Practical Nursing, Certificate

Contact Information

Degree/Certificate

Certificate

HEGIS Code

5209.20

SUNY Code

1844

Major Code

PNCR

The Career

Practical nurses play a critical role in providing health care to individuals in a variety of health care settings. Now, more than ever before, they are needed in greater numbers in hospitals, nursing homes and community agencies.

Opportunities for employment are expected to continue to increase in response to a national nursing shortage.

Advanced Standing

Graduates of the NCCC Practical Nursing program are eligible for advanced standing in the Nursing (RN) program. The Practical Nursing program is designed as a “one-plus-one” curriculum. Successful completion of the one year Practical Nursing program allows students the option of completing their RN studies with one more year of study.

Graduates from other practical nurse programs are eligible for limited advance standing and should consult the Nursing Division for details.

Applicants who have questions regarding their qualifications should contact the Admissions Office at 614-6200.

Persons who previously attended NCCC and would like to apply to the Practical Nursing program should contact the Admissions Office. Students who currently attend NCCC, are not matriculated in a program, and would like to apply to the Practical Nursing program should also contact the Admissions Office. Students who are currently attending NCCC, are matriculated in another program, and would like to apply to the Practical Nursing program should contact the Student Development Center.

The NCCC Approach

The NCCC’s Practical Nursing program is committed to the education of practical nurses and the promotion of wellness in the community.

The Practical Nursing program offers clinical experiences at hospitals, health care facilities and community agencies in Niagara, Orleans and Erie counties to provide students with important clinical experiences in all areas of health care.

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the National Council License Examination (NCLEX-PN) for Practical Nurses through the State Education Department.

Admission & Curriculum Change Requirements

Students admitted for September class start.

All applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

1. High school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED)
2. An overall high school average of at least 80 percent or with permission of the Nursing Division chairperson
3. Successful completion of:

a high school-level biology or chemistry course or college-level biology (BIO 109 or BIO 117/117L or BIO 213/213L) or chemistry course* (CHE 120/CHE 111)

4. Satisfactory completion of all academic foundation requirements.

To be accepted into the program applicants must earn the minimum required score on these tests or pass the academic foundations course listed below.

If below the required score in		Will need to pass
	Writing		ENG 099
	Reading		AAC 042
	Mathematics		MAT 004

These academic foundations courses do not count toward the degree.

5. If college-level courses were completed prior to the student starting in the program and these courses are to be used to fulfill degree requirements, a minimum program GPA of 2.0 is required.
6. Additional criteria will be considered prior to selection of candidates for the Nursing program. See Nursing  Division web site for current selection criteria.

Applicants should also refer to the Five-Year-Course Policy printed under NURSING in the College catalog related to all courses with a NUR or BIO prefix.

*	In order to fulfill degree requirements a minimum of C must be earned in the following courses: Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO 213E and BIO 213L), Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO 214E and BIO 214L) and General Pharmacology (PHA 250).

Requirements to Remain in the Program

Once accepted into the Practical Nursing program, continued matriculation is contingent upon:

1. An acceptable physical examination report. Health records including a physical exam and immunizations must remain current for the entire period of enrollment in the Registered Nurse program. The student is responsible for all costs related to the physical examination report.
2. Certification in Basic Life Support for Professional Rescuer is required and must remain current throughout the entire program.

Policies

Grading Policy for Practical Nursing Courses: The major Nursing clinical courses have three components: lecture (theory), college laboratory and clinical. A student must earn a minimum C grade in lecture (theory) and a passing evaluation in college laboratory and clinical. The student must be successful in each component to earn a passing grade of C. If a student is unsuccessful in any of the three (3) components, a grade of F will be earned. Minimum passing grade in all NUR courses is C.

Minimum Grade in Anatomy & Physiology and Pharmacology Courses for Nursing Students: A minimum grade of C in both BIO 213 E and L (Human Anatomy and Physiology I) and BIO 214 E and L (Human Anatomy and Physiology II) and PHA 250 General Pharmacology must be earned to progress in the Practical Nursing curriculum.

Repeat Policy: A student enrolled in any nursing curricula (RN Nursing or Practical Nursing) and who fails a major clinical nursing course (NUR 111, 112, 211, 212, 113, 114) is limited to one opportunity to repeat the failed course. All other clinical courses must be passed on the first attempt. It should be noted that a student who changes his/her curriculum from one nursing program to another is still limited to the one existing course failure and is not permitted a failure with a repeat opportunity in any other clinical nursing course. For example, a student who fails NUR 111 in the Nursing program and subsequently, fails NUR 113 is not eligible to register in any other clinical nursing courses at NCCC.

All prerequisite Nursing courses must be successfully completed before progressing to the next sequential Nursing course.

Unsafe Clinical Practice: When a student is unable to provide safe nursing care at an off-campus facility, the chairperson of the Nursing program, upon recommendation from the clinical nurse faculty, will remove said student from the clinical laboratory component of the course. Unsafe practice is defined as “placing the patient in clear and present danger.” The student is not eligible for re-admission into the Nursing program.

Five-Year-Course Policy: If a student has taken any course with a NUR or BIO prefix five-or-more years before enrolling in a subsequent NUR or BIO course, the NUR/BIO course(s) must be repeated.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Practical Nursing program, the graduates will be reported by the New York State Education Department to have passed the NCLEX-PN licensure exam at a rate equal to or exceeding the mean for New York State, be employed in a position for which the program prepared them and report satisfaction with the Nursing program. Students are expected to complete the program in six semesters. Employers will express satisfaction with the competence level of the graduates.

Student Learning Outcomes

The graduate of the Practical Nursing program at Niagara County Community College is prepared to:

• Use Maslow’s Theory of Motivation and Hierarchy of Needs as a framework in assisting individuals to maintain their basic needs and prioritize them when there is an interruption in their ability to meet those needs.
• Incorporate developmental considerations as identified by Erikson in providing individualized, comprehensive nursing care.
• Participate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive nursing plan utilizing the nursing process and critical thinking skills to make patient-centered decisions within a variety of acute community and long-term settings.
• Demonstrate respect for the dignity and worth of each individual recognizing unique cultural and spiritual values.
• Demonstrate caring behaviors in provision of comprehensive nursing care.
• Utilize effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication when interacting with members of the health team.
• Demonstrate accountability and responsibility in providing a safe environment.
• Perform psychomotor skills incorporating nursing judgment, principles of safe practice and current technology.
• Employ teaching-learning principles in providing for the health needs of an individual.
• Provide care for a group of patients while functioning collaboratively as a member of the health care team.
• Maintain ethical and legal standards of nursing practice.
• Demonstrate accountable behavior in the provision of comprehensive nursing care.
• Demonstrate personal and professional growth.