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Based on a 6-year, learn and earn curriculum, the authors report on a year-old project that assists licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to obtain a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN). Partnerships with 4 area healthcare agencies employing LPNs were developed to support students with full or partial tuition reimbursement and work schedules to accommodate classes. Key university staff in the offices of admissions, financial aid, adult programs and services, and nursing advisement are assigned to this student group to provide individualized assistance. The authors discuss unique components of the project including regularly scheduled role transition seminars, faculty mentors, BSN and nurse practitioner clinical mentors, and clinical experiences in nurse-managed clinics.

Dr. Wendy Nehring, Dean of the College of Nursing, explained that the idea to establish a LPN-BSN Program came about after a statewide tour of all the Community Colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) to promote the RN-BSN Program. Students said they wanted a LPN-BSN Program that is accessible and that they get through as quickly as possible. ETSU worked with THEC to develop a hybrid program with 23 hours of articulation credits that takes four semesters to complete. ETSU is currently the only public university in Tennessee to offer a LPN-BSN Program, Dr. Nehring said. The LPN-BSN Program started at three sites in fall 2018 and has quickly expanded to seven sites, with five additional sites planned across the state. Last summer, the program received 1,000 inquiries per week. In fall 2019, 94 students enrolled, which is close to the enrollment in the BSN Program on ETSU’s main campus. Spring 2020 enrollment is estimated to be just over 100 students. At this time, Dr. Nehring said the highest interest is coming from Crossville and Nashville, and students at the Memphis TCAT petitioned their President to offer the LPN-BSN Program. The state is experiencing a nursing shortage, especially in rural areas, so this program is one way TSU is working to meet workforce needs.

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This study focused on the identification of entry-level competencies needed by bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) graduates who will begin working in acute health care agencies in Tennessee within 10 years. The purpose of this study was to increase awareness of the competencies needed by graduates of BSN programs in Tennessee to meet the demands of acute health care agencies, considering current and anticipated changes in the health care delivery system. The opinions of nurse educators, nurse administrators, recent BSN graduates, and experienced BSN graduates were solicited to assess congruency of perceptions. This study found there was a statistically significant difference in the perceptions of nurses in acute health care agencies and faculty in BSN programs about the importance of entry-level competencies needed by BSN graduates.