Republican-Eagle: Nurses to get college credit for work experience

By John Russett on Oct 25, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

Starting with the spring 2016 semester, Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical will offer credit for prior learning for their associate of nursing degree.

Licensed practical nurses with 1,000 hours' experience in the last two years can qualify to bypass the first semester of the four-semester associate program.

"When you've worked in the health care field as a nurse, as a licensed practical nurse, you've done so much already," said Dr. Rita Berthelsen, interim dean of Nursing and Allied Health for Southeast Technical. "It's recognition for what these people have done."

With the degree, graduates can sit for the registered nursing exam, which manifests benefits for the students as well as the health care industry, Berthelsen said.

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