Practical Nursing, Certificate
Nursing Department
Program Overview
Practical Nursing, Certificate
The Certificate in Practical Nursing (C.P.N.) is an intensive program designed to be completed in 18 months (three semesters). It provides focused, entry-level training for nursing care, enabling graduates to sit for the NCLEX-PN licensing exam and begin their careers as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs).
HEGIS Code: 5209.20
NYSED Program Code: 19156 – PN-CERT
Major
Description
The curriculum emphasizes fundamental nursing skills, pharmacology, nutrition, and medical/surgical care. It includes intensive lab work and clinical practice in areas like Maternal-Child Health and Psychosocial Nursing. The program prepares students to provide safe, direct patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician.
End of Program Student Learning Outcomes (EOPSLO’s)
At the conclusion of the Program, the student will be able to:
- Provide safe, quality, nursing care to diverse populations across the lifespan (S).
- Assist with the review and revision of nursing care plans and function within nursing inter-professional teams to achieve quality patient care (TWC).
- Provide for the needs and preferences of culturally, ethnically, and socially diverse patients and their families (PCC).
- Use established nursing care protocols/guidelines to monitor document and communicate data for improvement of patient care (QI).
- Provide health promotion and restoration information and support using best current evidence for delivery of optimal care for patients and their families (EBP).
- Use computer technology to provide patient-centered care (I).
Admission Requirements
Satisfactory score on the National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Examination-RN (Verbal Ability, Mathematics, Science and Composite Score). General, NLN benchmark is an overall score of 100. However, the Admission, Retention and Progression Committee will evaluate the testing cohorts NLN scores to ensure that candidates are given an opportunity for admission.
Applicants to the Medgar Evers College PN Program at Medgar Evers College must:
- Hold a High School Diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
- Meet all requirements for admission to Medgar Evers College (MEC).
- All Science courses must have a grade of “B-”, or higher.
- Science courses must be current (within 5 years).
- Any college courses attempted must have a letter grade (no INC).
- Achieve a satisfactory score on the NLN pre-entrance examination.
Program Purposes
- Provide a program of study designed for students who wish to qualify to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for the Practical Nurse (NCLEX- PN).
- Provide a foundation for upward mobility in Nursing.
Faculty Statement
Our diverse faculty often teaches across our programs. You may encounter 9-10 shared faculty.
Major
Requirements
- Semester I
- ENGL 112 College English I (3)
- BIO 104/BIOL 104 Human Body Structure And Function + Lab (4)
- NUR 23 Intro to Practical Nursing (2)
- NUR 24/NURC 24/NURL 24 PN Fundamentals of Nursing + Lab/Clinical (5)
- Semester II
- NUR 25 Nutrition (3)
- NUR 26 PN Pharmacology and Calculations (3)
- NUR 27/NURC 27/NURL 27 Medical and Surgical Nursing I + Lab/Clinical (6)
- Semester III
- NUR 28/NURC 28/NURL 28 PN Maternal Child Health/Psychosocial Nursing + Lab/Clinical (5)
- NUR 29/NURC 29/NURL 29 PN Medical Surgical Nursing II: Specialties + Lab/Clinical (7)
- NUR 30 PN State Board Review (1)
Retention/Progression through the Certificate in Practical Nursing (CPN) Program
Each candidate in the PN Program must satisfactorily complete the PN Certificate curriculum as outlined:
- Sequential completion of all pre-requisite, co-requisite, and nursing courses as required.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 and a grade of B- or better in all biology courses.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 and a grade of B- or better in all nursing courses.
- Achieving less than a B- in a nursing course is considered a failing grade. Only one failure in a nursing course is allowed. A second failure in a nursing course will result in dismissal from the nursing program.
- Schedule advisement sessions each semester with assigned nursing faculty advisor while enrolled in the clinical phase of the nursing program.
- Pass all three (3) course components lecture, skills lab & clinical to progress. If you fail any component, you must repeat that component during the next available offering.
- A student who fails the lecture component of a course but successfully passes the skills lab and clinical components is required to complete ten (10) independent hours during the semester they are repeating the lecture.
- Students are allowed only two opportunities to withdraw from any nursing course during their time in the program. Withdrawing from two classes in the same semester is considered equivalent to one withdrawal.
- Subsequent withdrawals from a nursing course constitute a dismissal from the nursing program.
- Complete the program within 3 semesters.
Practical Nursing Program Nclex Scores
| Year | Total number Taking Exam | Number Students Passed | Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 4 | 100% |
| 2023 | 12 | 9 | 75.0% |
| 2022 | 9 | 8 | 88.89% |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
Completion and Job Placement Rates
| Year | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completion Rates | 45.5 | 83.33 | 53.85 | 42.86 |
| Job Placement Rates | 100 | 100 | 95 | 100 |
*More than 90% of graduates obtain jobs within six months of licensure.
Credit/Clock Hours
Credit to clock Hours Definition
Didactic: 1 credit hour of didactic equals 50 minutes clock time Didactic- courses can be 2 or 3 credits depending on the course
Skills Lab: 2 credits – 1 hour (is 50 minutes x2) for skills lab this equals of 100 minutes
Clinical: 1 credit hour (is 60 minutes) x 6hrs
Financial Aid Default Rates: Rates are calculated by the United States Department of education every three years.
| Cohort Fiscal Year | Official Default Rate | Number of Borrowers in Default |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3.3 | 27 |
NSLDS: Official Cohort Default Rate – Schools (ed.gov)
MEC OEPID number : 010097
Have Questions? We’re Here to Help
If you have questions regarding the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences or need assistance navigating the application process, please reach out to our department office.
Chairperson: Shirley Daniels | daniels@mec.cuny.edu
Phone: 718 270-6222 Fax: 718 270-
Location: 1650 Bedford Avenue, AB1-206F