Practical Nursing Diploma
Career Description
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) care for people who are sick, injured or disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. The nature of the direction and supervision required varies by state and job setting.
Program Information
The Practical Nursing Program is designed to prepare graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing. Student course requirements include a wide variety of clinical experiences in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Graduates join the healthcare team as LPNs upon successful completion of the licensing requirements. There are several program options available. Classes are offered at Brainerd and/or Staples campuses.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
1. Demonstrate professional identity and personal/professional development through accountability, adhering to standards of practical nursing practice within legal, ethical and regulatory framework with specified populations and identification of rationale for scope of practice decision making.
2. Effectively communicate with patients and members of the interdisciplinary health care team, incorporating interpersonal and therapeutic verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
3. Collect and analyze holistic patient-centered information from multiple sources to establish foundation for relationship-centered nursing care through nursing judgments within the practical nursing role.
4. Collaborate with the registered nurse or other members of the health care team to organize and incorporate data collection and knowledge base to contribute to patient care and actions based on established nursing protocols and nursing process.
5. Demonstrate nursing excellence in a caring and empathetic approach to the safe, therapeutic, and individualized care of each client and provide culturally competent care across the lifespan to individuals within a diverse society and within the context of their environment.
6. Implement competent patient-centered care with integrity at the direction of the registered nurse through performance of nursing interventions and with a spirit of inquiry at the Practical Nurse entry level.
Admissions
Please contact the admissions department for information or to apply to the program.
Special Program Requirements
This program has a special application process. This includes completion of a CLC application and the College Entrance Test (CET). Also, a practical nursing application must be completed along with the ACCUPLACER TEST. Please contact the admissions department for information or to apply to the program.
Accreditation
This program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Practical Nursing Program is seeking national accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.; the program is a candidate for this accreditation with the expectation of obtaining national accreditation in 2012. Information regarding NLN Accreditation may be found at their web site: http://nlnac.org/home.htm. NLNAC is located at: NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR NURSING ACCREDITING COMMISSION, 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30326, phone: (414)975.5020
Employment Opportunities
Available employment options are varied and can be found in acute care hospitals, nursing homes, home health care settings and clinics.
PN Application Information Secondary Sheet 2011-12 (pdf)
Student Handbook 2011-2012 (pdf)
2011-12 Practical Nursing, Diploma - Program Planning Form (pdf)
PN Application 2012-2013 (pdf)
PN Application Information Secondary Sheet 2012-2013 (pdf)
PRACTICAL NURSING DIPLOMA CURRICULUM (One-Year Plan)
Prerequisites
Health Care Provider or Professional Rescuer
BIOL 1404 Human Biology (3cr)
OR BIOL 2467* Anatomy & Physiology I (4cr)
AND BIOL 2468* Anatomy & Physiology II (4cr)
ENGL 1410 Composition 1 (4cr)
NSGA 1110 Nursing Assistant (3cr)
Total 10 Credits
Fall Semester
PNUR 1130 Life Span** (1cr)
PNUR 1132 Infection Control (1cr)
PNUR 1134 Pharmacology (2cr)
PNUR 1138 Medical Terminology** (1cr)
PNUR 1160* Basic Nursing II Lab (3cr)
PNUR 1161* Clinical Lab I (1cr)
PNUR 1168* Psychosocial Nursing (3cr)
PNUR 1265* Medical Surgical Nursing I (5cr)
Total 17 Credits
Spring Semester
PNUR 1162* Clinical Lab II (4cr)
PNUR 1166* Gerontological Nursing (2cr)
PNUR 1175* Maternal Child Health (3cr)
PNUR 1270* Medical Surgical Nursing II (5cr)
Total 14 Credits
Summer Session
PNUR 1163* Clinical Lab III (3cr)
Total 3 Credits
GRADUATION REQUIREMENT 44 CREDITS
*Denotes Prerequisites
**Student may substitute PSYC 2431 Human Development (3cr)
For PNUR Life Span (1 cr)
**Student may substitute SECM 1360 Medical Terminology (3cr)
3 credits for PNUR 1138 Medical Terminology.
PRACTICAL NURSING DIPLOMA CURRICULUM
(One-Year Plan - January Start)
Prerequisites
Health Care Provider or Professional Rescuer
BIOL 1404 Human Biology (3cr)
OR BIOL 2467* Anatomy & Physiology I (4cr)
AND BIOL 2468* Anatomy & Physiology II (4cr)
ENGL 1410 Composition 1 (4cr)
NSGA 1110 Nursing Assistant (3cr)
Total 10 CreditsSpring Semester
Fall Semester
PNUR 1130 Life Span** (1cr)
PNUR 1132 Infection Control (1cr)
PNUR 1134 Pharmacology (2cr)
PNUR 1138 Medical Terminology** (1cr)
PNUR 1166* Gerontological Nursing (2cr)
PNUR 1168* Psychosocial Nursing (3cr)
PNUR 1160* Basic Nursing II Lab (3cr)
Total 13 Credits
Summer Session
PNUR 1161* Clinical Lab I (1cr)
PNUR 1265* Medical Surgical Nursing I (5cr)
Total 6 Credits
Fall Semester
PNUR 1162* Clinical Lab II (4cr)
PNUR 1175* Maternal Child Health (3cr)
PNUR 1270* Medical Surgical Nursing II (5cr)
Total 12 Credits
Spring Semester
PNUR 1163* Clinical Lab III (3cr)
Total 3 Credits
GRADUATION REQUIREMENT 44 CREDITS
*Denotes Prerequisites
**Student may substitute SECM 1360 Medical Terminology,
3 credits for PNUR 1138 Medical Terminology.
**Student may substitute PSYC 2431 Human Development (3cr)
For PNUR 1130 Life Span (1 cr.)
PRACTICAL NURSING DIPLOMA CURRICULUM
(Two-Year Plan)
Prerequisites
Health Care Provider or Professional Rescuer
BIOL 1404 Human Biology (3cr)
OR BIOL 2467* Anatomy & Physiology I (4cr)
AND BIOL 2468* Anatomy & Physiology II (4cr)
ENGL 1410 Composition 1 (4cr)
NSGA 1110 Nursing Assistant (3cr)
Total 10 Credits
First Year - Fall Semester
PNUR 1130 Life Span** (1cr)
PNUR 1132 Infection Control (1cr)
PNUR 1134 Pharmacology (2cr)
PNUR 1138 Medical Terminology** (1cr)
PNUR 1166* Gerontological Nursing (2cr)
PNUR 1168* Psychosocial Nursing (3cr)
Total 10 Credits
Spring Semester
PNUR 1160* Basic Nursing II Lab (3cr)
PNUR 1161* Clinical Lab I (1cr)
PNUR 1265* Medical Surgical Nursing I (5cr)
Total 9 Credits
Second Year - Fall Semester
PNUR 1162* Clinical Lab II (4cr)
PNUR 1175* Maternal Child Health (3cr)
PNUR 1270* Medical Surgical Nursing II (5cr)
Total 12 Credits
Spring Semester
PNUR 1163* Clinical Lab III (3cr)
Total 3 Credits
GRADUATION REQUIREMENT 44 CREDITS
*Denotes Prerequisites
**Student may substitute SECM 1360 Medical Terminology,
3 credits for PNUR 1138 Medical Terminology.
**Student may substitute PSYC 2431 Human Development (3cr),
For PNUR 1130 Life Span (1 cr)
NOTES: The student must earn a “C” or above in nursing courses and required liberal arts and science courses. A student earning a grade below a C cannot progress or graduate.