Practical Nursing

DIPLOMA

The Practical Nursing program expands upon the foundational skills of the Nursing Assistant. The curriculum prepares students to assist in the provision of general nursing care, think critically, and adhere to the Nursing Code of Ethics under the direction of a registered nurse or physician. Practical nursing students are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). This program provides a pathway for students who wish to pursue academic advancement or seek employment in a wide variety of healthcare settings.

PROGRAM FACT SHEET

Students completing this Diploma will be able to:

Demonstrate effective communication while providing culturally competent care to individual patients across the lifespan;
Use information and technology in the healthcare setting;
Work within an established plan of care for an individual patient to organize or assign aspects of care under the direction of an RN or other health care provider;
Utilize evidence-based nursing judgment while prioritizing care, implementing interventions, and promoting the health of individual patients across the lifespan;
Demonstrate professional behaviors and accountability to legal and ethical nursing practice standard for a competent practical nurse;
Participate in Quality Improvement (QI) by providing input into the development of policies and procedures and effectively using resources to achieve patient outcomes;
Report changes and responses to interventions to a RN or the appropriate licensed healthcare providers while providing a safe environment; and
Participate as a member of the inter-professional team, collaborating with other healthcare providers to promote safe, quality, patient-centered care.

JOB OUTLOOK COURSE SEARCH

Steps to Apply

Learn what is required for application to the Practical Nursing program. Attend an on-campus Nursing Information Session:

Friday, September 29, 11am-12pm
Click here to register to attend the on-campus Nursing Information Session.

If you are unable to attend an on-campus session, click here to view the power point presentation.

Click here to view the Practical Nursing program application/acceptance timeline for spring 2024.

Application Requirements

Students must apply to the Practical Nursing program for the Spring 2024 start. At the time of application students must have:

Completed all prerequisite courses by the end of previous semester (prior to program start), with a grade of “C” or better, and a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher
Be current on the Nursing Assistant Registry
Have taken the ATI TEAS exam within the last 18 months with an overall composite score of 53 or higher

Please note: Pine Technical & Community College only accepts TEAS scores from IN-PERSON proctored exams (no virtual/online testing scores are accepted.)

Step One: Become a Student

Save a Pine and apply online!
Request all external transcripts be sent to PTCC
- If you attended a Minnesota State school, your transcripts will automatically be sent
- If you attended a school outside the MNState system, contact the school to have your official transcripts sent to PTCC
Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Step Two: Apply to the Practical Nursing Program

Apply online to the Practical Nursing Program for Spring 2024 by clicking here. Application deadline is November 8, 2023.
At the time of Spring 2024 application, you must have completed the following prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better AND a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher:
- ENGL1276 College Composition
- BIOL1240 Health & Disease in the Human Body OR BIOL1250 General Biology, BIOL1260 Anatomy & Physiology I, and BIOL1270 Anatomy & Physiology II (must complete all 3 courses)
- HPPC1000 Medical Dosages (valid for 5 yrs.)
- HPPC 1002 Medical Terminology (valid for 5 yrs.)
- HPPC1004 Pharmacology (valid for 5 yrs.)

For questions regarding your prerequisites, contact Jen Rancour.

Are current and in good standing on the Minnesota or Wisconsin Nursing Assistant Registry

Have taken the ATI TEAS exam within the last 18 months with an overall composite score of 53 or higher

Please note: Pine Technical & Community College only accepts TEAS scores from IN-PERSON proctored exams (no virtual/online testing scores are accepted.)

Step Three: TEAS Test

TEAS exams will be offered at the PTCC campus:

Thurs., October 12, 1:00pm
Thurs., October 26, 1:00pm
Wed., November 4, 8:00am & 1:00pm
Wed., November 18, 8:00am & 1:00pm
Mon., November 30, 1:00pm

Register to take the ATI TEAS test
The test is $97.00 (cost subject to change by ATI)
Students need a 53 or better to be accepted into the Practical Nursing program
If you take the TEAS at PTCC, your scores will automatically be sent without extra costs to the student
If you take the TEAS at another location, you will need to have your scores sent to PTCC (extra cost)
You can take the TEAS more than once, and we will accept your highest score
Important note when registering to take the TEAS test!
Pine Technical and Community College only accepts TEAS scores from IN-PERSON proctored exams (no virtual/online testing scores are accepted.)
Check this out for more TEAS information and how to register for an exam
Need some help studying for the TEAS?

TEAS Prep– Individualized study plan available

Step Four: Program Acceptance

Students are ranked by points using a rubric
Ranking points are based on prerequisite coursework GPA and TEAS score

Download the GPA calculator to determine your GPA based on prerequisite coursework.

There are a maximum of 40 seats in the PN program each fall and spring semester.

In 2021, PTCC Associate Degree and Practical Nursing students demonstrated competency better than most two and four year colleges in the state based on NCLEX Board of Nursing pass rates and scores!

Additional Information

Transferology

Transferology is a free tool that can help you determine the transferability and applicability of your credits.

With Transferology you can:

Determine how your individual classes from other higher educational institutions will transfer to PTCC
Run a program plan to see how your classes could apply toward your PTCC degree
Plan for a smoother transfer process

Note: If your school or class is not listed in Transferology, this does not mean your credits will not transfer. The PTCC Admissions Application and PN Nursing Application must both be complete with all transcripts received before transcript evaluation begins.

For assistance, please contact PTCC Admissions at admissions*AT*pine.edu.

Accreditations

Program Completion and Job Placement

Program completion: 75% of practical nursing students will complete the program at 150% of the program length, averaged over the past 3-years.

NCLEX-PN: 80% (or higher) of PN graduates will pass the NCLEX-PN on first attempt, averaged over 3-years.

2016 NCLEX-PN = 85.37%
2017 NCLEX-PN = 91.67%
2018 NCLEX-PN = 93.94%
2019 NCLEX-PN = 100%
2020 NCLEX-PN = 97.22%
2021 NCLEX-PN = 92.45%

Job Placement: 80% of PN graduates will be employed in their nursing field at 6-12 months post-graduation; 30% of PN graduates will continue on in their nursing education.

6-12 month Graduate Surveys: 50% of PN graduates will complete and return the 6-12 month graduate surveys; 80% of respondents will chose “Excellent” or “Good” for each survey question; 80% of respondents will rate program satisfaction as “Excellent” or “Good”; Qualitative comments will be trended and changes made to program as needed for continuous quality improvement.

2023-2024 Nursing Student Handbook

This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call 800.521.7463.

2023-2024 Associate Degree Nursing Mobility and Practical Nursing Student Handbook.