Practical Nursing, CS

Admission to the Practical Nursing Program

Application to the Practical Nursing Program is a separate procedure in addition to the application to Olympic College. Because enrollment in the Practical Nursing Program is limited, admission to Olympic College does not guarantee admission to the Practical Nursing Program.

Admission to the Practical Nursing Program is based on a factoring system. Students are admitted to the Practical Nursing Program for a Winter Quarter start. An admission score is determined for each applicant based on the following criteria:

1. Cumulative GPA of prerequisite courses (excluding NURSE 151  or NURSE 152 )
2. Support course(s) completion
3. Current Nursing Assistant Certification (optional)

Please refer to the Practical Nursing Admission Policy and Procedures Handbook for point values assigned for each criterion listed above. This can be obtained by attending a Practical Nursing Program information session. Reservations to attend can be made either by calling 360.475.7748 or via the web page at www.olympic.edu/Nursing.

To be considered for admission to the Practical Nursing Program, all the following must be submitted to the Admissions Office:

1. Practical Nursing Program application when all prerequisite courses will be complete by the application deadline with the exception of NURSE 151  and NURSE 152  
2. Official transcripts from all educational institutions attended beyond high school (this includes all colleges, universities, vocational-technical schools, and hospital nursing schools).
3. Copy of Transfer Credit Evaluation-transcript evaluation results (if applicable).
4. Completion of the prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of 2.0 or above in each course: BIOL& 241  and BIOL& 242 , ENGL& 101 , and PSYC& 100 . Completion of the prerequisite course NURSE 151  with a minimum grade of 3.7 (94%), and completion of the prerequisite course NURSE 152  with a minimum grade of 2.2 (80%).
5. Completion of the prerequisite course NURSE 151  with a minimum grade of 3.7 (94%), and completion of the prerequisite course NURSE 152  with a minimum grade of 2.2 (80%) before starting the program.
6. Achievement of 80 on the Classic Accuplacer Reading Comprehension Test or achievement of 260 on the Next Generation Accuplacer Reading Comprehension Test.
7. Copy off current Nursing Assistant Certification if applicable

It is the student’s responsibility to request all transcript(s). Transcript(s) and/or credentials must be official and must be sent DIRECTLY to the Office of Admissions by the issuing institution(s).

If accepted into the Olympic College Associate Degree in Nursing Program, a student’s application to the Practical Nursing Program will be removed by Admissions, and that student will no longer be considered for the Practical Nursing Program.

To be considered for Winter Quarter admission, all documentation must be received by Office of Admissions by August 31.

Students who have been offered acceptance into the Practical Nursing Program will be required to attend an orientation session prior to the beginning of Winter Quarter.

Acceptances are granted for a particular quarter and year. Students not enrolling for the specified quarter and year as noted in their letter of acceptance must reapply for admission to the Practical Nursing Program.

Proof of the following is required after provisional acceptance into the Practical Nursing Program:

1. Current immunizations
2. Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers Certification
3. Non-refundable liability insurance
4. Proof of personal health insurance
5. Criminal History Information Background Inquiry Check

The Olympic College Nursing Program values a foundation of information technology upon entry into the Practical Nursing program. This foundation of information technology includes word processing, accessing information and communicating through email and on-line teaching and learning tools, such as textbook resources or a Learning Management System, such as Canvas©. Performance of searches using Internet and intranet resources (electronic course reserves and library searches) is expected of students in the LPN program.

The Olympic College Licensed Practical Nursing Program is approved by:

Washington State Nursing Care Quality
Assurance Commission
P.O. Box 47865, Olympia, WA 98504-7865
www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/Professions/Nursing

Practical Nursing Program

The Olympic College Practical Nursing Program is a one-year program that prepares graduates to provide safe direct patient care as licensed practical nurses (LPN) in acute care, long-term care, home health, and ambulatory care settings. The program includes both classroom study and supervised clinical practice (patient care). The curriculum includes diverse learning experiences consistent with the Practical Nursing Program outcomes. Varied clinical experiences provide opportunities to learn and provide care to clients from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Concepts of social, behavioral, and biological foundations are integrated throughout the curriculum. The role of the LPN in relation to client needs; safe, effective care environment; health promotion and maintenance; and psychosocial and physiological integrity are integrated throughout the curriculum. a Certificate of Specialization is awarded upon completion of the Practical Nursing Program requirements.

A minimum grade of 2.0 (75%) or above must be earned in each Practical Nursing course for program progression. NURSE 118 , which can be taken prior to admission in the Practical Nursing Program, and NURSE 152  require a grade of 2.2 (80%) or above. NURSE 151 , Dosage Calculations, requires a 3.7 (94%) for continuation to the program and graduation. Certified nursing assistants and military medics may receive credit by examination for PNURS 104  and PNURS 105 . Students are encouraged to take support course prior to entry into the program. Support course registration is based on space availability.

Pending satisfactory completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX-PN). The license permits the practical nurse to use the legal title of Licensed Practical Nurse in the State of Washington.

Additional costs:

1. Uniforms, including regulation shoes, laboratory coat, name pin, Olympic College patch (2)
2. Nursing Skills course lab fees ($15/course)
3. Wristwatch with sweep hand and stethoscope
4. Nursing student liability insurance
5. State licensure application fee
6. NCLEX-PN fee
7. Immunizations
8. Transportation to and from clinical facilities;
9. Criminal background check and Immunization Tracker.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Professional Values/Lifelong Learner/Global
   
   Perspectives Definition: Professional values are demonstrated by providing direct care for clients across the life span, collaborating with nursing colleagues and other caregivers, and accepting accountability and responsibility for one’s practice within a legal and ethical framework. Lifelong learning is a commitment to developing an awareness of one’s knowledge limitations and formulating a plan to meet those needs in order to positively impact client care. Global perspectives is recognizing diversity of ideas, points-of-view, opinions, and backgrounds and demonstrating the ability to develop a mutually respectful working environment that will benefit client care.
2. Communication (Member of Profession, Manager of Care, Provider of Care) Definition: Communication is an interactive sharing of information (verbal, nonverbal &written) that can be demonstrated by continuity of quality care for the client and their family. Effective communication is an ongoing and dynamic process that includes the use of therapeutic skills and health education strategies in the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health that has clarity, purpose, and sensitivity.
3. Clinical Reasoning (Provider of Care, Manager of Care) Definition: Clinical reasoning uses the skills of clinical judgment and decision making, to provide nursing care for clients experiencing common, well-defined health problems in structured health care settings. It includes the ability in collaboration with appropriate licensed professionals, notice clinical signs, interpret observations, respond appropriately, and reflect on actions taken. It is the process used to assimilate information, analyze data, and make decisions regarding client care. (Noticing, Interpreting, Responding, Reflecting)
4. Nursing Informatics Definition: Nursing informatics integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom into nursing practice. (ANA, 2009)

Program Learning Outcomes

• Program completion rates: number of students who complete the program within 150% of the time of the stated program length.
• Job placement rates: number of graduates, one year after graduation, employed in a position for which the program prepared them.
• Licensure pass rates: performance on the licensure examination for first time writers.
• Program satisfaction: perceptions of the graduates and employers as to the adequacy and effectiveness of the program.