Practical Nursing

Certificate of Specialization

Admission to the Program

Admission to the Practical Nursing Program is based on a factoring system. Students are admitted to the 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;
2. Support course(s) completion;
3. Current Nursing Assistant Certification and experience (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 of the following must be submitted to the Admissions Office:

1. Practical Nursing Program application when registered for the final prerequisite course(s);
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& 175 (or BIOL& 241 and BIOL& 242), ENGL& 101, MATH 099, and PSYC& 100. Completion of the prerequisite course PNURS 126 with a minimum grade of 3.7, and completion of the prerequisite course PNURS 108 with a minimum grade of 2.0 (75%);
5. Achievement of a 78 or above on the Accuplacer Reading Comprehension Test; and
6. Copy of 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 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 Angel. Performance of searches using Internet and intranet resources (electronic course reserves and library searches) is expected of students in the LPN program.

The Practical Nursing Program is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/Professions/Nursing), and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (http://www.nlnac.org).

Practical Nursing Program

A minimum grade of 2.0 (75%) or above must be earned in each Practical Nursing course for program progression. (PNURS 118, 110 (or MEDA 162), which can be taken prior to admission in the Practical Nursing Program, require a grade of 2.0 (75%) or above. PNURS 126, Dosage Calculations, requires a 3.7 for continuation in the program and graduation. Certified nursing assistants and military medics may receive credit by examination for PNURS 104, 105 and 110. Paramedics and EMTs may receive credit by examination for PNURS 110. Students are encouraged to take support courses 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. Comprehensive Predictor Exam fee (prior to graduation),
9. Transportation to and from clinical facilities,
10. Criminal background check and Immunization Tracker.

Student Learning Outcomes

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, to 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 Outcomes

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

Contact

Course List

*See course description for prerequisite.

Source: 2013-2014 Olympic College Catalog, Gainful Employment 11/14/11