Student Catalog and Handbook 2020-2021

Practical Nursing Diploma (PN12)

The Practical Nursing diploma program is designed to prepare students to write the NCLEX-PN for licensure as practical nurses. The program prepares graduates to give competent nursing care. This is done through a selected number of academic and occupational courses providing a variety of techniques and materials necessary to assist the student in acquiring the needed knowledge and skills to give competent care. A variety of clinical experiences is planned so that theory and practice are integrated under the guidance of the clinical instructor.

A student must complete the entire program sequentially and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become licensed. According to the Georgia Board of LPN rules, as well as other state boards of nursing, a person may be denied the opportunity to take the licensure examination and/or may be denied licensure if the person has been convicted of a felony or any crime violating federal or state controlled substance laws or other grounds as specified by law.

Career Opportunities

Graduates may find employment as licensed practical nurses in hospitals, physicians’ offices, long-term care, rehabilitation therapy, clinics, and HMOs, or in related employment.

Competitive Selection Process

Practical Nursing Preparatory/Core Courses

Each campus (Coweta, Murphy, and LaGrange) will admit once a year in the fall semester. The competitive selection deadline is June 1. To be eligible for Practical Nursing program selection, the student must complete the following requirements by the applicable deadline.

The student must complete the following courses with a minimum grade of C: ALHS 1011, ALHS 1090, ENGL 1010, MATH 1012, and PSYC 1010.

Practical Nursing Competitive Selection

In addition to completion of the core courses listed above, the Practical Nursing program requires students in competitive selection to complete the TEAS Entrance Exam for Nursing. Please refer to the Admissions section of this catalog for details of the Competitive Selection Process applicant requirements and scoring method. Additional information is also available on the PN program web page.

Students ranked with the highest overall scores for required course completion and (TEAS) Exam for Nursing will be selected for program admission.

Practical Nursing Occupational and Clinical Courses

Students selected for admission to the Practical Nursing program will complete the occupational and clinical program courses in a prescribed sequence as a cohort.

Credit Required for Graduation: Minimum of 57 credit hours

Curriculum

Basic Skills Courses

ENGL 1010Fundamentals of English I

3

MATH 1012Foundations of Mathematics

3

PSYC 1010Basic Psychology

3

Occupational Courses

ALHS 1011Structure and Function of the Human Body

5

ALHS 1090Medical Terminology for Allied Health Sciences

2

PNSG 2010Introduction to Pharmacology and Clinical Calculations

2

PNSG 2030Nursing Fundamentals

6

PNSG 2035Nursing Fundamentals Clinical

2

PNSG 2210Medical-Surgical Nursing I

4

PNSG 2220Medical-Surgical Nursing II

4

PNSG 2230Medical-Surgical Nursing III

4

PNSG 2240Medical-Surgical Nursing IV

4

PNSG 2250Maternity Nursing

3

PNSG 2255Maternity Nursing Clinical

1

PNSG 2310Medical-Surgical Nursing Clinical I

2

PNSG 2320Medical-Surgical Nursing Clinical II

2

PNSG 2330Medical-Surgical Nursing Clinical III

2

PNSG 2340Medical-Surgical Nursing Clinical IV

2

PNSG 2410Nursing Leadership

1

PNSG 2415Nursing Leadership Clinical

2