LVN to RN Program 2004 Graduating Class LVN-to-RN Bridge Program
LVNs that complete the LVN-to-RN Degree Program receive their Associate of Science in Nursing and are eligible to sit for the RN licensure examination in California (NCLEX-RN). The Mendocino College Nursing Program was approved in 2003 by the California State Board of Registered Nursing. For those students who want to continue their nursing education after becoming licensed as an LVN, the Mendocino College nursing curriculum is three semesters in length (not including prerequisite and general education courses).
Prerequisites to the LVN-to-RN Program
- Active California LVN License
- Completion of the following courses with a grade "C" or better
- BIO 230 Anatomy
- BIO 231 Physiology
- BIO 259 Microbiology
- ENG 200 Reading Composition
- HLH 173 or IV Certification. For IV certification contact one of the following:
- Recommended completion of the following:
- MTH 55 Elementary Algebra
Anatomy, physiology and microbiology must have been completed within the last 5 years. A recency waiver can be individually evaluated based on experience, education or training. An appointment with the program director can be requested if you would like to discuss this option. Applicants must have completed at least two of the sciences and the English prerequisite at time of application. An applicant can have one science pending during the semester in which the applicant is applying.
It is strongly encouraged that all general education requirements for the Associate Degree be completed prior to entering the nursing courses. All general education (graduation) requirements except for the nursing coursework must be completed by the term at which the student is accepted to the program.
Notice: As a potential advance standing student, all LVN to RN applicants should have safe working knowledge of clinical skills prior to applying to the LVN to RN Bridge Program. Actively working in the clinical area and performing these skills will help a student to be successful in the program, but it is EXPECTED that students have this knowledge base prior to admission. Skills will need to be successfully demonstrated by each student in the lab setting prior to starting clinical courses. No student will be allowed in the clinical setting without being able to safely perform first year RN level skills as noted below:
1st Semester Skills
- Handwashing
- PPE
- Vital Signs
- Pulses
- Pulse Oximetry
- Bed Making
- Body Mechanics
- Foot care, peri care, oral care, bathing
- Chest assessment, abdominal assessment, cardiac assessment
- ROM, positioning, moving patient's up in bed, transfer
- Enemas, bedpan, urinals
- Intake and output
- Crutches, walkers
- Sterile field, sterile gloving
- Skin assessment, Braden scale, application of hot/cold
- Catheterization and Catheter care
- NG placement and NG feeding
- Medications (po, IM, SC, otic, optic, topical, NG, buccal, SL)
- TED hose
- Glucometer
- Nasopharyngeal and Oral suctioning
- IV Monitoring, site care, IV starts
- Blood transfusions
2nd Semester Skills
- Neuro assessment
- Health assessment of eye and ear
- Flushing and maintaining CVAD
- Cardiac emergencies; basic cardiac rhythm
- Pediatric assessment
- Assessing normal growth and development
- OB assessment
LVN-to-RN Selection Criteria Mendocino College will consider all applicants who meet the minimum requirements for admission to the LVN-to-RN Program. The number of qualified applicants, however, usually exceeds the capacity of the class. In order to fairly select students for admission, the Nursing Department uses a grade based acceptance formula in addition to a lottery system.
- Each applicant's grades will be entered into a database according to a standardized formula. The formula is derived from the "Predicted Probability of Success" study by the CA Community College Chancellor's Office. The formula consists of weighting the following:
- Overall College GPA (all college courses attempted)
- College English GPA
- Biology Courses GPA (Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology)
- Number of course repetitions in Biology Courses (counts negatively if applicant has retaken a science course due to a grade of D or F. If applicant has retaken a science to improve a passing grade of C or B the grades are averaged).
- All applicants who score above 80 on the Predicted Probability of Success formula will be placed into a lottery draw in which computer generated numbers are used to choose applicants for admission.
- Any applicant that has resided within the Mendocino-Lake Community College District for at least one year prior to application will be given preference for admission.
- All those invited for admission will then be subject to a background screening, and will need to pass the TEAS test with a composite score of at least 67% (info available on line at www.atitesting.com)
Any 30-unit option applicants will be admitted on a space-available basis after degree applicants have been admitted. As noted above, there are usually far more applicants to the degree program then there are slots and the degree applicants are admitted first making the 30-unit option an unlikely road to admission.
LVN-to-RN Courses
The first semester of LVN-to-RN Bridge coursework consists of a transitions course (NUR 50) in which LVNs are instructed on issues of role transition, concepts of Nursing Diagnoses, pathophysiology, and critical thinking concepts. Skills competencies are evaluated in a separate lab course. It is strongly recommended that students have some recent acute care medical-surgical experience as an LVN before starting this course. A math exam consisting of dosage calculations is also given in this course. The exam must be passed at a grade of 90% or more in order for the student to continue in the program. See catalog for course description for NUR 50 LVN-to-RN Transition Course.
The second semester involves twelve clinical hours and two lecture days (approximately 5 hours per day) that also have an open skills lab component (3 hours per week). The clinical day involves travel to outside facilities, and transportation is the responsibility of the student. Clinical sites may require considerable driving time so dependable transportation and funds to cover fuel costs and auto repairs are essential for student success. Courses include Complex Medical-Surgical Nursing, Leadership and Management, Nursing Seminar and Pharmacology. See catalog for course descriptions for NUR 122 Complex Med Surg Nursing I, NUR 121 Leadership and Management I, NUR 125 Pharmacology III and NUR 126 Nursing Seminar I.
The third semester involves clinical hours (vary between one 12 hour shift and mini-intensives where three or more shifts are done over a short period of time at distance learning sites) as well as two lecture/lab days (approximately 5 hours per day). Courses include Complex Medical-Surgical Nursing, Advanced Leadership and Management, Mental Health Nursing, and Advanced Nursing Seminar. See catalog for course descriptions for NUR 132 Complex Med Surg Nursing II, NUR 131 Leadership and Management II, NUR 135 Pharmacology IV, and NUR 136 Nursing Seminar II.
Note: For information on LVN-to-RN 30-unit option (no degree) contact Nursing Department for requirements and admission criteria.
Created: March 03, 2003 @ 12:00 AM
Last Modified: September 10, 2009 @ 08:52 AM
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