River Valley Community College to Launch New LPN Program
Redesigned program enables students to complete it in as little as three semesters
Claremont, NH – River Valley Community College (RVCC) is developing a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program to meet the significant hiring needs in the state. College officials hope to launch the program and begin enrolling students for the semester that stars in January 2020. Once launched, the program will also be available at Lakes Region Community College and possibly other NH community colleges in the future, depending on student demand and employment opportunities. A grant from the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs helped to fund program development.
A report released by New Futures in 2019 cited a widespread shortage of healthcare workers across the state. There are more than 2,600 nursing jobs in New Hampshire that are listed on Indeed.com.
The LPN program is being designed for students who want to work while taking classes. Another key design objective is to help students complete the program as quickly as possible so they can begin their nursing career. Students will have the option to complete the coursework in as little as three semesters, or they may take longer depending on their schedules.
“LPNs have always been a crucial part of the healthcare team and their roles have shifted over the years. With a significant shortage at all levels of nursing, we see a greater growing demand for a focused LPN program that can put skilled healthcare workers into the workforce quickly,” said Dr. Eileen Glover, the LPN program director and professor of nursing at RVCC.
Glover has designed the new program based on her past experience and understanding that quality care is multifaceted and often requires a team approach. A psychiatric nurse by training, Glover’s healthcare experience ranges from bedside care to serving as a chief nursing officer. “People must recognize the fact that healthcare professionals need to be a part of a multi-skilled, multidisciplinary team in order to get the best results for patients. LPNs have much to contribute to healthcare teams,” she added.
Prior to formally launching the program, RVCC will seek approval through the New Hampshire Board of Nursing and the national Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The first step is gaining preliminary, conditional approval. Once conditional approval has been granted, RVCC can begin accepting students. The first class is capped at 32 students and will initially be offered at RVCC’s Keene and Lebanon academic centers.
“We are excited about this program’s potential to provide facilities such as Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) with trained workers,” said Michelle Buck, vice president of inpatient nursing at DHMC. “LPNs are needed for in-patient work and are in a great position to continue their education and help further develop clinical skills to practice for RN license if they choose to do so.”
Those interested in the program should contact Glover at 603-542-7744, extension 5422, or [email protected].
About River Valley Community College
River Valley Community College is one of seven colleges in the Community College System of New Hampshire, offering thirty-nine associate degree and certificate programs in Claremont, Keene, Lebanon, and Online. Financial Aid and Scholarships are available. The seven community colleges in the system are committed to working with businesses throughout the state to train and retain employees to develop a robust workforce across all sectors and embraces the “65 by 25 Initiative,” which calls for 65% of NH citizens to have some form of post-secondary education by 2025 to meet future workforce demands.
