Practical Nursing

Alma Home Care	Hillcrest Education Center
Berkshire County Jail	IntelyCare
Berkshire COVID Testing Center	Kimball Farms (BHS)
Berkshire Medical Center	North Adams Commons (BHS)
Berkshire Osteopathic Health	Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Berkshire Surgical Services	Spectrum Health
Berkshire Urgent Care	Springside Nursing Home
Centers for Living and Rehabilitation	SVMC OB GYN Office
Craneville	Williamstown Commons (BHS)
Greylock Gastroenterology (BHS)	Williamstown Medical Associates (BHS)
Hillcrest Commons (BHS)

Practical Nursing Course Descriptions

PN 101 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY / 4 CREDITS

Through classroom and laboratory experience, this course provides understanding of the gross structure and normal function and integration of the human body including normal processes of the organ, integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and lymphatic systems.  Included in this course are principles of basic chemistry, microbiology and medical terminology as it relates to defining human anatomy and physiology processes.  This course provides a solid background for assessing deviations from normal body structure and function caused by illness.

PN102 HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE LIFESPAN / 3 CREDITS

This course encompasses human growth and development across the life span.  Stages of individual biophysical and psychosocial development from conception to late adulthood are addressed.  Theories of growth and development are introduced and examined.  The family as a unit and its influences on health issues are also examined.  Emphasis is put on changes and characteristics of the older adult.

PN103 PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF PRACTICAL NURSING / 1 CREDIT

This course defines the role of a practical nursing student and graduate.  Professionalism, ethical and legal aspects, regulation of nursing practice in Massachusetts, standards of conduct for licensed practical nurses determined by the Massachusetts General Laws and Regulations of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing are included.  Concepts of health, illness, health promotion and an overview of contemporary nursing theories culminate in the introduction of Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory of Nursing.  Students will review study skills, test-taking strategies and critical thinking skills.  Students will begin to accumulate materials for a résumé and portfolio assembled during Term III.

PN104 INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY / 1 CREDIT

The study of drugs and their actions on living organisms begins in this course.  This course covers drug classification, the use, adverse effects and drug interactions of medications.  Differences in drug action across the life-span will be addressed with specific attention to the aging population.  Medication dosage calculations and hands-on practice of safe administration of medications are covered.  The focus in Term I will be on oral, parenteral and topical medication administration.  Medication dosage calculations are taught for competency by the end of this term.  Additional pharmacology concepts are covered in Terms II and III.

PN105 FUNDAMENTALS OF PRACTICAL NURSING / 9 CREDITS

Through classroom, laboratory and clinical experience, this course introduces the student to the role of the practical nurse in assisting to identify and meet the self-care needs of adult clients and their significant others.  The framework for the course is Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory of Nursing.  Students learn to use theory to determine and implement appropriate nursing interventions in clinical settings.  Course content integrates information about family theory and dynamics, communication skills, diversity, nutrition pharmacology, infection control principles of teaching and learning, the nursing process, levels of prevention, ethical-legal nursing practice, and caring behaviors.  Additional concepts include collaboration, patient advocacy, life-long learning and accountability and commonly occurring health deviations.  Selected mental health concepts – anxiety, depression, and dementia - will be embedded.

PN206 CONCEPTS OF PRACTICAL NURSING II / 10 CREDITS

In this course the student continues to utilize the knowledge and skills acquired during Term I in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of care for adult clients with health deviations. Learning experiences will take place in the classroom/laboratory as well as in the acute and/or sub-acute clinical setting.

PN307 ADVANCED CONCEPTS OF PRACTICAL NURSING / 8 CREDITS

The student continues to utilize the knowledge and skills acquired during Terms I and II in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of care for patients with complex needs and groups of adult clients with health deviations.  Concepts of leadership, management, and delegation appropriate for the practical nurse will be incorporated.  Learning experiences will take place in the classroom/laboratory as well as in the community and in acute and/or sub-acute clinical settings.

PN308 ISSUES AND TRENDS IN PRACTICAL NURSING / 1 CREDIT

The student continues the additional study of the legal and ethical concepts inherent in nursing and of contemporary issues facing licensed practical nurses.  The portfolio and résumé started in PN 104 are completed.  The course covers interviewing, exploring opportunities available to licensed practical nurses, exploration of continuing education opportunities, the value and necessity of lifelong learning, and preparation for the NCLEX-PN and licensure.

PN309 FAMILY CENTERED NURSING / 6 CREDITS

The student will utilize clinical skills and knowledge of growth and development to plan, implement and evaluate the care of children and families, including the child-bearing family. Health promotion, reproductive health, and normal childbirth will be emphasized, as well as the care of the child with health deviations. Clinical experiences will take place in the community and in inpatient settings as opportunities permit.

Year	Graduates	Took Exam	Passed Exam
2007	20	20	20
2008	17	11	11
2009	19	19	19
2010	15	15	15
2011	13	13	13
2012	15	15	15
2013	23	23	23
2014	20	18	18
2015	16	16	15
2016	15	15	14
2017	9	9	9
2018	8	7	6
2019	16	15	15
2020	17	14	13

 

Online Textbook & Clinical Supplies Order Form

Practical Nursing Brochure 2022

Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

National Council of State Boards of Nursing

Program Objectives	Level I	Level II	Level III
Apply the nursing process, based on scientific theory, to the care of culturally diverse clients throughout the life span and who have common, well-defined health problems.	Identify steps of the nursing process. Identify principles of Orem’s nursing theory. Identify aspects of cultural diversity.	With guidance, apply the nursing process to assess client self-care deficits and determine outcomes of care. Discuss aspects of cultural diversity affecting nursing care.	Apply the nursing process with cultural competence across the lifespan to meet the self-care deficits of clients who have well-defined health problems.
Demonstrate professional attributes in the provision of competent, safe, effective practical nursing care in an ever-changing health care environment.	Examine principles of personal accountability and professional conduct in practical nursing. Identify safety principles of client care.	Identify and utilize with guidance, principles of safety, personal accountability and professional conduct in a variety of structured settings.	Demonstrate personal accountability and professional conduct in all aspects of safe client care.
Utilize therapeutic communication skills to collaborate with all members of the health care team, the individual, family and community to promote wellness and the prevention of disease.	With guidance, identify and begin to use basic communication techniques. Identify principles of reporting and documenting. Identify nurse as advocate for client within the healthcare team.	With guidance, discuss and utilize communication techniques. Discuss legal basis for written documentation. With guidance, implement communication techniques to interact with client, advocate for client within healthcare team, family and community in order to address intervention necessary to meet client self-care deficits.	Utilize therapeutic communication skills to interact with the client interdisciplinary health care team, client’s family and community to address client self-care deficits, promote wellness and prevent disease.
Manage the nursing care of individuals with common well-defined health needs in a variety of structured settings in accordance with legal and ethical professional standards.	Identify examples of safe nursing interventions. With guidance, provide safe basic care in expected time. Discuss legal and ethical standards of practical nursing.	With guidance, select, prioritize and implement nursing interventions to safely and effectively assist clients in meeting their self-care deficits.	Demonstrate principles of safe cultural competence within the legal and ethical framework of practical nursing. Utilize the nursing process and implement nursing interventions to deliver care of groups of clients with well-defined self- care deficits.
Implement goal-oriented educational plans to promote the health of the individual client or groups of clients.	Examine principles of teaching and learning.	With guidance, identify and select learning needs of clients that are necessary to meet self-care needs.	Demonstrate principles of teaching and learning. Implement goal oriented educational plans that assist individual and groups of clients to meet self-care deficits, promote health and prevent disease.

Student Grievance Policy

The student grievance policy provides a system to manage student issues against faculty, staff, or fellow students. Students desiring to discuss or file a grievance should use the following protocols:

1. The student shall make an appointment, within three (3) days, with the instructor to discuss the issue with the objective of resolving the issue informally.
2. If the grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student, the student may submit the grievance in writing to the program coordinator within three days of the informal discussion.
3. The program coordinator shall investigate the grievance and report to the student both verbally and in writing within 7 days of receipt of the formal grievance filing.
4. Should the grievance not be resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student may appeal the decision to the principal. This appeal should be made in writing within 7 days of the program coordinator’s report. The principal shall investigate the issue and report to the student both verbally and in writing within 7 days of his/her receipt of the appeal letter.
5. Should the grievance not be resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student may appeal the decision to the superintendent. This appeal should be made in writing within 7 days of the principal’s report. The superintendent shall investigate the issue and report to the student both verbally and in writing within 7 days of his/her receipt of the appeal letter.
6. Should the grievance not be resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student may contact the Council on Occupational Education, 7840 Roswell Road, Bldg. 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350.

Practical Nursing Student Handbook