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Your Curriculum

Practical Nursing

Restricted Entry
Certificate

Catalog Year 2008-09

MHCC Faculty Advisor:
Linda Fleshman: 503-491-6727 - Room BCAH 121 Linda.Fleshman@mhcc.edu

The Practical Nursing program at Mt. Hood Community College is four terms in length. The majority of the Practical Nursing courses offered are web-based learning, evenings and weekends. Upon completion of program requirements students earn a Certificate of Completion and will be eligible to apply and take the Practical Nurse National Council Licensure Examination (PN-NCLEX). Licensure is granted through the Oregon State Board of Nursing.

This program curriculum will prepare students for the ever-changing field of practical nursing within a variety of health care settings. The program focuses on the practical nursing role of providing care under the supervision of a registered nurse, physician or dentist in acute, long term care and clinic health care settings. Curriculum includes coursework from the biological and applied sciences including anatomy and physiology, social sciences and humanities. Students study fundamental principles and procedures of practical nursing, medication administration, infection control, pharmacology and the practical nurse’s contribution to the nursing process. Coursework includes theoretical nursing concepts that address the practical nurse role in patient teaching and the delivery of nursing skills according to current standards of practice. Curriculum threads include: care of the client throughout the lifespan, legal and ethical responsibilities of the licensed practical nurse and working within an interdisciplinary team.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of this program, the student should be able to:

• demonstrate a personal commitment to service and the profession of nursing
• demonstrate ethical and legal behavior in nursing practice
• apply logic and problem solving skills when implementing the plan of care
• provide culturally sensitive care across the lifespan to individuals within a diverse society
• apply established principles of health promotion and preventive health care
• use communication and information technology
• provide clinically competent care through use of established standards and practice guidelines
• use clear and effective therapeutic communication with clients, families, members of the healthcare team, and others
• function as a member of the healthcare team.

Prospective students must satisfactorily meet admission program criteria and the application deadline to be considered for admission. Further information and application packets are available on the MHCC website at www.mhcc.edu/LRadmissions.

For students admitted to the program beginning Spring 2008, follow this curriculum:

Pre-Program Requirements (for program beginning spring 2009)
(must be completed before starting the Practical Nursing courses)

• High school biology, or BI101, or equivalent
• MTH65 or higher
• WR121
• CIS120L
• NAX10 Basic Training - Nursing Assistant or documentation of having completed a state approved Nursing Assistant course or submit an active CNA license
• CPR - documentation of a current Health Care Provider Card
• Immunization - completion of all required immunizations as listed in the application packet.

Note: All pre-admission and preprogram courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required.

For students admitted to the program beginning Spring 2009, follow this curriculum:

1 Students may not use demonstrated proficiency on the College Placement Text (CPT) to satisfy this requirement.

‡ See pages 7-10 of the printed catalog.