Practical Nursing

Program Overview

The Practical Nursing (PN) Program at Olympic College prepares students to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in one year through the PN Pathway or two quarters through the CM-PN Pathway. The program combines classroom study, laboratory application, and supervised clinical experiences, emphasizing concepts of social, behavioral, and biological foundations. Graduates receive a Certificate of Specialization and are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN to obtain an LPN license in Washington State.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• The Practical Nursing (PN) Program at Olympic College equips graduates to provide direct patient care as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in various settings, including acute care, long-term care, home health, and ambulatory care.
• The program has two pathways:
• The Practical Nursing (PN) Pathway: Designed for qualified candidates to become LPNs in one year.
• The Corpsman/Medic Bridge to Practical Nursing (CM-PN) Pathway: Designed for qualified military medics and corpsmen to become LPNs in two quarters.
• The curriculum combines classroom study, laboratory application, high-fidelity simulation, and supervised clinical experiences, providing opportunities to care for clients from diverse backgrounds.
• The program emphasizes concepts of social, behavioral, and biological foundations, integrating the role of the LPN in client needs, safe care environments, health promotion, and psychosocial and physiological integrity.
• Graduates receive a Certificate of Specialization upon program completion and are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX-PN) to obtain an LPN license in Washington State.

Outline:

• The program content includes:
• Nursing fundamentals
• Anatomy and physiology
• Pharmacology
• Pathophysiology
• Medical-surgical nursing
• Maternal-child nursing
• Psychiatric nursing
• The program structure typically involves:
• Classroom lectures and discussions

Careers:

• Potential career paths for LPNs include:
• Staff nurse in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities
• Home health nurse
• Long-term care nurse
• School nurse
• LPNs are in high demand due to the increasing need for healthcare professionals, and the program prepares graduates for entry-level positions in the field.