Certificate
Practical Nursing
Your steps to become a Practical Nurse (LPN).
As a practical nurse, you’ll be a vital member of a team of professionals working with patients. You’ll provide not only the care, but the compassion that makes a difference. In a 12-month program that’s rigorous and focused, you’ll learn hands-on as you prepare to enter the profession in a region that continues to grow as a healthcare hub that offers a diverse range of nursing opportunities.
Career Competencies
The licensed practical nurse (LPN) functions as a member of the healthcare team by exercising sound nursing judgment in providing basic nursing care to patients and families.
Licensed practical nurses:
- Measure and monitor vital signs
- Perform physician ordered treatments, such as wound care and respiratory therapies
- Administer medications and monitor patient responses
- Administer and monitor maintenance intravenous (IV) therapies
- Perform focused-patient assessments
- Reinforce patient and family education initiatives
Licensed practical nurses participate in the development, revision, and implementation of policies and procedures designed to ensure comfort and safety of patients, in collaboration with other healthcare personnel.
Admission Requirements
Practical Nursing, preparation for the NCLEX-PN State Board
One of the following:
- ATI TEAS score of 50% or higher
Taken within past 2 years - SAT scores:
- Math: 450 or higher
- Reading/Writing: 450 or higher
taken within past 5 years
- ACT score: 19 or higher
taken within past 5 years
In addition:
- Graduate of High School or GED equivalent
- Student must be 18 years old prior to class start date
- International Students (applicants educated in another country) must meet additional education requirements.
Additional Eligibility requirements include but are not limited to: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 33), Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check (Act 34), and FBI Criminal Background Check (Act 73), Health Screenings, Drug Screenings, CPR Certification, Nursing Tuition Deposit & Completion of Financial Aid.
Many clinical agencies will not permit a student to complete clinical requirements at that facility if there is a criminal history or other serious offense, including those related to drugs and alcohol. In addition, many employers in health care settings will not hire an applicant with a criminal history of any kind.
PTC reserves the right to change Nursing Program Eligibility Requirements without notice.
Transfer Credits
Applicants from other approved or accredited nursing programs may apply for admission into the Practical Nursing Certificate Program. These applicants must:
- Meet all admission requirements
- Provide official transcripts from all regionally accredited post-high school coursework, showing a grade of C or higher, for any courses that may be transferred into the program.
- Courses acceptable for transfer must be comparable to those taught at PTC. Course descriptions and/or course syllabi may be requested in order to make that decision. College level courses (course number 100 or higher) may be considered for transfer.
- The General Education Science courses consisting of theory and lab classes of Anatomy & Physiology 1, Anatomy & Physiology 2, and Microbiology must have been taken in the past 5 years to be considered for transfer.
- The Registrar, Academic Chair for General Education, and Director of Nursing review all courses to determine if they are acceptable for transfer. The School of Nursing reserves the right to require repetition of some courses if necessary to obtain all needed content and skill mastery
Practical Nursing Program Outcomes
At the completion of the Practical Nursing Certificate Program, the student will be able to:
- Integrate ethical, legal, cultural concepts into the nursing care of individuals, families, and groups in various health care settings.
- Apply knowledge from the humanities, physical sciences, and social sciences in the provision of nursing care.
- Implement the nursing process with patients and families in a variety of settings under the supervision of a professional nurse and/or physician.
- Demonstrate sound clinical judgment within the appropriate scope of practice in order to promote safe, high quality nursing care.
- Communicate collaboratively in an effective manner with patients, families, and other members of the health care team.
- Use information gained from review of current trends, information management strategies, and technology effectively in providing safe, high quality holistic nursing care.
- Influence health care and healthy behavior choices by patients and families by providing effective health education.
- Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and best practice based on current scientific findings and patient preferences.
LPN Student Success
Practical Nursing Licensure Examination Pass Rates
| 2021-22 | 2020-21 | 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|
| 80.56% | 88.5% | 91.3% |
Licensure Exam Pass Rate – Percentage of first-time test takers who receive a passing score on the NCLEX-PN from October 1 through September 30 as reported by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Years listed reflect the year of the testing cycle.
Practical Nursing Program 150% Completion Rates
| 2020-21 | 2019-20 | 2018-19 |
|---|---|---|
| 59% | 55% | 54% |
Program 150% Completion Rate – Percentage of students who graduate within a defined period of time. The definition used by the ACEN for a nursing program 150% completion rate is the number of students who complete the program in no more than 150% of the stated nursing program length, beginning with enrollment on the first day of the first nursing course, which can vary based upon a nursing program option. PTC’s calculations utilize program start dates during the months of July, October, January, and April for an academic year running from July 1 through June 30. Years listed indicate start dates for cohorts.
Practical Nursing Program On-Time Completion Rates
| 2020-21 | 2019-20 | 2018-19 |
|---|---|---|
| 31% | 38% | 41% |
Program On-Time Completion Rate – Percentage of students who graduate within a defined period of time. The definition used by the ACEN for an on-time nursing program completion rate is the number of students who complete the program in the exact stated nursing program length, beginning with enrollment on the first day of the first nursing course, which can vary based upon a nursing program option. PTC’s calculations utilize program start dates during the months of July, October, January, and April for an academic year running from July 1 through June 30. Years listed indicate start dates for cohorts.
Practical Nursing Job Placement Rates
| 2020-21 | 2019-20 | 2018-19 |
|---|---|---|
| 81% | 88% | 96% |
Job Placement Rate – Percentage of graduates, within one (1) year of graduation, who are employed in a position for which a nursing program prepared them. PTCs calculations utilize graduation dates during the months of July, October, January, and April for an academic year running from July 1 through June 30. Years listed indicate the year students graduated.
Program Courses
Quarter 1
- Foundations of Nursing
- Nursing Practice 1
- Anatomy & Physiology 1
- Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab
- Microbiology
- Microbiology Lab
Quarter 2
- Foundations in Nursing 2
- Nursing Practice 2
- Anatomy & Physiology 2
- Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacology Applications in Nursing
Quarter 3
- Medical/Surgical Nursing
- Nursing Practice 3
- Psychosocial and Psychiatric Issues
- Gerontology and Nursing Practice
- Nursing Practice 4
Quarter 4
- Maternity Nursing
- Nursing Practice 5
- Pediatric Nursing
- Nursing Practice 6
- Transition into Nursing Practice
- Nursing Practice 7
Employers of PTC Graduates*
Our Career Services staff will work with you on your job search—just as they’ve helped our grads who’ve been hired by employers like:
- Allegheny Health Network
- Allegheny General Hospital
- Asbury Heights
- Bethany Hospice
- Country Meadows Retirement Community
- Family Hospice & Palliative Care
- Forbes Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare
- HCR ManorCare
- Heritage Valley Beaver
- Ohio Valley Hospital
- Passavant Hospital
- Ruby Medical Center
- St. Clair Hospital
- St. Margaret Hospital
- Uniontown Hospital
- Magee-Women’s Hospital of UPMC
- UPMC—Mercy Hospital
- Washington Hospital
- West Virginia University Hospitals
*Background check and drug screening prior may be required prior to employment.
Clinical Settings
Your clinical experience begins in the Simulation Center and continues as you work rotations at our partners in the areas of long-term care, hospice, rehabilitation, pediatric specialty care, interim care, and independent living facilities, including:
- UPMC
- Lifecare Hospitals
- Asbury Heights
- Green Briar Treatment Center
- Country Meadows
- Ohio Valley Hospital
- Baptist Home
- St. Barnabas Health System
- HCR Manor Care
- Interim Health Care
- Pediatric Specialty Care
Grade Scale
| Grade | Quality Points | Percentage (nursing theory courses) | Percentage (general education courses) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | 93-100 | 90-100 |
| B | 3 | 85-92 | 80-89 |
| C | 2 | 75-84 | 70-79 |
| F | 0 | Less than 75 | Less than 70 |
| W (withdrawal) |
Preparing for the NCLEX-PN
Upon graduation, you are eligible to take this national examination and acquire licensure. PTC will reimburse the cost of your licensure exam if taken and passed within three months of graduation.
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