Practical Nursing PN 21 (Effective Spring 2025) (PN21)  Technical Certificate of Credit


Campus Locations: Vidalia, Swainsboro

The Practical Nursing program is designed to prepare students to write the NCLEX-PN for licensure as practical nurses. The nursing program covers all theoretical content areas outlined in Georgia Board Rule 410-9-06 (5a & 5b). A variety of clinical experiences is planned so that theory and practice are integrated under the guidance of the clinical instructor. Program graduates receive a Practical Nursing Technical Certificate of Credit and have the qualifications of an entry-level practical nurse.

Once a student has been accepted into the program, then he/she will follow the sequence of Practical Nursing Practice courses. The program generally takes a minimum of three (3) consecutive semester terms to complete. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 49 semester credit hours. Students may enter the program in either Fall semester on the Vidalia campus or Spring semester on the Swainsboro campus.

Students may be gainfully employed in various healthcare facilities, including nursing homes, hospitals, and doctors’ offices.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "Employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to grow five percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations." The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses was $59,730 in May 2023.

Practical Nursing Program (PN21) Selective Admission Entrance Requirements

  • Submit a completed college application and application fee;
  • Be at least 18 years of age by the time of the first PNSG clinical rotation;
  • Submit official high school/high school equivalent transcripts;
  • Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
  • Prospective students seeking admission into the Practical Nursing Certificate program may enroll in the following:
    • PN01
  • Successfully pass the TEAS with a benchmark score of at least 58.7 % to be eligible for admission. Click to view the TEAS Information Link.;
  • Up to 10% of the total admission cohort may include readmit applicants. If a cohort is not full, additional readmission students may be accepted.
  • Click to download the Nursing Application.
    • Deadlines
      • Application:
        • Fall Semester: First Thursday in June
        • Spring Semester: First Thursday in November
      • Supporting Documents:
        • All supporting documents (transcripts for points if applicable) and TEAS score must be submitted by the last day of the semester prior to the program start date.
  • Applicants will be ranked based on their mandatory TEAS test score and additional optional items. In the event of a tie, the TEAS science score will be used as the tiebreaker. See Scoring Sheet.

PN 21 Admission Worksheet

Criteria Points
TEAS Score /100

OPTIONAL:
Active Licensure/Certification: Points awarded for one certificate/licensure:
Licensure must be active in the state of Georgia and verified through the state registry.
· Certified Paramedic
· CMA through AAMA
· Certified Nursing Assistant
· Certified EMT
· AMT/ASCP Certification – Phlebotomy

/5

Total Number of Points for Selection /105

Once the student has been accepted into the Practical Nursing Program (PN 21), the student will complete the Practical Nursing program courses outlined below. Students typically complete the 49-credit hour certificate within three (3) consecutive semesters.

Important program information including program guidelines, program fees, clinical requirements, etc., can be found in the Department of Nursing Student Handbook. For more detailed college/program information, please refer to the Catalog & Handbook.

Program Outcomes

Click to view EOPSLO Program Outcomes.

Southeastern Technical College’s Practical Nursing program is approved by The Georgia Board of Nursing for the State of Georgia, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217-3858, (478) 207-2440.

Curriculum Outline (49 hours)
Occupational Courses (49 hours) 49
PNSG 1600

Applies fundamental mathematical concepts and includes basic drug administration. Emphasizes critical thinking skills and introduces pharmacological classes. Topics include systems of measurement, calculating drug problems, resource materials usage, fundamental pharmacology, administering medications in a simulated clinical environment, principles of IV therapy techniques, and client education. After this pharmacology course, students will have completed a minimum of 85 lecture/lab hours.

3
PNSG 1605

An introduction to the nursing process and clinical practice, normal body system function, and terminology related to healthcare. Topics include: nursing as a profession; scope of practice; ethics and law; client care which is defined as using the nursing process, using critical thinking, and providing client education and includes principles and skills of nursing practice, documentation, history taking, and an introduction to structure, function, terminology associated with healthcare, and physical assessment of body systems; customer/client relationships; standard precautions; activities of daily living; infection control/ blood-borne/ airborne pathogens; hygiene and personal care; mobility and biomechanics; fluid and electrolytes; oxygen care; and perioperative care. At the end of the course, students will have completed a minimum of 66 lecture/lab hours and 75 clinical hours.

6
PNSG 1610

Focuses on client care and clinical client care including using the nursing process, performing assessments, developing critical thinking, engaging in client education, and displaying cultural competence in the adult population and with attention to special populations. Lecture/lab topics include terminology associated with healthcare, structure and function of body systems, health management and maintenance; prevention of illness; care of the individual as a whole; immunology; as well as pathological diseases, disorders, and deviations from the normal state of health, client care, treatment, pharmacology, nutrition and standard precautions concerning the cardiovascular, respiratory, and hematological and immunological systems. Clinical topics include but are not limited to hygiene and personal care; mobility and biomechanics; fluid and electrolytes; oxygen care; perioperative care; immunology; mental health; and oncology, and standard precautions about cardiovascular, hematological, immunological, respiratory, neurological, sensory, musculoskeletal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, urinary, integumentary and reproductive systems. This course contains lectures and regular lab 82.5 hours and clinical has 62.5 hours.

6
PNSG 1615

Focuses on client care and clinical client care including using the nursing process, performing assessments, developing critical thinking, engaging in client education and displaying cultural competence in the adult population and with attention to special populations. Lecture/lab topics include functions of the human body, terminology associated with healthcare, health management and maintenance; prevention of illness; care of the individual as a whole; immunology; as well as pathological diseases, disorders and deviations from the normal state of health, client care, treatment, pharmacology, nutrition and standard precautions with regard to the endocrine, gastrointestinal, and urinary systems. Clinical topics include, but are not limited to: hygiene and personal care; mobility and biomechanics; fluid and electrolytes; oxygen care; perioperative care; immunology; mental health; and oncology, and standard precautions concerning cardiovascular, hematological, immunological, respiratory, neurological, sensory, musculoskeletal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, urinary, integumentary and reproductive systems. This course contains lectures and regular lab 82.5 hours and clinical has 62.5 hours.

6
PNSG 1620

Focuses on client care and clinical client care including using the nursing process, performing assessments, developing critical thinking, engaging in client education, and displaying cultural competence in the adult population and with attention to special populations. Lecture/lab topics include functions of the human body, terminology associated with healthcare, health management and maintenance; prevention of illness; care of the individual as a whole; immunology; as well as pathological diseases, disorders and deviations from the normal state of health, client care, treatment, pharmacology, nutrition and standard precautions with regard to the neurological and sensory systems, disaster preparedness, emergency response, triage, and bioterrorism. Clinical topics include, but are not limited to: hygiene and personal care; mobility and biomechanics; fluid and electrolytes; oxygen care; perioperative care; immunology; mental health; and oncology, and standard precautions concerning cardiovascular, hematological, immunological, respiratory, neurological, sensory, musculoskeletal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, urinary, integumentary and reproductive systems. This course contains lectures and regular lab 82.5 hours and clinical has 62.5 hours.

6
PNSG 1625

Focuses on client care and clinical client care including using the nursing process, performing assessments, developing critical thinking, engaging in client education, and displaying cultural competence in the adult population and with attention to special populations. Lecture/lab topics include functions of the human body, terminology associated with healthcare, health management and maintenance; prevention of illness; care of the individual as a whole; immunology; as well as pathological diseases, disorders and deviations from the normal state of health, client care, treatment, pharmacology, nutrition and standard precautions with regard to the integumentary and musculoskeletal systems and oncology. Clinical topics include, but are not limited to: hygiene and personal care; mobility and biomechanics; fluid and electrolytes; oxygen care; perioperative care; immunology; mental health; and oncology, and standard precautions with regard to cardiovascular, hematological, immunological, respiratory, neurological, sensory, musculoskeletal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, urinary, integumentary and reproductive systems. After, this adult health course students will have completed a minimum of 82.5 lecture/lab contact hours and 62.5 clinical hour.

6
PNSG 1630

Presents concepts within the field of mental health nursing and their application to everyday human behavior, thinking, emotion, and communication. Focuses on health management and maintenance and the prevention of illness, care of the mental health patient as a whole, and deviations from the normal state of health. Emphasis is placed on students understanding mental health principles and their application within the context of family, work and social interactions. Topics include an overview of psychological disorders and their treatments; terminology associated with health care, stress and health; health management and maintenance and prevention of illness; care of the mental health patient as a whole, and deviations from the normal state of health in the mental health client; client care, pharmacology, and diet therapy of the mental health client; and standard precautions. The definition of client care includes using the nursing process, performing assessments, using critical thinking, and providing client education, displaying cultural competence across the life span and with attention to special populations. At completion of this mental health course, students will have completed a minimum of 75 lecture contact hours and 25 clock hours of mental health-related clinical experience.

4
PNSG 1635

Focuses on maternal and newborn patient care aspects of health management and maintenance and prevention of illness, care of the individual as a whole, and deviations from the normal state of health. The definition of client care includes using the nursing process, performing assessments, using critical thinking, providing client education, displaying cultural competence across the life span, and with attention to special populations. Topics include the function of the human body systems, terminology associated with healthcare, health management and maintenance and prevention of illness; care of the individual as a whole; and deviations from the normal state of health in the reproductive system, pathological and nonpathological concerns in obstetric clients, and the newborn; client care, treatment, pharmacology, medication administration, and diet therapy related to the reproductive system, obstetric clients, and the newborn, and standard precautions. After this maternity course, students will have completed a minimum of 30 lecture and lab contact hours and 50 clock hours of reproductive, maternity, and newborn-related clinical experience.

4
PNSG 1640

Focuses on health management and maintenance and the prevention of illness, care of the child as a whole, and deviations from the normal state of health. The definition of client care includes using the nursing process, performing assessments, using critical thinking, and providing client education. Topics include health management and maintenance and prevention of illness, care of the child as a whole, and deviations from the normal state of health in the pediatric client; client, care, treatments, pharmacology, and diet therapy of the pediatric client; growth and development; functions of the human body, terminology associated with healthcare, and standard precautions. After this pediatric course, students will have completed a minimum of 45 lecture/lab contact hours and 25 clock hours of pediatric-related clinical experience.

3
PNSG 1645

Builds on the concepts presented in prior nursing courses and develops the skills necessary for successful performance in the job market. Topics include application of the nursing process, critical thinking, supervisory skills, client education methods, group dynamics, professional oral and written communication, and conflict resolution. At completion of this nursing leadership course, students will have completed a minimum of 54 lecture/lab hours and 60 clock hours of leadership-related clinical experience.

5
Faculty
Advisor

Practical Nursing Instructor
Swainsboro Campus - Building 8, Office 8103/8105

Advisor

Practical Nursing Instructor
Swainsboro Campus - Building 8

Advisor

Director, Associate of Science in Nursing & Practical Nursing
Vidalia Campus - Gillis Building, Office 724

Advisor

Practical Nursing Instructor
Vidalia Campus - Gillis Building, Office 834

Advisor

Health Science Administrative Assistant/Instructor
Vidalia Campus - Gillis Building, Office 722

Advisor

Practical Nursing Program Coordinator / Instructor
Vidalia Campus - Gillis Building, Office 706

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