Practical Nursing Certificate (050A)
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students (a) receive a Certificate in Practical Nursing and (b) are eligible to write the National Council Licensing Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Graduates who successfully complete the examination and meet all other state requirements (including a criminal background check) are able to work as licensed practical nurses. Some program courses may not transfer to a four-year institution, but the PN curriculum is structured so that the graduate may choose courses that allow for continued study in Richland Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing Program.
The program prepares entry-level students to provide nursing care to clients with normal and common health problems through the use of basic skills under the direction of a registered nurse or licensed physician. The program consists of classroom instruction, laboratory, and clinical experiences in hospitals, nursing homes, and community health settings.
Accreditation and Program Approval
Approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Sample Job Titles
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Job opportunities for LPNs include hospitals, schools, clinics, corporations, homes, wellness centers, or anywhere people need health care services.
Selective Admission Requirements
Admission into Practical Nursing (PN) Program is selective and competitive and admission to Richland Community College does not guarantee acceptance to the program. Students must meet the minimum admission criteria to be eligible to apply. Once the criteria have been met, students are scored on a rubric and the students with the highest scores are offered conditional admission.
The PN Program follows the Health Professions’ selective admissions process. Students use the online Pre-Advisement Plan on myRichland to apply during the designated application period. Applications are accepted between March 1 and April 1. Late and out-of-district applicants are considered for the program when space is available. The PN Program admits to the summer semester. PN core courses begin in the fall.
To receive transfer credit for courses completed at another institution, official transcripts must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
Prerequisites to Apply
- Listed in good standing on the IDPH Health Care Worker Registry as an active CNA or provide evidence of current enrollment in a CNA training program with a test date prior to the start of the semester for which the student is applying.
- Eligibility for ENGL 101
- Eligibility for MATH 110 or MATH 113 or completion of MATH 099 with a ‘C’ or better
- Completed PSYCH 110 with a ‘C’ or better
- ‘C’ or better in all prerequisites and program courses and a Program GPA of 2.5 or better
The Program GPA is calculated using grades and credits earned in completed PN program courses. Program courses that can be completed prior to admission include: BIOL 201, BIOL 202, ENGL 110, and PSYCH 145. Transfer and Richland credits are used in calculating the Program GPA.
Curriculum Requirements
Graduation Requirements
- Total Credit Hours: 35 credit hours in courses numbered 100 and above
- Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.5 (‘C’) or better for all work applicable toward the degree
- Residency: 15 credit hours or more at Richland Community College
- Course Requirement: ‘C’ or better in all prerequisite and program courses
- Meet standards of the ANA Code of Ethics, the Professional Integrity Policy, and Health Professions Standards of Conduct
Additional Program Considerations
All AAS degrees include a required minimum of 15 general education credits. Students must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in the program prerequisites, core curriculum courses, and general education courses.
Required Courses
| BIOL 201 | Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 | 4.0 |
| BIOL 202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 | 4.0 |
| ENGL 110 | Professional & Technical Writing | 3.0 |
| PN 115 | Professional Nursing 1 | 1.0 |
| PN 118 | Fundamental Nursing Skills | 2.0 |
| PN 120 | Practical Nursing Concepts 1 | 6.0 |
| PN 125 | Pharmacology for Practical Nursing | 3.0 |
| PN 126 | Professional Nursing II | 2.0 |
| PN 140 | Practical Nursing Concepts II | 7.0 |
| PSYCH 145 | Human Growth & Development | 3.0 |
Suggested Course Sequence
First Semester
Second Semester
| BIOL 201 | Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 | 4.0 |
| PN 115 | Professional Nursing 1 | 1.0 |
| PN 118 | Fundamental Nursing Skills | 2.0 |
| PN 120 | Practical Nursing Concepts 1 | 6.0 |
| PN 125 | Pharmacology for Practical Nursing | 3.0 |
Third Semester
| BIOL 202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 | 4.0 |
| ENGL 110 | Professional & Technical Writing | 3.0 |
| PN 126 | Professional Nursing II | 2.0 |
| PN 140 | Practical Nursing Concepts II | 7.0 |
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