Practical Nursing
What is Practical Nursing?
It is a career in which the licensed practical nurse is prepared to provide nursing care for clients in a
variety of health care settings under the supervision
of a licensed health professional authorized by the
Virginia Board of Health Professions.
Who may apply?
1. Students entering their senior year in Henrico
County Public Schools.
2. Adults* who are employees of Bon Secours
Richmond Health System or who reside in Henrico
County.
3. Adults* residing outside Henrico County.
*minimum GPA of 2.5 required
What is the program like?
The program is eighteen (18) months in length.
The first nine months constitute Practical Nursing I
and is taught at Hermitage Technical Center from
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. and
Highland Springs Technical Center from 12:30 p.m. -
3:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
Senior students attend their home school for half
of each school day and the technical center for the
other half day. Adults attend either the morning or
afternoon session, depending on senior students’
enrollment, or the night session.
Practical Nursing II, or the last nine months, is
full-time, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Friday. Students
gain clinical experience in a variety of community
settings and at Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital.
Courses include:
Practical Nursing I
Introduction to Nursing (30 hrs.) introduces the beginning
student to the practical nursing program and
to nursing as a career. Information is provided on the
expectations and relationships encountered in nursing
practice including legal and ethical aspects, licensure,
employment, and current trends in health care.
Structure and Function (96 hrs.) describes the
healthy person as a physical being. The sequence of
the course begins with cells and proceeds to tissues,
organs, and systems.
Nursing Fundamentals (189 hrs.) provides knowledge
of the principles as well as the performance of
the procedures that are essential to the basic nursing
care of patients. Learning experiences are provided
by classroom instruction and laboratory practice.
Nutrition (33 hrs.) emphasizes basic nutritional requirements
to maintain wellness in various developmental
stages. A study of the nutrients, their sources
and functions, basic requirements, and an introduction
to diet therapy are included.
Geriatrics (75 hrs.) teaches the normal process of
aging and helps the student to develop a positive
attitude toward the aging individual in society.
Pharmacology (30 hrs.) provides basic information
to prepare and administer medications and observe
for therapeutic and/or side effects.
Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing (80 hrs.)
provides the knowledge and understanding of
selected disease conditions and their causes,
treatments and nursing care. The course supplies the
student with the background for recognition of the
major classifications of illness and the major health
problems of the community.
A final grade of a "77" (C) or better must be earned in each of these courses to progress to Practical
Nursing II.
Practical Nursing II
Medical-Surgical Nursing I (219 hrs.) and Medical-Surgical Nursing II (200 hrs.) introduce the student to the major medical and surgical conditions of the adult patient. Theory and clinical
experiences are correlated. Emphasis is placed on the
development of nursing skills and competencies in
the medical-surgical setting to meet the individual’s
nursing care needs.
Maternity (132 hrs.)/Pediatrics (132 hrs.) provides
the student with knowledge, understanding, and
nursing skills related to the needs of women during
all phases of childbearing, including the welfare and
care of the newborn. Basic needs of children at
various stages of development and the nursing care of
sick children are taught. Emphasis is placed on
prevention of illness and maintenance of wellness.
Psychiatry (132 hrs.)/Community/Rehabilitative
Nursing (132 hrs.) provides the student with skills
which will aid in recognizing the emotional needs of
patients. The focus of Community/Rehabilitative
Nursing is outside the acute care setting. The roles of
the LPN in leadership, end-of-life issues, and
community-based care are explored.
Integrated Medical-Surgical Nursing (132 hrs.)
provides the student the opportunity to provide comprehensive
nursing care in an acute setting, including
intraoperative, post-operative, interventional and
emergency nursing, emergency preparedness and
bioterrorism.
A final grade of a "77" (C) or better must be earned
in each course to progress to the next course during
Practical Nursing II.
Classroom work will relate closely to the
student’s selected learning experience in Practical
Nursing II.
To officially withdraw from the program, a student
must state his intent in writing to the program
coordinator.
Applicants seeking to transfer into the program will
be considered on an individual basis. They must meet
the admission requirements and must complete a minimum of 2/3 of Practical Nursing II.
This program is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing and the Virginia Department of Education. It also is accredited by the National League for
Nursing.
The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) is a resource for information regarding tuition, fees, and length of program. The NLNAC address is 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006. Phone number 212-363-5555, ext. 153.