Practical Nursing (PN)

The focus of this course is to prepare the PN student to apply the nursing process to patient care situations, collect and organize pertinent data, identify problems and health needs throughout the lifespan and developmental stages, and contribute to the interprofessional team in various healthcare settings. The novice PN student demonstrates the necessary competencies to care for patients with diverse health problems. Students will learn to assess expected and unexpected health problems, provide basic nursing care, and assist the registered nurse with maintaining and promoting health. Competencies and nursing skills are demonstrated in the laboratory setting using the NLN competencies and Benner’s model. The PN student will learn the theory and application of performing a physical assessment across the lifespan. Explore diverse cultures, spiritualities, and alternative therapies for communities. There is a focus on safe medication and pharmacological principles.

This clinical course is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in performing basic nursing procedures that were covered in PN 101 Nursing Care I. Students will have the opportunity to practice and demonstrate their skills in a safe and supervised clinical environment. During the clinical course, students will have the opportunity to practice and demonstrate skills needed to care for patients in various healthcare settings. Students will also have the opportunity to apply the principles of patient-centered care, cultural sensitivity, and effective communication techniques in real-life patient care situations. They will work with diverse patient populations, with varying healthcare needs, and will learn how to provide patient-centered care that is sensitive to cultural and spiritual beliefs.

The focus of this course is to expand on concepts from PN Nursing Care 101. There is a focus on mental health and medical-surgical concepts across the lifespan and in a variety of healthcare settings. The course will focus on summarizing the pathophysiology of diseases and disorders to provide comprehensive care for patients. Students will also learn how to document and communicate patient needs effectively to patients and families, as well as members of the healthcare team. The course will emphasize safe patient care for patients with diverse backgrounds. Methods of dosage calculation and medication administration are covered. The PN scope of practice will be a significant focus of the course, including delegation and collaboration with the RN.

This clinical course is designed to provide practical experience in applying nursing concepts from PN 121 Nursing Care II to patients with medical-surgical and mental health diseases and disorders. The course will provide students with the opportunity to work in a variety of healthcare settings and gain hands-on experience with patients across the lifespan. Students will focus on summarizing the pathophysiology of diseases and disorders to provide comprehensive care to patients, while also learning how to document and communicate patient needs effectively to patients, families, and members of the healthcare team. The course will emphasize safe patient care, including the administration of medications and dosage calculation. Students will also learn how to provide patient-centered care to diverse patient populations. The course will cover the PN scope of practice, including delegation and collaboration with RNs

The focus of this course is to expand on concepts from the PN 121 course. There is a dedicated portion of this course that focuses on medical-surgical and pediatric care in a variety of healthcare settings. The nursing process, therapeutic communication, professionalism, and diverse patient needs are intertwined throughout the course. Addresses healthcare disorders as they correlate with pharmacology, pathophysiology, safe medication administration, nursing interventions, and evaluation of nursing care. Students will expand on clinical judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills in clinical practice with members of the interprofessional team. Further advance on NLN Competencies and nursing skills developed in the clinical setting. Students will continue to progress in Benner’s model of skill acquisition as competent PN. This course will review mental health, foundations of nursing care, lifespan development, and health disorders of infant and pediatric populations in preparation for the NCLEX-PN exam.

The clinical portion of this course builds upon the concepts learned in PN 131 Nursing Care III. Students will gain hands-on experience in medical-surgical, and community health in a variety of healthcare settings. The nursing process, therapeutic communication, professionalism, and diverse patient needs will continue to be integrated throughout the course. The course will emphasize the correlation between healthcare disorders, pharmacology, pathophysiology, safe medication administration, nursing interventions, and evaluation of nursing care. Students will develop and expand their clinical judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills while working with members of the interprofessional team. The course will further advance the NLN Competencies and nursing skills developed in the clinical setting. Students will continue to progress in Benner’s model of skill acquisition as competent PN.