Division of Health Professions

The Practical Nursing Certificate is a 12 months full time program. Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a certificate. The graduate is then eligible to apply for the state licensure exam (NCLEX-PN) to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. This program prepares the student to provide direct patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse and licensed providers. Nursing students attend classes on the College campus as well as at various health care agencies in the surrounding communities for clinical learning experiences guided by expert nursing faculty. The clinical experiences will provide opportunities for students to apply classroom learning to patient care in order to develop the skills and clinical judgment needed to practice. The Practical Nursing Program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). For more information regarding ACEN contact 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850 Atlanta, Georgia 30326, (404)975-5000, http://www.acenursing.org.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, the student should be able to:

• Incorporate clinical judgement into the nursing care that potentiates the health of clients and respects the diverse preferences, values, and needs of clients and their support systems across the life-span.

• Provide safe nursing care guided by the nursing process that reflects the physical, psychological, cultural and spiritual individuality of clients in a variety of care settings.

• Commit to self-growth in nursing care that embraces ethical and quality standards, and ever-evolving evidence-based guidelines.

• Function as an active member of the health care team utilizing effective communication and advocacy for client-centered care.

New students for this program will be placed into the Health Science Transfer program until they have been admitted through the selective admissions process into the clinical program. Please visit our Enrollment Information page for details on the Selective Admissions process for the Practical Nursing Program.

Gainful Employment Information

Gainful employment information is intended to provide students with better information about the effectiveness of college programs in preparing students for careers. Information provided includes estimated program costs and time needed to complete the program, financing options and related careers.

View our latest gainful employment information on our website.