Overview and Award Outcomes
Overview
Licensed Practical Nurses provide direct care under the supervision of a licensed physician or registered nurse. Licensed Practical Nurses use the nursing process to collect patient data and implement nursing care in maintenance of health as well as caring for those who are ill, injured or who have debilitating conditions.
Students attending courses full-time can complete this program in 2 semesters. Cleared criminal background study is required.
The courses listed below are designated to meet the requirements of the Minnesota Board of Nursing for qualifying to take the practical nursing state board licensing examination (NCLEX-PN). Upon successful completion of NCLEX-PN the graduate practical nurse is licensed as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Process for applying to the Practical Nursing Program:
- Interested students must email Maddie Smith (Madison.Smith@HennepinTech.edu) for more information about the application process.
- Apply to Hennepin Technical College
The Student Success Advisor will discuss the following requirements if applicable:
- complete placement testing
- have any prior coursework evaluated for transfer
- Complete pre-requisite courses:
- EMSV1020 or 8-hour CPR course for Health Care Providers offered by the American Heart Association or 8-hour CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer course offered by the American Red Cross
- NAHA1002 or NAHA1010 or currently on the Minnesota Department of Health Registry for Nursing Assistants
- BIOL1400 or BIOL2005
- BIOL2125 and BIOL2225
- ENGL1250 or ENGL1100
- NURS1015 or BIOL1100 or HLTH2001
- Qualifying scores in reading, writing and math assessment tests
- Qualifying scores on the HESI entrance exam
- Scores of at least 60% cumulative and 70% in reading comprehension. The HESI entrance exam may be repeated one time, after which, if scores are met, then students must meet with a Student Success advisor.
Students may apply to the Practical Nursing Program while finishing the prerequisites. Applications are all online and will be submitted after students pass the HESI test. Students should be in touch with Maddie Smith, the Nursing Advisor, early in their time at Hennepin Tech as well as checking-in each semester to be sure they are on-track and to get information about upcoming cohorts.
Award Outcomes
- Demonstrate effective communication techniques while providing patient care founded on basic physical, developmental, spiritual, cultural, functional, and psychosocial needs of individual patients across the lifespan
- Manage care through planning, organizing or assigning aspects of care to UAP's and LPN's under the direction of an RN or other licensed Health Care Provider
- Participate as a member of the inter-professional team collaborating with other health care providers to promote safe, quality, patient centered care
- Demonstrate nursing safety principles
- Utilize information technology effectively in the provision of care
- Demonstrate professional behaviors in accordance with legal and ethical nursing practice standards
- Utilize evidence-based nursing judgment when providing individualized patient care when prioritizing care across the lifespan
- Participate in quality improvement
Career Opportunities
Opportunities for employment may be available in hospitals, clinics, home health agencies, long-term care facilities, transitional care facilities, industry and the armed forces.
Semester Sequence
Offered at Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie
Priority Point System
• Completing the prerequisite courses does not guarantee acceptance into the program. The program uses a Point System admissions process to rank the top applicants for acceptance into the program. If there are more qualified applicants than spaces available, HTC will use the following priority point system to rank students.
• The student’s GPA for the prerequisite courses is multiplied by 50% and the student’s cumulative score for the HESI A2 exam will also be multiplied by 50%. The two numbers will be added up for a total score.
Application Session:
Students must attend an application session prior to applying to the program. Applications sessions are typically 1-2 semesters prior to starting the program.
Nursing Application Session Dates - To Be Determined.
HESI Admission Assessment Exam Required for Admission:
After attending an application session students will be invited to complete the HESI Admission Assessment Exam. The HESI Admission Assessment Exam tests students on three main academic areas – English Language (divided into vocabulary, grammar and reading), Math and Science. All students applying to the nursing program are expected to complete the HESI Admission Assessment prior to applying to the program. Students can take the HESI exam twice per semester.
Students must earn a 70% or higher on the reading section and have a cumulative score of 60% or greater on all 5 sections to be eligible for the nursing program.
HESI Admission Assessment Exam Dates - To Be Determined
Pre-Practical Nursing Courses/Prerequisites
The following courses must be completed with a "C" or better, students must also have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or greater, and students may only repeat the courses one time in the three-year period prior to application: BIOL1400 or BIOL2005, BIOL2125, BIOL2225, NURS1015 or HLTH2001 or BIOL1100, ENGL1100 or ENGL1250.
| EMSV1020 | CPR/First Aid | 1 |
| (taken within last 2 years) | |
| or | |
| Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Provider | |
| | |
| MATH0960 | Mathematical Literacy | 4 |
| (preference) | |
| or | |
| MATH0940 | Beginning Algebra | 3 |
| or | |
| Score of 261+ on Accuplacer Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS) Test | |
| | |
| NAHA1002 | Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide | 5 |
| or | |
| NAHA1010 | Nursing Assistant | 4 |
| or | |
| Currently on the MN Department of Health registry for Nursing Assistants | |
| | |
| BIOL1400 | Human Biology | 4 |
| or | |
| BIOL2005 | General Biology I | 4 |
| | |
| BIOL2125 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| and | |
| BIOL2225 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| | |
| NURS1015 | Nutrition Basics | 1 |
| or | |
| HLTH2001 | Nutrition and Health | 2 |
| or | |
| BIOL1100 | Nutrition and Health | 3 |
| | |
| ENGL1100 | Writing and Research | 4 |
| or | |
| ENGL1250 | Short Form Composition and Reporting | 4 |
Total Credits 17
Students transferring coursework from another college must contact the HTC Transfer Specialist prior to applying to the nursing program.
General Information
• The Practical Nursing program at Hennepin Technical College is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
• Students who have earned their Practical Nursing Diploma are eligible to take the national licensure exam (NCLEX-PN).
• Students unsuccessful in the nursing program are allowed to reapply once. Students must include a written plan for success with the application.
Criminal Background Studies
Criminal Background Studies: Minnesota law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with children, patients, and residents at a health or child care facility licensed by the State of Minnesota must have a background study conducted by the state. Individuals with specified felony convictions are prohibited from having direct contact with children, patients, and residents of licensed facilities. Anyone refusing to cooperate in the criminal background study cannot participate in coursework that requires direct contact with children, patients or residents. Students who are disqualified from having direct patient/resident/child contact will not be able participate in coursework which includes a practical experience. Therefore, completion of coursework for the program major will not be possible without documentation of a cleared background study. Contact the MN Department of Human Services, 651-431-2000, with questions. The Minnesota Board of Nursing may have additional requirements prior to licensure. Please contact them with questions.
Graduation (49 Credits)
Semester listings reflect the recommended sequence. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the information herein is subject to change without notice.
5/20/2022 : BP 7510 / EP 7511