The Practical Nursing to Registered Nurse Bridge program prepares students to graduate with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and attain licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). The associate degree in nursing (ADN) at APU prepares nurse generalists. This program aims to provide the foundational nursing skills needed to provide holistic, culturally safe healthcare for Alaskan communities.

Learning Outcomes

The program meets APU’s strategic goals of developing and using relevant curricula, experiential learning, and culturally responsive delivery methods to provide academic programs that meet Alaska’s critical needs.

Prior college-level coursework (per APU transfer policies) can satisfy degree requirements, including Foundational Studies.

The Alaska Board of Nursing in keeping with statutes AS 08.68.100(a) and AS 08.62.290 and regulations 12 AAC 44.010 and 12 AAC 44.055, provides oversight and annual approval of nursing programs. All records were found to be in order. The Alaska Board of Nursing has issued full approval of APU’s ADN and RN to BSN programs for 2024. Provisional approval continues for the LPN program. Additionally, the Board approved the development of an LPN to RN bridge program. The Board fully supports the continuation of the nursing education program at Alaska Pacific University.

This LPN to RN program option is accredited through:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000

As a graduate, a student will earn an Associate Degree in Nursing with demonstrated achievement of APU’s Core Competencies:

1. Effective Communication [EC]: Demonstrate the ability to get one’s point across in writing, presentations, and organizations to share information, teach others, and foster collaboration.
2. Critical Thinking [CT]: Demonstrate the ability to compute, analyze, make sense of information or data, and reach reasoned conclusions cognizant of possible bias or fallacies.
3. Cultural & Historical Perspective [CH]: Demonstrate the ability to effectively consider tradition and heritage in relation to decision-making in a world shaped by diverse cultures and abiding histories.
4. Scientific Inquiry [SI]: Demonstrate the ability to reach verifiable conclusions based on documented observations, findings, and recognized methods in order to know how things work in our world.
5. Ethical Engagement [EE]: Demonstrate ability to raise needed questions and apply ethical and effective problem-framing and problem-solving to make things better.

In addition to the APU Core Competencies, the program aims to achieve the following End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Apply new knowledge representing the aspirations and collective wisdom across multiple populations, from individuals and families to Alaskan Indigenous people in the delivery of holistic nursing care across the lifespan.
2. Demonstrate culturally safe communication within the context of a collaborative team approach to improve client safety and quality improvement initiatives in a variety of settings.
3. Conduct culturally safe comprehensive assessments of individuals and families through the integration of foundational concepts, critical thinking, clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, and the use of the nursing clinical judgment model.
4. Apply evidence-based nursing practice to improve client outcomes across healthcare delivery systems.
5. Exhibit nursing advocacy through adherence to professionalism, ethical and legal frameworks, and patient-centered care as part of nursing practice.

Licensure

The State of Alaska licenses nurses. To receive initial licensure as a registered nurse (RN) in Alaska, candidates must receive their nursing degree from a board approved program that is nationally accredited. Students must pass the NCLEX-RN exam and pass a comprehensive background check. Each RN candidate for initial licensure through examination must submit a notarized application, a completed fingerprint card, official transcripts, and nursing program verification forms when applying to take the NCLEX through the Alaska Board of Nursing. For information about licensure in other states, see https://www.ncsbn.org/

Admissions

Candidates will apply to the LPN to RN Bridge program. Students are selected for admission to the nursing program based on a systematic application review process by nursing faculty to discuss an individual plan of study. This program will start fall 2025.

Candidates must have an approved clinical site.

Candidates must have a current active unencumbered Alaska LPN license.

Candidates must have graduated from a practical nursing associate degree or certificate program from an accredited practical or vocational nursing program.

Course work must be completed successfully with a “C” or above grade.

Earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Cover letter with education statement explaining interest in gaining RN degree and current resume.

Applicants who meet the above eligibility requirements will be contacted for an interview with the APU Nursing Faculty.

Students accepted into the program must submit evidence of:

• Cleared background check in compliance with ICPA standards.

• Drug test, negative of all federally controlled substances.
• Successful completion of mandatory training for compliance with Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
• Successful completion of mandatory training for compliance with occupational safety and health administration requirements.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification from the American Heart Association or other approved alternate providers.
• Current physical screening with a health provider to confirm that students can safely participate in clinical activities (as required by clinical agencies).
• Up to date evidence of screening for tuberculosis.
• Up to date evidence of required immunizations:
  • Current tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap)
  • Current measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
  • Current varicella (chicken pox)
  • Current and complete hepatitis B series
  • Current seasonal influenza (yearly)
  • Current COVID-19 vaccine or vaccine series (as required by clinical agencies)

It is necessary to maintain current immunizations, tuberculosis screening, CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certification, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability), and OSHA for clinical placement. Students must complete clinical requirements before the start of the program. Additional compliance requirements are based on the clinical site assignment. These requirements can include site orientations, additional background checks, additional vaccinations, medical screenings, computer or EHR (Electronic Health Record) training, and other screenings such as drug screenings. Personal Health Information is submitted by the student to a credential & compliance management service.

The general requirements for admission to undergraduate programs at APU are in the Admissions section of the catalog.
 

APU LPN Bridge Program Nursing Plan of Study: