LPN to RN Bridge: Fast-Track Part-Time, A.S.

(72 credits: 12 experiential credits awarded for LPN status.)

The College offers opportunities for Licensed Practical Nurses to become Registered Nurses through an accelerated curriculum. Because of the common body of knowledge between the Practical Nursing program and the Registered Nursing program, it is possible for accepted Licensed Practical Nurses to complete the LPN-to-RN Bridge: Fast-Track Part-Time, a component of the Associate in Science Degree in Nursing (ASDN) program, in approximately 12 months. Completion of this component qualifies the student to take the national licensing exam to become a registered nurse.

The Associate of Science Degree at Florida Gateway College is on its first year of probation (February - December 2020) by the Florida Board of Nursing due to low NCLEX-RN exam scores 10% or more below the national average for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019). Program Status: Approved-Probation, Florida Board of Nursing, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C02, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252, 850-245-4125. 

The Associate of Science Degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30326, 404-975-5000.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. 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 patients’ preferences, values, and needs.
2. The student will minimize the risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
3. The student will be able to use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making.
4. 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.
5. The student will integrate evidence based practice with clinical expertise to include quality improvement methods for delivery of optimal health care.

Students seeking admission to the LPN-RN Bridge: Fast Track component must:

• submit a Florida Gateway College admission application to the Office of Enrollment Services,
• have official high school transcript, GED or documentation of Home Schooling, and any transcripts from colleges other than FGC sent to the FGC Office of Enrollment Services,
• provide scores for ACT or SAT standardized testing OR register and take a college placement test prior to seeing an academic advisor in the Student Engagement department,
• complete developmental education courses as required, prior to registering for the science courses,
• complete all prerequisite courses with a Program GPA of 2.80 or higher and no grade lower than a C,
• All science courses (BSC 2085/L, BSC 2086/L, MCB 2010/L) must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher,
• All prerequisite courses must be completed by end of fall semester before program begins in the spring semester,
• if the applicant graduated from a PN program outside the state of Florida, the applicant must apply to the ASDN Traditional Generic program,
• if the applicant graduated from a state of Florida PN program more than 5 years ago, the applicant must apply to the ASDN LPN-RN Traditional Bridge program,
• submit to the Nursing Department by the established deadline:
  • the Fast-Track Bridge supplemental application,
  • an unofficial copy of transcripts from colleges including FGC,
  • a copy of current Florida LPN license,
  • complete the nursing entrance exam and the Upward Mobility Exam with a score of 75 or higher. These exams are available through the FGC Testing Center and scores must be within past two years,
  • documentation of full-time work experience as an LPN (acute care facility preferred). All applicants must have six (6) months of documented full-time work experience as an LPN prior to admission. Applicants with less than six (6) months of full-time work experience from an employer/employers as an LPN as of the application deadline, must submit documentation of all full-time work experience at that time. Proof of completion of remaining work experience (to equal or exceed six (6) months) must be submitted by the last day of open registration as determined by the FGC Academic Calendar.
  • prove competence of the following skills: Foley catheter insertion, Tracheostomy care, and basic assessment. Students have the option to practice these skills in our nursing skills lab before being tested. A signed skill check off sheet will be provided when skills have been successfully completed and must be submitted with the application. No application will be processed without the completed check off sheet.
  • proof of completion of a 30-hour IV Therapy class within 18 months of admission to the program. The 30-hour IV Therapy course must be completed by the end of fall semester of the year the student is applying to the program. NOTE: If you completed a class over 18 months from date of admission, proof of IV experience and two successful IV starts within the past three months will be accepted.
  • may be randomly selected for an interview before final acceptance to the program. If selected for an interview, applicant must come in professional attire and be prepared to write a 2-paragraph reflection paper related to an assigned area in nursing.

Prerequisite courses completed by the end of the fall semester in which you are applying are included in the required 2.8 GPA for admission to the program.

The prospective student must provide official transcripts to the Nursing Department and the Office of Enrollment Services immediately following the end of fall semester for prerequisites taken at a college other than FGC during the fall semester in which the student is applying. The transcripts must be received by the last day of open registration as determined by the FGC Academic Calendar. Failure to provide these in a timely manner may result in nonadmission to the nursing program.

Applicants are responsible for providing the above documentation if they wish to be considered for admission to the nursing program. Make copies of all documentation for your personal records. Failure to present proper documentation may result in non-acceptance into the program.

Meeting the above criteria does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission is competitive and is awarded to those individuals with the highest points using the ASDN Point System. Priority acceptance will be given to Florida Gateway College graduates who have met the minimum requirements.

In-depth admission information may be found in the ASDN LPN-to-RN Bridge: Fast Track Part-Time Admission Packet on the College Web site at www.fgc.edu. Florida Gateway College reserves the right to make changes in admission criteria and program information as circumstances require in the continuing development of the program.

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 in the respective program acceptance letter. 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.

All students who graduate from a nursing program and wish to take the registered nurse NCLEX-RN exam in Florida are subject to the licensure and screening process of the Florida Board of Nursing.

Program Readmission

A student who has been admitted into the program and withdraws or does not satisfactorily complete the requirements for a nursing course may be considered for readmission pending successful interview.

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. The following prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the Fall term prior to January admission.

Registered Nursing A.S. Total 72 Credit Hours