Courses

Practical Nurse

Medvance Institute-Houston

The Practical Nurse (PN) is prepared to function as a member of the healthcare team by exercising sound judgement based on preparation, knowledge, skills and understanding of patients and diseases. A practical nurse does a large share of the direct patient care in health facilities. A Practical Nurse (LPN) participates and assists in the planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing needs of patients in all settings where nursing care takes place. Practical nurses provide for the emotional and physical comfort and safety of patients; observing, recording and reporting to appropriate persons, changes in patients' symptoms and conditions. Practical nurses help in performing more specialized nursing functions such as administering medications and therapeutic treatments; and assisting with
rehabilitative care.

Students in the program will engage actively in laboratory practice, acting both as patient/client and as caregiver in simulated situations. The program includes classroom studies, practice in the lab setting, and hands-on experience at clinical externship sites.

Practical Nursing Graduates demonstrate:

A willingness to work with patients in all care settings.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
The ability to exercise critical thinking, as well as intuitive and processing of information.
An ability to work in close physical contact with others; both peers and patients.
An understanding of the Practical Nurse's partnership role with patients and other health care professionals.
Career Opportunities
Graduates will be prepared to take the practical nursing licensing examination. A graduate who passes the examination is designated a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Nationally there has been an increasing demand for LPNs to work to their full scope of practice. LPN's may find employment in acute medical-surgical areas, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care group homes and in community settings.