Practical Nursing

Practical Nursing Overview

If you like helping people, then experience the rewards of caring by entering one of the fastest growing and in-demand career fields in healthcare! The Practical Nursing program prepares the student to become a valuable member of a healthcare team, working under the supervision of a physician or a registered nurse. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Function in the delivery of care to clients and families.
• Communicate effectively with clients, families, and members of the healthcare team.
• Use critical thinking to safely perform requisite cognitive, psychomotor and effective nursing skills.

What You Can Learn in Practical Nursing

This program includes instruction in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical setting, with the objective to:

• Prepare a competent, beginning practitioner of practical nursing to function effectively in acute, long-term care and ambulatory settings.
• Provide a collaborative learning environment in which the student will demonstrate the ability to develop and apply principles of systematic reasoning through critical thinking.
• Guide the student in the continuing process of personal and professional growth.

Where You Can Go in Practical Nursing

Graduates who obtain state licensure typically secure employment as Practical Nurses in areas that include:

• Nursing Homes
• Hospitals
• Physicians' Offices
• Corporate Occupational Health
• Public School Systems

Degree Objectives

Program Purpose

The Practical Nursing program at ECPI School of Health Science, Medical Careers Institute is designed to prepare qualified students to be career ready professionals.

Program objectives include:

This diploma program prepares the student for licensure and entry-level employment as a practical nurse. Students learn about anatomy, providing comfort and care to patients recuperating from injury or illness, pharmacology concepts, and providing care across the human lifespan. They also learn to function as a member of a healthcare team, usually working under the supervision of an advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, licensed physician, licensed dentist, or other practitioner authorized by law to supervise LPN practice. Practical Nursing students learn to communicate with patients and their families clearly both orally and in writing.

About the Profession

Licensed Practical Nurses typically provide nursing care under the direction of a more senior healthcare practitioner, including registered nurses. They understand nursing fundamentals and assist with delivering care to patients and their families. They are prepared to continue their formal education and prepare for more advanced nursing degrees and certifications, including Registered Nursing.

Requirements for Typical Employment Opportunities (i.e., background checks, drug screening, security clearances.)

Criminal background checks, drug screening, dosage calculation competency exams, nursing skills competency exams, and security clearances may be required, depending on the facility.

Entry Level Employment Opportunities By Job Title and/or Industry

A graduate from the Practical Nursing program will work as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in a healthcare setting such as a long-term care facility, skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility, or correctional facility infirmary. Licensed Practical Nurses may also work in home health care settings, physicians' offices, clinics, or acute care facilities.

Physical Requirements

Practical Nurses must physically be able to change position frequently, stand and sit for prolonged time periods, lift 50 pounds or more with or without assistance or assistive devices, bend, and twist. They must have adequate vision and hearing, and they must be able to use computers.

Certifications Recommended for Entry Level Career.

ECPI University provides vouchers allowing students to take certification exams at a greatly reduced cost. All Practical Nursing graduates must successfully pass the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) before being able to practice as a LPN.

Student Evaluation

The student's grades are determined by a combination of written examinations, laboratory competence, and clinical performance. These grades include assessment of nursing ability, attitude, and relationship with others in clinical and laboratory settings. The student progresses to the next term when all prerequisite courses have been satisfactorily completed. Students must achieve an 80 percent average in all courses and satisfactorily meet all clinical objectives. A final course grade of less than 80 percent or failure to meet laboratory competence and clinical objectives will result in failure of a course.

A detailed record of students'attendance is maintained by the instructors and becomes a part of their permanent records. Every absence from class, no matter what the reason, is recorded and counted as such by the instructor, beginning with the first day of class. Students MUST attend class regularly. STUDENTS MAY NOT MISS SCHEDULED CLASSES. If an absence is necessary for any reason, students must call the school and the instructor no later than one hour before the scheduled start time. Students with course absences greater than 15 percent may have their records reviewed for purposes of possible probation, termination, or suspension. A student may be dropped from a course if he or she is absent more than 20 percent of the scheduled course hours. Written assignments must be submitted on time. Tests must be made up on the student's first classroom day back to school after absence unless the student makes alternate arrangements with the instructor.

Absenteeism on clinical days will not be tolerated. A student is expected to arrive at clinical prepared to administer patient care. If a student is unable to perform required duties due to health or other reasons, the student should not attend clinical. If for any reason the student cannot attend the clinical, the student must talk to the assigned group instructor no later than one hour before the scheduled start time.

Emergency messages will be conveyed from the school to the clinical area. At no time should family or friends call the healthcare facility where the student is assigned. At the point a student reaches two clinical days missed, the student must report to the Director or Assistant Director of Nursing and may be dropped from the course.

Clinical experiences are opportunities for students to gain mentored, practical experience in a "real-world" job setting. Students must complete required physical examinations and have all titers/immunizations listed on the required form. Cleared background check, clean drug screen and additional facility specific screenings are required.

Clinical experiences are scheduled in various local healthcare agencies and hospitals and are subject to change.

Program Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Admissions test with passing score

Core Curriculum

¹The certifications listed in the "Potential Certifications" column are the actual certification exams that students may be prepared to take following achievement of student learning outcomes from a course or a set of courses. Some certifications may require additional outside preparation prior to taking the exams; and receipt of one or more certifications is not guaranteed. Students are strongly encouraged to take all appropriate certification examinations for their program of study. To facilitate student access to the certifications, ECPI offers its students access to the certification exams at a significant discount. Some programs may require the student to obtain one or more certifications as part of the curriculum.

Future Possible Careers for This Program

Success

Q

How long will it take to complete this program?

A

The program is designed to take 14 months to complete. 45% of graduates from this program finish in this time.

The median time for graduates to complete this program was 16 months.

Cost

Q

How much will tuition and fees be?

A

The cost of tuition and fees is: $29,940

Q

What about the cost of books and supplies?

A

The cost of books and supplies is: $875. Foundation course requirements can result in additional costs and increase the time to graduation.

Financing

Q

What are my financing options to pay for the program?

A

In addition to any grant and scholarship aid for which they are eligible, graduates used loans to finance their education. The median debt for program graduates is: