Greenfield Community College

Frequently asked questions

1. How long is the program?
It is ten-months long starting in September and running through late June. It is full-time with approximately two weeks off at Christmas and one week off in March. You are required to attend all scheduled classes to stay in the program.

2. Where are classes located?
Almost all classes are held at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leeds, MA. Occasionally the nursing skills lab at the Greenfield Community College downtown campus in Greenfield is used. The exceptions are Anatomy and Physiology and Introduction to Psychology. They are held on the main GCC campus in Greenfield or possibly at Smith College in Northampton. Get directions to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and other campuses.

3. Where are the clinical experiences located?
Clinical experiences are held at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Calvin Coolidge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Holyoke Medical Center, Sunbridge Health Center and Kindred Hospital Parkview. Various local physician offices and schools are also utilized.

4. How many hours of class are there every day?
Classes begin at 8am as do most clinical days. Some evening clinical experiences will be necessary and some day clinicals start at 6:45am. Most clinical days are about 7 hours; some are eight. Class days run till approximately 3pm in the fall and 3:30pm in the spring semester. (See sample course schedules for more information.) Occasionally, evening clinical hours may be required.

5. How many hours of study are there every day?
This is hard to answer because each student is different. Generally, there is a paper or test due every week of the program. This doesn't include assignments for other classes such as biology. We assign several chapters of reading every week or two.

6. Is the program difficult?
In a word, yes. It is very intensive with few breaks in the schedule. We require a grade of 74 in each course and each course must be passed to stay in the program. Many find the anatomy and physiology course as difficult as the nursing courses. But, most students say that if you can put your life on hold for ten months the effort is well worth it because you will have a rewarding career when you are done.

7. Can I work while in the program?
We recommend no more than 20-24 hours per week of work. Most students find anything more than this very difficult to manage. If you've taken some of the non-nursing courses ahead of time, it’s possible to do a bit more than this. But very few people have ever made it through the program working full-time.

8. Will I need a car?
Yes, one is required for the clinical assignments. On class days it may be possible to take the local Rt. 9 bus to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, but the service is not very convenient.

9. Is there financial aid available?
Yes, the program is part of Greenfield Community College and Practical Nursing Certificate students are eligible for all the financial aid community colleges have to offer. The amounts can be quite generous, especially if you qualify for "maximum need'.

10. Is there childcare available?
Unfortunately, not at this time. Students will need to make their own arrangements for this. Since attendance at all classes, labs, and clinicals is mandatory, back-up plans for childcare are essential.

11. How do I apply?
There is a separate application process for the Practical Nursing Certificate Program whereby you must also apply to the College. Be certain to obtain an application and information packet before beginning this process. Please call (413) 775-1802 to obtain this information, or download the required documents and forms from this website.

12. What are the enrollment requirements?
You must have either a high school diploma or general education development (GED). In addition, we require successful completion of a placement examination in Algebra I OR completion of college level Algebra I and successful completion of English Composition I courses. Finally, you must take a semester of college-level science or a year of high-school science. This must be a biology, chemistry, nutrition or physics taken within the last 5 years and with at least a "C" grade. These are the major course requirements. For more detailed information, please be certain to see the Application page. The actual process can be rather complicated so be sure to attend an informational meeting as soon as possible to get accurate information.  Click here for dates and times.

13. How much can a Licensed Practical Nurse expect to make?
The current starting average salary in this area is about $20 -$22/hour plus differentials for weekends and off-shifts. Salaries increase rapidly thereafter. Per Diem salaries (i.e. without benefits) are even better. After about a year, it is reasonable to expect to make 30,000-$35,000 per year, more with differentials and some overtime.

14. Where do Licensed Practical Nurses work?
LPNs work primarily in long-term care facilities otherwise known as nursing homes. Other common areas are physician's offices and health centers. Occasionally, graduates find jobs in prisons, schools and hospitals.

15. What are the employment prospects?
Prospects are excellent and getting even better. Again, most positions in Massachusetts for LPNs are in long-term care facilities or physician's offices. There is a 17% growth rate for LPNs predicted in Western Massachusetts alone. Job vacancies in our area are expected to be nearly 1000 over the next five years.

16. What is the difference between a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and a Registered Nurse (RN)?
This is a question that is often discussed in nursing circles and not everyone agrees on the answer. Many people believe the difference is in the types of skills an RN can do that the LPN cannot. But this has changed greatly with changes in the health care system and is no longer accurate today. Basically, the difference is one of depth and breadth. The Practical Nursing Certificate Program (PNC) is 10 months long while the shortest Associate’s Degree in Nursing Program (ADN-RN) is two years. Obviously, there is more opportunity in an ADN program to study topics in more depth and detail. For instance, the Practical Nursing Certificate Program (PNC) has one course studying the course of diseases, an ADN program will have at least two. Also, the PNC program does not have much time at all to study the specialty areas, such as Pediatrics, Psychiatry, etc. An ADN program generally has an entire course devoted to these areas. Finally, there are differences in opportunities. With the additional preparation of an ADN program, that person will have a greater variety of positions and specialties to choose from such as hospitals, community agencies, etc. However, Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses are both nurses and must take a licensure exam before they can practice. If you are interested in "trying out" nursing to see if you like it and/or need to start working at a job in a relatively short time, then this program can be a good choice for you.

17. Is it possible to become a Registered Nurse later, if I decide that I want to become a Licensed Practical Nurse now?
Yes, it is. This concept is called an articulation agreement that the PNC Program has with the ADN Program at Greenfield Community College. If you maintain a "B" average in the PNC Program, obtain your LPN license, complete the pre-requisites for the ADN Program as well as the first-year ADN non-nursing courses, and do this all within five years, you can be accepted into the second year of the ADN Program if space is available. This basically means that you don't need to repeat the first-year nursing courses since your PNC Program nursing courses take their place. Of course, many people become LPNs and find that there is enough satisfaction and opportunity in practical nursing to make it their chosen career path. For more information about this, please visit the ADN Program's webpage.

18. If I have any other questions, where can I get more information?
The best step is to attend one of the information meetings that are held at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Click here for dates and times. No reservation is necessary. The Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a big place! Click here for directions.