Nursing (LPN Track)

DIPLOMA, 39 CREDITS

The Practical Nursing Program at Riverland Community College is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. Graduates of the Practical Nursing Program will integrate general education, including science coursework, with the discipline of nursing coursework (PNUR) as the basis for nursing practice and ongoing life-long learning.

The Practical Nursing Program will prepare the student with the knowledge, skills, and values of a practical nurse (PN) for entry-level practice. The student will then be eligible to take the licensing examination for the licensed practical nurse (NCLEX-PN). The student is eligible to enter practice when licensed and/or may apply to the A.S. Degree/BSN program with advanced standing in following years.

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses typically do the following:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

  • Monitor patients’ health—for example, by checking their blood pressure
  • Administer basic patient care, including changing bandages and inserting catheters
  • Provide for the basic comfort of patients, such as helping them bathe or dress
  • Discuss the care they are providing with patients and listen to their concerns
  • Report patients’ status and concerns to registered nurses and doctors
  • Keep records on patients’ health
 Location: Austin. Clinicals: Albert Lea, Austin and Owatonna
Program Starts: Fall Semester
Course Plan: Full-Time Day: 3 Semesters
Part-Time Evening: 3+ Semesters, some summer. (Daytime clinical on the weekend. Some day-time commitments may be required.)
Faculty: Chris Wolf, Pat Parsons, Crystal Moritz

Prerequisites
- Student must be active on a CNA registry.
BIOL1030 Human Biology (Goal 2 & 3)
(recommend 71 or better on El Alg test or take MATH 0560)		 3 CR
ENGL1101 Composition I (Goal 1 & 2)
OR ENGL1102		 3 CR
PSYC1240 Developmental Psychology (Goal 5 & 9) 3 CR
- Elective Credit 1 CR
Required Core Courses
PNUR1110 Foundations of Practical Nursing 6 CR
PNUR1120 Nursing Care of Adults I 3 CR
PNUR1130 Pharmacology 3 CR
PNUR1140 Clinical I 3 CR
PNUR1150 Nursing Care of Adults II 4 CR
PNUR1160 Nursing Care of Women/Newborns/Children 2 CR
PNUR1170 Transition to Practice 1 CR
PNUR1180 Psychosocial Nursing Care 2 CR
PNUR1191 Clinical IIA 2.5 CR
PNUR1192 Clinical IIB 2.5 CR

For in-depth information including outcomes, program fees, course descriptions, and more please visit the Nursing (LPN Track) program page at riverland.edu.