Texarkana College Nursing Transition Program Shifts to Spring Start Date

Texarkana College’s Associate Degree Nursing program is accepting applications from licensed vocational nurses who wish to continue their education to become registered nurses until October 15, 2018. The next VN-ADN transition class begins in January 2018.

In the past, LVNs have applied for the three-semester transition program in the spring and began classes during the summer.

“Shifting the start date to the spring allows us to give students a class schedule that fits into their busy lives,” said Courtney Shoalmire, Dean of Health Sciences. “This will allow them to complete the program by going to class 3-4 days a week instead of 5 days a week.”

LVNs who transition to registered nursing will see benefits such as increased independence on the job and higher salaries. The average annual wages for LVNs in this area is $38,000 per year, while the average RN salary is $59,000.

“LVNs are great candidates for our RN program because they are already familiar with working in a healthcare setting and they’re prepared for the rigor of the nursing coursework,” Shoalmire said. “They know this is a serious career move that will benefit them and their families for years to come.”

According to Career Coach, there are currently almost 1,500 registered nurses employed within a 10 mile radius of Texarkana—and that number is expected to continue growing.

“We live in a hub for healthcare in our region,” Shoalmire said. “We have some of the best medical facilities around, and every one of them needs trained, competent registered nurses.”

LVNs who are interested in transitioning should plan to attend an information session on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. in Room 151 of Texarkana College’s Health Sciences Center. Potential applicants are encouraged to sign up for the information session in advance at learn.texarkanacollege.edu/LVNtransition. Candidates for the transition program must be a licensed vocational nurse or a recent graduate from a vocational nursing program and eligible to take the licensure examination.

For more information, please contact health sciences enrollment specialist Karen Holt at (903) 823-3351 or karen.holt@texarkanacollege.edu.