For Immediate Release:
Contact: Richard Lake, CSN Public Relations Specialist, 702-651-7715, Richard.Lake@csn.edu
CSN to Help Military Veterans Become Nurses
Nevada one of six states piloting an innovative program that will award credit based on military training
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 17, 2015 – Military veterans with medical training will soon be able to become Licensed Practical Nurses through a new program at the College of Southern Nevada.
The Medic and Military Corpsmen to LPN program launches this month. It is designed for veteran medics and corpsmen, as well as active duty guard and reserve medics.
“Our veterans and active duty members of the military are the backbone of who we are as a nation. It is our duty to support them, and we gladly do so,” said CSN President Michael Richards. “We are proud that CSN is the first college in Nevada to offer the medic to LPN program.”
Nevada is one of six states piloting the program. At the behest of Gov. Brian Sandoval, the Nevada State Nursing Board and CSN worked together to develop the program. It is similar to one developed at an Arizona community college.
“As a community college, it is our mission to respond to the needs of the community we serve,” said Darren Divine, CSN’s vice president for academic affairs. “Workforce training and retraining will always be a top priority at CSN.”
CSN will report results of the program to the federal Department of Labor, which recently awarded the Nevada System of Higher Education’s community colleges $9,921,831.00 in the latest round of Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) competitive grants.
The purpose of TAACCCT grants is to provide community colleges and other eligible institutions of higher education with funds improve their ability to deliver education and career training programs that will help job seekers get the skills they need for in-demand jobs in industries like information technology, health care, energy, and manufacturing. Previous TAACCCT grants have been used at CSN for home health care worker training and facilities maintenance training.
Medics and corpsmen receive extensive training in the military, much of which overlaps with the training LPNs receive. Under the new program, CSN will award credit to medics and corpsmen and allow them to complete the program in 16 weeks; typically, the LPN program takes two years to complete.
By completing the program in a single semester, students will not only save on tuition and fees, but they will be able to enter the workforce sooner. Once they complete courses, labs and clinical work, students will have to take the National Council Licensure Examination, known as the NCLEX, to become licensed practical nurses.
The demand for LPNs is strong in Nevada and elsewhere in the nation, said Deborah Ain, director of nursing at CSN. LPNs reported an average annual salary of $41,000 in the latest data available from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The field is expected to see greater than average growth, as well.
CSN’s first class, which begins Feb. 23, will have up to eight students. Beginning in the fall, between eight and 16 students will be admitted to the program each semester.
About CSN:
Founded in 1971 and educating thousands of students a semester, the College of Southern Nevada (csn.edu) is the state’s largest and most ethnically diverse higher education institution. CSN students can choose from 180 degree and certificate options in more than 100 areas of study, including more than 25 degree and certificate programs available entirely online. Students create flexible, personalized schedules, including day, evening, and weekend classes taught on three main campuses and multiple locations throughout Southern Nevada. CSN — your future starts here. CSN is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. For more information, visit http://www.csn.edu/nondiscrimination
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