Practical Nursing Diploma
The program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326 (www.acenursing.org)
Program Overview:
The Practical Nursing major is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide direct nursing care to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and home and community based settings. This educational program includes classroom theory, laboratory experience and supervised clinical experience in area hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and community health care agencies. During the last semester of the program, the clinical rotation includes integrated clinical experience where students participate in full shifts to assist them in making the transition from student role to the role of the graduate practical nurse. A graduate of this program is eligible to apply to take the National Council for Licensing Exam - Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN).
Program Outcomes:
Upon completion of the Practical Nursing program at RCTC, students will achieve the following outcomes:
- Cultivate accountability, integrity, and responsibility for ongoing professional growth in nursing practice as a valid member of the health care team. (Professionalism)
- Practice within the ethical and legal framework for the practical nurse. (Professionalism)
- Identify the rationale for clinical decisions by integrating evidence based knowledge and practice to the nursing process to provide safe nursing care across the life span. (Critical Thinking)
- Develop caring relationships with respect for human dignity and diversity. (Caring)
- Collaborate with patient, family, and the health team using evidenced based knowledge and practice to achieve quality patient centered outcomes. (Collaboration)
- Safely implement nursing interventions based on the need for health promotion, health maintenance, health restoration, and end of life care within the scope of the practical nurse. (Nursing Intervention)
Additional Information:
RCTC class hours are 50 minutes in length, 1 credit is a minimum of 16 hours of classroom contact. The College has an expectation that students spend two hours of preparatory work for every one hour in the classroom. Nursing clinical assignments are calculated on a ratio of 1:3. Three hours are spent in clinical work for every one credit. Science course labs are assigned two hours for one credit.
Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN) and enter the profession of nursing as defined by Minnesota statutes (148.171 Subd. 14, Practice of Practical Nursing).
Notice of Minnesota Background Check Requirement Minnesota Statute 245C requires that students who have contact with individuals in licensed institutions complete an annual background study with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Individuals who do not pass the background check will not be allowed to participate in clinical activities. A list of disqualifying offenses is available at https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=245C.15. Students in the program will also be required to complete a National Criminal background Study. Information about completing the background study will be available from program faculty.
Practical Nursing Diploma
MINNESOTA TRANSFER CURRICULUM (MnTC)/GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (12 CREDITS)
- BIOL 1107* – Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology (4 cr)
- ENGL 1117* – Reading and Writing Critically I (4 cr)
- PSYC 2618** – General Psychology (4 cr)
PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS (27 CREDITS)
- PNM 1200 – Pharmacology for Practical Nursing (3 cr)
- PNM 1210 – Success in Nursing (1 cr)
- PNM 1250 – Nursing Fundamentals in the Care of the Older Adult (7 cr)
- PNM 1320 – Family and Mental Health Concepts (6 cr)
- PNM 1340 – Adult Nursing (6 cr)
- PNM 1440 – Integrated Clinical Application (4 cr)
* ENGL 1117 and BIOL 1107 must be completed prior to Semester II courses.
** PSYC 2618 must be completed prior to Semester III
RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES
FULL-TIME
- Semester 1 – Fall (19 CREDITS): BIOL 1107, ENGL 1117, PNM 1200, PNM 1210, PNM 1250
- Semester 2 – Spring (16 CREDITS): PNM 1320, PNM 1340, PSYC 2618
- Semester 3 – Summer (4 CREDITS): PNM 1440
Course descriptions can be found at: RCTC course descriptions