PRACTICAL NURSING CERTIFICATE 2012 - 2013

HEALTH WORKFORCE SHORTAGE PROGRAM
LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSING CERTIFICATE
Option Only for Students in the RN Program

Award: Practical Nursing Certificate
No. of credits required: 
49
For more information: Visit http://www.harford.edu/nursing or contact Laura Cianelli Preston, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, 443-412-2438, lpreston@harford.edu; the Nursing office, 443-412-2246; or Advising, Career, and Transfer Services, 443-412-2301.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The program is designed to provide students with the competencies required to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse. After successful completion of the second semester of the Associate of Sciences Degree Nursing Program, nursing students may enroll in the ten-week summer session to complete the nursing course requirements for the Practical Nursing Certificate. Students contemplating completing the PN nursing certificate should enroll in the fall-spring sequence of courses. Adequate enrollment will be required for these courses to be offered. The course of study includes both theory presentation and supervised clinical laboratory experience at affiliating health care agencies. The program offers daytime theory sections. Day or evening clinical sections may be required. Graduates of the Practical Nursing Certificate option are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

The Practical Nursing Certificate Program is approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing. The Associate of Sciences Degree Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326 – 404-975-5000.

PROGRAM GOALS
Upon completion of the Practical Nursing Certificate Program at Harford Community College the graduate is expected to:

  1. Function in a team relationship to assess clients of any age to determine needs and to contribute to a database with reference to growth and development, physical and emotional comfort and safety, interpersonal relationships and physiological interactions, with consideration for ethnic and cultural variations.
  2. Plan nursing care in a team relationship to assist the client to meet his/her needs by adapting to or eliminating stresses
  3. Implement a nursing care plan in collaboration with other health care providers.
  4. Assist in the evaluation of the effectiveness of nursing care.
  5. Assume responsibility for continued nursing development and personal growth.
  6. Apply ethical principles to the practice of practical nursing.

REQUIRED COURSES
 NumberTitleCredits
 BIO 203Anatomy and Physiology I  *4
 BIO 204Anatomy and Physiology II  *4
 ENG 101English Composition  *3
 NURS 101Fundamentals of Nursing *7
 NURS 105Medical-Surgical Nursing 1 * /#4.5
 NURS 107Mental Health Nursing */#4
 NURS 112Contemporary Issues in Nursing */#1
 PN 118Maternal-Child Health for Practical Nursing */* *4
 PN 121Medical-Surgical Nursing for Practical Nursing */**5
 PN 122Practical Nursing Issues */* *0.5
 PSY 101General Psychology 3
 PSY 214Human Development Across the Life Span  *3
 SOC 101Introduction to Sociology  * * *3
 Mathematics Elective * * *3
 Total Credits49

* A grade of C or better must be earned in these courses.
** These classes are offered summer term only.
*** Recommended courses from admissions requirements.
# Represents term courses. Nursing courses are either full-semester courses or term courses; second and third semester clinical courses may not be taken concurrently.

Students planning to return to the RN program immediately after PN summer session must complete BIO 205 prior to starting the third semester of the nursing program.

GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT

Practical Nursing, 49 credits
CIP: 51.1613
SOC: 29-2061
Occupations: Licensed Practical Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse
Link to O*Net: http://www.onetonline.org/find/result?s=practical nursing
Tuition and Fees: $6,571.00
Time to Completion: 3 years

Note: The 2011-2012 Catalog was used to define credits to completion, and program cost.
Program length is calculated based on average 9 credits per semester, assumed the student was college ready and not required to take developmental course(s).
These figures are based on estimations, and do not include any increases that may occur in course materials or credit fees.
For additional information go to: http://www.harford.edu/catalog/pdf/gainful-employment.pdf

 


CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
Students earning a certificate from HCC must complete or demonstrate exemption from the following courses: ENG 003 and ENG 012, or ENG 018; and MATH 001 or MATH 010. See graduation requirement details in this catalog for further information.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) participates as a member of the health care team under the supervision of a licensed health care professional. LPN responsibilities include delivery of direct client care, promotion of health and rehabilitation, and the safeguarding of life and health in a variety of health care settings. Employment statistics continue to predict favorable growth rate for this occupation. Hospitals, long term care, and other health related facilities employ licensed practical nurses.