New Paramedic-to-Nursing Program Approved for Robeson Community College
Robeson Community College’s new nursing program was recently approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing, ahead of its start in summer 2019.
RCC’s Paramedic to RN Bridge program is designed for paramedics to obtain an Associate Degree in Nursing. This program allows paramedics to study for three years at Robeson; Robeson ADN recipients can continue studying at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke for another year to earn a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.
Interest in the program, including 5,000 hits on Facebook alone, has been steady — no doubt reflecting a need for this nursing education need in North Carolina. Eva Meekins, Nursing Department Director at Robeson Community College, tells The Robesonian, “We are one of the few schools in the state that offer a paramedic to ADN program. We don’t have the capacity to meet the demand.”
The bridge program is set up so students can get certified as paramedics through Robeson and start their medical careers, earning and saving money. This will provide the financial freedom some students need to continue pursuing their education. And though many people are interested in joining the new nursing program at Robeson, there will still be plenty of local paramedics who continue their careers without pursing a nursing degree.