The Colorado Nursing Articulation Model: 2001-2005
Publication of the Colorado Trust
Download the entire report in PDF format (235KB). To acquire the free PDF viewer follow this link to Adobe.com.
Executive Summary
|
|
The Colorado Nursing Articulation Model is the first voluntary statewide model of its kind in the nation. Through it, all public, private and proprietary nursing programs in the state of Colorado are enabling nurses to advance their education more easily. Under the model, initiated and developed by the Colorado Council on Nursing Education (CCNE), nurses are able to progress in the following ways:
- Licensed practical nurse to the registered nurse, associate degree, and
- Associate degree or diploma registered nurse to the baccalaureate nurse level.
This advance is accomplished for most nurses without testing in nursing content areas. Historically, testing has been required to validate prior learning. The Colorado Model is necessary because students who graduate from associate degree programs earn nursing credits at the lower division (100-200 level courses); the baccalaureate nursing programs in Colorado offer most course work at the upper division (300-400 level courses). Educators do not assume that lowerdivision course work is comparable to upper-division work and have commonly used challenge testing to verify that specified learning has occurred. Such testing was expensive and time-consuming and had the effect of discouraging many nurses from seeking advanced educational degrees.
Articulation without testing is possible for two reasons. The first is that faculty members from all nursing programs in the state have validated the content of all curricula. The second is that individual validation of prior nursing knowledge occurs by placing nursing credits in escrow at the higher level institution until the nurse successfully completes one semester of full-time nursing course work at the receiving institution. Nurses articulating from either the practical nurse to associate degree level or the associate degree or diploma to the baccalaureate level receive approximately one year of full-time nursing credit for previous nursing course work. All articulating students must meet program admission requirements and nonnursing course requirements.
If a practical or registered nurse graduated more than three years previously, work experience or an approved refresher course is required. Licensed practical nurses currently have a 10-year time limit from graduation for articulation without testing. This Colorado Nursing Articulation Model was implemented between January 1, 1991, and January 1, 1992, by all Colorado nursing programs. An evaluation plan overseen by the CCNE has been in effect since January, 1992.
Assumptions
- Each education institution has the prerogative of establishing its unique mission, goals and standards for admission, progression and graduation.
- Articulation is a process through which nursing programs cooperate to facilitate educational progress of students with minimum repetition.
- There is a common core of knowledge, attitudes, cognitive and psychomotor skills that graduates of all three types of nursing programs should acquire; however, there are distinct differences in the breadth, depth, scope of preparation and knowledge of each type of graduate.
- Nursing programs in practical, associate and baccalaureate degree nursing must meet standards determined by the Colorado Board of Nursing.
- All graduates have met minimum course and program objectives.
- Completion of one level does not mean that a graduate will have the ability and/or desire to progress to the next level.
- Registered nurses who are pursuing a baccalaureate degree should be treated as mature, adult learners who are employed, self-motivated and capable of independent study. In general, they are more responsible than traditional students, but may need more counseling regarding their return to school.
- A program should not be judged on the performance of one or two students. All programs have "many shining stars and an occasional clunker."
Copyright 8 2000, by the
Colorado Council on Nursing Education.
Permission to copy material from this model is granted
with the stipulation that the Colorado Council on Nursing
Education be cited as the author.