Practical Nursing

Program Specific Requirements

• Complete the NCTC college admission process and declare the Practical Nursing major.


• Students will only be allowed two attemps on all PNSG courses.


• Meet all program prerequisites and achieve a “C” or higher grade in all required general education courses.
  
  • Program Prerequisites
    
    • Satisfactory completion of developmental courses if indicated by Accuplacer.
    
    
    • HLTH 1110 Nursing Assistant (NA) course within last 5 years or currently on nursing assistant registry.
    
    
    • HLTH 1106 Medical Terminology 2 credits
    
    
  
  
  • Pre-Nursing General Education Courses
    
    • BIOL 2221 Microbiology
    
    
    • BIOL 2252 Anatomy & Phys I
    
    
    • BIOL 2254 Anatomy& Phys II
    
    
    • ENGL 1111 Composition I
    
    
    • MATH 1110 College Algebra
    
    
    • PSYC 2201 Developmental Psychology
    
    
    • SPCH 1101 Intro to Public Speaking
    
    
    • PHIL 1102 Intro to Ethics OR PHIL 2210 Morals & Medicine
    
    
  
  
• Students must have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA for PN program entrance and meet the college's required cumulative completion percentage standard. (NCTC policy 3070 Satisfactory Academic Progress) Students in a warning, probation, or suspension will not be considered for PN program eligibility.


• Current CPR certification. CPR for Health Care Providers (American Heart Assn) or CPR for the Professional Rescuer (Red Cross.)


• Completion of the Minnesota Department of Human Services Licensing Division Background Study.


• Completion of a National Background Study through Verified Credentials. Cost $50.


• Completion of the College Health Screening & Immunization form.


• Achievement of a minimum cumulative score of 50 on the TEAS examination.


• Apply for eligibility to enroll in the PNSG Practical Nursing program course sequence.
  
  • Application should occur when the student is enrolled in their final semester of prerequisite and/or pre-nursing general education courses.
  
  
  • Students wishing to be considered to begin the PNSG course sequence in fall semester -- Application window open March 1st - May 1st.
  
  
  • Students wishing to be considered to begin the PNSG course sequence in spring semester -- Application window open October 1st - November 1st.
  
  

Program Learner Outcomes

1. Student will provide safe holistic individualized nursing care to diverse patient populations.


2. Student will demonstrate competence with patient care equipment and technology.


3. Student will apply safety and infection control measures to patient care.


4. Student will perform medication administration safely and accurately.


5. Student will demonstrate critical thinking/problem solving skills through prioritized patient care.


6. Student will demonstrate effective and respectful communication skills.


7. Student will demonstrate accountability for legal and ethical parameters for the Practical Nurse.


8. Student will demonstrate competence consistent with the entry-level Practical Nursing.


9. Student will incorporate a broad arts and science knowledge base into nursing care.

Northland Career Center

Counselors are available in the Career Center to assist with career advising, job search resources, employer connections, occupational descriptions, employment outlook, earnings, education/training requirements and sources.

Career Center »

Employment opportunities have experienced a major expansion in recent years. Graduates are currently employed in acute-care hospitals, state hospitals, long-term care facilities including nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals, clinics and physicians' offices, group homes and child care centers, health care and public health agencies, armed services, school nursing, industry and private homes.

The employment outlook for licensed practical nurses in the state of Minnesota from 2009 to 2019 is 19.1%, a well above average growth percentage.