Practical Nursing

Intro

A mix of foundational classroom coursework and supervised real-world learning experiences will equip you with the skills you need to become a licensed Practical Nurse in Minnesota and the Dakotas, so you can provide high-quality nursing care and make a positive difference in patient's lives.

Degrees

Practical Nursing

Degree:

Diploma

Location:

Moorhead Campus

Credits:

Overview

Program Overview

The Practical Nursing program will prepare you for a rewarding career in medical patient care. You'll learn how to use the nursing process to maintain patient health and prevent illness, observe and care for patients who are experiencing changes in their health, and administer prescribed medication and treatments. You'll benefit from the supervised learning experiences that are integral to this program, caring for individuals in a variety of healthcare settings, such as hospitals, long-term care facilities and physician clinics.

Graduates are prepared to take the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX) to become a licensed Practical Nurse in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

You’ll learn to:

Make nursing judgments using evidence-based research and clinical reasoning for quality patient care across diverse populations.
Recognize the patient as the source of control and a full partner in their care, and to respect patient preferences, values and needs.
Function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect and shared decisions to achieve quality patient care
Promote quality care and a safe environment through system effectiveness and individual performance
Participate in quality improvement
Demonstrate accountability to professional nursing values by adhering to legal and ethical principles and participating in continuous professional development
Utilize information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error and support decision-making
Apply nursing leadership concepts to high-quality care

Accreditation

See program accreditation at Accreditation.

Program outcomes

See exam pass rates at Pass rates.

Related programs

You may also be interested in the Associate Degree Nursing program or Health Sciences Broad Field Transfer Pathway.

Scholarships/Cost

M State has one of the lowest tuition rates in Minnesota, and thanks to grants, scholarships and sponsorships, more than half of all M State students have a completely tuition-free experience.

Learn all about our low tuition rates and fees at Detailed Cost. To explore financial aid options, visit Paying for College. We also offer Zero Textbook Cost programs and courses, which can save you substantial money on books; learn more at Z-Degrees.

Program Cost Estimate

Practical Nursing Diploma

Foundation Scholarships

M State's two foundations award more than $280,000 in student scholarships each year. You may be eligible — learn more at Foundations.

Workforce Development Scholarships

More than 40 programs at M State offer Workforce Development Scholarships to new students. See if your program is eligible and apply at Workforce Development Scholarships.

Business and Industry Sponsorships

M State collaborates with local businesses to offer valuable student support, such as financial assistance, internships, part-time jobs and full-time career opportunities. Find details at Business and Industry Partner Sponsorships.

Sample Classes

PNSG1514 - Clinical I Practical Nurse Foundations

Credits:

4 (0/4/0)

This clinical course provides the student an opportunity to apply nursing judgment using the nursing process to implement safe, patient-centered and relationship-centered care in selected settings. The student demonstrates focused assessments, data collection and implementation of skills learned in lab settings. The student documents findings and reinforces teaching plans for individual patients with common problems. The student develops communication and customer service skills while working with individual patients and team members.

PNSG1520 - Nursing Care of Women, Newborns and Children

Credits:

2 (2/0/0)

This course provides an integrative approach to the care of childbearing women, newborns and children. Emphasis is placed on normal pregnancies, normal growth and development, and common pediatric disorders. Principles of pathophysiology, nutrition and pharmacology are applied.