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  Academic Programs

Practical Nursing, Diploma

 

Locations: Granite Falls, Pipestone, Worthington,
and Online**
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Important Nursing Admission Information


Practical Nursing is designed to create upward mobility nursing education opportunities.  After successful completion of the Practical Nursing Program, students will receive the Practical Nursing Diploma and be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN examination. Students may enter the nursing workforce or continue to the Associate Degree in Nursing Program (after graduation students are eligible to take the RN licensing examination). 

PREREQUISITES:  Courses must be taken prior to starting the nursing program: Nursing Assistant (NA) course (from a state approved NA course and location), BIOL 2201 Human Anatomy, EMS 1112 or an equivalent American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR course with an in person skills test-out certification.  Students must remain CPR certified through the completion of the program.

The following course sequence is required for completion of this program. Only students who have been accepted into the Nursing program are allowed to take the NURS courses.  The non-nursing course, PSYC 1150 Lifespan Developmental Psychology, may be taken either before or during the Fall term.  All other prerequisite courses must be taken before the beginning of the program.  Recommended courses to prepare for the Practical Nursing Program are:  MATH 1111 College Algebra, BIOL 2245 Medical Terminology, and CSCI 1102 Computer Applications I.

 

COURSE #        
COURSE TITLE CREDITS
Human Anatomy 4
 
Total Prerequisites 4
     
  Fall Semester  
Lifespan Developmental Psychology 3
Principles & Practices of Nursing    3
Nursing of the Adult I 3
Pharmacology I 3
Nursing Skills Lab 2
Clinical Applications I** 2
 
Credits Fall 16
     
 
Spring Semester  
Nursing of the Adult II 3
Pharmacology II 3
Family Nursing 4
NURS 1260 Mental Health Nursing 1
Clinical Applications II** 6
 
Credits Spring 17
     
 
May Term
PN Integration 2
 
TOTAL CREDITS 39


Notes:  Practical nursing students are required to participate in the ATI Testing Program.

Required end of program assessment will include:

  • Completion of a ATI Integrated predictor exam prior to graduation
  • Completion of a ATI Review course prior to authorization to test for NCLEX-PN exam.

**Clinical experiences are a part of the program and are done in healthcare facilities located in southwest Minnesota. On-campus and online learning students need to be prepared to travel to assigned clinical sites as part of the program.

 

Updated:  pp 1/18/2023

 

 

Minnesota West Community & Technical College Practical Nursing program is accredited by:

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/

       Continued accreditation granted through
       Spring of 2024.