Idaho State University Undergraduate Catalog 2009-2010

Practical Nursing

2½ Semester Program (Full-time)
7½ Semester Program (Part-time and Outreach)

Professor: Smith
Assistant Professor: Pearce
Clinical Coordinator and Instructor: Brumfield
Instructors: Eddington, Jensen, Kubiak
Adjunct Faculty:  Mansfield

See Faculty Information    
See Program Information   
See Practical Nursing Courses    

One Advanced Technical Certificate is available (via full-time or part-time scheduling). Graduates of this program who are Licensed Practical Nurses are eligible to apply to the Associate of Science Degree in Registered Nursing program. Also see Business Technology for the Associate of Applied Science degree. 

This program will provide students with the skills and knowledge to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX – PN). Graduates will provide care that requires practical nursing skill and knowledge. In health care facilities, they will:

1. Provide bedside care.
2. Provide intravenous therapy, draw blood, assess vital signs, change dressings, administer most prescribed medications, and assist patients with personal care.
3. Assist physicians and registered nurses in implementing plans of care for patients.

Some graduates may work in specialized units, perform special nursing procedures, and operate sophisticated equipment.

For a Program Information Packet, use this link, which leads to descriptions of each program in general, course descriptions, lists of course sequences, and the cost of books, tools, uniforms, fees, and other expenses.  The URL is  http://www.isu.edu/ctech/programs.shtml 

This program requires students to achieve certain grades in order to advance each semester. Specific information is available in the program's student handbook.

The Practical Nursing Program provides classroom, laboratory, and student nurse practicum instruction which prepares graduates for entry into practical nursing.

Program Prerequisites::

BI 170		Introduction to Computers		3 cr
	OR
CIS 101, 101L	Introduction to Computers, and Lab	3 cr

HO 106		Medical Terminology			2 cr
	OR
HCA/HE 210	Medical Terminology and Communication	2 cr

HO 111		Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology	4 cr
	OR
BIOL 301, 301L and BIOL 302, 302L
		Anatomy and Physiology, and Labs	8 cr

NTD 340 	Nutrition				3 cr
	OR
PNUR 124	Nutrition and Diet Therapy for the
		  Practical Nurse			2 cr

PSYC 101	Introduction to General Psychology	3 cr

	     	  PREREQUISITES TOTAL:  14, 15, 18, or 19 cr

Required Courses:

PNUR 110, 110L  Basic Foundations of Nursing, and Lab 4 cr
PNUR 112        Medical Surgical Nursing I            3 cr
PNUR 113        Medication Administration
                  for Practical Nursing               1 cr
PNUR 114        Clinical Foundations of Nursing I     3 cr
PNUR 115        Professional Development Seminar      1 cr
PNUR 121        Clinical Foundations of Nursing II    4 cr
PNUR 123        Drug Therapy for the Practical Nurse  3 cr
PNUR 125        Family Nursing
                  for the Practical Nurse             5 cr
PNUR 126, 126L  Medical Surgical Nursing II, and Lab  5 cr
PNUR 131        Clinical Foundations of Nursing III   2 cr
PNUR 133,133L   Intravenous Therapy for the
                  Practical Nurse, and Lab            2 cr
PNUR 139        Nursing Care of the Aged 
                  and Community-Based Nursing         3 cr
PNUR 140        Management for the Practical Nurse    2 cr

						   TOTAL:  53 cr (minimum)

Every student is required to earn a grade of “C-” or better in every course to progress through the program and to be eligible for a certificate.

Outreach Program--Part-time
8 Semester (Part-Time) Program

The Outreach-Part-time Practical Nursing Program provides classroom, laboratory, and student nurse practicum instruction which prepares graduates for entry into practical nursing. See the curriculum listed above.

Courses  

PNUR 110 Basic Foundations of Nursing 3 credits. Principles of disease transmission, therapeutic communication, patient teaching/learning, medication administration, and the nursing process; basic clinical skills which provide the foundation for practical nursing. PREREQ: Admission to PNUR Program. COREQ: PNUR 110L. F, ASu

PNUR 110L Basic Foundations of Nursing Lab 1 credit. Practical application of the nursing process and basic clinical skills which provide the foundation for nursing practice. COREQ: PNUR 110. F, ASu

PNUR 112 Medical Surgical Nursing I 3 credits. Principles of practical nursing care for the ill adult. COREQ: PNUR 110 or permission of instructor. F

PNUR 113 Medication Administration for Practical Nursing 1 credit. The basics of safe medication administration, including math calculations and proper procedures. The medication examination included in this class must be successfully passed before the student practical nurse administers medication in clinical settings. COREQ: PNUR 110 or permission of instructor. F, ASu

PNUR 114 Clinical Foundations of Nursing I 3 credits. Through hands on clinical experience in a variety of settings the student practical nurse learns skills basic to practical nursing. COREQ: PNUR 110 or permission of instructor. F

PNUR 115 Professional Development Seminar 1 credit. Professional development to increase understanding of the practical nurse’s role and responsibilities. COREQ:  PNUR 110 or permission of instructor. F

PNUR 121 Clinical Foundations of Nursing II 4 credits. Application of practical nursing concepts within increasingly more complex patient care situations including care of the family; includes application of the nursing process as well as drug and IV therapy. PREREQ: PNUR 110 and PNUR 123. S, AF

PNUR 123 Drug Therapy for the Practical Nurse 3 credits. Drugs and their actions as related to patient care in practical nursing practice.  COREQ: PNUR 110 or permission of instructor. F

PNUR 124 Nutrition and Diet Therapy for the Practical Nurse 2 credits. Basic nutrition principles and the application of diet therapy for health promotion. D

PNUR 125 Family Nursing for the Practical Nurse 5 credits. Principles of practical nursing care of the child-bearing woman and newborn. The disorders of childhood and the principles of pediatric nursing care. Principles of normal growth and development of the child are incorporated throughout. PREREQ: PNUR 110. COREQ: PNUR 121. S

PNUR 126 Medical Surgical Nursing II 4 credits. Principles of practical nursing care for the ill adult. PREREQ OR COREQ: PNUR 112.  COREQ: PNUR 121 and PNUR 126L. S

PNUR 126L Medical Surgical Nursing Lab 1 credit. Practical application of medical surgical nursing interventions and procedures/skills within the practical nursing scope of practice. PREREQ OR COREQ: PNUR 112 or PNUR 126. S, AF

PNUR 128 Outreach Clinical Foundations II 2 credits. Introduction to the basic physical and emotional needs of clients (children and adults) in a variety of health care facilities. Students can apply the nursing process in patient situations, beginning with the basic nursing care and moving to more complex patient situations. This includes nursing care and application of drug therapy.

PNUR 131 Clinical Foundations of Nursing III 2 credits. Theory and principles of practical nursing care are applied within the clinical setting. PREREQ: PNUR 121. COREQ: PNUR 140. AS, Su

PNUR 133 Intravenous Therapy for the Practical Nurse 1 credit. Principles and practice of intravenous therapy for the Practical Nurse. Fluid and electrolyte balance, acid-base balance, parenteral solutions, infection control relating to IV therapy, central venous access, intravenous nutritional support, and clinical skills relating to intravenous therapy. PREREQ:  or COREQ: PNUR 110 or permission of instructor. COREQ:  PNUR 133L. S

PNUR 133L Intravenous Therapy Lab for the Practical Nurse 1 credit. Application of intravenous therapy skills for the practical nurse. COREQ: PNUR 110 or permission of instructor, and PNUR 133.  S

PNUR 137 Clinical Foundations of Nursing IV 1 credit. Clinical experience in a variety of settings, including leadership roles within the practical nursing scope of practice. COREQ: PNUR 140. AS, Su

PNUR 138 Outreach Clinical Foundations III 2 credits. Caring for patients in the actual clinical setting, applying the nursing process in a variety of health care settings.

PNUR 139 Nursing Care of Aged and Community-based Populations 3 credits. Practical nursing concepts of normal and abnormal aging in the older adult and in community-based settings. Apply critical thinking and nursing process strategies within community-based settings. Su

PNUR 140 Management for the Practical Nurse 2 credits. Theory of first-level management skills for the practical nurse role. This course meets the criteria set forth by the Board of Nursing for the LPN Charge Nurse Role. PREREQ: PNUR 112 and PNUR 126. COREQ: PNUR 137. AS, Su

PNUR 148 Outreach Clinical Foundations IV 2 credits. The theory, principles, and practice of nursing care of the critically ill in real situations.

PNUR 158 Outreach Clinical Foundations V 2 credits. The theory and principles of the nursing care in community setting and in clinical situations.

PNUR 198 Special Topics 1-8 credits. This course is designed to address the specific needs of individuals. It will enable the students to upgrade their technical skills through part-time enrollment in units of instruction that are currently available through the program’s full-time pre-employment ­curriculum. ­PREREQ: Permission of instructor.