蘑菇tv

蘑菇tv听will听launch听its听Licensed Practical Nurse to听Associates听Degree Nurse听Transition听Program听this听summer to help address听Columbus County鈥檚 shortage of registered nurses. This听accelerated program will听turn听working licensed practical nurses听(LPNs)听into registered nurses听(RNs)听in听three semesters.听Detra Edwards, nursing instructor and program coordinator, said the need for the program grew from a widening gap in the local healthcare workforce.听

鈥淐olumbus County and the surrounding areas have large vacancies for听RN听positions,鈥� Edwards explained. 鈥淭his program will help close those gaps in vacancies in our area听and up-skill our听practicing听LPNs.鈥�听

Tammy Faulk, 蘑菇tv鈥檚 Director of Nursing, said that a High-Cost Program Start-Up Grant from the North Carolina Community College System provided听funding for this new bridge program. She explained that the grant included a salary for the听program coordinator position and funding for new equipment.听听

Edwards will oversee the program while also teaching in the classroom and clinical settings. She said helping current LPNs advance their careers is both professionally and personally meaningful.听听

鈥淲atching听this new program听develop听and听grow听is truly a blessing,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淎s an 蘑菇tv graduate听who听also attended Columbus County听Schools, I am able to give back to Columbus County by helping others further their educational and career goals.鈥�听

Watching听her听students听make听progress through the nursing program is one of the most rewarding parts of her role, Edwards said.听

鈥淪eeing them have those 鈥楢h鈥慼a鈥� moments, then finally reaching their goals of becoming nurses, is truly the best reward,鈥� Edwards explained. 鈥淚n this role,听I am looking forward to more moments like these, but watching families prosper and reach new opportunities by making that transition from LPN to RN.鈥�听

The program formed in response to feedback from healthcare stakeholders who reported an oversaturation of LPNs and an increasing need for practice鈥憆eady RNs. Edwards said the goal was to create a path that allows working LPNs to earn an ADN without stepping away from their jobs.听

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to see how the program will support the local healthcare industry and strengthen our economy,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淭he interest in this program is astounding, and I鈥檓 excited to help these LPNs reach their goals,鈥� she said.听

The new program is expected to increase the number of RNs entering the local workforce each year. Edwards said the flexible design will give many LPNs an opportunity they otherwise would not have.听听

鈥淢ost LPNs work during the weekdays, which are not conducive to a traditional ADN program,鈥澨鼸dwards听explained. 鈥淭hese new ADN graduates will become RNs that will fill the open positions in Columbus County and the surrounding areas.鈥�听

The new LPN-ADN Transition Program will be offered in a Hy-Flex format, which is a new听option听for the 蘑菇tv nursing courses.听The classroom is equipped with cameras and microphones that record instructor lectures and discussions with the students.听LPNs can choose to attend class in person, join听live online from a remote location听or complete听later听as their听schedule听permits.听All lab sessions will be done in person on campus.听This approach makes it easier for working nurses to balance their jobs, family听life听and school while moving forward toward their ADN.听

鈥淭he grant also allowed us to purchase new equipment to enhance our nursing classroom teaching with one of the most exciting additions being our new听Lifecast听manikins,鈥� Faulk said. 鈥淭hey are incredibly life-like and allow us to create realistic bedside clinical moments right in the classroom.鈥�听

Our partner鈥檚 perspective听

鈥淎n LPN鈥憈o鈥慠N program can significantly听benefit Columbus Regional Healthcare System and the community as a whole by strengthening its nursing workforce and improving patient care,鈥� said Megan Sargent, Chief Nursing Officer at CRHS.听鈥淏y supporting LPNs in听advancing to听RN roles, CRHS builds a pipeline of skilled nurses who already understand its systems, culture and patient population, reducing onboarding time and turnover costs.鈥�听

Sargent explained that听RNs have a broader scope of practice and can manage more complex patient needs,听while听increasing听the number of RNs on staff improves care quality, patient听safety听and staffing flexibility across units.听She said that offering career advancement opportunities boosts employee morale,听engagement听and retention, helping create a more stable and committed workforce.听听

鈥淭his investment in local talent also enhances the hospital鈥檚 relationship with the community by promoting workforce development and creating pathways for residents to grow within the healthcare system,鈥� Sargent said.听鈥淲e are excited to partner with 蘑菇tv on this new venture.鈥�听

Applications for the first class of the LPN-ADN Transition Program are open听now until听April 15.听Click here to听apply!听听