Practical Nursing

PURPOSE: The Practical Nursing Certificate prepares a student to work as a practical nurse. A student who successfully completes the certificate program for practical nursing is eligible to apply for licensing in the state they reside in and must pass the National Council Licensure Examination NCLEX-RN for practical nurses.

PROGRAM NOTES: The Virginia Board of Nursing has the authority to deny licensure to an applicant who has violated any of the provisions of 54-367.32 of the Code of Virginia. Healthcare agencies used for clinical learning experiences also have the right to deny a student participation in direct patient care. Any student entering the program who has committed illegal offenses other than minor traffic violations should discuss these matters with the program head for clarification prior to admission. Criminal background checks are required of all applicants to the Practical Nursing program. Inability to be placed in a clinical site due to a negative background check will result in removal from the program.

MISSION: The Reynolds Community College Practical Nursing program is to provide affordable, community access to quality nursing education. The Reynolds Practical Nursing program prepares qualified students to provide safe, competent, entry-level Practical Nursing care in 21st century healthcare environments to meet the ever-increasing complexity of the healthcare needs of the citizens of Virginia. of the Reynolds Community College Practical Nursing program is to provide affordable, community access to quality nursing education. The Reynolds Practical Nursing program prepares qualified students to provide safe, competent, entry-level Practical Nursing care in 21st century healthcare environments to meet the ever-increasing complexity of the healthcare needs of the citizens of Virginia.

PHILOSOPHY: Reynolds Practical Nursing faculty ascribe to the core competencies for nursing and nursing education. Practical Nursing practice is supported by scientific principles however; the essence of nursing is caring and compassionate patient-centered care. Ethical standards, respect for individual dignity, and consideration of cultural context are implicit in the practice of patient-centered care. The Practical Nurse is an integral member of the interprofessional team supporting patients and families in ways that promote self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings. Nursing care is provided in collaboration with the patient, the family, and the interprofessional team within the scope of practice of the Practical Nurse. The Practical Nurse displays a spirit of inquiry by collecting data, reporting findings, supporting interventions to improve quality of care, and promoting safety to support improved patient outcomes. Nursing judgment is integral to making decisions related to the provision of safe and effective nursing care by the interprofessional team. Information management essential to nursing care is communicated via a variety of technological and human means. Practical Nursing students are prepared to care for patients with predictable chronic conditions in healthcare settings (NCSBN, 2013).

The curriculum incorporates integrating concepts identified by the National League for Nursing:

1. Safety
2. Quality
3. Team Collaboration
4. Relationship Centered Care
5. Systems Based Care
6. Personal Professional Development

OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES: To prepare students to work as licensed practical nurses, participating as an integral member of the nursing or health care team involved in health promotion and maintenance activities for the client. The LPN provides direct care for individual clients experiencing common, well-defined health problems with predictable outcomes, in structured health care settings with supervision. Long-term care, hospitals, physicians’ offices, and other comparable structured health care facilities and agencies employ LPNs.

STUDENT OUTCOMES FOR THE CERTIFICATE IN PRACTICAL NURSING: The Practical Nursing program prepares students to practice In a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic community as demonstrated by the college and community demographic data. Upon successful completion of the program, a student will be able to:

1. Provide safe care in multiple settings with a variety of patients including those with cognitive and physical limits (Safety).
2. Support desired health outcomes in patients while respecting dignity, diversity, and self-determination of patients and families (Quality).
3. Collaborate with patients, families, and the inter professional team to assist in planning, delivery, and coordination of patient-centered care to assigned patients (Team/Collaboration).
4. Demonstrate caring and respect in culturally appropriate, individualized interactions with patients, family, and healthcare team. (Relationship-Centered Care).
5. Manage system resources to support optimal care for patients (Systems-Based Care).
6. Reflect on individual and professional areas of practice which support self-fulfillment (Personal/Professional Development).

ADMISSION TESTING: Follow the instructions at Reynolds Practical Nursing Program to apply and see the most current updates.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: General college curricular admission and program specific criteria.

APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM:

• Fall Semester Start: 1st Monday in August Enrollment paused for fall 2024 session.

PROGRAM SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS ARE THE FOLLOWING: The following steps must be completed to submit an application to the Practical Nursing program:

1. Selection of Health Science I CSC (plan code 221-190-01) on the Reynolds Community College general admission application. (Please note: Reynolds student email accounts are the only accepted email account for all correspondence)
2. Submit official college transcripts, if applicable, to the Admissions office. Courses taken at other colleges that contain equivalent content and credits may transfer to satisfy a program requirement. If a student has attended another VCCS college, a Request for an Evaluation of a VCCS Transcript form (#11-0036) must be submitted with the Application for Admission to the college. This form can be found under student forms on reynolds.edu.
3. If a non-native English speaker, complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) with a standard score of 84 or above and minimum speaking score of 26. Completion of ENG 111 or ESL courses does not satisfy this requirement. Documentation must be submitted with the application.
   • These scores are based on recommendations from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for the level of English proficiency required to perform entry-level nursing safely and effectively.
   • TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years.
4. Complete BIO 141, ENG 111, PSY 230, MTH 133, and SDV 101 with a grade of “C” or above. All pre-requisite courses must be completed prior to the program application deadline.
5. Achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and a curricular GPA of 2.5 or higher of the five (5) pre-requisite courses listed above.
6. Completion of the required program admission assessment exam scoring at or above 70% in each required component. The admissions exam may be repeated once. After the second attempt, a student must wait at least 24 months before reattempting. Applications are ranked based on admission scores. Anatomy and Physiology, reading comprehension, and math scores are each weighted 30%; the grammar score is weighted 10%.
7. A selected applicant must accept or deny admission electronically via their Reynolds student email account, as directed, via the Accepted Student Response Form by the identified date or forfeit their seat. To select an Information Session or to apply to the Reynolds Practical Nursing Program please follow these instructions.

PROGRAM ACCEPTANCE: Students accepted into the Practical Nursing program will receive a conditional acceptance letter with additional program requirements that must be completed prior to admission into the practical nursing program. It is important to meet the deadlines identified in this letter. Students must also attend a mandatory orientation session. The date for this orientation will be provided in the conditional acceptance letter. Additional program requirements include the following:

• Physical exam
• Evidence of immunity to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, and Hepatitis B, and evidence of Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis immunization within the past seven (7) years.
• Tuberculosis screening, with negative results (two-step process required)
• Annual flu vaccination
• Current American Heart Association BLS Certification for Health Care Providers (C.P.R.)
• Background check
• Drug screening
• Signed Assumption of Risk form
• Additional program and clinical agency forms

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF CLINICAL FACILITIES: Clinical facilities used by the program have additional requirements for students that include updated immunizations, dress codes, and compliance with professional standards. In general, contracts include the following:

1. Clinical agencies reserve the right to dismiss a student from their agency at any time with good cause.
2. Compliance with Practical Nursing Dress Code standard.
3. Strict compliance with all published hospital policies. State and federal regulations and laws mandate some hospital policies. Some violations may result in immediate dismissal from the hospital.
4. Compliance with health care agency physical exam, immunization, TB, and flu requirements.
5. The student releases the facility, its agents, and its employees from any liability for any injury or death to self or damage to personal property arising out of the clinical agreement or use of the facility. (Reynolds’ Assumption of Risk document is signed and on file, once the student is accepted into the program.)
6. The student is financially responsible for any self-medical care, if needed, while in the clinical setting. The student must maintain a current American Heart Association BLS Certification for Health Care Providers while in the program.
7. Completion of the required criminal background check and drug screen and any re-screening as identified.

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS REQUIREMENTS: Students entering the Practical Nursing program must possess the following functional skills:

• Sufficient eyesight to observe patients, read records, manipulate equipment, and visually monitor patients in dim light;
• Sufficient hearing to communicate with patients and members of a health care delivery team, monitor patients using electronic equipment, hear a patient's whisper, and hear necessary sounds during operation of equipment;
• Satisfactory speaking, reading, and writing skills to communicate effectively in English in a timely manner;
• Sufficient bilateral finger dexterity to manipulate equipment;
• Ability to lift, stoop, or bend in the delivery of safe nursing care;
• Satisfactory physical strength and endurance to stand for extended periods, push equipment, and move immobile patients; and
• Satisfactory intellectual and emotional functioning to ensure patient safety and to exercise independent judgment and discretion in performing assigned tasks.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE POLICY:

1. A minimum grade of “C” is required for all courses in the Practical Nursing curriculum. A “C” is equal to 80% in all practical nursing courses.
2. Students must obtain permission from the program head to continue in the program under the following conditions:
   • repeating a nursing course with a grade below “C”
   • withdrawing from a nursing course for any reason
3. In accordance with VCCS policy, a student is limited to two attempts of the same course.
4. Additional policies for the program are listed in the course syllabi.
5. The Practical Nursing program does not use a final comprehensive exit examination as a requirement for program completion.

PN PROGRAM FIVE-SEMESTER CURRICULUM MAP:

*PNG 120 and PNG 125 will be during the first part of the semester. PNG 210 and PNG 215 will be during the second part of the semester.

PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PROGRAM: The college offers this program in affiliation with the health care agencies and practitioners in the communities the college serves. The college relies on its community affiliates to provide clinical education opportunities for its students, expert clinical preceptors, and course instructors for many courses. The often-rapid changes in health care law, standards of practice, technology, and content of credentialing examinations increasingly may necessitate sudden changes in the program’s course content, policies, procedures, and course scheduling. As a result, the college cannot guarantee every continuous and uninterrupted clinical and course instruction as outlined in the printed catalog curriculum for this program. Circumstances beyond the control of the college may necessitate the postponement of course offerings or changes in the sequencing and/or location of scheduled courses or clinical assignments.

CLINICAL CONTRACTS: Individual contracts are in effect with each affiliate clinical agency, and these contracts differ in requirements for students. In general, contracts include the following:

1. Clinical agencies reserve the right to dismiss a student from their agency at any time. Student must wear the proper uniform, conforming to program and health care agency standards.
2. Student must follow published hospital policies.
3. Students must meet health, immunity, and immunization requirements specified by the affiliated clinical facility. Failure to comply with these requirements will prevent the student from meeting specific course learning outcomes required for program progression.
4. Student releases the facility, its agents, and its employees from any liability for any injury or death to self or damage to personal property arising out of the clinical agreement or use of the facility. (Assessment of Risk document is signed and on file, once the student is accepted into the program.)
5. Student is financially responsible for any medical care required while in the clinical setting.
6. Student must have a current American Heart Association CPR BLS for Health Care Provider Certification.
7. Demonstration of professional behavior is expected at all clinical learning experiences. Faculty will direct a student to leave the learning environment if unacceptable behaviors are observed.
8. The health care agency may deny a student participation based on results of background and drug screen.
9. Student must attend the health care agency’s orientation as scheduled to remain enrolled in a clinical nursing course.
10. Student must submit required clinical documents with each clinical rotation. A student who does not meet published deadlines for submission forfeits his/her enrollment.

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the regular college tuition and fees, the nursing program requires the following (these costs are approximate and subject to change):

PROGRAM APPROVAL AND ACCREDITATION STATUS: Pursuant to United States Department of Education (US DOE) regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), the Reynolds Community College Certificate in Practical Nursing program provides the following information for all prospective and current students:

The Reynolds Community College Certificate in Practical Nursing program is not required to be accredited by a national nursing accrediting agency.

The Reynolds Community College practical nursing program has conditional approval with terms and conditions by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Terms and conditions of Reynolds conditional approval are given in the order, Virginia Board of Nursing; Report and Recommendation of the Education Special Conference Committee.

The Virginia Board of Nursing may be contacted at:

Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233
804-367-4515