Practical Nursing Certificate

Certificate in Practical Nursing (CPN)
HEGIS CODE: 5209.20
CIP CODE: 51.3901

The Practical Nursing Program is eighteen (18) months in length. It consists of three (3) semesters. It is an upward mobility opportunity for applicants to achieve a certificate in nursing. Upon completion, the graduate is eligible to sit the NCLEX-PN

Program Outcomes

• Use knowledge from nursing, physical sciences, and the humanities when participating in the planning of nursing care.
• Provide caring, culturally sensitive and nursing care to client in a variety of health care settings.
• Use critical thinking and problem solving skills when providing care to clients.
• Competently perform in the role of the practical nurse as a member of the health care team.
• Pursue opportunities for professional growth
• Accept responsibility for nursing actions in accordance with the Standard of licensed practical nurses.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must:

1. Hold a High School Diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
2. Complete all basic skills course work prior to admission into the Nursing major.
3. Take and pass all three (3) areas of the CUNY Skills Assessment Examinations (Reading, Writing, Mathematics) prior to entry into the CPN Program of study.
4. Achieve a satisfactory score on the NLN Pre-entrance Examination.
5. Provide current medical clearance to include occupational exposure health requirements.
6. Provide current medical clearance to include New York State Department of Health requirements.
7. Possess current CPR Certification from the American Heart Association.
8. Have a satisfactory Physical Examination record on file which includes Hepatitis B testing.

Progression and Retention

• 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.
• Complete the program within eighteen (18) months. • Only one failure of a nursing course is permitted
• A second failure of a nursing course constitutes a dismissal from the nursing program.
• Pass all components of nursing courses (lecture, skills lab and clinical). Failure in one component will result in the failure of all 3 components.
• Failure of skills lab or clinical will result in a lecture grade no greater than “C+”.
• A student is only allowed to withdraw once.
• A second withdrawal from a nursing course constitutes a dismissal from the nursing program.

Withdrawal from the Nursing Program

A student who withdraws from the program must petition the department’s Admission, Retention, Progression Committee (ARPC) in writing for re-admission. A student who withdraws and is re-admitted, must follow the curriculum in effect at the time of re- admission.