Practical Nursing 

CIP 511613 Note: click on any course number in the open window to download a course syllabus.

Technical Diploma

Description | Employment Opportunities | Cost

Mission and Program Description:

The Practical Nursing program is designed to prepare the student to meet the licensure requirements for Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) , as established by the  Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners (LSBPNE) .  The program progresses from simple to complex and consists of classroom instruction, lab practicum and supervised clinical activities in accredited hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care agencies.

Students should note that some courses have prerequisites, which must be completed before enrolling into upper level courses and continuing in the program. Students must demonstrate basic computer skills prior to advancement into the acute care clinical component of the program.   Practical Nursing Program Coordinators or their designees may assess a student’s basic computer skills by administering a competency exam or having the student successfully complete the CPTR 1000 or a comparable computer course.

Articulated courses are determined at the discretion of the Practical Nurse Program Coordinator and based upon individual evaluation as described in the 2005 Louisiana Nursing Education Articulation Model.

Each course in the PN program must be completed with a minimum score of 80%. Upon graduation, the student is awarded a diploma and is eligible to take the National Council of State Boards Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

This is a limited enrollment program. Students must be admitted to the program to enroll in any of the PN courses. Students must meet or exceed entrance test scores as indicated in table below:

Documents Required for Admission

Students must apply to the campus/program of their choice and meet the minimum admission standards, including the ability to obtain CPR for Healthcare Providers certification prior to first clinical course – or as directed by the program coordinator.

• Official birth certificate
• Official HS or GED transcript
• Proof of current immunizations
• History and Physical exam
• TB skin test or Chest x-ray
• Fingerprints and $26.00 money order payable to Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections
• $25.00 money order payable to Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners
• Additional criminal background check required for clinical courses – check with the campus for specific information
• Drug screening – check with the campus for specific information
• Applicants must NOT be currently serving under any court-imposed order of supervised probation, work release, school release or parole in conjunction with any felony conviction(s) or plea agreement.
• Students must demonstrate ability to meet following technical/performance standards while receiving the instruction as outlined in each course syllabus:
  • Read and communicate orally and in writing using the English language.
  • Hear with or without auditory aids to understand normal speaking voice without viewing the speakers face.
  • Visually, with or without corrective lenses, observe changes in client’s condition and actively participate in learning process.
  • Utilize stamina, strength and psychomotor coordination necessary to perform routine practical nursing procedures at floor or bed level.
  • Demonstrate use of gross and fine motor skills necessary to provide independent, safe and effective practical nursing care.
  • Solve problems and apply critical thinking skills while providing safe and efficient client care.
    Interact with individuals/families/groups from various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
    Adapt and function in a multi stressor environment while adhering to legal/ethical guidelines of the school, Louisiana PN Nurse Practice Act and clinical agencies.

The objectives of the Practical Nursing program are as follows:

• To provide the student the opportunity to obtain the necessary knowledge in areas such as ethical and legal issues in nursing, human anatomy and physiology, fundamentals and advanced level nursing skills, microbiology, pharmacology, and nutrition and diet therapy.
• To assist the student in applying the nursing process and its principles involved in basic psychological processes including phases, theories, and nature of life-cycle development from infancy to adulthood as influenced by biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual factors in providing patient care.
• To provide the student with clinical experiences providing quality patient care in the areas of maternal and newborn nursing, pediatric nursing, medical-surgical nursing, and geriatric and other extended care nursing.
• To promote critical thinking and active problem solving for both academic and personal issues.
  To assist with the transition process from student practical nurse to licensed practical nurse in an employment setting.
• To identify current job opportunities and offer assistance on the job search with particular attention to applications, interviews, and references.
• To develop the awareness and necessity of keeping current with changing trends in health care and the changing role of the practical nurse within that system.

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• Use this link to search for job opportunities in the Louisiana Department of Labor 4th Regional Labor Market Area

• Use this link to search Louisiana Department of Labor's Occupational Projections for All Occupations in Region 4.

• Use this link to view the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook for this program.

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COST

An application or re-application fee and a testing fee per component are charged for each Application for Admission submitted.

Tuition is paid by the semester. (SEE - Tuition and Fees) Students are also required to purchase books and supplies separately. Contact your host campus for a complete projected cost of this program.

The college accepts cash, personal and company checks, MasterCard or Visa for all fees. A percentage of tuition and fees are refundable up to the tenth day of instruction. No refund will be made after the tenth day.

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All campuses in the Greater Acadiana Region 4 adhere strictly to the guidelines set by the Louisiana Technical College, Greater Acadiana Region 4 (LTC, Region 4) adheres to the equal opportunity provisions of the federal civil rights laws and regulations that are applicable to this agency. Therefore, no one will be discriminated against on the basis of Race, Color, National Origin (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964), Sex (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972), Disability (Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973), or Age (Age Discrimination Act of 1975) in attaining educational goals and objectives and in the administration of personnel policies and procedures. Reasonable auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Anyone with questions regarding this policy may contact the U. S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights at 1-800-421-3481.