LVN to RN Bridge Programs - Could Help Nursing Shortage

What a shame that thousands of prospective nursingworked so hard to get into, instead of being mentored
students are routinely turned away from Californiafor success.
nursing programs, especially with our state suffering aMost vocational nursing programs are less difficult to
severe nursing shortage.get into and take only one to two years to complete.
Recently, the governor signed legislation mandating thatNow, once students successfully take the state
nursing schools in the state allow licensed vocationalexamination and become licensed, they can then apply
nurses to become registered nurses with just one toto one of many RN bridge programs offered at
two years of additional training. Now, through the useCalifornia colleges. If this option were fully utilized, it
of these LVN to RN bridge programs, most LNVs cancould help produce more RNs and, of course, LVNs,
become registered nurses in three years.too.
Currently, all RN programs are severely impacted, withThose who choose to remain as vocational nurses
waiting lists of up to three or four years. Moreover, thecan also help ease the nursing shortage. Under their full
programs require potential candidates to successfullyscope of practice, LVNs can perform many of the
complete numerous prerequisites, including chemistry,same tasks as registered nurses, such as
physiology, anatomy, microbiology and psychology.administering medication and treatments.
Most programs also require students to present aAs an educator of vocational nursing students, I have
certified nursing assistant certificate. In addition, most ofa renewed appreciation for the magnitude of
the prerequisites require other prerequisites.education required to obtain a license. It encompasses
Obviously, it is difficult to get accepted into a nursingmore than 900 hours of clinical training and 600 hours
program. With prerequisites and the waiting lists, itof theory lecture.
takes an average student six to seven years toThanks to bridge programs, those hundreds of
become a registered nurse with an associate's degree.students who received rejection letters from RN
As a result, many qualified, potential registered nursesprograms, no longer need to wait six or more years to
fall by the wayside.start a career in nursing.
Additionally, nursing school is a lot like boot camp, inClearly, LVNs can help ease the nursing shortage by
that students who fall below 75 percent on examsbeing utilized to their full scope of practice. Moreover,
and those who do not exhibit professional behaviorsLVNs can escape the long waiting lists and most
may be "weeded out" from a program that theyprerequisites required for entrance into RN programs.