Bridging from Vocational to Professional Nursing

The Associate Degree Nursing Program offers upward educational mobility for LVNs. Advanced placement into the A.D.N. program includes a BRIDGING COURSE or an opportunity to CHALLENGE first year nursing courses. The Bridging Course, RNSG 1327, will be taught on campus the second summer session of Summer 2008.

Criteria For Admission

All applicants for RNSG 1327 will be evaluated according to the criteria specified below. Applications are ranked by using a point system outlined below. An application is not complete until all required course work is complete and transcripts and application forms have been submitted. Final selection of the applicants will be made by the Admission Committee of the Associate Degree Nursing Program.

  1. Grade Point Average - GPA x 10
    GPA is calculated using support courses in the A.D.N. curriculum, excluding the humanities elective.
  2. Grade of "A" in Required Sciences On First Attempt:
    BIOL 1407, 1408, 2404, CHEM 1405, or CHEM 1411 1 point
    BIOL 2401 1 point
    BIOL 2402 1 point
  3. Residence
    Furnishing false information to the college with intent to deceive may result in admission denial or program dismissal.
    McLennan County 1 point

NOTE: Prior to entering the clinical phase of the sophomore year, students need to have current immunizations (annual TB test, Hepatitis B, tetanus-diptheria toxoid, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox). Students must have current CPR certification, we require BLS for Healthcare Providers (AHA).

What Is A Bridging Course?

A bridging course is a nursing course for Licensed Vocational Nurses who wish to take advantage of advanced placement in the Associate Degree Nursing curriculum. The course is designed to appraise the LVN's theory base in nursing content and skills as well as introduce nursing theory not presented in traditional vocational nursing curricula. After the successful completion of the bridging course, the LVN is given academic credit for all first year required nursing courses of the Associate Degree Nursing program; and is eligible to enter the second year of the program if all other criteria are met.

Application & Enrollment

The Application Deadline Is MAY 1ST

The following requirements must be met for enrollment into the bridging course or challenge program. Applicants must:

  1. Provide evidence of a valid current Texas LVN license. (Include copy of license with application.)
  2. Meet ALL admission requirements of MCC as regards to testing and documentation of previous education.
  3. Complete required non-nursing courses in the freshman year of the A.D.N. program.
  4. Achieve a GPA of 2.8 on GPA of first science (BIOL 1407, BIOL 1408, BIOL 2404, CHEM 1405, CHEM 1407 or CHEM 1411), BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, and PSYC 2301. Minimum GPA of 2.8 for all courses applicable towards ADN Program.
  5. Submit Declaratory Order of Eligibility from Board of Nurse Examiners if indicated from above.
  6. Submit receipt from Business Office verifying payment of $20 application fee.
  7. To be eligible, a student must score equal to or greater than the national average on the reading, math, and written expression portions of the Nurse Entrance Test (NET).

Required Non-Nursing Courses

One of the following:
POFM 1202 Medical Software Applications
COSC 1301 or BCIS 1305 Microcomputer Applications or Business Computer Applications
Freshman Year Sophomore Year
ENGL 1301 Freshman Composition I BIOL 2420 Microbiology
PSYC 2301 General Psychology SPCH Any college level course
PSYC 2314 Human Growth and Development ELECTIVE Humanities Course (See Current Catalog)
BIOL 2401 Human Anatomy and Physiology I  
BIOL 2402 Human Anatomy and Physiology II  
One of the following:
CHEM 1405 Introduction to Chemistry  
CHEM 1411 General Inorganic Chemistry  
BIOL 1408 General Biology  
BIOL 2404 Introductory Anatomy and Physiology  
BIOL 1407 Biology for Science Majors  

Challenge Program

General

  1. IMPORTANT: Read and understand policies related to Credit by Examination in current MCC General Catalog.
  2. Courses that may be challenged are: RNSG 1523 & 1462, RNSG 2504 & 1463, RNSG 1293 and 1160.
  3. Proof of current Texas LVN license, a LVN transcript and college transcript must be in Director's office prior to taking exam.
  4. All prerequisite course work must be completed prior to taking Challenge Test. (See current General Catalog)
  5. To be eligible, a student must score equal to or greater than the national average on the reading, math, and written expression portions of the Nurse Entrance Test (NET).
  6. Complete all admission requirements for MCC in regard to testing and documentation of previous education.
  7. When a student is unsuccessful on a challenge test, the student cannot continue to challenge courses in the nursing program.
  8. The bridging course is available for unsuccessful challenge students who meet the requirements.

Challenge Test

The Challenge Test consists of three methods of evaluation:

  1. A written test which covers the unit outlines.
    The test consists of 50-100 questions. The student is given two hours to complete each written test. This test is graded immediately. If the grade is 71 or better, the student moves to the next level of evaluation.
  2. The skill competency exam will be given to evaluate nursing skill performance.
    Skills evaluated will be based on clinical competencies, which are provided in the course study packet. Grading is on a pass/fail basis.
  3. Completion of a clinical preparation sheet.
    A clinical situation with a history, assessment, and orders will be given. The current textbooks may be used. One hour will be given to complete the written assignment.
  4. To move successfully to the next course, the student must pass the written test, the skills competency evaluation, and the nursing care plan.

The student determines the date for the test by using the following steps: