Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - to - Registered Nurse (RN) Admission
The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)-to-Registered
Nurse (RN) Bridge Program is a 65-credit hour, selective admission program that consists
of one academic year. Admission to the program is by application and committee selection
based on a competitive ranking system (see Ranking Score Computation). Students who successfully complete the program will obtain an Associate of Science
in Nursing degree (ASN) and will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
The MSU-WP Nursing Program offers an LPN-to-RN Bridge cohort each application cycle,
spring and summer/fall with both seated and online options to cater to the diverse
needs of our students. Each cohort consists of 30 available seats. Our program aims
to provide a flexible learning environment to accommodate all potential students.
| Starting Semester |
Applications open |
Deadline to Apply |
| Summer/Fall |
November 1st |
March 1st |
| Spring |
May 1st |
October 1st |
The program course requirements are shown below. The 65-credit hour program consists
of courses in liberal arts, science and nursing. LPNs will receive 15 additional credit
hours for NUR 100 and NUR 101. The nursing courses include lecture and relevant clinical
practicums provided at health care facilities located in Missouri and northern Arkansas.
For more information about the nursing program or to set up an appointment to meet
with the nursing admissions coordinator, please contact the nursing admissions office:
WPNursing@MissouriState.edu, (417) 255-7739.
Associate of Science in Nursing Program Course Requirements for the LPN-to-RN Bridge
Program
- Anatomy and Physiology coursework must total 8 credit hours with labs from a regionally
accredited college to qualify for the Missouri State University-West Plains LPN Bridge
program
- MTH 130 or higher eligibility must be established by the start of the nursing program.
- Eligibility is established through a math placement test score or completion of MTH
103 Intermediate Algebra, MTH 115 Basic Geometry Concepts, or an equivalent course,
with a 'C' grade or better or completed lower-level math courses that bring a MTH
130 or higher eligibility. Proof of enrollment in a course that will bring MTH 130
or higher eligibility by the program start must be established before the application
deadline.
- ENG110 - English Writing I must be completed before the start date of the program
- PSY 121 - Introductory Psychology – 3 credit hours. Must be completed with a 'C' grade or higher by the spring start
of the LPN Bridge program, but may be taken as a co-requisite to NUR 201 Mental Health
with permission.
- Students must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA and at least 12 college hours.
- All coursework relevant to the nursing degree must be completed with a 'C' grade or higher to maintain eligibility for the nursing program.
Qualified LPNs may receive:
- Fifteen hours of nursing credit for NUR 100 – Fundamentals of Nursing and NUR 101 – Nursing Systems for the Adult Client I. Upon meeting all the prerequisites for
those courses and successfully completing NUR 190 – Nursing Systems for the Adult Client: LPN-to-RN, the credit will be awarded. Anatomy
and Physiology coursework must total 8 credit hours with labs from a regionally accredited
college in order to qualify for the Missouri State University-West Plains LPN Bridge
program.
Seated and Online Program Details
The seated program is available for students who prefer a traditional classroom setting.
The seated sections will only be offered if there are 10 or more students enrolled.
During an application cycle where less than 10 students express interest in the seated
program, those students will be given the option to move to the online program. Students
will receive notifications via their university email if the seated section does not
meet the required student count. They will then be given the option to transition
to the online program.
The online program has been highly popular among our students due to its flexibility
and convenience. Students in the online program can access course materials, participate
in discussions, and complete assignments remotely, allowing for a more self-paced
learning experience. The online program offers a comprehensive curriculum that is
designed to prepare students for a successful transition from LPN to RN roles.
We understand the importance of providing options that suit the needs of our students,
and we are committed to supporting your academic journey every step of the way. If
you have any questions or require further assistance regarding the LPN to RN program
options, please do not hesitate to reach out to our nursing department by phone at
(417) 255-7245 or email WPNursing@MissouriState.edu.
Students accepted into the online LPN-to-RN Bridge cohort will be required to come
to the MSU-West Plains campus two (2) times during the program – once at the beginning
of the program and potentially once in the summer, if BIO 210 - Elements of Microbiology
is needed. All clinicals will be self-scheduled by the student with a preceptor at
an approved facility nearest the student.
To be considered for acceptance into the nursing program, you must provide all required
documentation, including transcripts and test scores, by the application deadline,
and you must meet the admissions eligibility requirements. We encourage interested
students to start the application process early so you will receive the proper advisement.
The program course requirements are shown below. The 65-credit hour program consists
of courses in liberal arts, science, and nursing. LPNs will receive 15 additional
credit hours for NUR 100 and NUR 101. The nursing courses include lecture and on-campus
simulation laboratory experiences, along with relevant clinical practicums provided
at healthcare facilities located in Missouri, northern Arkansas, and Kansas.
For more information about the nursing program or to set up an appointment to meet
with the nursing admissions coordinator, please contact the nursing admissions office:
WPNursing@MissouriState.edu, (417) 255-7245.
Clinical Sites
While the LPN-RN Bridge Program offers classes online, it is important to note that
clinicals must occur at healthcare facilities where the MSU-WP Nursing program has state board approval and established clinical contracts. Currently, the MSU- WP Nursing department has clinical sites covering the state of Missouri and northern Arkansas. We are approved
to establish sites in Kansas, and we can establish sites in other parts of Arkansas
as needed. Any student interested in the LPN-RN Bridge program must be willing and able to travel
to Missouri or Arkansas to complete their clinical hours if they are from another
state besides the three listed. The clinical rotations for the LPN to RN program is preceptor based and self-scheduled by the student. There are 132 preceptor clinical hours that must be completed each semester, and those hours are arranged with the student's assigned preceptor at the clinical facility. Students cannot complete more than 36 hours per week but are otherwise free to schedule
their clinical hours as needed with their preceptor.
