2021-2022 Course Catalog

LPN to ADN Bridge Program (Bridge Program)

The Bridge program facilitates educational advancement for LPNs who desire to become Registered Nurses. A graduate of a state-approved Practical Nursing Program who has a license or is eligible for LPN licensure in the State of Illinois may be eligible for this program. Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students receive an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and are eligible to write the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Graduates who successfully complete the examination and meet all other state requirements are able to work as registered nurses. Some courses may not transfer to four-year institutions, but transfer opportunities exist for students wanting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Selective Admission Requirements

Admission into the Bridge Program is selective and competitive and admission to Richland Community College does not guarantee acceptance to the program. Students must meet the minimum admission criteria to be eligible to apply. Once the criteria have been met, students are scored on a rubric and those with the highest scores are offered conditional admission. Availability of faculty clinical space may impact the entry decision.

The Bridge Program follows the Health Professions’ selective admissions process. Students use the online Pre-Advisement Plan on myRichland to apply during the designated application period. For spring admission, applications are accepted between August 1 to September 1. For fall admission, applications are accepted between January 2 and February 1. Out-of-district applicants are considered for the program when space is available.

To receive transfer credit for courses completed at another institution, official transcripts must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

Prerequisites to Apply

  1. Graduate of a State-approved Practical Nursing Program
  2. Current Illinois LPN license or eligibility to be licensed before program begins. Student must have a current unencumbered LPN license to begin the Bridge program.
  3. Completion of (or be in progress to complete) ENGL 101, BIOL 201 and PSYCH 110 with a ‘C’ or better. ENGL 101, BIOL 201 and PSYCH 110 must be complete prior to start of semester for which the student is applying.
  4. Eligibility for MATH 110 or MATH 113 or completion of MATH 099 with a ‘C’ or better
  5. ‘C’ or better in all prerequisites and program courses and a Program GPA of 2.75 or better

The Program GPA is calculated using grades and credits earned in any completed Bridge program course. Program courses that can be taken prior to admission include BIOL 201, BIOL 202, BIOL 220, ENGL 101, Fine Art Elective, HLTH 197, PSYCH 110, PSYCH 145, and SOCIO 110. Transfer and Richland Credits are used in calculating the program GPA. Students who have completed BIOL 201, BIOL 202 or BIOL 220 must have completed one within the past 5 years.

Curriculum Requirements

Graduation Requirements

  1. Total Credit Hours: 71 credit hours in courses numbered 100 and above
  2. Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.0 (‘C’) or better for all work applicable toward the degree
  3. Residency: 15 credit hours or more at Richland Community College
  4. Course Requirement: ‘C’ or better in all prerequisite and program courses
  5. Meet standards of the ANA Code of Ethics, the Professional Integrity Policy. and Health Professions Standards of Conduct

Additional Program Considerations

All AAS degrees include a required minimum of 15 general education credits. Students must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in the program prerequisites, core curriculum courses, and general education courses.

Required Courses

BIOL 202Human Anatomy and Physiology 2

4.0

BIOL 220Microbiology

4.0

HLTH 197Special Topics in Healthcare

1.0-3.0

Or

HLTH 290Health Internship

1.0-2.0

Or

HLTH 297Advanced Topics in Healthcare

1.0-3.0

NURS 111Nursing Foundations

2.0

NURS 152Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

4.0

NURS 154Pharmacological Principles for Nursing Practice

3.0

NURS 155Medical-Surgical Nursing II Care of the Chronically Ill Clie

5.0

NURS 206Family Health Nursing

6.0

NURS 250Medical-Surgical III Care of the Surgical Client

5.0

NURS 252Medical-Surgical IV Care of the Acutely Ill Client

5.0

NURS 254Transition from Education to Practice

5.0

PSYCH 145Human Growth & Development

3.0

SOCIO 110Introduction to Sociology

3.0

Fine Arts Electives

Number of Credit Hours Required: 3.00

AFAM 103African-American Experience through the Arts

3.0

AFAM 105History of African American Gospel Music

3.0

AFAM 120African American Experience

3.0

AFAM 140African American Women

3.0

ART 100Art Appreciation

3.0

ART 171Primitive to Medieval Art

3.0

ART 172Renaissance to Rococo Art

3.0

ART 173Neo-Classical Art to the Present

3.0

ENGL 140Introduction to Film Art

3.0

ENGL 240Film and Literature

3.0

ENGL 241Film History

3.0

HUMAN 100Introduction to the Arts

3.0

HUMAN 104Introduction to Latin American Culture and Civilization

3.0

HUMAN 106Cultures of Islamic Middle East

3.0

HUMAN 201Humanities Honors Seminar

3.0

HUMAN 280Interdisciplinary Field Experience in the Humanities

3.0

MUSIC 100Music Appreciation

3.0

MUSIC 180Non-Western Music

3.0

MUSIC 190Introduction to American Music

3.0

THTRE 150Theatre Appreciation

3.0

THTRE 210Theatre History

3.0

THTRE 230Play Analysis for Production

3.0

Suggested Course Sequence

First Semester

NURS 111Nursing Foundations

2.0

NURS 152Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

4.0

NURS 154Pharmacological Principles for Nursing Practice

3.0

NURS 155Medical-Surgical Nursing II Care of the Chronically Ill Clie

5.0

PSYCH 145Human Growth & Development

3.0

BIOL 202Human Anatomy and Physiology 2

4.0

Second Semester

BIOL 220Microbiology

4.0

NURS 206Family Health Nursing

6.0

NURS 250Medical-Surgical III Care of the Surgical Client

5.0

SOCIO 110Introduction to Sociology

3.0

Third Semester

NURS 252Medical-Surgical IV Care of the Acutely Ill Client

5.0

NURS 254Transition from Education to Practice

5.0

HLTH 197Special Topics in Healthcare

1.0-3.0

Or

HLTH 290Health Internship

1.0-2.0

Or

HLTH 297Advanced Topics in Healthcare

1.0-3.0

Fine Arts Elective

3.0

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