LPN to RN Bridge: Traditional Full-Time, A.S.

(72 credits: 10 experiential credits awarded for LPN status)

The College offers an ASDN program track that allows a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) applicant to enroll in an accelerated Registered Nurse (RN) program.  This program track is designed for an applicant who is an LPN for at least five (5) years.  Eligible applicants could complete this full-time program track within three (3) semesters.  Upon completion of this program track, graduates are eligible to take the national council licensure examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse. 

The Associate of Science Degree at Florida Gateway College is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C02, Tallahassee, FL  32399-3252; 850-245-4125.

The associate nursing program at Florida Gateway College at the main campus located in Lake City, Florida is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326

404-975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is: Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.us/accredtitedprograms/programSearch.htm.

ASDN End of Program Student Learning Outcomes (EOP-SLOs):

At the end of the ASDN program, at least 85% of the students will obtain a score of 80% or greater on each of the EOP-SLOs as measured on the clinical evaluation tool of the last nursing course.

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. (Competency: Patient-Centered Care).
2. The student will minimize the risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance. (Competency: Safety).
3. The student will be able to use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making. (Competency: Informatics).
4. 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).
5. 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 and 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.

Students seeking admission to the Traditional Bridge 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 FGC’s 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 and obtain an overall GPA of 2.8 or higher.  Any corequisite courses completed before admission will also be calculated in the overall GPA.  Note: each pre and co-requisite course grade must be a “C” or higher;
• All science courses (BSC 2085/L, BSC 2086/L, MCB 2010/L) must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Science courses must be taken within 5 years of application to nursing program.
• All prerequisite courses must be completed by end of summer semester before program begins in the spring term; and,
• students who do not complete each corequisite course with a grade of “C” or higher within the specified time will not progress in the nursing program.
• if the applicant graduated from a PN program outside the state of Florida, the applicant must apply to the ASDN Traditional Generic program.

To be considered for admission, the applicant must submit the following to the ASDN program by the established deadline stated on the College’s Website:

• the LPN-RN: Traditional Bridge supplemental application;
• an unofficial copy of transcripts from colleges attended, including FGC;
• a copy of current Florida LPN license;
• proof of obtaining a proficiency score on the nursing entrance exam (TEAS) with a score of 58.7% or higher; and the Foundations Upward Mobility Exam with a score of 75 or higher. Note: these exams are available through the FGC Testing Center and scores must be within past two years.
• 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 the fall semester before the program begins in the spring term.  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.

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

The prospective student must provide official transcripts to the Nursing Department and the Office of Enrollment Services immediately following the end of summer semester for prerequisites and/or corequisites taken at a college other than FGC during the summer semester in which the student is applying. The official 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 non-admission to the nursing program.  Applicants who do not submit the official transcripts on time will not be considered for admission to the nursing program.

Applicants are responsible for providing all the required documentation to be considered for admission to the nursing program. Note: applicants are encouraged to make copies of all documentation for their personal records.

Applicants meeting the above criteria are not guaranteed admission to the nursing program. Admission is competitive and is a limited admission capacity to this program.  Priority acceptance will be given to Florida Gateway College graduates who have met the minimum requirements.

Additional admission information may be found in the ASDN LPN-to-RN Bridge: Traditional Full-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 during the first week of the program. 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 will have to complete the licensure and screening process of the Florida Board of Nursing, irrespective of screenings completed for this program.

Program Readmission

A student who enrolls in a nursing course and withdraws or is unsuccessful in the course may be considered for readmission to the program pending successful completion of an interview and other readmission requirements.  Note: readmission policy and guidelines are outlined in the Nursing Student Handbook accessible to students in the program.

The LPN-to-RN Bridge: Traditional Full-Time component includes 30 credit hours of general education courses, 32 credit hours of nursing courses, and 10 experiential learning credits. The following prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the summer term prior to Spring admission.

Core Courses

The nursing courses are to be completed in the following sequence to progress in the nursing program.  Note: all nursing courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” to successfully progress through the nursing program.

Registered Nursing A.S. Total 72 Credit Hours

Program Notes:

• All nursing students are advised by a nurse faculty who will help them develop their class schedules and approve all course exemptions, alternatives, or substitutions.
• Additional costs are required when admitted to this program including costs of uniforms, clinic shoes, liability insurance, health insurance, medical exam, e-products and standardized testing, graduation costs, immunizations, Level II background check and 10 panel drug/alcohol screening, clinical placement fees, books, NCLEX-RN exam and licensing fees.
• Students are required to submit proof of current CPR certification [Basic Life Support Provider for American Heart Association (AHA) or Professional Rescuer for American Red Cross (ARC)] prior to participation in hands-on clinical rotations. Students must maintain current CPR certification throughout the nursing program.
• Standardized tests and participation in a remediation program are mandatory requirements for all students.
• Nursing skills and simulation laboratories are calculated using a 1 to 3 ratio or one credit equals 150 minutes.
• Course calendars may vary from the College calendar due to availability of clinical sites. The student will be assigned to multiple clinical facilities with day, evening, weekday, and weekend rotations during the nursing program.