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Practical Nursing at NMU
The
School of Nursing is committed to providing a quality education for
students seeking a one-year certificate in practical nursing or
surgical technology.
Practical Nursing Programs
Practical Nursing
The
practical nursing program prepares the graduate to provide nursing
care to patients and their families in hospitals, nursing homes,
physician offices, home health care agencies and health clinics. The
program of study combines nursing theory lectures with planned
patient care learning experiences in hospitals, nursing homes and
community health care agencies. Graduates are qualified to take the
National Council of Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).
Surgical
Technology
The
surgical technology program prepares graduates to assist the surgeon
and other members of the operating room team. Duties may include
such tasks as setting up sterile trays and equipment for procedures;
scrubbing for procedures with the surgeon; draping patients, passing
instruments, and holding retractors; sterilizing instruments and
supplies; and maintaining stock inventory. The program consists of
theory and practical experience in the operating room setting.
Courses must be taken sequentially. Graduates are qualified to take
the Liaison Council on Certification for Surgical Technologist (LCC-ST)
national examinations.
Department/Program Policies
Prospective students must have a high school diploma or GED and a
2.00 high school grade point average. Practical nursing and surgical
technology students who place lower than MA 100 Intermediate Algebra
and EN 111 College Composition I on the Northern Michigan University
math and English placement tests may be required to take remedial
courses in these areas before being considered for admission into
the clinical part of the curriculum.
If required for their program, students are
responsible for their own transportation to the clinical facilities,
and must buy uniforms, white shoes, name pin, bandage scissors and a
stethoscope. Students must have proof of a tuberculosis test or
chest X-ray and rubella screening before beginning the clinical
experience; completion of a CPR course or current certification is
also required. A Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended.
PN and ST prefix courses can be counted as
general elective credit in other programs not otherwise prohibiting
their use under the following guidelines: a maximum of two credit
hours may apply to a certificate program, a maximum of three credit
hours may apply to an associate degree program, and a maximum of six
credit hours may apply to a baccalaureate degree program.
Admission to the Practical Nursing/
Surgical Technology Clinical Program
Admissions to the practical nursing and surgical technology clinical
sequence of courses is limited. The School of Nursing Admissions
Committee reserves the right to select students to be admitted.
Students who have the highest grade point average and pre-admission
test scores, if required, will be admitted first until the class is
filled. Not all students who have met the minimum standards will be
admitted if the space is not available.
To be considered for admission into the practical
nursing clinical program or surgical technology clinical program a
student must meet the following qualifications:
1. Must have met all NMU admission requirements
and be in good standing.
2. Must have taken the Pre-Practical Nursing or Pre-Surgical
Technology Assessment test and achieved a passing score in all of
the subsets of the test if required by the department.
3. Must have a minimum overall grade point
average of 2.00 (C) in all the prerequisite college courses
required in the program with no grade below "C-". In addition,
students must have a cumulative (NMU and if applicable, transfer
credit) GPA of 2.00.
4. Must have successfully passed all required
nursing/surgical technology courses after a maximum of two tries.
Practical nursing students will be notified of
acceptance or rejection during the summer semester. Surgical
technology students will be notified by December 23.
Retention in
the Practical Nursing/Surgical Technology Sequence
For a
student to remain in the nursing/surgical technology sequence they
need to meet the following conditions:
1. Maintain a minimum overall grade point
average of 2.00 in all nursing/surgical technology courses with no
course below a "C-"and maintain an overall Northern Michigan
University grade point average of 2.00.
2. Adhere to the university's Student Code
and Practical Nursing/Surgical Technology Student Policies.
3. Demonstrate a pattern of safe clinical
practice commensurate with his or her educational experience to
date.
Practical
Nursing/Surgical Technology Readmission Criteria
Practical
nursing and surgical technology courses are sequential and there is
limited space in some courses. When a student wishes to be
readmitted into the nursing/surgical technology sequence of courses
after having a withdrawal or failure in a previously enrolled
course, the student must apply for readmission to the department
coordinator. Readmission for PN 117/118 Maternal/Child Nursing must
be received before the start of the fall semester. Readmission
requests for PN 119/120 Medical/Surgical Nursing must be received by
November 20 of the year before requested readmission.
The practical nursing student who is seeking
readmission will be required to demonstrate proficiency in a series
of nursing procedures that are part of the last successfully
completed clinical nursing course.
Students who have failed any nursing/surgical
technology courses more than once are ineligible for readmission. |
