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Career Pathway—Health Sciences
The licensed practical nurse (LPN) serves as a care provider, communicator, and teacher in the implementation of care plans for individuals with actual and/or potential health problems. The LPN provides care to individuals under the supervision of registered professional nurses, licensed physicians, and dentists. The curriculum in the PN Program focuses on the development of clinical knowledge and skills that equip graduates to function as licensed practical nurses in a variety of health care agencies. The nursing courses include instruction in the classroom, clinical skills laboratory, and health care agencies.
Graduates of the Practical Nursing Program receive a Certificate and are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN licensing examination. As licensed practical nurses, graduates are qualified for employment in nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, and primary care agencies. Graduates may elect to continue their professional development by applying for admission to Associate Degree Nursing Programs.
Admission Prerequisites
Practical Nursing Program
(Full-Time and Part-Time Options)
Admission to the Practical Nursing Program is selective due to space limitations, enrollment limitations imposed by regulatory bodies, and program prerequisites. Please refer to page 13 for more specific information related to the admission process for nursing programs.
Admission prerequisites must be completed before a student can be admitted to the Practical Nursing Program. Admission prerequisites for the full-time and part-time options of the PN Program are as follows:
- ACT score of 15 or higher or equivalent SAT score (waived for applicants who have documentation of a degree from an accredited college)
- Grade point average 2.0 or higher in high school (or equivalent GED test result) and in college
- Prerequisite courses with grades of “C” (2.0) or higher:
- Mathematics 101 (Beginning Algebra) or higher, or equivalent, or a COMPASS algebra score of 40 or higher
- Biology 201 (Human Anatomy) or equivalent
- Biology 202 (Human Physiology) or equivalent
- Mathematics 101 (Beginning Algebra) or higher, or equivalent, or a COMPASS algebra score of 40 or higher
GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES
The following general education courses may be taken along with or prior to being admitted to the Practical Nursing program. These courses focus on development of knowledge, understanding, and skills related to communication and human behavior.
| CREDITS | |
|---|---|
| English 151, Freshman Composition | 3 |
| Psychology 201, Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| 6 |
NURSING COURSES
| CREDITS | |
|---|---|
| Nursing 111, Foundations of Practical Nursing I | 4 |
| Nursing 246, 247, and 248, Pharmacology | 3 |
| Practical Nursing 9, Foundations of Practical Nursing II | 4 |
| Practical Nursing 10, Medical/Surgical Nursing I | 8 |
| Practical Nursing 11, Maternal/Child Nursing | 4 |
| Practical Nursing 12, Medical/Surgical Nursing II | 8 |
| 31 |
Practical Nursing Program
Full-Time Option
The full-time PN Program requires one academic year (two semesters) to complete. Admitted students begin nursing course work in the fall semester.
Students must complete general education courses either prior to or in the semesters indicated in the course sequence to progress in the subsequent nursing course work. All course work (general education and nursing courses) must be completed with grades of “C” or better to progress in the subsequent nursing course work.
The course sequence for the full-time PN Program is:
| Fall | Spring |
|---|---|
| ENGL 151 | NURS 247 |
| PSYC 201 | NURS 248 |
| NURS 111 | PRNU 10 |
| NURS 246 | PRNU 12 |
| PRNU 9 | |
| PRNU 11 |
Part-Time Option
The curriculum for the part-time PN Program is identical to the full-time program. However, the part-time PN Program requires one and two-thirds calendar years (5 semesters) to complete. Admitted students begin nursing course work in the spring semester.
Students must complete general education courses either prior to or in the semesters indicated in the course sequence to progress in the subsequent nursing course work. All course work (general education and nursing courses) must be completed with grades of “C” (2.0) or better to progress in the subsequent nursing course work.