STC Re-Entry Nursing Program Offers New Opportunities Via Distance Learning
Beginning March 20, hundreds of registered nurses (RN) and licensed vocational nurses (LVN) in the Rio Grande Valley will be able to re-instate their licenses and return to practicing in a patient care setting by completing the 16-week web-based Re-Entry Nursing Project offered by South Texas College.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the year 2000, thirty states were estimated to have shortages of registered nurses, increasing this shortage amount to 44 states along with the District of Colombia in the next two decades.
The project is comprised of 104 didactic hours, 24 lab skills hours lab and 72 preceptorship hours. The program is designed to meet the educational needs of nurses who have been out of the clinical setting for some time and desire to re-enter the workplace, update previous knowledge and skills, and as part of the Board’s requirements of licensure.
“These courses are part of the requirements of the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners (BNE) for registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses that have been away from the professional nursing practice for more than four years,” explains Wanda Spratt, division dean of Nursing and Allied Health at STC.
The Distance Learning Re-Entry Nursing Project was launched and designed in 2003 by Austin Community College, El Paso Community College, Collin County Community College District, North Harris College, Midland College, the Texas Hospital Association, and STARLINK (the Texas community college satellite broadcast system. Guidance in developing the project was also provided by the Texas State Leadership Consortium for Curriculum Development. The project was funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board through a State Leadership Carl D. Perkins Fund grant.
The Re-entry project summarizes the Nursing Practice Act of Texas; differentiates and supports holistic nursing care for clients and families, utilizing nursing knowledge, experience, and legal/ethical standards of care; compares and contrasts the different roles of professional nurses and their contributions to the profession; and utilizes critical thinking principles to develop a holistic plan of care for clients with health care needs.
“This nursing refresher project greatly benefits the healthcare industry in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Spratt. “By getting involved, South Texas College continues its proactive efforts in the community to help both the healthcare industry and individuals to continue in a career with an increasing demand.”
The cost of the program is $983.21 per student. This fee does not include books or materials.
An orientation session will be offered on March 8 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the STC Nursing and Allied Health Center, 1101 E. Vermont in McAllen.
To learn more about the Distance Learning Re-Entry Nursing Project log on to:
www.nurserefresher.austincc.edu/index.html.
For more information about this project at STC, contact David Perez at (956) 488-6974 or Leticia Flores at (956) 872-2778.
Last Updated June 20, 2007