entered in a Consortium Agreement with West Virginia Junior College (WVJC), 148 Willey Street, Morgantown, WV, 26505 for the delivery of its online training. For any portion of this program that may be delivered through an online format, that training will be provided by WVJC. The portion of this program that can be delivered by WVJC is limited to 75% of the total credit hours. There are no additional costs incurred to receive this training through the online delivery format.
~This campus has entered into a Contracting Agreement with Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) for the delivery of clinical and lab instruction. For those students who receive clinical or lab instruction at a CAMC facility, the delivery of this instruction could be in accordance with that contractual agreement and it would not exceed 49% of the total program.
Replaced Courses
LPN to RN Bridge Program students are not required to complete the following courses:
APN 103 Anatomy and Physiology III/Lab
NUT 201 Nutrition and Diet Therapy
These credit hours are replaced by the transitional course LRT101. Subsequent prerequisite requirements based on this course are satisfied by completion of the transitional course LRT101.
LPN to RN Bridge Graduation Requirements
This program satisfies the educational prerequisites for professional nursing licensure in the state of West Virginia. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. Information regarding employment outcomes, graduation statistics, and state-specific licensure requirements is available upon request.
Graduation Requirements:
To qualify for graduation from the LPN to RN Bridge Program and receive the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a student must meet the following criteria:
A. Academic Performance
- Successfully complete all required courses with a grade of “B” (80%) or higher.
- Students who receive a grade below a “B” in any course will be academically dismissed and must reapply for admission to the program.
B. Laboratory Competency
- Satisfactorily complete all required laboratory skill competencies as outlined in the nursing curriculum.
C. Clinical Performance
- Satisfactorily complete all assigned clinical hours and associated performance evaluations as defined by program expectations and outlined in the nursing curriculum.
D. ATI Proctored Testing
- Complete all required ATI proctored exams with a Proficiency Level 2 or 3, with the exception of the one ATI Proctored Exam allowed per program guidelines.
E. NCLEX Readiness Benchmark
- To fulfill the NCLEX readiness requirement, students must either:
- Achieve a minimum 90% predicted probability of passing the NCLEX-RN on the ATI Comprehensive Predictor, or
- Complete the Virtual ATI NCLEX Review and receive the ATI Green Light or 100% completion status as verified by the ATI coach.
- For further details on testing progression, remediation, and ATI virtual review requirements, please refer to the Nursing Student Handbook.
Licensure Requirements for Registered Nurses
In order to become licensed as a registered nurse in West Virginia, graduates must sit for the National Council of State Board of Nursing’s National Certification Licensure Exam for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN) and meet all state requirements.
Nursing licensure is required in each state and is governed by each state's legislature. Additional information regarding professional licensure or certification requirements can be located on the college’s website at the following link: https://charleston.catalog.wvjc.edu/nursing-program-disclosure-wvjc-charleston
The graduate may obtain copies of their transcripts for submission to other state boards of nursing. Successful completion of the NCLEX-RN and application for licensure as a registered nurse in a state other than the state in which the institution is located is the responsibility of the graduate. Each state has the right to establish (and change from time to time) its own requirements. Therefore, any nursing student who may be considering practicing out of state should check with the state’s requirements before beginning classes.
Program Difficulty
Being accepted into the nursing program does not guarantee successful completion of the program. Furthermore, successfully completing the program does not guarantee that a graduate will pass the NCLEX-RN exam which is required for practice in the field of nursing. The greatest contributor to success is the effort students put into schoolwork and in preparing for the NCLEX-RN exam. Nursing programs are extremely demanding and require long hours of intense effort, including a great deal of out-of-class work and extra preparation both in school and after graduation to maximize the likelihood of passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Because of the difficulty, drop-out rates in nursing programs can exceed fifty percent.
Nursing Employment Opportunities
The US Department of Labor projects very good future employment opportunities nationwide, although demand can vary depending on location. As in all occupations, newly graduated nurses with no work experience are on the first rung of the career ladder. As associate degree prepared graduate nurses who pass the NCLEX exam and meet the other requirements to become registered nurses, our graduates are qualified to practice their profession in the state. As with any profession, the more experience and the more education a graduate obtains, (including advanced degrees and/or other certifications) the more employment opportunities will be available. Some employment opportunities may not be available to recent graduates without work experience and/or a more advanced degree or, in some cases, a specialized certification.