Practical Nursing - LPN Certificate Program
Eastern Florida State College's 12-month Practical Nursing program prepares graduates to function as a member of the healthcare team performing a wide range of nursing activities in semi-complex and complex situations.
Under the direction of a qualified health professional, the practical nurse performs nursing functions commensurate with his or her education and demonstrated competencies. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) meet routine patient needs with minimal supervision in long-term care facilities, hospitals, doctors' offices, school clinics, and health maintenance organizations. For a complex case, the LPN assists registered nurses and physicians.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates can apply to and take the Florida State Board of Nursing examination (NCLEX-PN) for practical nurses and move on to the workforce.
With successful completion of the program and LPN licensure or a NCLEX test date, graduates are also eligible to apply to the Associate Degree Nursing Transition to R.N. program. This option gives LPNs a faster start toward becoming an R.N. because of the LPN certificate.
Practical Nursing - LPN Certificate Program
Program Overview
- Certificate Type
- Career & Technical Certificate (CTC)
- Delivery Method
- On-Campus
- Location
- Melbourne
- Total Clock Hours
- 1350
- Academic Community
- Health Sciences
- Contact Information
-
Health Science Advising
Email Advising
321-433-7575
The mission of EFSC nursing programs is to provide accessible, quality education to a diverse group of students for all levels of nursing from PCA to BSN. EFSC nursing programs prepare students to meet individual and community needs while providing quality patient care and modeling civic and ethical behaviors.
Practical Nursing CTC - COURSE CURRICULUM
The Practical Nursing program begins each January and is a clock-hours training program. This means that students learn skills through a series of courses that build on each other through a foundation of classroom instruction that includes course study on Vocational Adjustments; Normal and Abnormal Body Structure and Functions; Fundamentals of Nursing; Human Growth and Development; Nutrition; and Personal, Family and Community Health. This instruction is correlated with clinical instruction and supervised experience in the area of Medical-Surgical Nursing. The remaining instruction includes Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Mental Health Nursing, and Geriatrics. This is also correlated with clinical instruction and supervised experience.
EFSC uses healthcare and community sites for clinical hours throughout the program. Students accepted into the program will be responsible for transportation to all on-campus class and clinical sites required by the program.
Practical Nursing CTC - Admissions Information
Students are admitted to the Practical Nursing Program in the January term only with an annual application deadline of September 1st. Practical Nursing is a limited access program with a separate Selection and Application process in addition to the general EFSC admissions process:
- Meet with a Health Sciences advisor. This is the best way to review program selection and testing requirements and go over the specialized application process.
- Apply for Admission: Interested students should carefully review and complete the customized Application Process. Completed application files are due by the annual September 1st deadline for a Spring Term start.
- If selected, complete Accepted Student Requirements. Students accepted into the Practical Nursing program must undergo a background check and drug screening, with certain immunizations also required. These requirements will be fully explained in the acceptance packet and must be completed within the timeline outlined to finalize full acceptance into the Practical Nursing program.
Brief Costs & Financial Aid Eligibility
Tuition and fees for the 1,350-clock-hour Practical Nursing Career and Technical Certificate program total about $4,500, which does not include any additional costs for course materials, textbooks, or uniforms.
The program is eligible for Federal financial aid and you should apply for financial aid and scholarships that can reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
College Courses You Will Take
The hands-on curriculum will take you from the college classroom and lab to community based clinical instruction where you can put what you've learned into practice. Here are just a few of the courses you will take:
Includes theory, laboratory, and clinical hours focused on the foundations of practical nursing, with the second course in the series adding patient care skills and advanced pharmacological concepts.
Focuses on the interrelations among organ systems and healthy functioning. Students will develop clinical judgment & for diverse patient groups, including complex surgical patients.
Content includes the principles of leadership and management for a licensed practical nurse. This course includes lecture, simulation, and clinical experiences.
Why Study Practical Nursing at EFSC?
State-of-the-Art Training Facility
The clock-hours training program takes place at the Melbourne Campus Health Sciences Institute under the direction of experienced instructors. In addition to classroom space, the Institute provides a safe place for students to demonstrate their clinical skills as they replicate patient care using life-like simulation manikins.
Opportunity to Move on to Advanced Degrees
Becoming an LPN is a great place to start your nursing career. Certain healthcare workers, including Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), are awarded what's called advanced standing in Eastern Florida's Transition to Associate Degree Nursing Program. Practical Nursing program graduates who have achieved state licensure can then work toward becoming an R.N. in that 13-month program. Registered Nurses with an associate degree are eligible to apply for EFSC's fully online RN to BSN bachelor's program, which can lead to more career opportunities.
Related Healthcare Programs
As you consider the Practical Nursing program, be sure to explore the Transition to RN degree program that you can apply for with a head start after becoming an LPN. There are also other healthcare programs you may want to discuss with a health sciences advisor.