Practical Nursing Option

This curriculum prepares individuals with the knowledge and skills to provide nursing care to children and adults. Students will participate in assessment, planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care.

Upon completion of the Practical Nursing Program, the graduate will upon licensure:

1. Practice professional nursing behaviors incorporating personal responsibility and accountability for continued competence.
2. Communicate data professionally and effectively to the registered nurse.
3. Provide individualized nursing care utilizing knowledge of holistic needs
4. Utilize informatics to know where to find data, including best practices.
5. Implement caring interventions which incorporate documented best practices for individuals in diverse settings as is developed by the registered nurse.
6. Reinforce the individualized teaching plan developed by the registered nurse.
7. Provide nursing care for the individual using cost effective nursing strategies and current technology.

Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) which is required for practice as a Practical Nurse. Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care facilities, clinics, physician’s offices, and home health agencies.

Specific Requirements

1. General college admission requirements.
2. This program has a competitive selection process.
   

   Read the linked Competitive Application Criteria

3. Final admission to the Practical Nursing program shall be contingent upon documentation of physical and emotional health that would provide evidence that is indicative of the applicant’s ability to provide safe nursing care to the public.
4. To be eligible for admission in Fall 2012, all nursing program applicants must, by November 18, 2011
   1. Provide documentation of successful completion of a NC approved Certified Nurse Aide I Program which includes theory, lab, and clinical components*.  (A copy of a college transcript or a notarized course completion certificate will be acceptable documentation) * Challenging the Nurse Aide I examination will not meet this requirement.
      and
   2. Hold a documented, current, unrestricted credential as a Nurse Aide I (NAI) from the North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry and the Division of Health Service Regulation.  (A copy of current listing on the NC DHSR Nurse Aide Registry Website by November 18, 2011 will be acceptable documentation).
5. Satisfactory completion of required immunizations.
6. Current CPR for the Professional Rescuer certification is a prerequisite to admission and must be maintained throughout the program.
7. Students applying to the Practical Nursing Program are encouraged to have successfully completed: BIO 168, BIO 169, ENG 111, and PSY 150 prior to program admission due to the rigorous nature of the Practical Nursing curriculum. Students with limited technology skills are encouraged to complete CIS 110 as an aid to understanding computer documentation and use of informatics in clinical agencies.
8. Effective January 1, 2002, applicants for initial licensure in North Carolina must have a criminal background check. The clinical site may require a criminal background check and/or drug testing prior to participation in the clinical component. If any clinical facility refuses to allow the student to participate in clinical experiences in that clinical agency, the student will not be able to progress in the program.

Courses requiring a grade of “C” or better: BIO and NUR