Practical Nursing

The focus of this program is to prepare the student for employment as a Licensed Practical Nurse. LPN’s provide hands-on nursing care and work under the direct supervision of registered nurses and licensed physicians. They participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care for patients of all ages, in a variety of health care settings. Theory and Clinical procedures are integrated to reinforce learning. The content includes, but is not limited to, theoretical instruction and clinical experience in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric nursing; application of vocational role and function; personal, family and community health concepts; nutrition; human growth and development over the life span; body structure and function; interpersonal relationship skills, mental health concepts; pharmacology and administration of medications; legal aspects of practice; and current issues in nursing. The work can be physically demanding, requiring the ability to walk frequently, lift and bend for long periods of time.

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Health Science. The content includes, but is not limited to, theoretical instruction and clinical experience in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric nursing; theoretical instruction and clinical experience in acute, care, long term care and community settings; theoretical instruction and clinical application of vocational role and function; personal, family and community health concepts; nutrition; human growth and development over the life span; body structure and function; interpersonal relationship skills, mental health concepts; pharmacology and administration of medications; legal aspects of practice; and current issues in nursing.

AREA OF FOCUS

• Introduction to Healthcare & Practical Nursing
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Nursing Foundations
• Medical and Surgical Nursing
• Pharmacology/Administration of Medication
• Bio-Psycho-Social Nursing
• Maternity Nursing
• Pediatric Nursing
• Comprehensive Transition to the LPN Role

PORTFOLIO AND COURSE PROJECTS

There are a variety of projects within the five Occupational Completion Points. Students will need to complete all of the projects in order to satisfy the curriculum requirements for this course.

PROGRAM EXPERIENCES

Lab Activities
Lab activities are designed to provide safe care practice with materials, equipment and procedures related to basic, intermediate and advanced nursing care. In addition, students participate in simulated scenarios that challenge them to solve realistic client problems and situations that will happen in the workplace.

*Clinical Practicum
Clinical practicum experiences occur in acute care, sub-acute care, long term care and community settings. The Florida Board of Nursing requires that 50% or more of course time be spent as clinical hours, in a variety of clinical areas (including clinical simulation labs) and sites. Practical experience is obtained in various health care facilities and organizations around Collier and Lee Counties who partner with iTech to train our students. The majority of the sites are outside of Immokalee.

*It is important that students have reliable transportation to get themselves to their assigned site.

Continuing Education

• A 30 hour Board of Nursing approved IV Therapy course may be taken by Practical nurses once they have graduated from the practical nursing program.
• An approved licensed practical nurse supervisory education course can be taken following completion of this program, and after licensure.  The Graduate must have 6 months clinical experience before supervising as well as meeting all other criteria listed in 64B9-16.002.
• The PSAV component of this program H170607 has a statewide articulation agreement approved by the Florida State Board of Education:
  • Registered Nursing AS (1351380100) – 10 credit hours
• For career advancement, LPN’s may continue their education by pursuing an Associates Degree or Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing at a college or university.
• Transitional Curriculum LPN to RN at Florida Southwestern State College

Graduate with Career- Ready Skills!

ENTRY & EXIT REQUIREMENTS

• Specific Admissions Requirements:
  • 18 years old
  • Accredited high school diploma or GED
  • TEAS (Nursing Entrance) Test *(limited to 3 tries in one year)
  • Writing Assessment
  • Interview
  • A Physical Examination, with proof of current immunizations and Tuberculosis Screening.
  • Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) – Level 2 Background Check and Drug Screen per iTECH policy. This policy is available upon request
  • Current American Heart Association or American Red Cross affiliated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) card with basic life support for Health Care Provider. The course must be hands-on – no online courses accepted.
     
• Academic Progress and Program Completion:
  • Students must maintain an 80% academic grade average and attend at least 90% of scheduled class and clinical time.
  • During the final semester, all students will enroll in and complete the Virtual ATI Review prior to being issued their completion certificates and registered for the NCLEX exam.
     
• DOE Basic Skills Exit Requirements: Communications 11, Computation 11 (unless exempt)
   
• CASAS Exit Requirements: Communications 249+, Computation 245+ (unless exempt)

PREP FOR EMPLOYMENT

Training is aligned with competencies that have been identified as necessary for gainful employment as a Licensed Practical Nurse. In addition to being trained in the LPN role, students enhance employability by learning about professional conduct, ethics, record keeping, finances, labor issues, technology in health care, resume writing, interview skills, personal learning styles and development of strategies to acquire and maintain employment.  Significant emphasis is placed on the proper use of Electronic Health Records systems to document patient information, retrieve patient medical information and track the administration of medications, lab results, procedures and treatments.

• Internships
  There are potential internship opportunities for students who qualify.
   
• Workforce Education Internship Program
  Students participate in work-based learning experiences in their field of study outside of the classroom. ITECH has a Workforce Internship Program for those students who need work experience, but do not have an out-of-school job.
   
• Job Placement
  Our competent counseling staff provides job postings on a daily basis, with help in resume writing and the interviewing process.

CERTIFICATE

A certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete the program’s competencies and the Virtual ATI review, at which point the student will be eligible to apply to take the national licensing examination(NCLEX). Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses, CAT NCLEX-PN is a computer-administered examination that the nursing graduate must take and pass in order to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse.

ARTICULATION

This Gold Standard Career Pathways Statewide Articulation Agreement guarantees the minimum award of course credits or a block of credit toward the above AS program is 10 hours of credit. This agreement does not preclude the awarding of additional credits by any college through local articulation agreements.