PRACTICAL NURSING
Curriculum | Course Descriptions
Medical and Public Services
770-228-7325
|
The fifteen-month (full-time only) program is designed to prepare students to take the State Board Examination for licensure as practical nurses. The program prepares students to give competent nursing care in a variety of clinical environments. Upon admission to the college, Practical Nursing students are placed in the Health Care Assistant certificate while working on program admission requirements. The curriculum includes instruction in the areas of anatomy and physiology, drug calculations, administration of medications, nutrition and diet therapy, nursing ethics, patient care and wellness and prevention if illness. Acceptance into the Practical Nursing Program is via a competitive selection process.
Diploma Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet general admissions requirements, and must also:
-
Be at least 17 years of age.
-
Present acceptable ASSET, COMPASS, SAT, ACT, or CPE scores taken within the last five years or transfer of program level English and math from a regionally accredited college or university with a grade of "C" or better.
-
Applicants who do not meet the criteria will be classified as either learning support or provisional status students and must take the prescribed learning support courses to prepare for the core curriculum.
Practical Nursing Program Requirements
-
Students must successfully complete (or transfer in) ENG 101, MAT 101 for Meds*, PSY 101, AHS 101, AHS 104, AHS 109, and SCT 100 with a minimum grade of "C" in each course and an overall GPA of 3.0 in these courses. *Since students are required to score at least 80 percent on the drug calculations test as part of the admissions criteria, it is advisable for all students to take the MAT 101 for Meds course at Griffin Technical College.
-
It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Practical Nursing Advisors when all core courses have been completed via submission of a completed notification card. Upon notification, the student is evaluated for placement eligibility.
-
Selection of candidates for each practical nursing class will be based on a competitive admissions process. The following criteria will be used in sequential order:
a. Students with the highest overall GPAs in the above courses will be selected first.
b. The student’s program application date will break GPA ties.
Note: If a student changes his/her declared major from Practical Nursing to a different diploma or degree program, and then back to Practical Nursing, the latest program application date is used to determine placement.
-
Each student must complete a drug calculation competency exam with a score of 80 percent or higher. No more than two attempts will be allowed. There will be no waiting list for the program. Students who are not selected must notify the Practical Nursing staff by submitting another notification card if they wish to compete for admission into the next cohort class. Grading standards for Practical Nursing courses are very stringent. Students must maintain a minimum of grade of "C" for progression to the next course of study.
Readmission Policy
Readmission into the Practical Nursing Program following withdrawal or first time failure will be based on the following:
-
Successfully complete written comprehensive examinations for each previously completed Practical Nursing course with a minimum competency of 80 percent.
-
Successfully complete drug calculations examination with a minimum competency of 90 percent
-
Successfully complete lab skills check off
Deficiencies will result in the student repeating the appropriate course/courses. Readmission will be based on available space within the classrooms and clinical sites. Students who do not successfully complete the Practical Nursing Program after two attempts, whether at Griffin Technical College or at another college, will not be re-admitted into the program.
Transfer Policy
Transferring Practical Nursing students from other technical colleges must file a Griffin Technical College application and submit all official transcripts. Each practical nursing course listed on the transferring student’s official transcript is considered for transfer CREDIT after the prospective student has demonstrated proficiency by examination with a score of 80 percent.
Approximate additional costs other than tuition, fees, and textbooks:
| Equipment/Supplies | $120 |
| Uniforms | $225 |
| Licensing exam | $240 |
| Liability insurance | $16 |
| Medical fees | $210 |
| CPR | $5 |
| Pinning Ceremony: Cap & Uniform | $50 |
MEDICAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
The Department of Medical and Public Services
offers the following related certificate programs: Patient Care Assisting - PCA
(also known as Certified Nurse Assistant - CNA) Emergency Medical Technician.
|
Students enrolling in the Practical Nursing program have the potential for routine or unplanned exposure to blood and/or other potentially infectious body materials and pathogens in the normal conduct of student instructional activities. For further information please visit: http://www.dtae.org/dtaepolicy/docs/04-03-17.html |
|
NAME |
NO. |
GENERAL CORE |
CREDIT |
|
ENG
|
1010
|
English or (ENG 1101) |
5 |
|
MAT
|
1012
|
Mathematics (Math for Meds taken at GTC only) |
5 |
|
PSY
|
1010
|
Psychology or (PSY 1101) |
5 |
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
NAME |
NO. |
TECHNICAL CORE COURSES |
CREDIT |
|
AHS |
1011
|
Anatomy & Physiology or (BIO 2113 & BIO 2114) |
5 |
|
AHS
|
104
|
Introduction to Health Care
|
3 |
|
AHS
|
109 |
Medical Terminology
|
3 |
|
SCT
|
100
|
Introduction to Microcomputers
|
3 |
|
AHS
|
102
|
NURSING COURSES
Drug Calculation
|
3 |
|
AHS
|
103
|
Nutrition & Diet Therapy
|
2 |
|
NSG
|
110
|
Nursing Fundamentals |
10 |
|
|
|
|
29 |
|
NAME |
NO. |
SPECIFIC TECHNICAL COURSES |
CREDIT |
|
NPT
|
112
|
Medical Surgical I Practicum
|
7 |
|
NPT
|
113
|
Medical Surgical II Practicum
|
7 |
|
NPT
|
212
|
Pediatric Nursing Practicum
|
2 |
|
NPT
|
213
|
Obstetrical Nursing Practicum
|
3 |
|
NPT
|
215
|
Nursing Leadership Practicum
|
2 |
|
NSG
|
112
|
Medical Surgical Nursing I
|
9 |
|
NSG
|
113
|
Medical Surgical Nursing II
|
9 |
|
NSG
|
212
|
Pediatric Nursing
|
5 |
|
NSG
|
213
|
Obstetrical Nursing |
5 |
|
NSG
|
215
|
Nursing Leadership |
2 |
|
|
|
|
51 |
