Practical Nursing

Nursing
Program Code: D45660

Practical Nursing

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:

  1. Demonstrate skills necessary to provide safe, quality care.
  2. Demonstrate the knowledge necessary for professional nursing practice.
  3. Identify as a nurse committed to being a client advocate, who is caring and culturally competent.
  4. Utilize informatics and evidence-based data to provide nursing care to clients.
  5. 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

Specific Requirements

  1. General college admission requirements.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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).
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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

Courses in this program

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course provides a comprehensive study of the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Topics include body organization, homeostasis, cytology, histology, and the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems, and special senses. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the principles of anatomy and physiology and their interrelationships. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for transferability as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course provides a continuation of the comprehensive study of the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Topics include the endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems as well as metabolism, nutrition, acid-base balance, and fluid and electrolyte balance. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of principles of anatomy and physiology and their interrelationships. This course has been approved for transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course introduces the concepts within the three domains of the individual, healthcare, and nursing. Emphasis is placed on the concepts within each domain including assessment, clinical decision-making, professional behaviors, caring interventions, biophysical and psychosocial concepts, communication, collaboration, teaching/learning, safety, ethical principles, legal issues, informatics, and evidence-based practice. Upon completion, students should be able to provide safe nursing care across the lifespan incorporating the concepts identified in this course.

This course provides an overview of the scientific study of human behavior. Topics include history, methodology, biopsychology, sensation, perception, learning, motivation, cognition, abnormal behavior, personality theory, social psychology, and other relevant topics. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the science of psychology. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course is designed to develop the ability to produce clear writing in a variety of genres and formats using a recursive process. Emphasis includes inquiry, analysis, effective use of rhetorical strategies, thesis development, audience awareness, and revision. Upon completion, students should be able to produce unified, coherent, well-developed essays using standard written English. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies English Composition.

This course is designed to further develop the concepts within the three domains of the individual, nursing, and healthcare. Emphasis is placed on the concepts within each domain including clinical decision-making, caring interventions, biophysical and psychosocial concepts, communication, collaboration, teaching and learning, accountability, safety, informatics, and evidence-based practice. Upon completion, students should be able to provide safe nursing care across the lifespan incorporating the concepts identified in this course.

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course is designed to assimilate the concepts within the three domains of the individual, healthcare, and nursing. Emphasis is placed on biophysical and psychosocial concepts, professional behaviors, healthcare systems, health policy, and quality improvement. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide safe, quality, and individualized entry-level nursing care.

Total Credit Hours Required:
44

Curriculum is based on the 2024-2025 catalog.

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:

CommunicationHumanities & Fine ArtsSocial & Behavioral ScienceNatural Science & Mathematics
COM-110ART-111ECO-251BIO-161
COM-120ART-114ECO-252BIO-163
COM-231ART-115HIS-111BIO-168
ENG-110HUM-110HIS-112MAT-110
ENG-111HUM-115HIS-131MAT-121
ENG-112MUS-110HIS-132MAT-143
ENG-114MUS-112POL-120MAT-152
 PHI-215PSY-150MAT-171
 PHI-240SOC-210PHY-110/110A
  SOC-225PHY-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.