Overview
Nursing Handbook (PDF)
Student Achievement Data (PDF)
TEAS® Test Information (PDF)
Narrative
The Practical Nursing (PN) certificate program prepares graduates for entry into the nursing profession as a practical nurse. Practical nurses work under the direction of a licensed registered nurse, licensed physician or dentist. The program includes 27 credits of nursing courses and 16 credits of general education courses and can be completed in one calendar year. It is offered at the Monroe and Bethlehem campus locations.
Graduates who successfully complete the program are eligible to apply to a State Board of Nursing for licensure as a licensed practical nurse and to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®). This examination is used by the State Board of Nursing to assess the entry-level nursing competence of candidates for licensure as licensed practical nurses. When the candidate successfully completes the NCLEX-PN® exam, a license is issued. Information about the NCLEX-PN® exam is available at www.ncsbn.org/nclex.htm.
Students are admitted to the program once a year, in the fall semester. The curriculum focuses on the art and science of nursing, and is taught in classroom, college skills laboratory, and clinical practice settings. Students attend class, skills laboratory and clinical simulation experiences on campus. Additionally, students participate in clinical learning experiences in various healthcare settings under the guidance of nursing faculty. Clinical learning experiences provide students with the opportunity to apply nursing theory in client care situations. Clinical settings include acute and long term care, in-patient and outpatient facilities.
Class, lab and simulation experiences are scheduled during the day. Most clinical experiences are scheduled during the day between the hours of 6:30 am and 5:00 pm. The college reserves the right to schedule clinical experiences during the evening and/or on weekends if necessary.
General Education courses in the nursing curriculum are offered in traditional and online format during the day and evening. Students may elect to complete general education courses prior to entering the program. All students are encouraged to consult an academic advisor.
Career Potential
Graduates of the program find jobs in a variety of health care settings including long-term care facilities, home health care agencies, state and federal health-related facilities, private duty nursing, clinics, and office settings.
Contact the Admissions Office at 610-861-5500 for further information.
Accreditation Information
The Practical Nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, 404.975.5000, http://www.acenursing.org and has provisional approval by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Responses to frequently asked questions about the PN Certificate program are available here (PDF).
For More Information Contact:
Nursing Department, Penn Hall 120E, Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020. Telephone: 610.861.5376.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Practical Nursing certificate program is selective. Applicants must have coursework completed equal to a standard high school course with a minimum of 16 units including 4 units of English, 3 units of Social Sciences, 2 units of Mathematics (one of which is Algebra), and 2 units of Science with a related laboratory or the equivalent.
The minimum admission requirements to the program include:
- Completion of high school biology* with a grade of C or better. *An acceptable substitute for high school biology is NCC BIOS115 with a grade of C or better. *
- One year of high school Algebra** with a C or better **an acceptable substitute for Algebra, it is NCC MATH022 with a grade of C or better. *
- Courses used as admission criteria cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
- TEAS® results submitted prior to the application deadline
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
*High school courses must be college preparatory level. Equivalents from other colleges may satisfy requirements.
Please note: Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the Nursing program. Primary consideration is given to those who have received a grade of B or better in the program sciences on the first attempt and have a TEAS® academic preparedness level of BASIC. Additional information on TEAS® testing is available here.
If available spaces in the program are not filled by students who have met the aforementioned standards, the College reserves the right to accept students who have, in the judgment of the College, the potential to complete the Practical Nursing program.
Deadlines
LPN is a fall-start program. Students may apply to the clinical program starting October 1. Applications must be completed by February 15. Students will not be able to apply to the clinical program after February 15.
After February 15, students who wish to take general education courses toward the LPN certificate may apply to the General Studies program of study.
Contact the Admissions Office at 610-861-5500 for further information..