Admission Requirements 

Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Students  

Prerequisite: You must have active status on a Nurse Aide Registry.  

  

Assessment 

Practical Nursing (PN) students are enrolled in the Total Testing Program offered by Educational Resources Incorporated (ERI). This comprehensive program is offered online and prepares individuals for the NCLEX-PN. The Nurse Entrance Test (NET) is administered during orientation to develop a baseline profile of the essential math and reading comprehension skills of both individual students and/or the entire class; then, appropriate remediation is assigned. Individual nursing area tests (CAPs) are administered upon completion of each area of study. Areas of student weakness are addressed and content coaching tapes are provided as a remediation tool for those students. The Clinical and Theory Enhancer allows students to practice prior to each CAP. At the completion of the nursing program, a comprehensive examination (PN Assessment/PreLPN Examination) is administered to further identify strengths and weaknesses. Students will then take a computerized "mock" State Board exam (PN-CAT). A licensure preparation/review course is provided for graduating students. 

  

Curriculum Requirements 

In order to complete a Practical Nursing (PN) Diploma at Clarkson College students must successfully complete a total of 48 semester hours. These hours must be distributed as follows:  

  

·    General Education = 12 semester hours (which must include 3 semester hours of the Clarkson College Core Curriculum). 

·    Major Courses = 36 semester hours (includes 20 semester hours of nursing theory and 16 semester hours of nursing clinical lab). 

  

Required General Education  

The following courses must be completed prior to entry into the Practical Nursing Program: 

Semester Hours
Nutrition	2
Human Development	3
	Total 5

  

This program is based upon the requirements for a traditional one-year Practical Nurse course of study progression. The program is currently implemented only on a part-time basis, and students complete the program of study in two years. Courses will only be offered according to this part-time schedule. If a student, for any reason, cannot complete a course as scheduled, they must wait until the next time the course is offered. 

  

If a course includes both theory and clinical components, the student must obtain a grade of C or above in theory AND a Pass in clinical to obtain credit in that course. If the student receives a grade of less than C in theory OR a No Pass in clinical/lab, the student must retake both theory and clinical/lab components constituting the entire course. 

  

Practical Nursing Program Courses 

Required Courses for the PN Program  

PN Courses Descriptions  

General Education Course Descriptions  

  

Service Learning and Community Service Graduation Requirements 

8 hours (6 Service Learning)* of Clarkson College Service hours must be completed prior to graduation. Graduates who do not complete the required number of Service hours will not receive diplomas or transcripts, until the hours have been completed. *Note: Service hours accrued beyond the minimum number of required service hours can be applied toward the requirements for the Maltese Cross Certificate or Medal.