Practical Nurse (PN) Program

Fall Semester Start

The Practical Nursing Certificate program is designed to meet the educational needs of those who wish to enter a career as a licensed health care worker.  Graduates are employed in various health care settings such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, clinics, physician offices, home health, and community health facilities. The Practical Nursing Program is conducted over a 40-week period beginning in the fall and continued through June. Classes, labs, and clinicals are scheduled full-time. The theoretical, lab and clinical components of nursing courses must be taken concurrently and sequentially. A minimum grade of C, 75% is required for progression in all Practical Nursing courses.

Program outcomes available by clicking practical nursing program outcomes.

To be considered for admission, students must have the following:

High school diploma or equivalent, or associate degree or higher

Completed Admissions Application

Minimum GPA of 2.5 calculated from prerequisite and corequisite courses (English, Math, Psychology, and Sciences) taken within the past 3 years

Assessment Technologies Institute, Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) Exam.  Results are valid for three years. Students may repeat the exam two times within 12 months.  No minimum score required.

Completion of English Composition I (EN 101) with a grade of C or higher.

Completion of a 100-level math course (not MAC) with a grade of C or better or placing into a 200-level mathematics course.

Completion of BI 215 Anatomy and Physiology I and BI 217 Anatomy and Physiology II within a five (5) year time frame with a grade of C+ or higher at the time student records are reviewed for matriculation into the nursing program (Note: students may repeat each science course only once to achieve a C+ within the required 5-year period). Challenge examinations are available for BI 215: Anatomy and Physiology I and BI 217: Anatomy and Physiology II if the applicant has completed the coursework, including the associated labs, within the five-year limit. Students may repeat each science course only once to achieve a C+ within the required 5-year period.

After students have been admitted to the program, the following pre-program requirements must be completed:

Orientation: Nursing students are required to attend a New Student Orientation and Registration session.

Required Pre-Entry Documentation:

After being admitted into a Health Sciences program, students will receive instructions on how to upload required health documentation to an online platform. Students must submit all documents by the published deadline in order to be eligible to start Health Sciences classes.

Medical clearance and proof of immunizations as outlined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and found in the Division of Health Sciences handbook. Proof of CPR certification. The BLS Provider Card (from the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross) or the equivalent from the Military Training Network is the only type of CPR certification that meets this requirement (Copies of both sides and a valid signature or e-card are required).

The student must complete the CORI /SORI (Criminal/Sex Offender Record Information) to authorize a search of conviction and pending criminal case information under Standard Required Level 1 by DCJIS (Department of Criminal Justice Information Services) and a National County Criminal Background as part of the clinical requirements. More information is available on the Division of Health Sciences page on the MassBay website.

PROGRAM FOOTNOTES:

All Nursing (HL and NU) courses must be completed with a grade of 75% or higher.

Competency in Mathematics: Quantitative skills is a MassBay graduation competency for associate degree programs. Prior to graduation, students must demonstrate this competency by completing a 100-level math course (not MAC); or placement into a 200-level mathematics course.

Competency in Critical Thinking is a MassBay graduation requirement.  Students who achieve a C or higher in the Nursing Capstone course (NU 275) have demonstrated competency in critical thinking and have met the required graduation requirement.

Humanities Electives: Art, Communications, English (EN 103 or higher), ESL (ES 100 or higher; up to 6 credits), Film, Foreign Language, Humanities, Literature, Oral Communication, Philosophy, Photography, Sign Language, Theater Arts.

This program qualifies as an Alternative Transfer Agreement (MassTransfer) with select public institutions in Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.mass.edu/masstransfer.

In an effort to be transparent and assist students with their planning, we are sharing the common clinical requirements. These requirements are essential for ensuring that all students are adequately prepared for their clinical placements and can provide safe and effective care to patients.

Common Clinical Requirements*

• CORI
• SORI
• Fingerprinting
• COVID Vaccination
• Flu Vaccination
• TB Screening
• Drug testing
• Hepatitis B Titer demonstrating immunity

Please note that these requirements are subject to change based on clinical affiliation requirements.

*Subject to change based on clinical affiliation requirements.