Veteran s LPN Bridge Course. GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZ Margi Schultz, PhD, RN

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1 Veteran s LPN Bridge Course GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZ Margi Schultz, PhD, RN

2 History HB2076, signed in April 2013, effective December 31, 2013, allows a military veteran with a healthcare designation to complete a bridge course based on the 2013 gap analysis from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing titled, A Comparison of Selected Military Health Care Occupation Curricula with a Standard Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Curriculum. Following this 12 credit, 4-month course, the Veteran student is eligible to sit for the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) for Practical Nurses.

3 Beginnings. In May 2013, the AZ State Board of Nursing Education Committee discussed this opportunity for Veteran students. Margi Schultz, Director of the Nursing Division at GWCC volunteered to facilitate a group of educators from colleges around the state of AZ in the creation of a state-wide Veteran s Bridge Course curriculum. GateWay Community College (GWCC) has had a successful, free-standing LPN program since 2002 and felt this course would be a natural fit and volunteered to be the first AZ site. GWCC faculty and staff believe in and promote pathway or ladder programs to help students who wish to take education in steps and have the opportunity to work at a variety of levels as they complete steps along the pathway.

4 Gap Analysis Prior to the first meeting the group reviewed the gap analysis completed by the NCSBN. A cross-walk between the current GWCC LPN curriculum and the gap analysis was completed with content identified. The group was tasked with coming to the first meeting with ideas of what were top priority items to include in the course. A curriculum draft was created and all members reviewed and recommended changes. Group met throughout summer 2013; finalized draft. Completed course was presented to AZ State Board Education Committee, AZ State Board, Maricopa/GWCC curriculum committee, and the Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board approved by all stakeholders.

5 Features of the Course Group elected to not attempt to test out students to place them at various levels of knowledge, abilities, or skill level but to start students at the same level and have self-paced activities throughout the course so those with higher knowledge, abilities, or skill level could focus on areas where they were not as familiar or needed remediation. Task force members all agreed integration to the civilian nursing role, LPN scope of practice, the role of the professional nurse, fundamentals, OB, and pediatrics were primary areas of focus for this student group. Core knowledge, abilities and skills were derived from the gap analysis, GWCC LPN curriculum, and State Board rules.

6 Details of the first course Course begins February 17, 2014 Pre-requisite is Veteran healthcare designation Course consists of: 8 didactic credits (120 hours); 4 credits of lab/simulation/clinical/pharm/iv skills (180 hours) Total of 12 credits/300 clock hours Approximately 50% of didactic is online Labs will be skill stations, simulation (both high and low fidelity), IV focus, and practicum-style stations Clinical will include OB, Peds, long-term care, and acute care

7 The first group Currently have 14 Veterans fully enrolled with 8 pending enrollment (total of 22) with a month remaining for admissions. Demographics are: 17 male; 5 female Age range from years Military branch: 6 Marines 5 Navy 11 Army All students are aware the school will ask for a thorough evaluation of this course and are prepared to meet periodically with instructors and administrators to evaluate the scope and pace of the course.

8 Follow-up I would be honored to provide follow-up on lessons learned and/or consult to assist others in this worthwhile endeavor! Please contact me at: Margi Schultz, PhD, RN schultz@gatewaycc.edu Director, Nursing Division GateWay Community College 108 N. 40 th Street Phoenix, AZ 85034