School of Nursing
Our programs offer more than a real-world path to the future you aspire to, they offer an achievable path.
Medical & Dental Programs
Nursing Bridge Programs
Carrington College’s nursing bridge programs support licensed vocational and practical nurses in advancing their education. By building on prior training and experience, this pathway helps prepare you to transition into registered nursing.
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Career Outcomes After Completing the Bridge Program
A nursing bridge program allows students who already hold a nursing credential to transition into the next level of nursing education without repeating foundational coursework they’ve already completed. These programs focus on strengthening clinical knowledge, expanding patient care responsibilities, and preparing students for more advanced nursing roles.
Through the bridge pathway at Carrington College’s nursing school, students with an LVN or LPN credential can continue their education through an LVN to ADN or Nursing Bridge program designed to build on prior education and clinical experience and introduce advanced nursing concepts.
Nursing job duties vary depending on the level of nursing you are practicing and the state in which you are licensed. Registered nurses typically do the following: (1)
- Assess patients’ conditions
- Record patients’ medical histories and symptoms
- Observe patients and record the observations
- Administer patients’ medicines and treatments
- Set up plans for patients’ care or contribute information to existing plans
- Consult and collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals
- Operate and monitor medical equipment
- Help perform diagnostic tests and analyze the results
- Teach patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries
- Explain what to do at home after treatment
Program Details
What Will I learn
NURSING BRIDGE AND LVN TO ADN
Upon completion of the Nursing Bridge or LVN to ADN programs, graduates will be able to:
- Justify a plan of care that provides safe, quality patient-centered care to persons throughout the lifespan and across the health/wellness continuum that creates an environment promoting caring and professionalism with consideration for the patient’s cultural/societal beliefs and practices.
- Apply scientific evidence-based knowledge to concepts in the care of patients throughout the lifespan and across the health/wellness continuum.
- Validate effective communication and behaviors with healthcare stakeholders that are consistent with the nursing scope of practice and adhere to legal and ethical frameworks.
Military Policy
Cost & Financial Aid
Your education is an investment in your future, and Carrington College is here to help. We offer a variety of financial aid options, including federal, state, and private programs, as well as student loans, grants, and scholarships are available for those who qualify. Each program has different requirements and application instructions. Our team is here to guide you through the options and application process.
Academic Cost
For complete details on current tuition costs, please refer to the Academic Catalog.
The best way for us to understand your financial needs is to meet in person. Call (877) 344-3316 to set an appointment with our Student Finance Department so we can help you develop your personalized financial plan to achieve your educational goals.
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Once you have decided you want to pursue a rewarding career in the nursing field, choosing the right job path and career education is the next step.
Location Availability
Accreditation & Approvals
Carrington College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, 428 J Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814; 415 506 0234 an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at accjc.org.
For comprehensive information on Carrington College’s accreditation and approvals, visit carrington.edu/accreditation-and-approvals/.
The Nursing Bridge program at Carrington College at the campus located in Boise, Idaho is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, 404-975-5000.
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Nursing Bridge program is Continuing Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at www.acenursing.org/search-programs
Carrington College holds full approval for its Practical Nursing program and its associate degree professional nursing education program. The Idaho Board of Nursing issued a certificate of approval. Board offices: 280 North 8th Street, Suite 210, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0061, 208-334-3110, dopl.idaho.gov/bon/.
Carrington College’s Sacramento LVN to ADN program holds approval from the California Board of Registered Nursing, PO Box 944210, Sacramento, CA 94244–2100, 916-322-3350, www.rn.ca.gov.
Carrington College’s Ontario, Rancho Mirage, and Visalia Registered Nursing and Registered Nursing – LVN to RN Bridge programs hold approval from the California Board of Registered Nursing, PO Box 944210, Sacramento, CA 94244–2100, 916 322 3350, www.rn.ca.gov
Course Catalog
Program Specific Disclosures
CALIFORNIA LICENSURE EXAM PASS RATES
The LVN to ADN program prepares graduates for an occupation in which passage of a California licensing examination is required. The link below shows exam passage rates for the most recent available year. If you have questions regarding the calculation of these rates, please contact the agency listed.
California Board of Registered Nursing https://www.rn.ca.gov/education/passrates.shtml
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) requires that the following student achievement outcome data be made publicly available.
- Graduates’ success on the licensure and/or certification examination
- Students’ completion of the nursing program
- Graduates obtaining a job
To view this information for Carrington College’s ACEN – accredited nursing programs, click here.
Continuing Education For Graduates
Student Outcomes
REAL WORLD SKILLS
With many classes to guide you, you’re certain to be prepared for your career.
START YOUR PATH
Complete one of our nursing bridge programs in as few as 8-12 months. Varies by program.
FLEXIBLE LEARNING OPTIONS
Conveniently available across multiple campuses.
AFFORDABLE TUITION
Affordable tuition varies by program and location.
Curriculum Competencies: Bridge Competencies
The curriculum within a bridge program for nursing focuses on strengthening knowledge and clinical reasoning beyond entry-level nursing training. (4)
Rather than repeating basic nursing skills, LVN to ADN programs typically emphasize advanced competencies that help students transition into registered nursing practice.
Bridge-focused competencies may include:
- Advanced Patient Assessment: Students expand their understanding of patient evaluation, clinical observation, and documentation.
- Clinical Decision-Making: Coursework emphasizes critical thinking skills used to interpret patient conditions and determine appropriate care interventions.
- Care Coordination: Students learn how registered nurses collaborate with healthcare teams to support comprehensive patient care.
- Evidence-Based Nursing Practice: Bridge students explore how research and clinical evidence inform nursing decisions and patient care planning.
These competencies help support the transition from the vocational nursing scope to registered nursing responsibilities.
What Will I Learn?
Concepts of effective communication
Nursing Across the Lifespan
medical surgical nursing
NCLEX-RN preparation*
What Is the Nursing Bridge Program?
A nursing bridge program is an educational pathway designed for licensed practical or vocational nurses who want to advance from one credential to another without repeating foundational training.
Key characteristics include:
- Designed for licensed nurses such as LVNs and LPNs
- Builds on prior education and clinical experience
- Focuses on advanced nursing knowledge and responsibilities
- Supports progression toward registered nursing practice
Students interested in learning more can explore our Guide to Nursing for a deeper overview of this educational pathway.
Clinical and Experiential Requirements
Hands-on learning remains an important component of the nursing bridge program experience.
Students entering bridge programs already have clinical experience, but additional supervised clinical training may be included to expand skills related to registered nursing responsibilities.
Experiences may include:
- Advanced patient care scenarios
- Supervised clinical rotations in healthcare facilities
- Care coordination and patient assessment activities
- Team-based collaboration in healthcare settings
These experiences allow students to apply advanced nursing concepts while working with healthcare teams in real clinical environments.
Nursing Bridge Programs
At the School of Nursing
Talk to an enrollment services associate about how you can complete one of our nursing bridge programs in as few as 8-12 months
Successful Nursing Program Grads
Ask one of our graduates about their Carrington College experience and they’ll likely describe it as life-changing.
Discover What It’s Like to Train to Become a Nurse at Carrington College
Explore The School of Nursing
Student Life
The passion our students bring to their education is real. At Carrington College, we want to keep that passion going far beyond our learning experience.
All Nursing Programs
There are many different nursing programs to choose from, so you can select the career path that best suits your personal and professional goals.
Compare Programs
Once you have decided you want to pursue a rewarding career in the nursing field, choosing the right job path and career education is the next step.
Nursing Resources
Whether you’re just starting out in nursing, or taking your education to the next level, there are plenty of nursing student resources to assist you.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Figuring out how to pay for your education can be intimidating, but we’re here to help! Student loans, grants, and scholarships are available to those who qualify.
Nursing Bridge FAQ
References:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Registered Nurses.” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
- Federal Student Aid. https://studentaid.gov/
- California Board of Registered Nursing. “Licensure & Exam Pass Rates.”
https://www.rn.ca.gov/education/passrates.shtml - American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). “National RN-Baccalaureate Faculty Forum Position Statement.” https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Essentials/NRFF-Position-Statement-Final-Aug-2025.pdf
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing. “Nursing Regulation & Licensure (NCLEX-RN, scope of practice).”https://www.ncsbn.org
Disclosure:
*Carrington College prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual majors. The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result of completing the program.