Practical Nursing is the practice of nursing under the supervision or direction of a registered nurse, licenses physician, or dentist. The Licenses Practical Nurse provides a unique contribution in the care of the individual throughout the life span. This care is based on the knowledge and application of principles and skills in the prevention of illness, and the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health.

The Practical Nursing curriculum is divided into seventeen courses of instruction. Each course has objectives the student should achieve before moving to the next level of instruction. Clinical experience is concurrent with classroom theory. Upon successful completion of the Practical Nursing Program, graduates may apply to take the National Council Licensure examination for Practical Nurses.

Once licensed, employment opportunities for LPNs are found in hospitals, nursing, doctor's offices, and various healthcare agencies.

The philosophy of the program expresses the faculty’s beliefs concerning:

Individual - We believe that each individual is a holistic being with physiological, psychological, sociological and spiritual needs. Because each individual has worth and dignity and reacts uniquely to life experiences, he/she must be allowed to make his/her own choices based on his/her priorities.

Society - A society is a group of individuals from varying cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds. Society and the environment have a continuous interaction that affects each individual. We believe nursing must be accountable to provide quality nursing care to all members of society.

Nursing - We believe nursing is a dynamic profession whose goals involve knowledgeable application of scientific principles and skills in the prevention of illness, as well as promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health. Nursing goals are best accomplished through utilization of the nursing process. We further believe nursing is accountable to society for the quality of the nursing care delivered.

Practical Nursing - We believe the Licensed Practical Nurse provides a unique contribution in the care of the individual throughout the life span based on knowledgeable application of scientific principles and skills in prevention of illness and the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health.

The Learning Process - Learning is a process which results in a change of behavior. We believe the role of the faculty is to facilitate learning. Our goal is to provide a structure within which the student assumes responsibility for learning. We believe the student learns best by active participation. We believe the self-concept moves from dependency toward self-direction and the adult student uses past experiences as a resource for learning and problem solving. The faculty is committed to continual evaluation of the effectiveness of the program of learning and has responsibility for selecting, presenting, and evaluating all materials utilized in the program of practical nursing.

Nursing Education - We believe nursing education can best be administered through an educational institution and is most effectively accomplished through cooperation with nursing services in hospitals, nursing homes, and community health agencies. We believe practical nursing education should be available to all who are physically and mentally qualified and have the aptitude and interest to succeed.

Education as a Life-Long Process - We believe learning is a continuous process throughout life. We believe nursing education should prepare the graduate practical nurse to function as a competent member of the health care team, as well as stimulate the graduate to seek continuous professional growth and leadership.

Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education
1500 W. 7th
Stillwater, OK 74074
405.377.2000

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
61 Broadway
New York, NY 10006
800.669.1656

Oklahoma Board of Nursing
2915 N. Classen Blvd., Suite 524
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
405.962.1800

 

The Practical Nursing Program at Meridian Technology Center was initially established in 1975 and graduated the first class in 1976.

The program closed in 1986 due to a declining enrollment and a decreased need for LPNs in the district.  In 1988, local health-care facilities petitioned the school to reopen the program.  The Oklahoma Board of Nursing approved the proposal for the program, and a class was admitted in the fall of 1989. 

In 1991, the health care facilities in the district expressed a need for more quality applicants for positions in their facilities.  It was decided that a self-paced evening program would be beneficial to assist those potential students who were unable to attend class during the daytime hours.  The evening, self-paced program was approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, and students were admitted in the fall of 1992.

Starting in September, 2003, the Practical Nursing program changed its delivery method from a traditional daytime and student-directed evening program, to a completely student-directed, flexible schedule program. 

The program is student-directed, which means the student completes a majority of the course activities on their own.  The instructor is available at all times as a facilitator of learning. The curriculum is a total of 1500 hours and is based on modules.  These modules give directions or steps that need to be completed for each unit of study.  The student will complete their modules based on the progress required to meet their monthly contract. 

The typical student will take 12 to 17 months to complete the program.  However, program completion depends on the number of hours to which the student commits on a weekly basis.

The first portion of the program will be spent in the classroom completing academic and laboratory experiences.  Following successful completion of a portion of Level I, the remainder of the program will be spent with approximately one-half being academic and one-half being clinical.

Campus academic classes and off-site clinical experiences involve 20 to 35 hours per week.  Students have the flexibility of attending classroom hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. 

Clinical hours will be set, but the student has the option of attending clinical rotations during daytime or evening hours based on availability.  There are some clinical rotations that are only available during daytime hours.  There are scheduled, mandatory quarterly class meetings which all students must attend.

The more curriculum hours a student completes per week, the less time it will take to complete the program.

LEVEL I
Health Core
This course includes orientation, information regarding communication, learning techniques, and development of successful study habits.  Basic skills needed by all beginning healthcare practitioners are introduced. Legal and ethical responsibilities of the healthcare professional are emphasized.  Participation in student organizations is encouraged.

Anatomy and Physiology
This course introduces the student to the anatomy and physiology of the human body.  Basic physical science, life science, and microbiology are included.  The normal functioning of the body systems is discussed.

Nursing Fundamentals
This course consists of fundamental nursing principles and skills.  Patient care skills are mastered in the laboratory and in the clinical setting.

Level I Clinical
Planned and supervised clinical experience in delivery of basic nursing care in a skilled nursing unit or hospital is coordinated with theory of basic personal care needs of all patients.  In addition, the student will demonstrate proficiency in safety procedures, infectious disease control, vital signs, patient focused assessment, and other basic nursing skill needs.  Documentation of nursing care and the use of the nursing process will be included in delivery of care.

LEVEL II
Pharmacology
This course presents fundamental principles and skills in medication classification, administration, and intravenous therapy.  Supervised laboratory practice of skills is required.  Pharmacology is introduced at the beginning of Level II and continues throughout the remainder of the program.

Medical-Surgical I
This course introduces basic principles, skills, and complications of Medical-Surgical Nursing.  Nursing responsibilities associated with the care of the client experiencing testing, hospitalization, anesthesia/surgery, pain, cancer, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, acid-base imbalance, alternative health care, and emergencies. Pediatric care will also be included in this course. Concurrent clinical experiences are provided in Medical-Surgical Nursing and community settings.

Lifespan Development
This course is designed to familiarize the student with the basic concepts of growth and development, care of the infant, care of the child, care of the adolescent, care of the adult, and care of the older adult.  The course further develops the student's ability to assess persons of all ages by yielding knowledge of growth and development patterns which occur throughout the life span.  Growth and development principles are presented from infancy to the older adult.  The course includes the nursing implications during the process of death and dying.

Maternal and Neonatal
Maternal Nursing is designed to familiarize the student with the nursing care of the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum client; and includes the nursing care of the neonate and the normal processes of conception and fetal development.   This course also includes the care of the client with complications of pregnancy as well as the care of the newborn with potential problems.

Level II Clinical
Level II clinical rotations include planned and supervised clinical experience in the delivery of intermediate nursing care in medical-surgical and maternal child health areas.  A 48 hour medication administration rotation is included.  Medication administration will be included in all rotations where students are completing direct care.  The student will complete an observation rotation in the surgery, recovery room, and an endoscopy lab.   Rotations at hospice, adult daycare, home health, and the completion of a child development study are also included.  Students will continue to build on their previous nursing principles and skills, nursing process, and documentation. 

LEVEL III
Mental Health
This course expands the student’s understanding of mental health disorders, nursing interventions, and medical treatment utilized to treat mental illness.  The focus of this course is on general mental illness, substance abuse, crisis intervention, and pharmacodynamics.

Medical-Surgical II
Medical-Surgical Nursing II applies the nursing process in the management of adult and pediatric diseases and disorders of the human body.  This course stresses data collection skills, independent nursing interventions, client teaching and evaluation of clients with major disorders of the various body systems.  Medical management, diagnostic testing, and pharmacotherapeutics are included in the content of this course of study.  Those body systems discussed in Medical-Surgical Nursing II include:  respiratory, cardiovascular, hematologic and lymphatic, gastrointestinal, urinary, musculoskeletal, nervous, sensory, endocrine, reproductive, integumentary and immune systems.

Nursing Leadership
During this course the student will review licensure procedures, gain knowledge in job-seeking skills, leadership, management, career opportunities and responsibilities.  A preceptor program is provided to aid the student in the transition from student to practical nurse.

Level III Clinical
Planned and supervised clinical experiences in more advanced/complex situations in medical surgical care are coordinated with the theory of diseases and disorders.  Students are responsible for medication administration to their patients during these experiences.  Mental health, dialysis, medical office, and team leading experience are also provided.
 

1. Attendance requirements are equivalent to those expected of employees in business and industry.  Excessive absences will negatively affect progress in the program.
2. All conferences concerning attendance issues will be documented and kept in the student’s file.
3. Appointments for personal reasons should not interfere with program commitments.

Retention:  There may be various reasons why students are unable to complete the program.  The most common are:

• Personal reasons due to lack of family or financial support.
• Fast pace and level of stress.
• Attendance problems due to illness of student or small children.
• Inability to maintain 77% grade requirement in each course.

All applicants should review their personal situations in relations to these items to have them taken care of prior to enrollment.

Tuition

12 months	35 hours/week	$3,069.00
14 months	30 hours/week	$3,300.00
17 months	25 hours/week	$4,125.00
21 months	20 hours/week	$5,225.00

(Out-of-district tuition is double)

Expenses

Approximate cost for physical, CPR class, Hepatitis B vaccination series	$250.00
Approximate cost of uniforms	$300.00
Approximate cost of books and supplies	$550.00
Approximate miscellaneous expenses (pins, certification fees, conference, etc.)	$400.00
Approximate cost for background checks and drug screening (if required for clinical eligibility)	$80.00

Students will provide their own transportation to the clinical education sites in various communities three to five days per week.  Travel expense is probably the largest expense students will encounter during this program. 

Tuition costs are subject to change.

Financial Aid:  Adult students may be eligible for financial assistance through grants and scholarships.  Financial aid may not cover all program expenses and cannot be used for the $500 deposit. 

For a complete description of assistance, contact the financial aid officer at (405) 377-3333. 
Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment.

1. Health 

• Students must prove evidence of good health by submitting the Meridian Technology Center Physical Examination Form which has been completed and signed by a physician
• Students must submit evidence of current immunizations. It is recommended that students obtain the Hepatitis B vaccinations as health care workers are at a high risk for contracting the disease. A waiver (release of responsibility) MUST be signed for students not taking the Hepatitis B vaccine.
• Clinical agencies may require drug testing upon entrance or at random. Positive results may result in disciplinary action.
• Students must physically (or with reasonable accommodations) be able to perform the duties of a healthcare worker providing specific duties related to their career:
  • Must be able to bend, walk, reach overhead, stand, lift, carry, push and handle equipment, supplies, or patients
  • Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
  • Must have adequate vision to read and write
  • Must have adequate hearing and be able to converse with others in person or over the phone
  • Must possess fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination
  • Must be able to handle small objects and assist physicians with sterile procedures
  • Must be able to communicate with the patient through verbal responses
  • Must be aware of patient needs and changes in conditions that can be seen and/or heard

2. CPR Certification

• All students are required to show evidence of CPR training by presenting documentation of current CPR certification. This certification must be American Heart Association – Healthcare Provider or American Red Cross – CPR for the Professional Rescuer. Meridian Technology Center offers CPR courses periodically throughout the year

3. Advanced Placement

• Individuals who have previous work or educational experience in health related areas may be eligible for advanced placement or credit. Arrangements for advanced standing should be made prior to entering the program. Contact the program director/coordinator if you are eligible.

4. Criminal Background Check 

All students will be required to submit a criminal history information request to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and/or a national background check agency for a background check of criminal history and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Sex Offenders Registration List. 

Student is responsible for paying fees, which are not included in tuition. 

These background checks should be completed after admission to the program.  Students who have positive response will be reviewed for eligibility to attend clinicals and complete training.

Note:  Although Meridian Technology Center does not discriminate against persons convicted of a felony for admission into health programs, it is important for students to be aware that if a prior felony conviction exists he/she may not be eligible to complete clinical training and/or take certification exams following the completion of the program.  Oklahoma Board of Nursing requires a criminal background check prior to application for state licensure (practical nursing students only).  It is the student’s responsibility to notify the coordinator of prior criminal history upon entry into the program.  This will give adequate time for the coordinator to aid the student in providing the necessary information to the certification agencies.

 

Prerequisites

1. Basic Computer Literacy Course

• Computer course on High School Transcript (2000 or later) or “Computer Applications” course; available at Meridian Technology Center
  or
• “Computers in the Workplace” and “Introduction to the Internet”; online course available through Meridian Technology Center
  or
• Computer Concepts  course at a College, University, or Career Tech

• Course must be completed with a minimum of “C” or better

Enrollment - Enroll in 8 Easy Steps & Checklist

The Practical Nursing program starts new students approximately four times a year, as openings are available. The admission process will be completed twice a year.

Financial Aid

Scholarships

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission www.nlnac.org

Oklahoma Board of Nursing
www.youroklahoma.com/nursing/board.html

Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
www.okcareertech.org