Practical Nursing

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Program Description

Mission: To provide excellence in nursing education, preparing students for success in national licensure and practice as nurses serving the healthcare needs of a diverse community.

In HTC’s Practical Nursing program, you’ll gain the skills to be part of a health care team in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, clinics, home health agencies, long-term care facilities, transitional care facilities, and assisted living facilities.

To prepare you for success, your education includes courses ranging from basic nursing skills to psychosocial nursing, from pharmacology to actual patient care. It’s a blend of theory and hands-on experience that builds your nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The program is designed to meet the requirements of the Minnesota Board of Nursing for qualifying to take the practical nursing state board licensing examination (NCLEX-PN). Upon successful completion of the examination, you’ll be a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

Each fall, a cohort of approximately 48 students will be admitted to the Brooklyn Park campus. Each spring, a cohort of approximately 48 students will be admitted to the Eden Prairie campus. For both campuses, classes are scheduled on a full time basis from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m three days per week, with another half day each week from 9:00 to 12:20. (note: clinical times could be approximately 6:00 am -  2:00 pm or 2:00pm - 10:00pm and possibly weekends). There is not a part time option offered at this time. The program is two semesters in length.

Due to accreditation requirements, all students will need to obtain the diploma. There is an option to obtain a degree, either at the same time or after graduating with the diploma. The diploma is required to take the licensure exam and for entry into practice; therefore the degree is an option in addition to the diploma. The AAS Degree option in Practical Nursing is designed for those who would like to fulfill some of the general education requirements to pursue a professional nursing degree. Students are encouraged to contact the program to which they wish to transfer for specific information about their requirements to ensure the student selects the appropriate courses.

Students must complete the "pre-nursing" coursework before being accepted into the program. This requires a separate Nursing Application which is obtained at an application session.  The dates of the application sessions can be found under the "Entry Requirements" below. If you are interested in starting the Practical Nursing program, please apply using the regular college application.

Program Information

• Overview
• Accreditation and Affiliations
• Awards and Certifications
• Faculty

Overview

Workforce services for eligible adults are available through this program authorized by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Click for more info!

Class Time: Day 
Semester: See  "Application Process" below
Campus: Eden Praire Campus or Brooklyn Park Campus
Course Search

National Council Licensure Examination - Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN)

• 2021 year-to-date pass rate = 90.48%.
• As of July 2019, pass rate = 96%
• Student Learner Program Outcomes (Award Outcomes)
  1. Demonstrate effective communication techniques while providing patient care founded on basic physical, developmental, spiritual, cultural, functional, and psychosocial needs of individual patients across the lifespan.
  2. Manage care through planning, organizing or assigning aspects of care to UAP's and LPN's under the direction of an RN or other licensed Health Care Provider.
  3. Participate as a member of the inter-professional team collaborating with other health care providers to promote safe, quality, patient centered care.
  4. Demonstrate nursing safety principles.
  5. Utilize information technology effectively in the provision of care.
  6. Demonstrate professional behaviors in accordance with legal and ethical nursing practice standards.
  7. Utilize evidence-based nursing judgment when providing individualized patient care when prioritizing care across the lifespan.
  8. Participate in quality improvement.
• Practical Nursing Student Handbook

Application Process

Applying to the Practical Nursing Program:

Students must be admitted to the college, complete placement testing, and if applicable, have any prior coursework evaluated for transfer.

Prerequisites: 8-hour CPR course for Health Care Providers offered by the American Heart Association or 8-hour CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer course offered by the American Red Cross or  EMSV1020;  NAHA1002 or currently on the Minnesota Department of Health Registry for Nursing Assistants;  BIOL2045 or  BIOL2125 and  BIOL2225,  ENGL2050,  NURS1015 or  BIOL2003 or  HLTH2001, and qualifying scores in reading, writing, math and computer literacy assessment tests. The HESI entrance exam requirements are scores of at least 60% cumulative and 70% in reading comprehension.  The HESI entrance exam may be repeated one time, after which, if scores are not met, then students must meet with an enrollment advisor. 

Students may apply to the Practical Nursing Program while finishing the prerequisites, interested students must email Sarah Cornelius (sarah.cornelius@hennepintech.edu) for more information about the application process. Applications are all online and will be submitted after students pass the HESI test. Students should be in touch with Sarah Cornelius, the Nursing Advisor, early in their time at HTC as well as checking-in each semester to be sure they are on-track and to get information about upcoming cohorts.

Nursing Program GPA Calculation Worksheet
Nursing Program Immunization Form
Nursing Program Two-Step Baseline TB Form

Accreditation and Affiliation

The Practical Nursing Program at Hennepin Technical College location in Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made be the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing Program is initial accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at 
http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm

Click here for accreditation letter.

US Department of Education Requirements for PN Program. Click here for more information.

Articulation

Graduates of the practical nursing program may attend a mobility program leading to an ADN or BSN in professional nursing and the opportunity to take the RN licensure exam. Students are encouraged to contact their RN program of choice for specific details on admission requirements.

USDE Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Hennepin Technical College Practical Nursing curriculum is designed to help prepare students to sit for the professional licensure exam for Minnesota. At this time, Hennepin Technical College is unable to make a determination if the Practical Nursing program meets the licensing requirement for any state or US protectorate besides Minnesota. You will want to contact the licensing board in which state you intend to pursue licensure for their requirements, below we provide a link to a list of each states licensing board. If you have further questions about licensure for Practical Nurses please feel free to reach out to Chris Kleckner, Director of Nursing, (chris.kleckner@hennepintech.edu) and we will be happy to help you.

For more information on state licensing boards and their contact information for Practical Nursing click here.

Awards and Certifications

Practical Nursing (A.A.S.) | Semester Sequence
Practical Nursing (Diploma) | Semester Sequence

Faculty

Chris Kleckner, MA, MAN, RN, PHN, Director of Nursing

Janet Deems, BSN
Jill Waletich, M.A., RN