Practical Nursing Program

This course covers the structure and function of the body, the basic chemistry makeup of the body, the integumentary system, tissues and membranes, skeletal and muscular system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and water, electrolyte and acid-base balance of the body.  This course is designed to provide information necessary to gain a basic knowledge of the anatomical structure and the normal function of the human body and deviations from the normal.  The course provides a foundation upon which students may build knowledge and skills in order to render patient care.

This course is designed to acquaint the nursing student with medical terminology. Students learn to construct words using medical roots, prefixes, and suffixes, as well as learn to pronounce and spell medical terminology.

The course provides the development of personal qualities and characteristics needed for a safe and effective practice including problem solving and critical thinking abilities which include history, trends and evolution of practical nursing, practical nursing organizations and an introduction to the laws and rules that govern practical nursing practice.  This course provides instruction on the basic nursing skills which include infection control techniques, and lab and workplace safety.  The nursing process, patient assessment, documentation, vital signs, wound care, and mobility concepts are taught.  The course provides an overview of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and sets the stage for decisions concerning patient care and nursing strategies, awareness of variations in cultural, religious, spiritual, educational and socioeconomic histories and experiences, and how theses variations impact health and illness.  Concepts of communication and interviewing will prepare the student for health data collection in the levels to follow.  Cultural and ethical considerations of nursing is incorporated, and an overview of infection control practices are reinforced.

This course builds upon the nursing care theories and skills discussed in PN 100.  Students apply basic and beginning knowledge obtained from nursing theory and interactive laboratory experiences to provide basic care to clients and families using the nursing process, students perform basic clinical nursing skills in appropriate health facilities under the supervision of the instructor.  The student begins to use the nursing process to plan and implement safe nursing care.  Produce accurate documentation of their nursing assessment and nursing care provided.  The student learns to develop a plan of care based on current nursing research and demonstrate an understanding of basic pathophysiology.

This course emphasizes the role of microbes in health and illness, transmission, reproduction, methods of control/destruction, with a focus on concepts essential for nursing care and prevention of illness and/or transfer of disease to others.

This course provides information concerning the relationships between health, food, and nutrients.  This course also provides information on basic nutrition, life cycle, community, and clinical nutrition.  This course provides an integrated overview of the physiological requirements and functions of protein, energy, and the major vitamins and minerals that are determinants of health and diseases in human populations.  The student will be able to identify the nutritional requirements for a healthy diet, analyze labels and create a healthy meal plan.

This course will expand the student's knowledge of nursing care in the geriatric population.  It will address geriatric nursing care in a variety of life settings and prepare the student for work in elder care.  Students will learn adult, child, and infant CPR and First Aid.

In this course students apply basic and beginning knowledge obtained from PN 111, PN 112. Students apply nursing theory and interactive laboratory experiences to provide basic care to Geriatric population in varied care settings under the supervision of a clinical instructor.  Students apply knowledge acquired from nursing and theory courses to provide basic care that is safe, follows the principles of practical nursing, views the client needs holistically, while addressing the client needs utilizing the nursing process focusing on elder care.  Client needs are stressed and integrated processes of clinical problem solving, caring, communication, documentation and teaching/learning are introduced. Clinical experience shall include basic and advanced nursing skills, geriatrics, general health and physical assessment, patient education, health screening, promotion, restoration and maintenance, supervision and management, safety and infection control, communication and documentation, and working as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team.

This course teaches first aid CPR for adults, infants and children.

Students apply knowledge gained from Fundamental, and previous courses.  This course focuses on patient care concepts, acute care, multiple disorders and long-term care.  Students utilizes nursing theory and interactive laboratory experiences to provide basic and intermediate care to clients and families experiencing alterations in the respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, neurologic, and urologic systems.  Pain management and pharmacological interventions and/or commonly used medications for each body system addressed are discussed at length.  Care related to disease specific conditions will be addressed in multiple care settings under the supervision of a clinical instructor.  Utilizing a nursing process approach student will perform applicable practical nursing clinical skills to multiple clients in approved health care facilities under the supervision and discretion of Clinical nursing faculty.  Critical thinking skills are encouraged while the student learns to make interdependent practical nursing decisions.

The course provides information on the concepts providing basic principles of nursing care and correlated experiences in medical-surgical nursing, geriatric, maternal and pediatric nursing, and mental health nursing.  This course focuses on care throughout the lifespan to include newborn to older adults with advanced medical/surgical health problems.  Application of pathophysiology, nutrition, and pharmacology are applied to complex diseases within each concept.  Nursing responsibilities for care of patients with disorders of sensory organs, integumentary system, musculoskeletal system, gastrointestinal system, renal system and cardiovascular/circulatory system are explored.  This plan identifies risk factors, nutritional assesses and patient teaching.  The identification of the Scope of practice involving administration of IV therapy and the LPN and provide students with the factors that are essential to body fluid,, electrolytes, balance, imbalance, IV, Piggy, Push, Blood, and Blood Products while providing knowledge necessary to avoid complications and demonstrate understanding of correcting problems as they occur.  Practical Nursing students will demonstrate proficiency in starting an IV.

Students apply theory and knowledge gained from interactive laboratory experiences to provide basic, intermediate and advanced practical nursing care to clients, families, and groups in the medical surgical environment in a leadership role under the supervision of their clinical instructor.  Students are expected to synthesize information learned from previous experiences along with the new learning gained to care for larger numbers of clients and for those clients with advanced complex needs. Clinical experience shall include basic and advanced nursing skills, general health and physical assessment, patient education, maternal and pediatric, mental health, geriatrics, health screening, promotion, restoration and maintenance, supervision and management, safety and infection control, communication and documentation, IV Therapy, and working as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team.

This course will provide students with the factors that are essential to body fluid, electrolytes, balance, imbalance, IV, Piggy, Push, Blood, and Blood Products.  Practical Nursing students will demonstrate proficiency in starting an IV.  The courses introduces the student to the identification of the Scope of practice involving administration of IV therapy and the LPN and provide students with the factors that are essential to body fluid, electrolytes, balance, imbalance, IV, Piggy, Push, Blood, and Blood Products while providing knowledge necessary to avoid complications and demonstrate understanding of correcting problems as they occur.  Practical Nursing students will demonstrate proficiency in starting an IV.

Students apply knowledge gained from Fundamentals and Medical-surgical theory and previous courses.  Students utilizes nursing theory and interactive laboratory experiences to provide basic and intermediate care to clients and families in the medical surgical nursing environment in multiple care settings under the supervision of a clinical instructor.  Students apply knowledge gained to provide care that is safe, follows the principles of practical nursing, views the client needs holistically, while addressing the client needs utilizing the nursing process.  Client needs are stressed and integrated processes of clinical problem solving, caring, communication, documentation and teaching/learning are introduced.  Students focus care for clients in multiple settings.  Clinical experience shall include basic and advanced nursing skills, mental health, geriatrics, general health and physical assessment, patient education, health screening, promotion, restoration and maintenance, supervision and management, safety and infection control, communication and documentation, IV Therapy, and working as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team.

This course expands on theory and principles taught in PN 124 and PN 134.  The student is transitioned into the leadership and management role as a graduate.  Concepts provided include advanced principles of nursing care and correlated experiences in medical-surgical nursing, geriatric, maternal and pediatric nursing, and mental health nursing.  This course focuses on care throughout the lifespan to include newborn to older adults with advanced medical/surgical health problems.  Application of pathophysiology, nutrition, and pharmacology are applied to complex diseases within each concept.  Nursing responsibilities for care of patients with disorders of sensory organs, integumentary system, musculosckeletal system, gastrointestinal system, renal system and cardiovascular/circulatory system are explored.  This plan identifies risk factors, nutritional assesses and patient teaching.  The identification of the Scope of practice involving administration of IV therapy and the LPN and provide students with the factors that are essential to body fluid, electrolytes, balance, imbalance, IV, Piggy, Push and Blood while providing knowledge necessary to avoid complications and demonstrate understanding of correcting problems as they occur.  Practical Nursing students will demonstrate proficiency in starting an IV.

This course presents concepts in mental health and psychiatric nursing, abuse and neglect, stress management, crisis intervention and mental disorders.  Presents studies along with treatment and trends in psychiatric nursing as well as introduces the standards of practice of psychiatric and mental health nursing.  This course introduces mental health care; past and present; mental health problems throughout the lifecycle; caregivers' therapeutic skills; and clients with psychological and psychosocial problems.

This course allows students to apply nursing theory, skills and knowledge gained from interactive laboratory experiences to provide basic and intermediate care to clients in the mental health arena.  care will be provided in outpatient and inpatient settings introducing the students to a holistic approach to mental health care.  Students follows the principles of practical nursing, views the client needs holistically, while addressing the client needs utilizing the nursing process.  Client needs are stressed and integrated processes of clinical problem solving, caring, communication, documentation and teaching/learning are introduced.  Clinical experience shall include basic and advanced nursing skills, mental health, general health and physical assessment, patient education, health screening, promotion, restoration and maintenance, supervision and management, safety and infection control, communication and documentation, and working as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team.

Students apply theory and knowledge gained from interactive laboratory experiences to provide basic, intermediate and advanced practical nursing care to clients, families, and group in the medical surgical environment under the supervision of their clinical instructor.  Students are expected to synthesize information learned from previous experiences along with the new learning gained to care for larger numbers of clients and for those clients with advanced complex needs.  Clinical experience shall include basic and advanced nursing skills, general health and physical assessment, patient education, maternal and pediatric, mental health, geriatrics, health screening, promotion, restoration and maintenance, supervision and management, safety and inspection control, communication and documentation, IV Therapy, and working as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team.

This course utilizes the nursing process and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs to prioritize care to the expectant mother and family during pregnancy, labor, birth, and puerperium.  In addition, maternity nursing includes the care of the fetus and the neonate.  Critical thinking skill, therapeutic communication and cultural competence are integral components in providing and delivering safe and competent care to the pregnant mother and family.  Pediatric nursing is designed to give students an understanding of basic physiological processes and the nursing care involved in pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the post-partum period as well as understanding the growth and development, normal vital signs for patients’ age.

Students utilize the nursing process and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs to prioritize care to the expectant mother and family during pregnancy, labor, birth and puerperium. In addition, maternity nursing includes the care of the fetus and the neonate.  Students are expected to synthesize information learned from previous experiences along with the new learning gained to care for larger numbers of clients and for those clients with more complex needs. Clinical experience will take place in various inpatient and outpatient settings. Shall include basic and advanced nursing skills, general health and physical assessment, patient education, health screening, promotion, restoration and maintenance, supervision and management, safety and infection control, communication and documentation, IV Therapy, and working as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team.

Students demonstrates understanding of the average growth and development, normal vital signs for patient’s age and   Erikson’s Psychosocial Development factors.  Students provide basic, intermediate and advanced practical nursing care to pediatric clients. Students are expected to synthesize information learned from previous experiences along with the new learning gained to care for larger numbers of clients and for those clients with more complex needs. Clinical experience shall include basic and advanced nursing skills, general health and physical assessment, patient education, health screening, promotion, restoration and maintenance, supervision and management, safety and infection control, communication and documentation, and working as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team.

This course contains nursing theory and skills related to the general principles of medication administration. The pharmacology course provides instruction on the fundamentals of medication therapy and medication administration to include terminology, abbreviations, and knowledge of medications required to interpret physician orders are emphasized. It begins with the calculation of medication dosages, preparation and administration of medications via oral, topical, and parenteral routes are practiced and demonstrated. Skills lab is required in preparation for clinical participation

This course emphasizes the basic scientific principles of pharmacology, its effects on various body systems and their application in person-centered care, health, and disease.  The pharmacology course expands knowledge of content critical for safe administration of medications in all clinical settings, provides an integrated overview of the nursing responsibilities required for in each clinical setting the nurse is employed.  Provides instruction on the fundamentals of medication therapy and medication administration to include dosage calculation. and classification categories of drugs.  Proper administration of IV push, IV piggyback, blood, and blood products will be covered.  Components of the nursing process most important to the function of administering medications are emphasized and drug actions explained as well as techniques of administration are covered.  Laboratory instruction is provided for mastery of the related skills.