Best Online Paramedic-to-Registered Nurse (RN) Bridge Programs

Experienced paramedics can work toward an associate degree in nursing through Hutchinson Community College’s fully online paramedic-to-RN bridge program. Classes start each January, with applications accepted from March to June for selection committee review. Required prerequisites include graduation from an accredited or approved program, either a Kansas EMT certification or national EMT registration, certain science and general education courses, and completion of the Kaplan Entrance Exam.

The bridge curriculum consists of 69 credit hours of nursing (of which 12 can be fulfilled by prior learning), psychology, and biology courses. Students work with their instructors to schedule their required clinical practicum hours, either at a local, contracted Hutchinson, Kansas, facility, or an approved site located near the student in the case of distance learners. Graduates of the bridge program receive an associate degree in nursing and possess the knowledge and skills required to take the NCLEX exam for state licensure, valid for RN practice throughout the U.S.

Program slots in the paramedic-to-RN pathway program at Mesa Community College fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Before entering the program, applicants must successfully complete the HESI A2 admission exam, a MCCD background clearance check, and possess a valid, current, unrestricted Arizona or national paramedic registry certificate with a minimum of one year’s work experience.

Students complete the nine credit components of the paramedic-to-RN bridge online, in class, and through clinical experiences. The curriculum covers core science concepts, nursing theory, and nursing processes used to meet the specific needs of adult patients and older patients. Upon completion, coursework is valid for nine months, wherein students can apply for advanced placement into the second or third semester of an RN program through one of ten Maricopa Community Colleges. Ultimately, graduates receive their associate in applied science degree and can pursue state licensure for RN practice.

Prospective students of the advanced placement paramedic to registered nurse program at Lorain County Community College must be a graduate of an approved EMT-paramedic program, possess certification from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, earn a “proficient” score on the ATI TEAS exam, and submit paramedic employment verification (minimum of two years).

Paramedic-to-RN bridge program online course availability is limited and varies from one semester to the next, so students should plan for a majority of courses to take place on campus in Elyria, Ohio, or on site at local healthcare facilities for clinical practice. The 44 credit curriculum requires four semesters of study, focusing primarily on nursing concepts and in related areas such as human growth and development, biology, and pharmacology. Upon program completion, graduates earn an associate of applied science degree and become eligible to take the NCLEX examination in pursuit of RN state licensure.