Registered Nursing LVN to RN Option Certificate (12500.CT)

School of Allied Health and Public Safety

The Registered Nursing Program at Merced College prepares students to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), leading to licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) and is designed to prepare competent nurses for service in the community.

The LVN to RN 30-unit option is available to any applicant to the Registered Nursing program at Merced College who is a vocational nurse licensed in the State of California. The graduate of this LVN to RN 30-unit option is eligible to submit documentation to the California Board of Registered when applying for licensure as a registered nurse. The graduate of this LVN to RN 30-unit option is eligible to apply for licensure as a registered nurse if the applicant has successfully completed the courses below. Merced College will provide objective counseling of this option and evaluate each licensed vocational nurse applicant for admission to our registered nurse program. The 30-unit option does not qualify graduates to apply for out-of-state licensure.

Program Requirements and Information

Prerequisites: BIOL-16, BIOL-18, BIOL-20, ENGL-01A or ENGL-13/ PHIL-13/H, and MATH-61, 62 or higher level Math course. All program prerequisites must be passed with a grade of “C” or better and combined GPA of 2.5 or higher.
All must be completed within five (5) year of the date of application.

Minimum of 62% on FIRST ATTEMPT of the ATI TEAS version 7.

Program Application and Additional Information

Applications will be accepted during the spring semester only.

Selection Process

The Merced College RN Program selection process is determined using the multi-criteria screening process established by the California Community College Chancellor’s office in accordance with AB 239 (expires January 2025). A multi-criteria score is determined for each candidate based on previous degrees/certificates, work/volunteer experience in a healthcare setting, identified coursework GPA, life experience/special circumstances, foreign language proficiency and ATI TEAS assessment score. These students will be sequentially numbered from one to the maximum allowed for the in-coming class, including a predetermined number of alternate students. Depending on the number of qualified applicants and constraints of the Chancellor’s Office multi-criteria screening model, the selection pool will vary in size from year to year.

Accepted students must provide proof of the following requirements: Tdap, MMR, HEP B, Varicella, Current Flu Vaccine, Negative TB Test or Negative chest X-Ray, CPR Certification (American Heart Association - BLS), Physical, criminal background and drug screening clearances.

Note: Criminal background check and drug screening clearances are repeated between the third and fourth semesters as a requirement prior to the mental health rotation.

Further information will be provided at the MANDATORY orientation. If a student is unable to provide proof of these requirements within the designated timeframe, the student will be deemed ineligible for admission.

While enrolled in the program, you will be assigned to various clinic facilities in addition to the on-campus portions of the program. By enrollment into the program, you agree to accept clinical assignments in whatever clinical site you are assigned. Clinical assignments will be scheduled during the normal working day hours.

Policy for Denial of Licensure

The California BRN protects the public by screening applicants for licensure in order to identify potentially unsafe practitioners. Statutory authority for denial of licensure is contained in the Business and Professions Code. Any student considering a career in nursing who has a criminal record is advised to go to the BRN website at rn.ca.gov and search Enforcement and then License Discipline and Convictions prior to applying to the nursing program.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Merced College Registered Nursing Program is to prepare our students for careers as professional Registered Nurses that will best serve the community to a recognized standard of excellence. The Merced College Registered Nursing program focuses on:

1. student success;

2. cultural diversity;

3. interrelationships of life experiences and knowledge;

by providing a continually improving educational program which is accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing. The Merced College Registered nurse graduate is educated for full participation in the life of the community, both professionally and as a citizen, and is instilled with a commitment to continue professional growth and lifelong learning.

Highlights

The Allied Health Center houses a complete Registered Nursing Skills Lab, large computer lab, conference rooms, study rooms and multiple large and small classrooms. The Registered Nursing Program has state-of-the-art equipment and software that assist students with learning current procedures, including 3 high-fidelity manikins for Simulation.

Accreditation:

The Registered Nursing Program is accredited by the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).

Board of Registered Nursing
1747 N. Market Bldv., Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95834-1924
(916) 322-3350
California Board of Registered Nursing

The Registered Nursing LVN to RN Option Certificate of Achievement is available for students who successfully complete the full program option. For successful completion, a student must complete the requirements with a minimum grade of a “C” (or P) in each course with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

A. Provide quality, safe, patient-centered nursing care through evidence-based practice.

B. Participate in collaborative relationships with members of the interdisciplinary team to provide and improve patient care.

C. Engage in critical thinking skills and strategies and clinical reasoning necessary to provide quality patient care.

D. Provide leadership in a variety of healthcare settings for diverse patient populations.

E. Use information technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making.

F. Function as a competent nurse assimilating all professional, ethical, and legal principles.

Visit the Program Mapper for more information on when to take classes and career information.

Program Requirements:

Communication, natural and social science, and nursing courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better to be eligible for licensure requirements of the State Board of Nursing (Board of Registered Nursing).

The LVN to RN 30-unit option students are subject to the same educational standards as the basic RN students.

Programs of Similar Interest:

• Nursing, Registered (AS)

• Nursing, Vocational (AA)

• Nursing, Vocational (CT)

• Health Sciences (AA)