PROGRAM
Program Objectives | Level Objectives & Course Descriptions | Advanced Placement | Graduation Requirements
Progress through 3 levels of study, moving from basic to more complex principles. Approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, the curriculum includes 1,547 hours of classroom instruction, laboratory experience and clinical practicum.
At the completion of the program, you will:
Assist in assessing the needs of health care recipients by identifying responses to altered basic needs.
Participate in planning nursing care that will prevent, reduce or resolve altered basic needs of health care recipients.
Implement nursing care based on principles from the biophysical and psychosocial sciences; assist the RN in more complex situations.
Participate in the evaluation of nursing care, remaining accountable for his or her own care given and care delegated to unlicensed healthcare providers.
Use communication skills effectively in interactions with recipients of health care, their families and health care personnel.
Function within the ethical and legal framework of practical nursing.
Level Objectives & Course Descriptions
Level 1 Objectives & Course Descriptions
Level 2 Objectives & Course Descriptions
Level 3 Objectives & Course Descriptions
Level 1 Objectives & Course Descriptions:
Objectives:
At the end of the first level, you will:
Assist with the assessment and reporting of simple identifiable abnormal conditions of patients.
Plan, implement and evaluate basic nursing procedures for patients with simple nursing problems, with supervision.
Incorporate critical thinking in meeting the needs of patients with simple nursing problems.
Demonstrate acceptable nursing-patient and co-worker rapport.
Demonstrate a limited knowledge of the physical, biological, social, science, ethical and legal aspects of practical nursing.
Demonstrate a basic knowledge of drugs and solutions.
Demonstrate personal grooming and hygiene habits acceptable to patients.
Demonstrate leadership skills through activities such as serving as a class representatives.
Use basic computer skills to meet educational needs.
Course Descriptions:
Nursing I, Introduction to Nursing: Prepare to perform basic nursing skills under supervision, apply basic concepts of health to yourself and others, and communicate with other members of the health team...emphasis is placed on problem solving, knowledge, attitudes and skills common to all health care agencies in the community; legal, moral and ethical responsibilities; transfer principles of health care to patient care during clinical experiences. 280 hours; 110 hours classroom, 170 hours laboratory, including clinical experience.
Anatomy & Physiology I: Study the structure and function of the human body, including the cells and musculoskeletal, nervous, sensory, integumentary, endocrine and reproductive systems. 80 hours.
Microbiology: Identify various microorganisms and investigate their relationship to daily living and disease in this basic introductory course. 48 hours.
General Psychology: Explore principles that determine the complexity of human behavior...learn about human communication, behavior and personality, and appropriate responses to stress...more fully understand your own behavior and that of people with whom you interact. 48 hours
Pharmacology: : Prepare to perform medication administration procedures... apply basic principals of pharmacology to patient care. 70 hours; 30 hours classroom, 40 hours laboratory
Level I total hours: 526; 316 classroom; 210 laboratory and clinical.
Level 2 Objectives & Course Descriptions:
Objectives:
At the end of the second level, you will:
Assist with the assessment and reporting of simple to moderately complex nursing needs of patients with musculoskeletal, nervous, integumentary, endocrine, reproductive and psychiatric disorders.
Use the nursing care plan to plan, implement and evaluate simple to moderately complex nursing needs of patients with specific medical and surgical disorders.
Incorporate critical thinking in meeting the needs of patients with simple to moderately complex nursing problems.
Identify patterns of growth and development of people of all ages.
Accept ethnic groups within the health care setting.
Administer medications safely under direct supervision.
Communicate effectively with patients and co-workers.
Course Descriptions:
Medical Surgery Nursing I: Student nursing care of adults including common symptoms, treatment and nursing care related to specific diseases and disorders...preventive as well as restorative nursing care is stressed. 336 hours - 80 hours classroom, 256 hours clincial
Anatomy & Physiology II: Study basic anatomic and physiologic principles related to the circulatory, digestive, respiratory and urinary systems and better understand the rationale for pathological disorders. 48 hours.
Life Span Psychology: Study normal growth and development and its relationship to biological, cognitive, personality and social factors...the psychology of human development from conception to death is included. 48 hours.
Nutrition: This introductory course includes principles of nutrition and application of those principles to meeting dietary needs throughout the life cycle. 32 hours
Sociology: Study group behavior and organization of society and culture. 45 hours.
Level 2 total hours; 509; 253 classroom; 256 clinical.
Level 3 Objectives & Course Descriptions:
Objectives:
At the end of the third level, you will:
Assist with the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of the complex nursing needs of patients with respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and genitourinary disorders, with minimal supervision.
Incorporate critical thinking in meeting the needs of patient with complex nursing needs.
Effectively care for the ill child and demonstrate a knowledge of pediatric safety.
Identify the needs of people with developmental disabilities.
Perform safe, effective, total nursing care to those who are elderly, with minimal supervision.
Identify specific physical, emotional and psychological changes in the aging process.
Identify community agencies to which patients with special needs, including drug and alcohol abuse, can be referred.
Demonstrate basic knowledge and skills in caring for mothers and newborns.
Identify the principles of emergency and disaster nursing.
Participate as a member of the health team and share leadership responsibilities within the legal framework of practical nursing.
Demonstrate the technique for obtaining licensure.
Demonstrate the technique used to apply for and resign from employment.
Course Descriptions:
Medical Surgical Nursing II: Study nursing care of adults relating to specific disorders...nursing care for adults with respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and urinary disorders is stressed, as is preventive care...disaster nursing is reviewed. 352 hours - 80 hours classroom, 272 hours clinical.
Maternal Child Nursing: Care of the mother and newborn is included in normal and complicated conditions of conception, pregnancy, labor, delivery and then post-partum period. This course also introduces the nursing care of children with specific disorders, including common symptoms and treatment. Preventive and restorative care with developmental play and diversional activities are stressed. 160 hours - 64 hours classroom, 96 hours clinical.
Level 3 total hours: 512 hours; 144, classroom; 368, clinical.
The advanced placement policy developed by the adminission committee acknowledges those who have successfully completed some formal education in an approved nursing program. You may receive advanced placement in any of the nursing courses if you meet certain criteria. The diploma and graduate pin are
conferred upon students who satisfactorily complete 1,547 educational hours and
meet all objectives throughout the educational year. Final grades
are given only to students who meet all financial obligations or have provisions
to satisfy those obligations. Attendance at graduation is required.