Nursing: Practical Nursing

Overview

The BTC Practical Nursing (PN) Certificate Program is a part-time, concept-based pathway designed for students interested in becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and who are looking for a part-time option that better meets their needs. The PN certificate uses the Nursing DTA/MRP curriculum scaled to the PN scope of practice.

Students take one year or more of prerequisite general education courses then apply to the program and upon acceptance complete six quarters part-time of nursing program core courses including summer quarter. After graduating from the PN Certificate students are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination – PN (NCLEX-PN). Once graduates of the PN Certificate Program become licensed LPN’s and complete 1,000 hours of work as an LPN they may apply to the LPN-RN program option to complete the Associate Degree in Nursing Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Ready Pathway (DTA/MRP).

The PN Certificate Program has a separate admission process from admission to BTC. Students must be admitted into a cohort before beginning nursing coursework. See the PN Certificate Program website for more information about the current admission requirements and process.

Program Outcomes

The BTC Practical Nursing graduate will:

Nursing Care: Apply the nursing process to deliver individualized culturally competent care.

Self-Care Promotion: Build strategies to promote the health of self and others.

Professionalism: Demonstrate integrity through professional boundaries, ethical behaviors, and respectful communication.

Collaborative Leadership: Build positive health outcomes through the promotion of evidence-based clinical care within the interdisciplinary team.

Clinical Judgment: Administer safe nursing care by integrating critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and prioritization.

Placement Requirements

ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) v.6 assessment. Applicants must score at the “PROFICIENT” level or higher in each of the four areas on one transcript. See the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills handout on the website for more information about this entrance assessment.

Healthcare Experience. PN Certificate applicants must submit a Healthcare Experience Verification Form for prior approval. Experience in healthcare may be demonstrated by certification or training in an allied healthcare field. Other healthcare experience will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by Nursing Program faculty and staff and either approved or denied. The form is available on the PN Certificate website.

Clinical Placement Requirements

After acceptance into the Nursing Program but prior to beginning clinical rotations, students must complete the clinical placement process and be at least 18 years of age. Clinical requirements include:

• Criminal background check

• 10-Panel urine drug screen

• Physical examination

• Tuberculous screening

• Required immunizations

• Current American Heart Association BLS for Provider CPR certification

• 7 hours of HIV/AIDS education for healthcare providers (waived for LPNs)

• Medical Insurance Coverage

More information about the clinical placement requirements process is on the Practical Nursing Program website.

Degree Requirements

The Practical Nursing Certificate requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, a minimum grade of B- (2.7) for all Program Core courses, and a minimum grade for all Prerequisite courses. Students must also complete the minimum required clinical hours.