Practical Nursing Overview
The Practical Nursing (PN) program is an introduction to nursing. Licensed Practical Nurses provide patient care under the supervision of senior healthcare practitioners. After earning the diploma, a graduated practical nurse must sit for the NCLEX exam. Once passed, the practical nurse is eligible for licensure to become a PN.
Our Practical Nursing diploma program emphasizes critical thinking, clinical reasoning, effective communication and collaboration, and nursing theory.
ECPI University’s College of Nursing, Medical Careers Institute, offers a Practical Nursing program that can prepare you to become an important part of the healthcare team, working under the supervision of doctors and registered nurses. After completing the program, graduates should be able to:
- Participate in the delivery of care to clients and families
- Use critical thinking skills to safely perform necessary cognitive, psychomotor and effective nursing skills
- Communicate effectively with clients, families, and members of the healthcare team
If the nursing profession is calling you, consider ECPI University’s College of Nursing, Medical Careers Institute (MCI). Through MCI’s year-round program, you could earn a Licensed Practical Nursing diploma in as little as 15 months.
Practical Nursing Possible Career Track
Practical Nursing graduates work in a variety of healthcare settings including:
- Nursing Homes
- Physicians' Offices
- Public School Systems
- Hospitals
- Corporate Occupational Health
Practical Nursing Outcomes
The Practical Nursing diploma program prepares the student for a foundation of life-long personal and professional learning built upon liberal arts, science and nursing theory courses. The program includes classroom, laboratory/simulation, and evidence based client-centered care learning experiences across the lifespan in a variety of healthcare settings. All practical nurse graduates must successfully pass the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) before being able to practice as a LPN.
Upon successful completion of the program, the student is expected to:
- Function within the role of the practical nurse in the delivery of care to clients and families.
- Communicate with clients, families, and members of the health care team.
- Use critical thinking to safely perform requisite cognitive, psychomotor and affective nursing skills.
- Integrate ethical, professional, legal responsibility and accountability into actions and decisions.
- Assume responsibility for personal and professional growth.
Practical Nursing NCLEX Pass Rates
Campus |
2018 Pass % |
2019 Pass % |
2020 Pass % |
2021 Pass % |
2022 Pass % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manassas |
91.5 |
91.7 |
95.7 |
94 |
91.14 |
Newport News |
89.1 |
88.1 |
86.4 |
87.9 |
82.14 |
Richmond |
93.8 |
83.3 |
85.4 |
84.2 |
90.57 |
Roanoke |
91.3 |
90.5 |
87.8 |
80.4 |
68.12 |
Virginia Beach |
93.1 |
93.4 |
89.8 |
96.5 |
91.38 |
Practical Nursing Curriculum
Practical Nursing Program Requirements for Virginia and South Carolina
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO112 | BIO112 Anatomy & Physiology with Terminology | 2.00 |
| BIO112L | BIO112L Anatomy & Physiology with Terminology I LAB | 1.00 |
| BIO117 | BIO117 Anatomy & Physiology II | 2.00 |
| BIO117L | BIO117L Anatomy & Physiology LAB II | 1.00 |
| COR102 | COR102 Freshman Orientation | 1.00 |
| COR105 | COR105 Study Skills | 0.50 |
| ENG109 | ENG109 College Composition | 1.50 |
| NUR100 | NUR100 Dosage Calculations | 1.50 |
| NUR139 | NUR139 Pharmacology | 1.50 |
| NUR165 | NUR165 Concepts of Nursing I | 2.00 |
| NUR167 | NUR167 Concepts of Nursing II | 3.00 |
| NUR169 | NUR169 Concepts of Nursing III | 3.00 |
| NUR190 | NUR190 Medical Surgical Nursing I | 3.00 |
| NUR203 | NUR203 Medical/Surgical Nursing II | 4.00 |
| NUR204 | NUR204 Acute Care Nursing I | 4.00 |
| NUR208 | NUR208 Medical/Surgical Nursing III | 3.00 |
| NUR209 | NUR209 Acute Care Nursing II | 4.00 |
| NUR213 | NUR213 Acute Care Nursing III | 4.00 |
| NUR233 | NUR233 Role Transition | 4.00 |
| PSY108 | PSY108 Normal Life Span | 1.00 |
| PSY109 | PSY109 Introduction to Psychology | 1.50 |
| Credit Hour(s) total | 48.50 | |
Contact Hours: 1,696. Diploma Program Length: Minimum weeks of instruction: 60 weeks. Maximum satisfactory time frame completion: 90 weeks
Practical Nursing Program Requirements for North Carolina
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO114 | BIO114 Anatomy & Physiology I with Terminology | 2.00 |
| BIO114L | BIO114L Anatomy & Physiology with Terminology I LAB | 1.00 |
| BIO118 | BIO118 Anatomy & Physiology II | 2.00 |
| BIO118L | BIO118L Anatomy & Physiology II with Terminology LAB | 1.00 |
| COR104 | COR104 Freshman Orientation | 1.00 |
| COR107 | COR107 Study Skills | 0.50 |
| ENG114 | ENG114 College Composition | 1.50 |
| NUR111 | NUR111 Dosage Calculations | 1.00 |
| NUR134 | NUR134 Pharmacology | 1.50 |
| NUR174 | NUR174 Concepts of Nursing I | 2.50 |
| NUR177 | NUR177 Concepts of Nursing II | 3.00 |
| NUR179 | NUR179 Concepts of Nursing III | 3.00 |
| NUR205 | NUR205 Medical Surgical Nursing I | 3.00 |
| NUR206 | NUR206 Medical Surgical Nursing II | 4.00 |
| NUR207 | NUR207 Medical Surgical Nursing III | 3.00 |
| NUR235 | NUR235 Acute Care Nursing I | 4.00 |
| NUR236 | NUR236 Acute Care Nursing II | 4.00 |
| NUR237 | NUR237 Acute Care Nursing III | 4.00 |
| NUR238 | NUR238 Role Transition | 4.00 |
| PSY106 | PSY106 Normal Life Span | 1.00 |
| PSY111 | PSY111 Introduction to Psychology | 1.50 |
| Credit Hour(s) total | 48.50 | |
Contact hours: 1,736. Diploma program length: minimum weeks of instruction, 60 weeks. Maximum satisfactory time frame for completion is 90 weeks.
Visit the ECPI University Catalog for the most current program information.