Practical Nursing
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING/CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT/HOME HEALTH AIDE
The Nursing Assistant (NA)/Home Health Aide (HHA) program is approved by the Department of Health in Minnesota. It prepares students for jobs in a variety of health care settings such as nursing homes, semi-independent living facilities, hospitals, group homes and home care agencies. Responsibilities include such skills as personal care, positioning, transferring, vital signs and documentation.
The 4-credit course consists of lecture, lab, text work, group activities and hands-on clinical experience in a long-term setting. This course is a requirement for the Practical Nursing program. Upon completion of the course, students are eligible to take the Minnesota State Competency Examination. This test is offered at the end of the class. Successful completion of this test allows students to be certified and placed on the Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide Registry for the State of Minnesota.
The Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide program will be offered twice during the fall semester, three times during the spring semester, and once during the summer semester.
CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION: 4
Theory
* Introduction to Health Care
* Resident’s Need for Psycho-Social Adjustment
* Resident’s Need for a Clean, Safe and Comfortable Environment
* Resident’s Need for Skin Care
* Nursing Assistant Competencies
* Resident’s Need for Rest and Sleep
* Resident’s Need for Communication
* Resident’s Need for Activity and Exercise
* Resident’s Need for Nourishment
* Resident’s Need for Comfort
* Home Health Care
Clinical
* Students will be assigned 3-4 days of resident care in a long-term care facility at the completion of course work.
* Evening care
* Morning care
* Related Patient Care
* Home Health Care
PRACTICAL NURSING – 3 SEMESTER DIPLOMA
The Mesabi Range Community and Technical College Practical Nursing program is a member of the Itasca Nursing Education Consortium (INEC). This enables the nursing student to continue their nursing education within this consortium without concern for transferability of nursing courses.
Upon completion of this nursing program, students may advance to the next level of their nursing education or complete the Minnesota State Board of Nursing licensure examination and apply for employment as a licensed practical nurse.
Before admission to the Practical Nursing program, students need to have successfully completed, with a letter grade of "C" or better, Intro to Computers (CSCI 1455) and General Psychology (PSYC 2551). Prior to the second semester of the Practical Nursing program, students must also have successfully completed the 4 credit Introduction to Nursing course (NURS 1215) with a letter grade of "C" or better, and a CPR course (BLS for Healthcare Providers). Two liberal arts courses, Lifespan Development (PSYC 2567) and College Writing (ENGL 1511) are included as part of the program.
All prerequisite and Semester I courses must be successfully completed with a letter grade of "C" or better before proceeding to Semester II courses. Students must obtain an 80 percent (“C”) success rate in each instructional course in order to continue in the program. Semester II courses must be completed with an 80 percent (“C”) success rate in order to continue to Semester III.
During the clinical portion of the program, occurring during Semester II and III, students spend two days of each week at the Virginia Regional Medical Center, the Virginia Convalescent Care Unit, and other facilities. Background checks are required by Minnesota State Law.
Course equivalency determination is subject to review and approval by the Mesabi Range Community and Technical College admissions personnel and the Practical Nursing Program Director.
Employment Opportunities - According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, health-related careers are expanding. There continues to be a significant demand for LPNs throughout the state and nation, as well as the local area.
Practical nurses may find employment in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, home care, public health agencies, the armed services, and other areas.
The INEC program provides an opportunity for graduates to continue in advanced educational programs to obtain an Associate in Arts Degree, a Bachelor of Nursing Degree, or a Master in Nursing Degree.
CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION: 4
Theory
* Introduction to Health Care
* Resident’s Need for Psycho-Social Adjustment
* Resident’s Need for a Clean, Safe and Comfortable Environment
* Resident’s Need for Skin Care
* Nursing Assistant Competencies
* Resident’s Need for Rest and Sleep
* Resident’s Need for Communication
* Resident’s Need for Activity and Exercise
* Resident’s Need for Nourishment
* Resident’s Need for Comfort
* Home Health Care
Clinical
* Students will be assigned 3-4 days of resident care in a long-term care facility at the completion of course work.
* Evening care
* Morning care
* Related Patient Care
* Home Health Care
PRACTICAL NURSING – 3 SEMESTER DIPLOMA
The Mesabi Range Community and Technical College Practical Nursing program is a member of the Itasca Nursing Education Consortium (INEC). This enables the nursing student to continue their nursing education within this consortium without concern for transferability of nursing courses.
Upon completion of this nursing program, students may advance to the next level of their nursing education or complete the Minnesota State Board of Nursing licensure examination and apply for employment as a licensed practical nurse.
Before admission to the Practical Nursing program, students need to have successfully completed, with a letter grade of "C" or better, Intro to Computers (CSCI 1455) and General Psychology (PSYC 2551). Prior to the second semester of the Practical Nursing program, students must also have successfully completed the 4 credit Introduction to Nursing course (NURS 1215) with a letter grade of "C" or better, and a CPR course (BLS for Healthcare Providers). Two liberal arts courses, Lifespan Development (PSYC 2567) and College Writing (ENGL 1511) are included as part of the program.
All prerequisite and Semester I courses must be successfully completed with a letter grade of "C" or better before proceeding to Semester II courses. Students must obtain an 80 percent (“C”) success rate in each instructional course in order to continue in the program. Semester II courses must be completed with an 80 percent (“C”) success rate in order to continue to Semester III.
During the clinical portion of the program, occurring during Semester II and III, students spend two days of each week at the Virginia Regional Medical Center, the Virginia Convalescent Care Unit, and other facilities. Background checks are required by Minnesota State Law.
Course equivalency determination is subject to review and approval by the Mesabi Range Community and Technical College admissions personnel and the Practical Nursing Program Director.
Employment Opportunities - According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, health-related careers are expanding. There continues to be a significant demand for LPNs throughout the state and nation, as well as the local area.
Practical nurses may find employment in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, home care, public health agencies, the armed services, and other areas.
The INEC program provides an opportunity for graduates to continue in advanced educational programs to obtain an Associate in Arts Degree, a Bachelor of Nursing Degree, or a Master in Nursing Degree.
CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION: 63
PREREQUISITES:
CSCI 1455 Intro to Computers 3 credits
PSYC 2551 General Psychology 4 credits
** NURS 1215 Introduction to Nursing 4 credits
** HLTH 1458 CPR for Adult, Child & Infant 1 credit
** Student may take Anatomy & Physiology I & II (A&P I & II) in place of BIOL 1415. A&P I must be taken prior to Semester I. A&P II would be taken during Semester I.
** Recommended to be taken prior to Semester II unless currently working as Certified Nursing Assistant.
SPRING SEMESTER I
*Anatomy & Physiology I & II are strongly suggested to be taken in place of BIOL 1415 (See note above.)
BIOL 1415 – Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology 4 credits
NURS 1227 Medical Terminology 1 credit
NURS 1257 Trends in Nursing 1 credit
NURS 1225 Nutrition 2 credits
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
ENGL 1511 College Writing I 4 credits
PSYC 2567 Lifespan Development 4 credits
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 16
FALL SEMESTER II
NURS 1232 Applied Math & Medications 2 credits
NURS 1261 Adult Nursing I & Clinical 8 credits
NURS 1222 Applied Nursing Skills 4 credits
NURS 1242 Maternal/Child Health & Clinical 5 credits
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 19
SPRING SEMESTER III
NURS 1262 Adult Nursing II & Clinical 7 credit
NURS 1226 Gerontology & Clinical 4 credits
NURS 1255 Mental Health Concepts & Clinical 3 credits
NURS 1258 Role Transition 1 credit
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
GECL 2175 Job Search Strategies 1 credit
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 16
Elective
* NURS 1275 N-Clex Review 2 (2/0)
* Strongly recommended for students
This program is based on recommendations from the INEC committee and the program directors throughout the state. The general education courses are within the first semester (except for Job Search Strategies), because these foundational courses set the groundwork for future nursing classes.
