New Nursing Curriculum

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Specializes in School Nursing, Corrections.

Hey everyone.

I justed wanted to give everyone just entering NS or waiting to get in a heads up on the changes to the program. Starting with Fall entry you will no longer have the option of taking your LPN after you finish Block 2. They are incorporating some A&P, Patho, and all medical terminology together in Nursing Process so it will be straight through to R.N. If you want to take the LPN you have to do the capstone project that they are developing and just go for LPN. Apparently years ago this is how the original program was run so they have decided to have another go at it. Just wanted to let everyone know as I know it can be difficult to get "new" info while you are waiting to get in. This is because they sometimes don't even know until the last minute.

Good Luck to everyone waiting...It's worth the wait even if it doesn't always feel like it.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Which nursing program are you referring to? Maricopa County Community Colleges?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
.....changes to the program.
Which program (specifically)? There are multiple nursing programs in your state, and not all of them have adotped a new nursing curriculum.
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Specializes in School Nursing, Corrections.

I'm sorry I thought i put that in there. It's only the Maricopa Community Colleges that I know of.

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Specializes in LTC.

When I asked about the LPN exit options for the maricopa colleges this was the nursing program office reply:

Students entering the nursing program after June 2008 will not receive a

certificate for Practical Nursing after the second semester. Therefore students finishing the first and second semesters will not be eligible to apply for PN licensure.

The nursing directors will make the final decision on offering a PN bridge

course in mid April. This type of course is common in other nursing programs. If their decision if to create this course, then students will be eligible for licensure after passing this bridge course. The number of our students choosing to apply for PN licensure is very small. Most of our students prefer to work as nurse externs while they are finishing

the nursing program.

Thank you, Cathy

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Specializes in School Nursing, Corrections.

This is what they said. It is true too. Most of us do choose to work as externs because it pays decently and we get R.N. training. They have implemented a capstone project but are still trying to agree on a release date for it to start. If you don't need to work full-time or have another job externing is great. The experience is invaluable and you learn more than you ever will inside the classroom.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Wow, that's a shame.

Lots of students in my program took the LPN option. Although externship offers lots of perks, there's no better training for nursing than nursing. You are not a nurse as an extern, but you are as an LPN. The LPN option paid better and gave better experience. Lots of single moms took this option so that they could earn better money for their families too.

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I must admit, I'm very sad to read this... The LPN option was something I was looking most forward to. Can anyone tell me more about the nurse extern position? I am starting school at EMCC in the Fall and was hoping to get some experience as a nurse during our summer break.

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