Health Arts: Practical Nursing Emphasis

Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)

About this program

You set your sights on a career in nursing. You’re motivated to give back. And driven to care for others. At Penn College, you’ll meet your passion head-on with our comprehensive practical nursing program. Delivered by dedicated masters-prepared faculty, coursework includes 900+ hours of hands-on training in labs, classrooms, and clinical experiences. When you’re done, you’ll be well-prepared to take the Practical Nursing licensing exam (NCLEX-PN).

Special Admissions Requirements

A limited number of seats are available in this program. That’s why we rely on selective admission criteria to select applicants with the highest potential for success. Entry into the program is competitive. There are a number of pathways to earn your seat including, but not limited to, TEAS, SAT, or ACT scores. Read more about the selection criteria →

Cohort size may vary based on clinical site availability and alignment with accreditation requirements. Students who are not selected into their desired program may be eligible for selection into another Nursing & Health Sciences program depending on seat availability. For additional information, please contact the appropriate program director.

Semesters of Nursing Coursework

900+

Hours of Hands-On Learning

95%

NCLEX-PN Performance Exam First-Time Pass Rate

Careers

Extended-care facilities
Home health agencies
Private duty nursing
Physician/dentist offices
Hospital acute care settings

License/Certification Disclosure Information →

Courses

At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.

Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.

Medical Terminology Survey (MTR100)
Fundamentals of Practical Nursing (NUR156)
Adult Health Nursing I (NUR158)
Adult Health Nursing II (NUR168)
Maternal/Newborn Nursing (NUR177)
Child Health Nursing Concepts (NUR179)
Adult Health Nursing III (NUR178)

Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.

Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO115)
General Psychology (PSY111)
Human Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO125)

Foundations are the practical, intellectual, and social skills: communication, collaboration, critical and ethical thinking, quantitative thinking, and technological literacy that are crucial to every student at every stage of education and at every stage of life.

Math Elective (MTH124 or Higher) (MNA)
English Composition I (ENL111)
Information, Technology, and Society (CSC124)
English Composition II (ENL121) or
Technical and Professional Communication (ENL201) or
Speech Elective (SPC)

View full course list

Facilities

Lab Tour

Take a look inside one of the largest programs on campus. Check out the specialized learning labs, the family of high-fidelity manikins, and everything this program has to offer.

Facilities

Advanced Learning Labs

Gain valuable hands-on skills working in six different nursing labs outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment including a series of high fidelity patient simulators: Nursing Anne, SimBaby™, SimJunior®, SimMan® 3G, SimMan® ALS, and SimMom®.

Student Experience

"The classroom and clinical instructors did more than prepare and educate me – they inspired and motivated me. They made me think outside of the box, helping mold me into the nurse leader I am today."

Andrea Reed, Director of Nursing, UPMC Susquehanna Muncy

Nursing