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Nursing

Public Notice of Upcoming Accreditation Review Visit by the ACEN
The Minnesota West Community and Technical College wishes to announce that it will host a site visit for continuing accreditation of its Practical Nursing Program by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
You are invited to meet with the site visit team and share your comments about the program in person at a meeting scheduled from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Room 209 at the Worthington Campus located at 1450 Collegeway, Worthington, MN 56187.

Written comments are also welcome and should be submitted directly to:
Dr. Kathy Chappell, Chief Executive Officer
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326

Or email: kchappell@acenursing.org

All written comments should be received by the ACEN by March 8, 2024.


The heart of our nursing programs at Minnesota West Community & Technical College is the relationship between our students and our faculty. Believing that ownership in your education increases your chances of success, our faculty actively encourages you, the student, to take responsibility for your education.

No1 LPN Nursing Program THUMB

Discussion-based classes and active learning practices are led by our experienced, well-prepared faculty. That translates into a solid foundation for our nursing graduates.

Links to:
Apply to Nursing Program

Mission and Philosophy - A.S.
Mission and Philosopy - PN
Organizational Framework - PN
Program Framework and Student
Learning Outcomes - A.S.
RN State Education Alignment
Student Achievement Data
Student Learning Outcomes - PN
Scholarship Opportunities
Statewide Nursing Transfer Agreement
Student Handbook - A.S.
Student Handbook - PN
Core Performance Standards for Nursing Programs PN
Core Performance Standards for Nursing Programs RN
Nursing Faculty Handbook
Meet our Faculty & Staff


Nursing Program Overview

Minnesota West’s redesigned nursing program has kept pace with the needs of our students and the ever-changing healthcare industry. The pathway provides seamless education from the practical nursing to the registered nursing level. You can train to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or complete the Associate of Science (A.S.) degree to become a registered nurse (R.N.)

Many nursing students begin with the Nursing Assistant class, which is designed to prepare students for entry level jobs in nursing homes and other health care facilities. Students who complete the Associate of Science (A.S.) degree and wish to obtain a baccalaureate degree in nursing can then apply for admittance to colleges and universities offering a B.S.N. completion program. A  Minnesota West counselor/advisor can assist with finding a B.S.N. completion program.

Minnesota West/SMSU Nursing is a pathway to complete Year 1: Practical Nursing (PN) and and Year 2: Registered Nursing (RN) degrees at MInnesota West and and Year 3-4: Bachelor Of Science In Nursing (BSN) at Southwest Minnesota State University.

Minnesota West’s nursing program offers a quality education at an affordable price, with the flexibility that appeals to today’s learners. The program includes classroom theory, laboratory experience and supervised clinical experience in area hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and community health care agencies. The clinical rotation includes integrated clinical experience where students participate in four-hour and eight-hour shifts.
Our nursing programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

Program Start Dates

You can begin general education coursework any semester on a part-time or full-time basis. You must begin nursing coursework in the fall semester on a full-time basis to complete the diploma or associate in science degree program in one year.

Career Opportunities

Licensed practical nurses work under the direction of a doctor or a registered nurse and provide basic bedside care to patients. While duties differ from one work setting to another, typical duties include taking vital signs, applying dressings, giving alcohol rubs, feeding patients, recording food and liquid intake and output, assisting with bathing and dressing, and performing routine lab work. Licensed practical nurses are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care centers and home health care services.

Registered nurses work to promote health and to help patients cope with illness. Registered nurses work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, public health facilities, government agencies, schools and private homes. Daily duties are determined by the work setting, and may include computerized monitoring of patients’ vital signs, writing and managing care plans, drawing blood and giving injections, performing routine lab tests, and performing administrative and supervisory duties.

Nursing Program Outcomes

Program Outcomes and Student Achievement Data

The Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs at Minnesota West Community and Technical College at the Worthington, Pipestone, and Granite Falls Campuses located in Worthington, Pipestone, and Granite Falls, Minnesota are accredited by the:

acen seal



Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.org/

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree Nursing Program is Continuing Accreditation.

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing Program is Initial Accreditation.