Practical Nursing Program

• Program Curriculum Plan 
• Gainful Employment Disclosure

Standard College trains and educates students for careers in the healthcare field as Licensed Practical Nurses in the practical nursing Program. Upon successful completion of the requirements of this program, and after passing the NCLEX-PN licensure exam, the graduate will have the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to seek employment as a Licensed Practical Nurse in a variety of health care settings.

The mission of Standard College’s Practical Nursing program is to educate and train students from diverse educational, cultural and personal backgrounds to earn a Practical Nursing diploma, pass the NCLEX-PN licensure exam, and gain employment as a licensed Practical Nurse in a diverse nursing workforce. Standard College aims to instill in all graduates a desire for lifelong education and learning.

1. 80% of the students will complete the practical nursing program requirements within 150% of the published program length.
2. 80% of the graduates of the program will pass the NCLEX-PN Licensure Exam within 12 months of graduation.
3. 80% of the graduates of the program will obtain employment as a licensed practical nurse within 12 months of graduation.
4. 80% of the graduates of the program will express overall satisfaction with their educational experience at Standard College.

Standard College awards students with a diploma in Practical Nursing upon successful completion of all program requirements. The Practical Nursing Program is a non-credit, vocational program. Clock hours earned in the program are generally not applicable to other degrees.

Standard College‘s Practical Nursing Program utilizes an evidence-based approach in the acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for employment as a licensed practical nurse in the healthcare environment. Students apply the theoretical knowledge and skills they learn in the classroom with hands on practical experience performing basic and specialized nursing care to a diverse range of patients in a variety of clinical settings. Graduates of the Practical Nursing Program are eligible to seek licensure as Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and function as practitioners within structured acute, intermediate, long term and ambulatory healthcare facilities.

The Practical Nursing program curriculum includes theory, hands-on skills lab sessions and clinical experiences in a variety of healthcare settings. The emphasis of the Practical Nursing Education Program curriculum is on instruction, and not research or public service, preparing students for entry-level positions as licensed practical nurses. Graduates will develop the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to provide nursing care across the lifespan to culturally diverse individuals and groups. Components of the curriculum include anatomy & Physiology, pharmacology, and nursing course work consisting of classroom, laboratory, and clinical practicum experiences.

Upon completion of the PN program, graduates will have the knowledge and skills necessary to:

1. Provide safe, quality, evidence-based, patient-centered nursing care to promote, maintain, or restore physical and mental health throughout the lifespan in a variety of healthcare settings to diverse patient populations across the lifespan.
2. Engage in clinical judgment to make patient-centered care decisions within the scope of practice of the Practical Nurse.
3. Integrate quality improvement activities to improve patient care.
4. Participate in collaboration and teamwork with members of the interprofessional team, the patient, and the patient’s support persons to provide and improve patient care.
5. Use information technology to support and communicate the provision of patient care.
6. Incorporate management, legal, and ethical guidelines within the scope of practice of a Practical Nurse.

Standard College offers a hybrid method of delivery, providing instruction in-person and in distance education formats, leveraging the strengths of both formats to provide a flexible and comprehensive nursing educational experience. Since March 2020, students attend the course lectures online, engage in the Skills Lab on campus, and complete tests online and at campus.

Instructors use a variety of contemporary teaching approaches or strategies to accomplish program goals and enhance student ability to achieve program outcomes.  Examples may include, but are not limited to, case study, problem-based scenarios, computer simulations, web based and distance technologies, and field or community experiences. Instructional methods are conducive to students’ capabilities and learning needs. Faculty and program administrators ensure that instructional techniques and delivery strategies are compatible with the program objectives and curricular offerings.

Students are evaluated both didactically and clinically in the nursing course they are enrolled. Didactic components of the course include exams, quizzes, and student projects. Clinical components of the course include clinical labs and clinical assignments, which may include providing direct patient care.

Didactic evaluation is completed through exams, quizzes, and student projects. Students are informed of didactic evaluation via the nursing course syllabus and course schedule.

Clinical evaluation is completed at the end of the practicum for each student and more often as needed. Individual conferences may be held as necessary to discuss students’ progress. The clinical experience is graded as “P” (Pass), “F” (Fail), or “NO” (No opportunity to observe).

Students in the Practical Nursing program are kept apprised of their status in individual coursework and the program as a whole through POPULI.

Teaching/Evaluation Methods

The teaching/evaluation methods used will vary depending on the subject matter being studied. Teaching/evaluation methods will include, but not be limited to:

• Audiovisual Media
• Case Studies
• Clinical Practicum
• Demonstration/Return Demonstration of Skills
• Field Trips
• Lab/Clinical Skills Practicum and Checklist
• Lecture/Discussion
• Online Exercices
• Oral Exercices
• Pre-Recorded Lectures
• Research Exercises
• Role-Playing
• Self-Study Modules
• Tests/Quizzes

Students have 24-hour access to Standard College Online Databases and other online resources.