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. Available employment options can be found in acute care hospitals, nursing homes, home health care settings and clinics.

Program Information

The Practical Nursing Diploma program prepares graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing. Course requirements include a wide variety of clinical experiences in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Graduates join the healthcare team as Practical Nurses (PNs) upon successful completion of the licensing requirements.

Program Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

• Client Centered Care (NLN Human Flourishing)
  The Practical Nursing graduate utilizes therapeutic communication skills when providing care through focus assessments, founded on basic holistic needs of individual clients across the lifespan.
• Nursing Judgement
  The Practical Nursing graduate applies the nursing process and evidence based decision making when working within an established plan of care by implementing interventions, reporting changes, and promoting safety and health of individual clients across the lifespan.
• Professional Identity
  The Practical Nursing graduate demonstrates professionalism and teamwork in an ethical and legal manner when implementing or assigning aspects of care for an individual client, under the direction of a Registered Nurse or other health care provider.
• Quality Improvement (NLN Spirit of Inquiry)
  The Practical Nursing graduate contributes to continuous quality improvement by providing input into the development of policies and procedures and effectively using resources and technology to achieve optimal client outcomes.

Special Program Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must meet the following conditions in order to graduate:

• College Cumulative GPA Requirement: cumulative grade point average (GPA) of credits attempted and completed at CLC must be at least 2.0;
• Residency Requirement: students must complete 25% of their credits at Central Lakes College;
• Students must achieve a grade of B- or better in all Practical Nursing (PNUR) courses;
• Students must achieve a grade of C or better in all required Minnesota Transfer Curriculum courses.
• Students must complete 7 MN Transfer credits (MNTC) to graduate. Students taking the MNTC courses for fewer credits than those offered at CLC will be required to take additional MNTC courses to meet the 7 credit requirement.

Accreditation

The CLC Practical Nursing Diploma program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA).

Admissions

• Health Care Provider or Professional Rescuer CPR Certificate.
• NSGA 1110 Nursing Assistant Course, OR 75 hour Minnesota Department of Health Nursing Assistant, OR active on the MN Registry of Nursing Assistants.
• Students applying to this program will be required to take and pass the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) exam with a score of 55% or higher. TEAS exam results are valid for 5 years from the date the teest was taken. Students must provide an official TEAS transcript when applying to the program. *Please Note: For students who apply to begin the program Spring semester 2025 and beyond, a different exam may be used to assess readiness for admission to the program. Check with the college before taking the TEAS exam.
• Any person who has direct contact with patients and residents at health care facilities licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health must have a criminal background study completed. Results of the study are to be on file in the Department of Nursing before students begin their clinical experiences. Any student who does not pass the criminal background study will not be permitted to participate in clinical experiences, thereby rendering the individual ineligible to progress in the Practical Nursing Program.
• Drug testing may be required.
• Immunization documentation is required.

Transfer Opportunities

This program has transfer articulation agreements with Alexandria Technical and Community College, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Century College, Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College, Hibbing Community College, Inver Hills Community College, Minneapolis Community & Technical College, Minnesota State College – Southeast, Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Minnesota West Community & Technical College, Normandale Community College, North Hennepin Community College, Northland Community & Technical College, Northwest Technical College – Bemidji, Pine Technical and Community College, Ridgewater College, Riverland Community College, Rochester Community & Technical College, South Central College, St Cloud Technical and Community College.