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Course Descriptions

Practical Nursing Program

HCE 120 Anatomy & Physiology/Medical Terminology

100 Hours
Prerequisites: None

The  course introduces the study of Anatomy and Physiology for students enrolled in the practical nursing program.  The focus of this course is on essential concepts of body structure and function and concepts of disease processes. The course further explores the study of medical terms using a word-building approach, medical abbreviations, and symbols.

LPN 210 Foundations of Nursing Skills & Concepts

Hours
Prerequisites: Anatomy & Physiology/Medical Terminology,

This course introduces the foundational nursing concepts of practical nursing, including collecting patient data as a basis for providing safe, quality, patient-centered nursing applied to the care of diverse adult and geriatric patients with commonly occurring health problems. Includes legal and ethical responsibilities of the practical nurse and introduces caring, quality improvement, infections control, and communication used when interacting with patients and members of the interprofessional team. Additionally, this course introduces the learner to the process of critical thinking in practical nursing and relates it to clinical judgment, the nursing process, and evidence-based nursing interventions. Application of knowledge and skills occurs in the nursing skills laboratory and in the Clinical Practicum I and II courses.

HCE 140 Pharmacology

Hours
Prerequisites: Foundations of Nursing Skills & Concepts,

The Pharmacology course presents an overview of the basic principles of pharmacology including major drug classifications and prototypes of commonly used medications. Emphasis is on the general principles of drug actions, interactions and adverse effects that form the basis for understanding the actions of specific drugs in relation to body systems. Major considerations include safety, reinforcement of patient teaching, and variations encountered when administering medications to diverse patient populations across the lifespan. The importance of accurate dosage calculations for safe, quality, patient-centered care is emphasized.

LPN 220 Adult Health/ Medical-Surgical Nursing – Skills and Concepts

202 Hours
Prerequisites: Pharmacology,

This course provides for the acquisition of adult health nursing for the Practical Nurse building on the content learned in the foundations of nursing course, incorporating communication, collaboration, caring, and clinical judgment necessary for safe, patient-centered nursing care to diverse adult patients experiencing commonly occurring chronic and acute health problems requiring medical/surgical interventions. Emphasis is placed on providing and documenting care for individuals undergoing diagnostic tests, emergencies, surgery, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and common alterations in musculoskeletal, respiratory, urinary, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hematologic, musculoskeletal, neurologic, sensory, lymphatic, gastrointestinal, urinary, endocrine, reproductive and integumentary systems including related conditions, such as cancer. Nutrition, communication skills, cultural concepts and pharmacology and medication administration are integrated throughout this course. The course incorporates evidence-based practice, quality improvement u, standards of care, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the Practical Nurse. Application of knowledge and skills occurs using case studies and in the Clinical Practicum II and III clinical courses.

LPN 250 Mental Health Nursing – Skills and Concepts

Hours
Prerequisites: Adult Health/ Medical-Surgical Nursing – Skills and Concepts,

The course provides for the acquisition of mental health practical nursing theory, incorporating communication, collaboration, caring, and clinical judgment necessary for safe, patient-centered nursing care to diverse patients experiencing commonly occurring mental health problems. Topics covered include human developmental needs, advanced therapeutic communication skills, normal and abnormal behaviors, and mental health treatment modalities. Pharmacology, therapeutic communication, and cultural concepts are integrated throughout this course. Incorporates evidence-based practice, quality improvement, standards of care, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the Practical Nurse. Application of knowledge and skills occurs using case studies and in the Clinical Practicum II course.

LPN 230 Maternal-Newborn Nursing – Skills and Concepts

Hours
Prerequisites: Mental Health Nursing – Skills and Concepts,

This course provides for the acquisition of maternal/newborn practical nursing theory, incorporating communication, collaboration, caring, and clinical judgment necessary for safe, patient-centered nursing care to diverse reproducing families. Incorporates evidence-based practice, quality improvement, standards of care, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the Practical Nurse. Application of knowledge and skills occurs using case studies and in the Clinical Practicum III course.

LPN 260 Pediatric Nursing Skills and Concepts

Hours
Prerequisites: Maternal-Newborn Nursing – Skills and Concepts,

This course provides for the acquisition of pediatric practical nursing theory, incorporating communication, collaboration, caring, and clinical judgment necessary for safe, patient-centered nursing care to children with commonly occurring health problems in diverse childrearing families.  Incorporates evidence-based practice, quality improvement, standards of care, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the Practical Nurse. Application of knowledge and skills occurs using case studies and in the Clinical Practicum III course.

LPN 360 Integrated Nursing Concepts

Hours
Prerequisites: Pediatric Nursing Skills and Concepts,

This course is a culminating course that applies all program concepts to a variety of patient populations experiencing multiple healthcare issues. This course applies the program student learning outcomes to a wide variety of patient populations and conditions, requiring students to demonstrate a broader perspective for the application of nursing theory. The course provides both a comprehensive content review and test taking strategies for students preparing to graduate from the PN Program and take NCLEX-PN® Exam. The Client Needs areas from the current NCLEX-PN Test Plan are integrated throughout this course to include Management of Care; Safety and Infection Control; Heath Promotion and Maintenance; Psychosocial Integrity; Basic Care and Comfort; Pharmacological and parenteral Therapies; Reduction of Risk Potential; and Physiological Adaptation.

LPC 100 Clinical Practicum I

88 Hours
Prerequisites: Anatomy & Physiology/Medical Terminology,

This practicum utilizes virtual simulation technology to prepare students for safe and effective direct patient care in the subsequent practicums. The clinical practicum introduces students to simulation, where they practice essential concepts, skills, and attitudes needed to provide safe and effective care to patients across the lifespan. Virtual technology is used to introduce students to prioritization of care, professionalism, team collaboration, interdisciplinary communication using SBAR, therapeutic communication skills, documentation, applying early decision-making skills in gathering and analyzing client data, safe medication administration, and utilizing technology and informatics relative to patient-centered care.

LPC 300 Clinical Practicum II

Hours
Prerequisites: Clinical Practicum I,

This course provides for the application of nursing theory from prerequisite and co-requisite courses to the care of the geriatric and adult health patients in the clinical setting using the nursing process. Students incorporate fundamental concepts of Practical Nursing practice such as communication, collaboration, caring, and clinical judgment necessary for safe, patient-centered nursing care to the geriatric and adult patients experiencing commonly occurring health problems. Incorporates evidence-based practice, quality improvement, standards of care, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the Practical Nurse. Additionally, the practicum focuses on applying basic nursing care within the practical nurse student role including the collection of data, identifying normal from abnormal data, assisting in the planning of care, providing personal care (ADLs), introduction to administering medications via Intramuscular, subcutaneous, oral, Ng/Gt, providing tracheostomy care, and wound care.

LPC 310 Clinical Practicum III

Hours
Prerequisites: Clinical Practicum II,

This is an advanced integrated clinical practicum for practical nursing students to perfect skills acquired from previous clinical practicums. This course focuses on use of nursing/related concepts by practical nurses as providers of care/members of discipline in collaboration with health team members. Emphasis is placed on the nursing process, wellness/illness patterns, entry-level issues, accountability, advocacy, professional development, evolving technology, and changing health care delivery systems. The students will utilize therapeutic communication skills related to mental health nursing care and assist patients to regain optimum level of psychosocial function. Students will also assist in providing health promotion activities/education to the childbearing family and interact with children in the community and simulated care setting. The clinical experience provides opportunities for beginning the transition from student to practical nurse. Students incorporate concepts of Practical Nursing practice such as communication, collaboration, caring, and clinical judgment necessary for safe, patient-centered nursing care to diverse patients across the lifespan experiencing a variety of commonly occurring health problems. The practicum further incorporates evidence-based practice, quality improvement, standards of care, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the Practical Nurse.