Practical Nursing
This certificate prepares students to take care of patients in extended care and other non-acute care settings.
This is a G3 program. Students may qualify for free tuition, fees, and books.
Career Pathway
Program Dean
Faculty Contact
Academic Advisors
April Pannell
Student last name starts with A-L
Tanairy Carbo
Student last name starts with M-Z
Program
Credit Hours
Program Information
The Practical Nursing (PN) Program prepares graduates to successfully function in the role of an entry-level licensed practical nurse under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician in structured settings, providing direct care to clients with common health problems that have predictable outcomes.
The purpose of the Practical Nursing Program is to educate individuals who are concerned with basic therapeutic, rehabilitative, and preventative care for people of all ages and diverse cultures in various stages of dependency. The graduate of PVCC’s PN program will be eligible to apply for licensure after successful completion of the NCLEX-PN examination.
The problem-solving process is used as a framework for critical thinking and practice. Concepts that provide further structure for the development of practical nursing competency are assessment of patients with emergent needs, communication skills, and development of professional attitudes and characteristics.
Faculty
- Program Faculty
Clarissa Moctezuma, Associate Dean of Nursing, Program Director
Alyssa Washington, Practical Nursing Program Lead
- Program Adjunct Faculty
Christina Feggans-Langston, Clinical Instructor
Course offerings are a hybrid, meaning they are a combination of web-based online learning and in-person classroom and clinical learning time. Classes and laboratory session are held between the Main Campus in Charlottesville, Virginia and at the Eugene Giuseppe Center, PVCC’s satellite campus located in Stanardsville, in Greene County, Virgina.
Curriculum
- Program Curriculum
Semester
Course
Course Name
Credits
Notes
Pre-requisites
ENG 111
College Composition I
3.0
Must complete before beginning the Practical Nursing Program
BIO 145
Human Anatomy and Physiology for the Health Sciences
4.0
SDV 100
College Success Skills
1.0
PSY 230
Developmental Psychology
3.0
HLT 141
Medical Terminology
2.0
Semester 1 (Spring)
PNE 186
Nursing Concepts I
6.0
PNE 173
Pharmacology for
Practical Nurses
2.0
Semester 2 (SUMMER)
PNE 187
Nursing Concepts II
9.0
PNE 116 or HLT 130
Normal Nutrition or
Nutrition and Diet Therapy1.0
Semester 3 (Fall)
PNE 188
Nursing Concepts III
6.0
Clinical Compliance
All students in this program of study are required to meet clinical compliance requirements as directed by the clinical compliance coordinator. These requirements may include a criminal background check, immunization documentation, drug use screenings, and other standards for on-site clinical training.
Background and drug screenings are not conducted prior to admission. Consult the admission information book or contact the head of the program with inquiries regarding barrier crimes and drug usage regulations
Clinical Hours
In accordance with VBON standards of expected 400 clinical hours for practical nursing students per regulation 18VAC90-27-100. Curriculum for direct client care: A nursing education program preparing a student for licensure as a practical nurs shall provide a minimum of 400 hours of direct client care supervised by qualified faculty. Direct client care hours shall include experiences and settings as set forth in 18VAC90-27-90 B 1.
PVCC Practical Nursing Program students shall receive no less than 402 hours of direct client care:
- Required Clinical Hours, PVCC Program
Semester One:
- 90 total clinical hours
Semester Two:
- 90 hours for medical/surgical clinical
- 24 hours for each specialty (Mental Health, OB/GYN, and Pediatrics) for 162 total clinical hours
Semester Three:
- Capstone, 150 total clinical hours
402 Total All Semesters
Clinical locations are within 50 miles of PVCC campus, based on availability of clinical staff and facility availability.
Students are required to provide reliable transportation to the clinical site assigned and are responsible for parking charges.
Based on available clinicals, students may be required to attend clinicals at times outside of their assigned cohort study times.
NCLEX Pass Rates
| Graduating Class (December of year) | Students Tested | Students Passed | Pass Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 18 | 12 | 66.67 |
| 2020 | 11 | 10 | 90.91 |
| 2021 | 12 | 12 | 100 |
| 2022 | 14 | 14 | 100 |
| 2023 | 12 | 9 | 75 |
| 2024 | 14 | 14 | 100 |
Accreditation Status
Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Practical Nursing (PN) program offered at PVCC prepares graduates to function as entry-level licensed practical nurses under the supervision of registered nurses or physicians. Graduates are eligible to apply for licensure after successfully completing the NCLEX-PN examination.
The Practical Nursing (PN) program at PVCC is fully approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing, demonstrating its adherence to rigorous state standards for nursing education. While the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at PVCC holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the PN program is instead governed by the comprehensive standards established by the Virginia Board of Nursing (VBON). This approval ensures that graduates are well-equipped to pursue licensure and succeed in their roles as competent and skilled practical nurses in Virginia.
Admission Requirements
In addition to admission to the college, students must also meet eligibility requirements specific to this program, and only a limited number of students are admitted into a given cohort. If there are more applicants during a cycle than there are available positions in the cohort, eligible applicants will be ranked according to specific criteria and students are admitted or deferred according to that rank.
Please see the Admissions Information Book below for program requirements, minimum eligibility requirements, applicant ranking criteria, and other important information for prospective students.
- CSC, Practical Nursing Admissions Information Book, Spring 2025 Cycle
- Pre-Admission Transcript Evaluation Process for Allied Health Programs
- Need Help? Connect with an academic advisor
Information Sessions
Information sessions are provided each application cycle for prospective students. The purpose of these sessions is to help students to decide if this program and profession will be right for them, and to walk students through the application and admissions process. Attendees will also be able to ask the faculty questions about the program and the profession.
Attendance at an information session is strongly encouraged for all students. Refer to the current Admissions Information Book for information regarding whether your application will be ranked based on attendance.
The following dates have been scheduled for the Spring 2025 semester:
- Wednesday, January 29 from 1-2 PM. Virtual; a Zoom Link will be provided to registered attendees.
- Wednesday, February 5 from 1-2 PM. Virtual; a Zoom Link will be provided to registered attendees.
- Friday, March 14 from 6:30-7:30 PM. In person and virtual; a Zoom Link will be provided to registered attendees.
- Friday, April 11 from 12:30-1:30 PM. In person and virtual; a Zoom Link will be provided to registered attendees.
Pre-register to attend an information session.
Apply for Admission
Applications are accepted through the Health and Life Sciences Admissions Portal. Hardcopy applications and applications received outside of the portal will not be considered for admission. Applying to other health sciences programs has no impact on an applicant’s qualifications for this program. Applications for previous years are not valid for current or future application years.
All applicants must be current PVCC students to begin their health sciences application. If you are not a current PVCC student, please click the “Apply Now” link at the top of this page and complete a VCCS/PVCC application. Conditional* acceptances may be offered to applicants with scores below admission requirements on a space available basis, time permitting. *Certain additional courses, retesting, submissions of evidence may be required prior to the start of the semester
- Applications for the 2025 admission cycle open at 9:00am on August 26, 2024 and will close at 5:00pm on October 11, 2024.
Sign in to the Health and Life Sciences Application Portal to begin your application.
Readmission to the Practical Nursing Program
(see page 16 of the Practical Nursing Student Handbook)
Students seeking readmission into the program will be considered on a space-available basis. Selection for readmission will be based on the following:
- Completion of the readmission form. In the submission, the student should explain why they believe they will be successful upon readmission and outline any actions they have taken to address weaknesses, if applicable.
Students desiring readmission to PNE 173 or PNE 186 must apply as new applicants. Students seeking readmission for the summer or fall semesters must submit their readmission letter by February 15, 2025.
TEAS Test & Prep
Click here for TEAS test study materials and practice tests.
Only currently enrolled PVCC students can access these materials off campus. Non-PVCC students will need to access these materials from the PVCC network on campus. Computers are available for use in the Betty Sue Jessup Library to access these materials.
The TEAS test can be taken at any authorized testing center that offers the complete and most current revision of the exam, including the PVCC Testing Centers.