This curriculum prepares individuals with the knowledge and skills to provide nursing care to children and adults. Students will participate in assessment, planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care.
Upon completion of the Practical Nursing Program and licensure, the graduate will:
- Demonstrate skills necessary to provide safe, quality care.
- Demonstrate the knowledge necessary for professional nursing practice.
- Identify as a nurse committed to being a client advocate, who is caring and culturally competent.
- Utilize informatics and evidence-based data to provide nursing care to clients.
- Demonstrate behaviors that reflect integrity, responsibility, and ethical practice.
Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) which is required for practice as a Practical Nurse. Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care facilities, clinics, physician’s offices, and home health agencies.
The Practical Nursing program is approved by:
North Carolina Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 2129
Raleigh, NC 27602
- Phone: (919) 782-3211
- Web: North Carolina Board of Nursing
Specific Requirements
- General college admission requirements.
- High School units (as evidenced by proof of high school graduation, high-school equivalent, or earned credits from a post-secondary institution):
- Chemistry and Biology are strongly suggested
- Algebra is highly recommended
- This program has a selective selection process. See School of Nursing Criteria on the Selective and Limited Programs page of the A-B Tech website. Selective and Limited Programs
- Final admission to the PN program shall be contingent upon documentation of physical and emotional health that would provide evidence indicative of the applicant’s ability to provide safe nursing care to the public; this is accomplished by submission of a nursing department-issued physical form that has been completed by a licensed healthcare provider (physician, PA, or NP).
- To be eligible for admission, all Practical Nursing program applicants must submit the following documentation with a completed application:
- Hold a documented, current, unrestricted credential as a Nurse Aide I (NAI) on the NC Nurse Aide I Registry (NCNAR) from the NC Division of Health Service Regulation (NC DHSR). A copy of the current listing on the NC DHSR website will be acceptable documentation. (https://ncnar.ncdhhs.gov/verify_listings1.jsp)
- Satisfactory completion of required immunizations.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers from the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) is a prerequisite to full admission and must be maintained throughout the program. This certification must include hands-on skills components for the adult, child, and infant, AED use, and choking. Course certifications from any other providers will not be accepted.
- Students applying to the PN program must have completed BIO-168 Anatomy and Physiology I with a "C" or higher within 5 years of the application date. BIO-169 Anatomy and Physiology II must be completed with a "C" or better within 5 years of the start of NUR courses. Students are encouraged to have successfully completed: ENG-111 and PSY-150, due to the rigorous nature of the PN curriculum. See your advisor for acceptable general education substitutes.
- Affiliated clinical sites for nursing will require an onboarding process, which will include a criminal background check and drug testing prior to participation in the clinical component. If any clinical facility refuses to allow the student to participate in clinical experiences, for any reason, the student will not be able to progress in the program. Applicants for initial licensure in NC must also have a criminal background check.
Courses requiring a grade of “C” or better: BIO, ENG, NUR, and PSY
Good To Know
Why General Education?
You may be asking yourself, “Why do I have to take (course name) when it is not directly related to my major?”
General Education courses will help you develop skills necessary to be successful in your major and in life. General Education can teach you how to talk to your employer, write a paper in a major course, understand interest rates on your car, and much more. General Education can also give you the skills to be a better member of society and a more informed citizen. Critical thinking, global understanding, and appreciation for the human experience are hallmarks of a well-rounded education.
How many hours of General Education do I have to take?
If you are enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science Degree program, a minimum of 15 general education hours are required in the following categories:
- Six hours from Communication
- Three hours from Humanities & Fine Arts
- Three hours from Social & Behavioral Science
- Three hours from Natural Science & Mathematics
General Education courses have been pre-selected for you by your faculty from the following list:
| Communication | Humanities & Fine Arts | Social & Behavioral Science | Natural Science & Mathematics |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM-110 | ART-111 | ECO-251 | BIO-161 |
| COM-120 | ART-114 | ECO-252 | BIO-163 |
| COM-231 | ART-115 | HIS-111 | BIO-168 |
| ENG-110 | HUM-110 | HIS-112 | MAT-110 |
| ENG-111 | HUM-115 | HIS-131 | MAT-121 |
| ENG-112 | MUS-110 | HIS-132 | MAT-143 |
| ENG-114 | MUS-112 | POL-120 | MAT-152 |
| PHI-215 | PSY-150 | MAT-171 | |
| PHI-240 | SOC-210 | PHY-110/110A | |
| SOC-225 | PHY-121 |
Degrees designed to transfer to universities require more general education hours. If you are enrolled in the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science, you are required to take 45 hours of General Education from the following categories:
- Six hours in English Composition
- Six to nine hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
- Six to nine hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Three to eight hours in Mathematics
- Four to eight hours in Natural Sciences
- 11 to 14 additional General Education hours
If you are enrolled in the Associate in Engineering, you are required to take 42 general education hours from the following:
- Six hours in English Composition
- Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
- Six work hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
- 12 hours in Mathematics
- 12 hours in Natural Sciences
If you are enrolled in the Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts, you are required to take 25 general education hours from the following:
- Six hours in English Composition
- Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
- Six hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Three to four hours in Mathematics
- Four hours in Natural Sciences
Additional information about General Education for transfer degrees, including courses that satisfy each category, may be found in the current College Catalog.
What will I learn in General Education?
At A-B Tech, our faculty have designed a general education core so that A-B Tech graduates will learn the following:
Students will critically evaluate information:
- Students will demonstrate information literacy.
- Students will critique works of human expression.
- Students will analyze scientific literature.
Students will solve problems:
- Students will identify processes.
- Students will analyze problems.
- Students will interpret the results.
- Students will recommend appropriate strategies or solutions.
Students will effectively communicate.
- Students will communicate appropriately about the subject.
- Students will communicate appropriately with the audience.
- Students will communicate appropriately for the medium.
Ever wonder how A-B Tech awards credit for a certain course?
A-B Tech complies with the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges Code, so your courses are assigned the course level and receive the same amount of credit as courses at all 58 North Carolina Community Colleges.
If you want to read more about this, see the A-B Tech Policy and Procedure for the Assignment of Course Level Credit.