New Practical Nursing Program at Bryant & Stratton College Aims to Help Fill Nation’s Nursing Gap

Bryant & Stratton College announced today approval of a new practical nursing program at its Richmond campus that prepares students to sit for the LPN exam upon graduation provided they meet the requirements of the Virginia State Board of Nursing. Designed in alignment to the needs of healthcare institutions nationally, the program aims to help fill high demand for licensed practical nurses in Virginia.

“Nurses are heroes,” said Beth Murphy, campus director at Bryant & Stratton College. “Nursing is a profession as rewarding as it is demanding and Virginia faces a nursing gap that is on the rise. There are waiting lists at nursing schools across the state, and our practical nursing program puts students on a path to complete their diploma and get to work in as little as 12 months.”

Licensed practical nurses are predicted to be one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The growth rate for employment of licensed practical nurses is growing at 16 percent-much faster than average for all occupations. The demand is attributable to the baby boomer population who are retiring at the rate of four million Americans per year while also needing more healthcare as they age.

Graduates of Bryant & Stratton College’s practical nursing program are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN® exam, a requirement to enter the profession. Licensed practical nurses can then begin providing care to patients in a variety of healthcare environments, ranging from physician’s offices, clinics, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, and home healthcare settings.

“The college has made significant investments into state of the art labs and the latest technologies training for nursing faculty in simulation,” said Debi Erick, Nursing Program Director, referring to involvement in Virginia State Simulation Alliance (VASSA) the professional organization for nurses certified in simulation.

In addition to the PN Program, Bryant & Stratton College, Richmond offers an Associate Degree in Nursing with a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate which is accredited by ACEN* and an RN-BSN Program accredited by CCNE**. These are just two of the many stackable career opportunities offered by Bryant & Stratton College.

Students also benefit from Career LifePrep®, a unique set of experiences offered exclusively by Bryant & Stratton College that helps prepare students at every step in their academic journey, both while in school and after graduation. With a dedicated team of associates, especially faculty, to support and help them navigate their path to their career, students will experience what their chosen career is like while they are still in college, developing skills and confidence, and creating a competitive advantage when they graduate.

Classes begin May 3. Qualifying students who visit a campus and enroll full-time in the practical nursing program by September 6, 2017, may be eligible to receive a Career LifePrep® grant up to