Three Rivers Community College Missouri Nursing Program Review

Three Rivers Community College (TRCC) was formed in 1966 after residents of Southeast Missouri counties found it appropriate to have an affordable yet quality center of higher learning. The college started in a humble storefront location before it could afford its own campus in Poplar Bluff. It is a two- year public college serving the education needs of residents of Ripley, Wayne, Butler and Carter counties. It operates from the main campus in Poplar Bluff and several satellites centers in Cape Girardeau, Doniphan, Malden Dexter, Kennett, Sikeston, Van Buren, Portageville and Piedmont.

Nursing Programs at Three River College

Three Rivers Community College has one nursing program that leads to the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in nursing. The program is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing. Licensed Practical Nurses also have an option of receiving advanced standing in the AAS degree. However, this LPN to RN Bridge program is only conditionally approved by the state board of nursing.

Nursing (AAS)

The nursing degree program is designed for entry level and transfer students who wish to become registered nurses. Potential candidates must have taken the National League for Nursing (NLN) pre-admission exam to be eligible to apply. Students need not have completed general education courses to be accepted into the program.

Students of the generic AAS take classes from the Poplar Bluff campus. Two options: day and evening tracks are available for students to choose from. For the day program, classes commence on a summer term whereby pre-nursing courses are covered. Coursework is covered on a full time study plan and progresses for two years to complete in the spring semester.

Students who choose the evening program start on their pre-nursing courses in the fall semester and finish their coursework in the fall semester. Basically, there are no major differences between the day and evening programs since they both take five semesters to complete. The only difference is the start dates: summer and fall for day and evening respectively and an additional course at the 1st semester of the evening program

 A total of 70 credits: 43 nursing and 27 general education credits are required to be eligible to graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in nursing degree.  Graduates also become educationally prepared to apply and write the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses (RN).

LPN-RN Bridge (AAS)

The LPN to RN Bridge program is open to practical nurses that have a Missouri LPN license and would like to become professional nurses.  This program, like the generic AAS, is offered on both evening and day plans. Classes commence in the spring semester for the day option and summer for the evening plan. All courses for this track are offered at the Sikeston campus. LPNs who meet all admission requirements for the AAS take a LPN-RN Bridge course equivalent to 4 credit hours. Successful completion of this course award the students 16 credits in place of the 4 as advanced standing.

In addition to the articulated credits, LPNs are expected to complete another 29 nursing and 27 general education credits at Three Rivers College. However, credit validation may transfer more credits from the general education credits of the practical nursing program. Completion leads to eligibility to apply and take the NLCEX-RN exam besides being awarded the AAS in nursing degree.

Contact:
Three Rivers Community College
2080 Three Rivers Blvd, Poplar Bluff,
MO 63901