Nursing Program, Practical Certificate

Program Code: CERLP
CERTIFICATE, One-year

The Practical Nursing (PN) program prepares the graduate to provide direct patient care with supervision. Upon successful completion of the required courses, the graduate is eligible to write a national licensure examination to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). The program is one year in length.

Program Outcomes/Objectives:

When students complete this program, they will be able to:

1. provide direct care, based on the nursing process for the individual patient and family with well-defined nursing diagnoses within a structured setting under supervision of the RN, physicians or other persons authorized by State law.
2. utilize basic communication skills with individual patients, families and other health team members.
3. recognize a patient’s need for information and assist in formulation, implementation, evaluation and modification of a standard teaching plan.
4. organize aspects of care with the assistance of health team members for individual patients and families for whom one is accountable.
5. demonstrate accountability for own practice under the direction of health professionals, using ethical and legal parameters of nursing practice.

PRE-ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. High school graduate or successful completion of the GED test.
2. Achievement of overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or better in high school or college-level academic work.
3. Competitive score on the HESI Pre-admission Test. See website www.sc4.edu/nursing.

Note: Fulfillment of these criteria does not guarantee admission to the PN program.

APPLYING FOR ADMISSION

Persons seeking admission to the LPN − Licensed Practical Nursing certificate program must:

1. Submit to the SC4 Enrollment Services office by Sept. 1 of the year you plan to start program courses:
   • A completed Application for Admission to SC4, indicating an General Education (AGEGE) program code as the intended program of study.
   • A completed Allied Health Application indicating an LPN-Licensed Practical Nursing certificate program.
   • Official high school transcripts and/or GED scores.
   • Official college transcripts, if you have previously attended a college other than SC4.
2. Schedule a mandatory group advising appointment at (810) 989-5675. Attending a group advising session is mandatory before application is considered.
3. Schedule an appointment for the SC4 HESI Pre-admission Test − see www.sc4.edu/nursing for details.

Students applying for admission will receive a letter of receipt via email.

Applicants planning to pursue a career as a practical nurse who have a criminal record of felony or misdemeanor convictions should contact the Health and Human Services division to determine employment restrictions based upon these convictions.

ACCEPTANCE PROCEDURE

1. Qualified applications will be reviewed by Health and Human Services division during the semester that precedes the start of the LPN program.

   Note: Because admission is competitive, not all candidates will be accepted.

2. Students are strongly encouraged to complete BIO 160 and HE 101 prior to acceptance to the program, ENG 101 and HE 102 are recommended. Completion of these courses will increase chances for admission. (Anatomy and Physiology course(s) and HE 101 must be completed within five years of admission to the program.)
3. Accepted LPN applicants will be required to attend an LPN program orientation after admission. At the LPN program orientation session, course schedules for upcoming semester registration will be distributed.
4. Upon admission and before classes begin, students will need to submit a completed Physical Examination Form and evidence of current CPR for the Health Care Provider certification from the American Heart Association (forms will be provided by the Health and Human Services division during LPN program orientation). Additional screenings may be required.

FUTURE ARTICULATION DEGREE OPTIONS

Students planning to continue their education toward a Registered Nursing license may do so at SC4 after they have graduated from the LPN program, received their LPN nursing license and can provide evidence of 1,040 hours of work experience within the last five years as an LPN.