Rethinking RN Education: The Accelerated LVNRN Program

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Rethinking RN EducationThe Accelerated LVN-RN
Program

• Justin Louder, MA
• Linda Ross, MS, RN

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Nursing Education in Texas

• 88 Nursing Programs in Texas
• 2 Diploma Programs
• 56 Associate Degree Programs (ADN)
• 51 ADN Programs
• 5 LVN-ADN Track Programs
• 25 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programs
• 1 Alternate Entry Masters Degree in Nursing
  Program
• 4 RN to BSN Nursing Programs

Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies
Report Professional Nursing Education in Texas
Demographics Trends 2006
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Nursing Education in Texas - 2

• Enrollment numbers continued to increase in Texas
  schools of nursing, with a total of 16,658
  students enrolled in the Fall of 2006.
• This number represents a 36.9 percent increase
  from the Fall of 2001.
• In the 2005-2006 academic year, a total of 6,674
  students graduated from initial RN licensure
  programs.
• 47.3 percent increase from the 2000-2001 academic
  years.

Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies
Report Professional Nursing Education in Texas
Demographics Trends 2006
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Background Information

• By 2010, Texas will be short as estimated 25,000
  nurses.
• By 2020, Texas will be short an estimated 52,000
  nurses.
• To keep up with demand 10,072 nurses need to
  graduate by 2010.
• Rural hospitals have reported a RN vacancy rate
  of 15 in recent years.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Report
Strategies to Increase the Number of Graduates
from Initial RN Licensure Programs (October,
2006). Texas Center for Nursing Workforce
Studies 2006 Hospital Nurse Staffing Survey
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LVNs in Texas

• As of 2004 61,576 LVNs working in Texas
• Number of LVNs per 100,000 Population
• 366 Nonmetropolitan Border Areas
• 454 Nonmetropolitan Non-Border Areas
• The LVN profession is among the few health
  professions where Texas exceeds the U.S. average
  for provider to-population ratios.

Texas Department of State Health Services
Supply Trends Among Licensed Health Professions
Texas, 1980-2004
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Texas Department of State Health Services
Supply Trends Among Licensed Health Professions
Texas, 1980-2004
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Texas Department of State Health Services
Supply Trends Among Licensed Health Professions
Texas, 1980-2004
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ASU Survey in 2006

• Howard College LVN Class of 2006 approximately 45
  responses.
• Brownwood Regional Medical Center LVNs
  approximately 30 responses.
• Discussions with CNOs LVNs at Shannon Medical
  Center San Angelo Community Medical Center.

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The Working LVN

• LVNs are typically primary bread winners in their
  household.
• Many cannot continue their education because they
  cannot afford to lose pay and/or benefits.
• It is hard to fit the traditional nursing
  education mold and work full-time.

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Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Grant
Program

• Nursing Innovation Grant Program
• Awarded in January, 2008
• 1.27 Million over 3 years

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New Solutions in LVN-RN Education

• Partnerships with community hospitals to
  accelerate transition from LVN-RN.
• Working LVNs will go back to school online for
  their ADN.

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ASUs Model

• Partner with 4 hospitals in West Texas
• 2 San Angelo Hospitals
• San Angelo Community Medical Center
• Shannon Medical Center
• Scenic Mountain Medical Center in Big Spring,
  Texas
• Brownwood Regional Hospital in Brownwood, Texas

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Four Hospitals in Rural West Texas
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Project Goal

• Increase the number of RNs providing nursing care
  to the citizens of Texas, especially those Texans
  in rural areas.

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Objectives

• Development implementation of an innovative,
  accelerated LVN-RN program (21 weeks)
• Development of LVN-RN competency transcript
  (includes RN hospital orientation competencies)
• Development of an RN preceptor course
• 140 students enroll
• 85 pass rate, graduation rate

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Standards for Admission

• Angelo State University
• Apply and be accepted to ASU
• Complete Departmental Project Application
  Process
• Prerequisites
• GPA
• ACT/SAT
• IRB Release

• Hospital Partners
• Documentation of Admission to ASU
• Documentation of eligibility for project
  participation (from ASU)
• Application form
• IRB Release
• Upon Acceptance send a letter to ASUs Dept of
  Nursing

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Administrative Structure

• University
• Develop provide course (acynchronous
• online learning)
• Laptops
• Pay for replacement LVN 15.00/hr.
• total 3,000/LVN
• Hospital Partners
• Tuition fees
• Preceptors
• 8 hours paid study time per week
• Clinical release time

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Curriculum Design

• Unique Features
• Didactic content delivered and evaluated through
  a blending of online and printed study modules
  (mental health, OB, pedi)
• Paid release time for completion of didactic and
  clinical components
• Capstone clinical experience focusing on complex
  nursing care throughout the lifespan
• Adoption or development of a LVN-RN transition
  competency transcript.

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Curriculum Design
Phase I 5 weeks in length
Phase II 16 weeks in length
Upon successful completion, student receives
credit for 2nd Year AASN courses. Provided all
graduation requirements are met the student
graduates and is eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN
Exam
Upon successful completion, student receives
credit for 1st Year AASN courses and moves onto
Phase II.
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(No Transcript)
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Evaluation

• A huge component of the grant, did we accomplish
  what we said we would? Can it be adopted
  statewide?
• All partners are very involved
• Multiple cycles (6 cohorts)
• Research project (cost/benefit, satisfaction,
  graduation, pass NCLEX)
• External evaluator

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Current Progress

• First Cohort has completed RNSG 1227 1160
• First Cohort will start RNSG2427 2527 in the
  Fall.
• Second and Third Cohorts are applying for the
  program.

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This material is based upon work supported by the
Nursing, Allied Health and Other Health-related
Education Grant Program, a grant program funded
by proceeds from the States Tobacco Lawsuit
Settlement and administered by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.