{"id":19596,"date":"2025-03-26T09:36:56","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T13:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/academics\/?post_type=programs&p=19596"},"modified":"2025-11-21T14:11:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T19:11:58","slug":"practical-nursing","status":"publish","type":"degrees","link":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/academics\/programs\/practical-nursing\/","title":{"rendered":"Practical Nursing"},"featured_media":19642,"parent":0,"menu_order":59,"template":"","meta":{"wpcf-pubdate":"1763752318","wpcf-contact-label":"Program","wpcf-special-cori":"","wpcf-altname":"","wpcf-nurapp":"","wpcf-mkt-overview":"[su_youtube_advanced url=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/k6dnTGlmWQs?si=FZ6kZUMEG9eT5gU2\" rel=\"no\"]\r\nIn as little as ten months, our program prepares you for a respected career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN)<\/strong>, providing direct and competent nursing care to adults and children in nursing homes, doctor\u2019s offices, and out in the community.\u00a0Consider becoming an LPN if you are interested in being a \u201cbedside nurse\u201d who delivers \u201chands-on\u201d patient care.<\/strong>","wpcf-more":"","wpcf-mkt-study":"Students in this program take 43 credits of rigorous liberal arts and clinical nursing courses over a period of 40 weeks between the beginning of September and the end of June. The program prepares students for, but does not guarantee successful passing of, the\u00a0NCLEX licensure examination.<\/b> However, our graduates usually pass the examination, with some classes enjoying a 100% success rate.\r\n\r\nYou will take at least 25-35 hours per week of laboratory science classes and clinical practice, with many more hours per week of study and preparation required in order to be successful. Attendance at all scheduled classes, clinical laboratories and clinical practices is expected, with a\u00a0grade of at least \u201cC\u201d in every course in order to continue in the program. Students must\u00a0have at least a 2.0 GPA to graduate.","wpcf-copychoice":"s","wpcf-mkt-next":"Take the LPN licensure examination and enter the LPN work force. Generally, an LPN can expect to find employment caring for patients in structured settings such as long-term care facilities as well as in ambulatory settings such as doctor\u2019s offices. However, there are a variety of options available to the practical nurse, especially if they have previous experience in related fields. In summary, the LPN is usually characterized as the \u201cbedside nurse\u201d who delivers hands-on patient care.","wpcf-calendar":"[events_list blog=\"1\" category=\"25912\"]\r\n
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<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n[\/events_list]","wpcf-header-image":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/academics\/files\/2013\/10\/gcc-pnc.jpg","wpcf-twoplus":"0","wpcf-accreditation":"Approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration for Nursing (MABORN)<\/strong>","wpcf-code":"PNC","wpcf-degree-type":"Certificate","wpcf-credits":"43","wpcf-alt-certname":"0","wpcf-catalog-description":"This certificate program prepares you to start your career in direct patient care as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). In as little as 10 months, you\u2019ll be ready to provide high-quality, patient-centered nursing care to adults and children. Through a combination of courses in science, liberal arts and nursing with hands-on clinical training, you will learn the essentials of general patient care, medication administration, patient treatment, assistance with diagnostic procedures and organization of patient care.","wpcf-catalog-next-steps":"This program prepares you to take the NCLEX-PN licensure examination. Upon completion, you can expect to find immediate employment caring for patients in long-term care facilities and doctor\u2019s offices. Many LPN positions offer a range of work schedules, giving you greater flexibility in juggling career and family responsibilities. You\u2019ll also have the option to continue your education to obtain an associate degree in nursing.","wpcf-cori":"1","wpcf-masstrans":"0","wpcf-healthoccs":"1","wpcf-special-admit":"1","wpcf-special-docs":{"wpcf-fields-checkboxes-option-387b9e3ee0d8af5d50e78f84a3ae4dbe-2":["info"],"wpcf-fields-checkboxes-option-a11b6d21ff9c10dafbf20bde2d1ca7d2-1":["app"],"wpcf-fields-checkboxes-option-1d11e3dd276e0ee8a12581979cd0d761-1":["health"]},"wpcf-contact-types":"Contact","wpcf-contacts":"","wpcf-include-program-note":"1","wpcf-include-footnotes":"1","wpcf-special-seqs":"","wpcf-outcomes":"0","wpcf-review":"n","wpcf-note":"The Practical Nursing Certificate program is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration for Nursing.\r\n\r\nStudents are required to pass every course in the Practical Nursing Certificate curriculum plan. A passing grade is defined as a \"C\" (74) in class work and a passing grade in clinical performance. If a course is failed, the student cannot continue in the program.\r\n\r\nPractical Nursing requires a special admission process.<\/strong> Students who have met all admission requirements are accepted on a space available basis to the Practical Nursing program.\r\n\r\nAdmission requirements for this program are a high school diploma or GED, English Composition I (ENG 101, 103, or 105) with a minimum \"C\" grade, Introductory Algebra [1] (MAT 095 (MAT 105) or MAT 095S or equivalent or higher level taken within the last five years with a minimum \"C+\" grade), and one course from the following list taken within the last five years with a minimum \"C\" grade: Biology I (BIO 126), Comprehensive Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 194), Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO 195), Human Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO 196). In addition, successful completion of the Test for Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) examination is required (minimum scores indicated on program application).\r\n\r\nAll students entering the LPN Program will be required to have a CORI (Criminal Offenders Record Information) check. For more information please refer to page [CORIpageN].\u00a0\u00a0A student with a charge in the Lifetime Presumptive Disqualification Category is ineligible for placement in the PNC Program. Discretionary Disqualification Category charges will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Some clinical facilities will run their own CORIs on students and may require a drug test screening. Applicants need to know that individuals with a record of conviction by a Court of Law will be required to provide a complete explanation to the Board of Registration in Nursing in order to be permitted to take the licensing examination (NCLEX) after graduation.\r\n\r\nInterested applicants should review the Practical Nursing video and an information packet online, which describes admission requirements, the curriculum and program policies, before beginning the application process. This information and a program application are available at gcc.mass.edu\/pnc or by calling the Office of Admission at (413) 775-1802.\r\n\r\nNursing students are required to purchase uniforms, malpractice insurance, and standardized tests. In addition there are fees for maintaining CPR certification, immunizations, a required physical, and nursing related graduation expenses (i.e.,licensure application, NCLEXPN exams.)","wpcf-hide-sequences":"0","wpcf-comcom":"0","wpcf-additional-contacts":"","wpcf-bg":"","wpcf-1yf":"","wpcf-1ys":"","wpcf-4yf1":"","wpcf-4ys1":"","wpcf-4yf2":"","wpcf-4ys2":"","wpcf-4yf3":"","wpcf-4ys3":"","wpcf-4yf4":"","wpcf-4ys4":"","wpcf-2yf1":"","wpcf-2ys1":"","wpcf-2yf2":"","wpcf-2ys2":"","wpcf-january":"","wpcf-summer":"","wpcf-brochure-copy":"","wpcf-mkt-consider":"","wpcf-calendar-url":"","wpcf-special-box":"","wpcf-cap-note":"","wpcf-doc1":"","wpcf-doc1-title":"","wpcf-doc1-desc":"","wpcf-text-link":"","wpcf-dept-or-program-link":"","wpcf-longnote":"","wpcf-special-wl":"","wpcf-admiturl":"","wpcf-supplemental-outcomes":"","wpcf-lightcast":"