PRACTICAL NURSING (offered in Maine only)
Program Description
Practical or Vocational Nursing is a vital branch of the main nursing field of study. This licensed health-care professional, known as an LPN or LVN, works directly with sick, injured, or disabled patients in a number of health care settings and under the supervision of a licensed physician or registered nurse. Typically, these individuals are not only sympathetic to a patient’s needs, but actively use their expertise to assist them with bedside care and basic medical needs, such as dressing, bathing, eating, and personal hygiene.
Demand for Practical Nurses demonstrates good, overall job prospects, with position increases estimated to be 21 percent from 2008 to 2018*—as the need for additional medical personnel with accredited training increases in relation to the number of patients in an aging population.
The specialized Practical Nursing Courses at InterCoast College prepare you with the educational tools and training required to work in this important role and prepares you for eligibility in applying to your state of residency Board of Nursing for completion of the Practical Nursing licensure exam or NCLEX-PN.
What can I expect to learn in Practical Nursing School?
As a student, you will benefit from an intense curriculum of comprehensive classroom instruction under the supervision and guidance of caring instructors. In class, you will develop a working knowledge of fundamentals and trends in nursing, anatomy and physiology, various laboratory procedures and disease control perimeters, as well as critical thinking and interpersonal relations.
Clinical rotations will follow classroom learning, completed in an environment conducive to practicing hands-on techniques, and generally putting to use the skills you have learned in class. This may include, but is not limited to, bedside manners, recording of patient data, administration of injections or medication, wound cleaning, and generally helping improve a patient’s overall well-being and comfort level.
About NCLEX-PN
The NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is an examination for the licensing of Practical Nurses in the United States. It is developed and owned by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN). NCSBN administers these examinations on behalf of its member boards. To ensure public protection, the board of nursing requires a candidate for licensure to pass the appropriate NCLEX-PN for Vocational or Practical Nurses. The NCLEX examination is designed to test the knowledge, skills and abilities essential to the safe and effective practice of nursing at entry-level positions.
Program Objectives
Get the Practical Nursing training you need from a trusted school. In just four, consecutive terms at InterCoast Career Institute, you can be prepared to work in the many occupational fields available to an LPN. Duties of a Practical Nurse are an extension of a physician or registered nurse; you will be thoroughly trained to not only give a comforting touch to patients, but to be deemed competent in providing medical services to aid in the recovery and/or rehabilitation of those in your care.
Foremost, the Practical Nursing Classes will cover fundamentals in nursing trends, including law and ethics, communications, and cultural diversity. You will also discover nursing essentials such as critical thinking techniques, interpersonal relationship-building skills, and leadership methods.
Of vital importance in Practical Nursing Courses is the overview of normal human growth and development, pharmacology, and proper methods of disease control. You will also expand your knowledge in psychology/mental health, nutrition and diets, and laboratory procedures.
The right Practical Nursing Training will give you the aptitude to assist physicians in a number of surgical procedures, maternal, and pediatric nursing. Off-site, in various healthcare agencies, you will be clinically trained in phlebotomy, administration of intravenous medications, medical massages, and other generalized patient care. You will also be taught supervisory skills to be used with nursing assistants or nursing aides.
Go with confidence—and degree in hand—into the vast realm of Practical Nursing in just four terms!
Where can my Practical Nursing education take me?
Practical Nurses are needed in virtually any area of healthcare: Physician offices, hospitals, clinics, and residential care facilities, just to name a few. Once you achieve completion of the formal education and training provided through InterCoast Career Institute, the job outlook and career opportunities are limited only by your willingness to apply!
Properly educated, licensed Practical Nurses are in demand, and job opportunities are projected to grow exponentially in nursing care facilities and in home health care. If you are a kindhearted, high-performing individual, and enjoy helping others, the rewarding career of a Practical Nurse may be ideal. With your conscientious effort to attend class, and willingness to take a hands-on approach to learning, InterCoast College will gladly assist you—whether you wish to be full- or part-time employed.
You can be the one to touch other’s lives in a unique way, provide the professional skills to aid in their well-being, and gain the experience of a lifetime in Practical Nursing.
Your Future Within Reach
Why wait another minute? Call today! Become a central part of the growing medical field by letting the friendly professionals at InterCoast Career Institute help you achieve your career and educational goals as a Practical Nurse—you may even qualify for financial assistance! Call 877-227-3377.
Occupational Objectives
Whether you are looking to modify your current status or completely reform your career, tap into that motivation and take a closer look at the Practical Nursing Programs at InterCoast. Striving for a higher education is never a waste of time!
According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of Practical Nurses is expected to increase by 21 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. This is driven, in part, by the response to the long-term care needs of an increasing elderly population and the general increase in demand for healthcare services. Licensed Practical and licensed Vocational nurses held about 753,600 jobs in 2008.*
InterCoast provides Practical Nursing Classes and a Training Program that can help put you—the new graduate—to work in a number of environments, such as:
- Doctor Offices
- Public or Private Hospitals
- Home Health Care
- Employment Offices
- Residential Care Facilities
- Outpatient Centers
- Nursing Homes and Assisted-Living Centers
- Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies
When can I expect to finish my Practical Nursing Training?
For over 26 years, InterCoast has been helping career-minded individuals to achieve their educational goals in the shortest time possible. In just 60 WEEKS or 1530 HOURS, you can complete your education and be awarded your Practical Nursing diploma.
CIP CODE: 51.1613 O*NET: 29-2061.00 SOC CODE: 29.2061
| Financial Aid Award Year | # of Students Who Began Program | On Time Graduation Rate | ACCET 2010 Calendar Year Placement Rate for Graduates | Tuition and Fees for Normal Completion | Books and Supplies Cost for Normal Completion | Median Loan Debt at Graduation (All Sources) |
Financial Aid Credits |
| 2009/2010 | 119 | 97.62% | 92.55% | $31,315 | Included in Tuition | $9,409 | 51 |
Click on this link for more detailed information about a Practical Nursing Career from the U.S. Department of Labor. http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2061.00
Educational Requirements
The InterCoast Practical Nursing curriculum is devoted to job-related subjects and tasks, which will enable you to capitalize on the major areas of importance and employment skills development. Coupled with convenient locations; morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend classes; and small student-teacher ratios, you will be better equipped to meet the highest expectations of future medical-industry employers.
Caring Instructors
The InterCoast College faculty is comprised of experienced industry veterans who possess superior job-related knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm in teaching. They are sensitive to your needs as a student and concerned for your progress. You will work with the latest medical equipment and learn from current resource materials inside an atmosphere conducive to learning.
Accelerating your success in Practical Nursing Courses has never been easier!
What Practical Nursing Classes will I take?
TERM 1 - Foundations of Practical Nursing Class/Clinical Hours Academic Credits
360 19
Nursing includes Nursing History and Trends, Communication Skills, Cultural Diversity/Culturally Congruent Care, Law & Ethics and Fundamentals of Nursing. Critical Thinking and Nutrition and Diet Therapy, as well as Normal Human Growth and Development and Pharmacology are covered.
Prerequisite Courses and/or knowledge must be documented and/or demonstrated before beginning Term 2.
TERM 2 - Nursing Practice One Class/Clinical Hours Academic Credit
360 16
Medical/Surgical Nursing I; Mental Health Nursing Psychology, and Interpersonal Relations are emphasized.
TERM 3 - Nursing Practice Two Class/Clinical Hours Academic Credit
405 16
Additional Medical Surgical Nursing, including Patient Education, is covered. Term 3 will also teach Geriatric and Rehabilitative Nursing.
TERM 4 - Nursing Practice Three Class/Clinical Hours Academic Credit
405 16
Term 4 emphasizes learning in Maternal and Neonatal Care and Pediatric Nursing. This term also includes training in End-of-Life Care, Hospice, AIDS, and Home Health. Leadership and Supervision courses are also covered.
Total Class/Clinical Hours 1530 Total Academic Credit 67
*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11
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