The Certificate Program in Practical Nursing addresses the need for an alternative career option in the Allied Health Sciences. The three-semester course of study at Hostos Community College provides the successful graduate who passes the NCLEX-PN with marketable skills as a Licensed Practical Nurse within one calendar year.

The major course content within this program is based on a practical nursing curriculum. This program supports a major focus for the college, which is the provision of both strong allied health career programs and a broad-based liberal arts education. A unique feature of this course of study is that, unlike the traditional practical nursing programs, students are exposed to other disciplines in a collegiate setting—e.g., English and the natural, social, and behavioral sciences.

The framework for the Certificate Program in Practical Nursing embodies basic needs, selected components of the nursing process, and the skills that are needed to practice as a member of the health care team. Students learn to deliver nursing care to patients of all age groups in a variety of settings, under the direct guidance and supervision of qualified professional nurse instructors.
Objectives of the Program in Licensed Practical Nursing

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to do the following:

1. Use critical thinking skills to use knowledge from nursing, the physical, biological, social, behavioral sciences and the humanities to identify human needs of culturally diverse patients across the life span who are experiencing health problems.
2. Use components of the nursing process to deliver care to patients across the life span using therapeutic communication and a caring attitude.
3. Use components of the nursing process to deliver care to patients across the life span to:
   a. assess the patient to identify biopsychological needs
   b. assist the patient in developing mutually realistic outcomes based on his/her needs, health concerns, and level of understanding.
   c. discuss with the registered nurse priorities in planning nursing interventions based on scientific principles, which are incorporated into individualized plans of care.
   d. perform nursing interventions based on priorities that meet the health care needs of individual patients.
   e. collaborate with the registered nurse in evaluating the patient’s response to the prescribed therapeutic regimen and the nursing plan of care.
4. Function as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team.
5. Appropriately manage one's own nursing care and monitor the care provided by unlicensed caregivers.
6. Assume responsibility and accountability for one's nursing practice based on established standards and the Code of Ethics for the Licensed Practical Nurse.

Application/Entrance Process for LPN Certificate

Students seeking to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) must first apply for Admisison to Hostos Community College and must satisfactorily complete the pre-requisites specified below. Students seeking entry to the LPN program are urged to seek academic and registration advisement from the Nursing faculty.

Upon satisfactory completion of all pre-requisites and entrance examinations, students will be selected for available spaces.

Required courses must be taken in the identified sequence. Students should obtain a copy of the “LPN Student Handbook”. Students are expected to read and adhere to all policies as outlined in the student handbook.

Please note that all requirements for the LPN certificate must be completed within three years. Students are urged to seek advisement for academic and financial planning.

Finally, students must take and pass the NCLEX-PN examination to be licensed.

Pre-Requisites for Freshmen, First-Time-To College

Freshmen students must meet the following criteria:

1. High school average of 75% or a GED score of at least 275;
   
2. Passing scores on Math, Reading, and Writing on CUNY Skills Tests, specifically:
   a. Passing reading and writing CUNY examination and placement into ENG 1302.
   b. Math score of 32 or better, with minimum score of 14 in Part 1 of the CUNY Math test;
   c. Student who are exempted from the Math test (SAT score of 480 or better, or corresponding Regents score of 75 or better) must take MAT 1622 Elementary Algebra. NOTE:
   d. Students who do not pass the CUNY Skills Tests must take the appropriate remedial course(s) and re-test after they successfully
   complete the course.
   f. ESL students may apply for entry after completing their ESL courses, passing all CUNY skills tests, and passing all pre-requisite courses.

Pre-Requisites for Transfer Students

Transfer students seeking LPN certification must ensure that all transcripts and test results have been submitted to Hostos Office of Admissions for review by the Nursing Admissions Committee.

Transfer students must meet the following criteria:

1. Overall GPA of 2.5 at previous institution(s) and GPA of 2.5 in all courses equivalent to those required in the LPN sequence. (See 3 below for more details about transferring courses.)
2. Testing Requirements
   Students who are transferring from another college must meet the same testing requirements outlined above for first-time-to-college freshmen students.
3. Transferring Courses
   a. The Nursing Admissions Committee will
   review transcripts of transfer students seeking
   to enter the LPN program.
   b. Nursing courses taken at another college are not transferable to Hostos.
   c. Science courses more than two years old are not transferable to the LPN program.
   d. ESL courses are not transferable.
   e. Students who have failed out of an RN program may have an opportunity to enter the LPN program, on a space-available basis, if they meet all the above requirements. Students must successfully complete each course on the first attempt or be dropped from the LPN program.

Entrance to the LPN Program

Entrance to the LPN Program is competitive.

1. The NLN Pre-Nursing examination must be taken and will be scheduled first. Seats for this examination are on a space-available basis. The exam may be scheduled as early as November If failed, may be repeated after one year has elapsed. A score of 50 or better must be achieved.
2. Students who achieve the above score are eligible to take the ATI examination. Seats for this examination are on a space-available basis. The exam may be sceduled as early as November.
3. There are fees for each of these examinations.
   
4. Students who successfully complete the ATI will then be eligible for an evaluation of a writing sample by the Nursing Admission Committee.
5. Students who achieve the highest scores on the examinations and the writing samples will be selected for available spaces in the LPN Program.

Each year the process begins anew. An applicant is considered an LPN candidate when selected by the Nursing Admissions Committee.

Progression in the LPN Program

1. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.5.
2. The minimum acceptable grade for any required course is C. The exceptions are NUR 8001 and ENG 1302; the minimum acceptable grade in these courses is B.
3. All required courses must be taken in the identified sequence. Students must complete all coursework
   by the time of registration. No incomplete grades are accepted for any required and/or elective courses .
4. Students may only repeat one course once. Only one clinical and one non-clinical Nursing course may be repeated. Only one required non-Nursing course may be repeated.
5. Only one clinical Nursing course may be repeated. A second failure in a clinical Nursing course results in the student being dropped from the LPN Nursing Program. One non-clinical Nursing course may be repeated only once.
6. Student who fail clinical courses (NUR 8002 or NUR 8003) must have the permission of the Coordinator to audit the lecture component of the previous course and attend laboratory assignments. They must take and pass the final exam and any required standardized tests prior to repeating the failed course.
   
7. All requirements for the LPN Nursing Program must be completed within three years.
8. All nursing students are required to pay for ongoing external testing each semester

Requirements for Clinical Phase

Prior to clinical placement, students must meet the state-mandated health requirements, liability insurance, and complete a Basic Cardiac Life Support course given by the American Heart Association and/or the Red Cross prior to entry. Information for correct completion is provided in the LPN Handbook. The documentation must be presented prior to registration for NUR 8000.
Ancillary expenses can be found in the college catalog and the LPN Student Handbook.

Attendance Policy

Students must be present from the beginning to the adjournment of a class lecture and a hospital clinical session. Absences will be reviewed by Nursing Faculty to determine if a student may remain in the program. (See Student Handbook)