The Paris Junior College LVN to RN nursing program is taking applications now through May 30, 2025, for the 2025-2026 class of students wishing to become registered nurses. The program often has a waiting list with high demand for nurses and strong community support.
“To be in the RN program you must have your license as either a licensed vocational nurse or licensed practical nurse,” said PJC Nursing Director Dwana Hollidai. “Many of our students are younger, but we have students who have been out in the community working as an LVN for many years who come back. We have a variety of backgrounds, ages, experience levels, and work locations, both men and women, and all ages as students.”
The first step to get started is to apply to PJC, be accepted, and receive a PJC email login and password. At that point, students can access the online LVN to RN Transition Nursing Program application.
“Students have to be very dedicated because it is a four-day-a-week program,” said Hollidai. “Some of our students still work to support their family and that’s very time intensive and academically harder. They need to have good study habits, and good time management skills.”
The LVN-to-RN program prepares nurses for entry-level positions integrating knowledge and skills to provide care to patients in a variety of health care settings. The program may be completed in 12 months (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters).
Resources are available to help students succeed.
“Each student is assigned a faculty mentor so if they’re struggling with an exam, they can meet with them and talk about what went wrong,” said Hollidai. “Good family support is very important, especially for those with small kids because students are only allowed to miss a certain number of days.”
The programs enjoy strong community support.
“Our students receive scholarships from the Roan Oak Masonic Lodge and the Paris Masonic Lodge,” Hollidai said. “There is a Lamar County health care scholarship and the general Memorial Foundation scholarship available to help all of our nursing students.”
Job prospects are bright because of high demand for trained nurses everywhere, retirement of the current nursing population, and a growing elderly population creating a rising need.
Program application requires documentation and a background check. That process should be started as soon as possible by calling the Health Occupations office at 903-782-0734. For more information on the program, email nursing@parisjc.edu.
