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Nursing Education Career Ladder

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New! Group Advising Sessions-Grand Junction Campus-Spring 2012

Drop In Advising Sessions-Montrose Campus-Spring 2012

Colorado Mesa University offers a unique opportunity for students that are interested in progressing through various levels of nursing licensure. Colorado Mesa University is the only program in the state of Colorado that encourages the student to obtain an entry level license, enter the work field, and then return to further their education.

Completion of the Practical Nurse certificate allows students to progress to the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program or apply for advanced placement in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Graduates from the Colorado Mesa University Practical Nurse program will receive preferential consideration for admission to the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program.

Our Colorado Mesa University campus in Montrose, Colorado also offers the LPN to AAS option. The Montrose campus offers more rural health clinical opportunities and is designed to expose students to health care in a small town atmosphere.

Practical Nurse

This program is designed for students interested in becoming a Practical Nurse as an entry into the nursing career ladder program.

The Practical Nursing program prepares the student to be a direct care giver in hospitals, long-term facilities, and ambulatory care-clinic settings. The potential student must demonstrate college-level proficiency in reading and writing in order to be admitted to this program. This program has selective admission requirements and requirements may change from year to year. It is the student's responsibility to obtain the current admission requirements.

The application deadline is March 1 of every year. Classes begin in August and the student completes the program in May and is eligible to take the State Board examination (NCLEX) for LPN Licensure.

 

LPN-AAS (RN)

This program is designed for Licensed Practical Nurses to achieve an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (RN) Degree, opening up greater employment opportunities, increased compensation, and more job security. The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Program prepares the graduate as a generalist to provide competent nursing care in a variety of health care settings.

Students will develop nursing skills in caring for a diverse population in today's health care settings. They will utilize data related to the client's biological, psychological, socio-spiritual, cultural and developmental needs to promote, maintain, and restore health.

Classes begin in January and the student completes the program in December and is eligible to take the State Board examination (NCLEX) for RN Licensure.

The application deadline is October 1 of every year. Applicants must have their LPN License and be IV Certified at the October 1 deadline. Click here for a CMU IV Certification Course or call the Colorado State Board of Nursing for information on availaibility of other IV Certification courses.

 

RN-BSN

Colorado Mesa University offers an online RN-BSN program, which allows registered nurses with an Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing to advance their degree. Registered nurses can continue their employment with this flexible program by completing:

  • Nursing classes on a part-time basis over two years
  • Nursing classes on a full-time basis over one year
  • Take nursing courses online or in a classroom setting on the CMU campus
  • Pre-requisites program requirements and general education coursework through local community colleges or CMU online as needed

As hospitals increase educational expectations for staff to meet Magnet status guidelines, we anticipate a continuing growth in the RN-BSN program.

Contact an advisor today for transcripts evaluation of your prior educational coursework.