Practical Nursing Curriculum

Term I (16 weeks)

• PNP 101 Fundamentals of Practical Nursing
• PNP 102 Structure and Function of the Human Body
• PNP 103 Pharmacology I
• PNP 104 Essentials of Nutrition
• PNP 105 Issues and Trends in Practical Nursing

Term II (16 weeks)

• PNP 106 Life Span Psychology
• PNP 111 Medical Surgical Nursing
• PNP 113 Pharmacology II

Term III (8 weeks)

• PNP 121 Family Centered Care/ Leadership
• PNP 125 Transition into Practice

PNP 101 Fundamentals of Practical Nursing 10 Credits

(90 class, 45 lab, 168 clinical)

Course Overview:
This course provides students with the core concepts needed to provide caring interventions to diverse clients across the lifespan. Using the framework of human needs, students will be introduced to the concepts of safety/sensory, oxygenation, elimination, mobility, nutrition/ hydration, comfort/rest, self concept/self esteem and spirituality/cultural considerations to determine a client’s ability to meet. Nursing process and critical thinking will prepare the beginning nursing student to apply the knowledge and skills needed meet the basic human needs of multicultural clients across the lifespan. Nursing skills are presented in clinical, class, and nursing lab. Clinical experiences occur in long term care, sub-acute, or rehabilitation facilities. [back to top]

PNP 102 Structures and Function of the Human Body 4 credits (60 hours)

Course Overview:
This course provides an understanding of the design and organization of the human body. Beginning at the cellular level and advancing through the major body systems, students will gain an understanding of the basic principles of anatomy and physiology, homeostasis, chemistry, and microbiology. Topics covered include the following systems skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, integumentary, lymphatic, endocrine, and reproductive. Use of medical terminology will be incorporated. Students will be able to identify normal physiological function and begin to discuss and identify how selected disease processes deviate from the norm and impact body’s structure and function. The mechanisms of disease and healing will be included. Critical thinking is incorporated into each unit. [back to top]

PNP 103 Pharmacology I 2 Credits (30 hours)

Course Overview:
The safe and accurate administration of medication is one of the most important responsibilities of today’s Practical Nurse. The PN 103 course provides a beginning knowledge of general pharmacology and the basics of safe medication administration, including math calculations, documentation, legal issues, and proper procedures. Using nursing process as a framework, the course will examine drug classification, use, action, side effects, nursing implications and client teaching needs for selected categories of medications. Review and instruction will be provided to enable the student to make the accurate and precise dosage calculations essential to providing sound, knowledgeable care in the area of medication administration. Upon completion, students will be able to compute dosages and administer medication safely. [back to top]

PNP 104 Principles of Nutrition Course hours: 30 hours (2 credits)

Course Overview:
This course is designed to provide the student with knowledge of the fundamentals of nutrition and diet therapy. Students are given an overview of carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism. Vitamin, mineral, and nutrient requirements across the life span are explored. Meal planning, safe food preparation, and regulatory oversight are examined. Students will be taught practical applications and use of dietary modifications in dealing with common health problems. The psychological, economic, cultural, and religious influences on nutrition and health are discussed. This course provides the student with foundation needed to use the nursing process and care planning to meet the basic human need for nutrition. Concepts from this course will be incorporated throughout the nursing curriculum. [back to top]

PNP 105 Issues and Trends in Practical Nursing 1 Credit (15 hrs)

Course Overview:
This course focuses on the role of the student practical nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse and prepares students personally and professionally to enter the profession. The history of practical nursing, selected nursing theories, and the similarities and differences in the roles and responsibilities of LPNs and RNs are explored. The student is introduced to the legal and ethical responsibilities of patient care including HIPAA and NAPNES code of ethics. The role of other member’s health care, professional nursing organizations, social and economic issues that impact health care and the different ways health care is delivered are discussed. [back to top]

PNP 106 Lifespan Psychology 3 Credits (45 hours)

Course Overview:
This course is a descriptive survey of human development from conception to death emphasizing the interplay of environmental, genetic, and cultural determinants of development. Content will include an examination of contemporary theories of human development. Freud, Erikson, B. F. Skinner, Watson, Lorenz, Darwin, and Piaget will be covered. Mental health conditions, their associated behaviors, and nursing care strategies will be discussed. Critical incident stress and working with problem behaviors will also be included. The implications for nursing care will be a continuing thread. [back to top]

PNP 113 Principles of Pharmacology II 2 credits (30 hours)

Course Overview:
Course content provides further instruction in pharmacological principles and is a continuation of PNP 103. Selected drugs will be examined in relation to classification, mechanism of action, therapeutic effects, adverse effects, and nursing implications. The course will include the use of the nursing process in the safe administration of medication. The course reflects the nurse’s responsibility in providing sound knowledgeable care in the area of medication administration. During the concurrent Nursing 111 clinical experience, students will integrate knowledge with actual administration of medications. [back to top]

PNP 111 Medical Surgical Nursing 13 Credits

(class 120, clinical 210 Lab 15 hrs)

Course Overview:
Using nursing process, this course provides students with the knowledge needed to further develop their ability to provide caring interventions to diverse populations across the lifespan. Integrating principles of pathophysiology, treatment, prevention and rehabilitation, students continue to develop critical thinking to meet the human needs of clients. Information is presented in clinical, class and in the lab. Clinical experiences focus on clients whose needs are more acute or involve multiple systems. [back to top]

PNP 125 Transition into Practice 1 Credit (15 hrs)

Course Overview:
This course builds upon the content discussed in Issues and Trends in Practical Nursing. The course focuses on preparing the student to assume the role of the Practical Nurse. The responsibilities of licensure and application procedures for obtaining and maintaining licensure are discussed. Understanding the legal responsibilities for nursing practice and avoiding criminal and civil litigation are presented. The function of professional nursing organizations and the role of nursing in politics are expanded upon. Students will develop a plan for obtaining employment by examining the job search, interview and resume process. Students will also develop an individualized plan for success on the NCLEX-PN and discuss continuing their educational goals. Students will validate their readiness to enter the profession by completing an exemplar focusing on the competencies of the graduate practical nursing student. [back to top]

PNP 121 Care of the Family/Leadership 7 credits (56 class, 168 clinical hrs.)

Course Overview:
This final nursing course prepares the student to incorporate the attitudes, behaviors and skills necessary to assume the role of an entry level practical nurse. Students care for individuals and groups of clients and their families with complex disorders who are medically stable or for groups of residents and their families in a long-term care facility. Basic concepts of maternity and pediatric nursing are introduced. Concepts of leadership, management and self-direction within the practical nurses’ scope of practice are discussed and practiced. Emphasis is placed on using nursing process to prioritize and implement caring interventions for culturally diverse clients across the lifespan. [back to top]