Practical Nurse
Do you enjoy caring for others? Practical nursing may be a perfect fit for you.
For some students, the decision to pursue a career in nursing is easy. Maybe you come from a family of nurses or perhaps ever since you were a child, you dreamed of being a nurse. Maybe you experienced a life-changing event that spurred you to look into a career in healthcare. What nursing students all have in common is the dedication, passion and compassion to help others. Our nursing students learn what it takes to provide safe, quality, compassionate care for cross-cultural populations as well as provide care to patients both young and old. Newly licensed graduates could earn $30.42 per hour on average. An education in practical nursing opens doors to opportunities. Make your dream a reality. At Bates, students have access to childcare, public or free transportation to and from the college, and the ability to locally transfer to an ADN or BSN bridge program.
**The Fall Quarter 2023 cohort is full and applications are closed. An updated enrollment process for the Spring Quarter 2024 cohort will begin on Dec. 3. We look forward to supporting you on your journey toward becoming a skilled and compassionate nurse.**
Interested in learning more? Please join us at an upcoming information session via Zoom or in person.
Zoom Information Sessions
Second Thursday, monthly, 3 p.m.
Meeting: 818 3900 8246
Password: 921935
In-Person Information Sessions
Fourth Thursday, monthly, 3-4 p.m.
Downtown Campus, Room B308, 1201 South Yakima Avenue, Tacoma
Contact Information:
Enrollment Services
253-680-7002
Downtown Campus
7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
More about the program:
Please note that the program curriculum is subject to change effective Fall Quarter 2023
Program Mission
To prepare a diverse body of Nursing students to be safe and competent nurses in the community. The Bates Technical College Practical Nurse Program strives to enrich diverse communities, inspire life-long learning, and challenge for greater educational and career achievement.
Program Vision
To prepare nurses who are agents of change that reach diverse communities and connect them to quality and inclusive healthcare.
Program Values
- Collaboration & Communication
- Integrity & Accountability
- Dignity & Respect
- Diversity & Social Justice
- Empathy & Compassion
Program Outcomes
- Nursing Care- Integrate patient-centered care in all aspects of health care practice to provide safe, compassionate culturally and developmentally diverse care.
- Clinical Judgement- Provide safe nursing care by applying current nursing science and clinical reasoning to deliver safe, evidence-based care.
- Professional Behavior and Scope of Practice- Demonstrate integrity by understanding and upholding all ethical and legal principles of the LPN role. Practice and use professional communication with clients and associated healthcare team(s).
- Health Promotion- Enhance and promote the client’s health and well-being and prevent disease.
- Collaboration- Actively participate and collaborate with the health care team to deliver patient-centered care and achieve the best outcomes for patients.
- Quality Improvement – Integrate quality improvement and evidence-based practice to promote the health of clients, families and communities.
- Informatics – Incorporate health care informatics to improve the safety and well-being of individuals and communities across health delivery systems.
Reciprocity Statement
Bates Technical College Practical Nursing Program meets the requirements of the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission for Practical Nurse licensing in Washington state. Bates Technical College does not know if this program meets the requirements of other states for licensing purposes. Please contact the specific state Board of Nursing for their licensing requirements
Degrees & Certificates:
- Associate of Applied Science
- CIP: 51.3901
Program Lengths:
- 3 Quarters for Full Time (starts fall 2023)
- 6 Quarters for Part Time (starts spring 2024)
Faculty and Other Contact Information:
Note: Information is accurate as of its original posting date. The college reserves the right to edit, change, or update information as needed throughout the year. Up-to-date information is available in Student Services.
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Practical Nurse AAS (90 Credits)
Description:Program Required Prerequisite Courses
Course Code Course Title Course Credits BIOL&160 General Biology 5 BIOL&241 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 5 BIOL&242 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 5 ENGL&101 English Composition I 5 MATH&146 Statistics 5 PSYC&100 General Psychology 5 PSYC&200 Lifespan Psychology 5 Additional Program Required Prerequisite Courses for AAS Degree
Course Code Course Title Course Credits BIOL&260 Microbiology 5 CHEM&121 General Chemistry 5 NUTR&101 Intro to Nutrition 5 Practical Nursing Associate of Applied Science Program
Course Code Course Title Course Credits PNUR151 Foundations of Nursing Practice 5 PNUR152 Foundations of Nursing Practice Lab I 2 PNUR153 Mental Health in Nursing Practice 3 PNUR154 Medical Surgical Nursing I 3 PNUR155 Nursing Simulation I 1 PNUR156 Clinical I 1 PNUR157 Foundations of Pharmacology 2 PNUR158 Medical Surgical Nursing II 5 PNUR159 Clinical II 1 PNUR160 Foundations of Nursing Lab II 3 PNUR161 Maternal Health and Care of Children 3 PNUR162 Nursing Simulation II 1 PNUR163 Clinical III 5 PNUR164 Medical Surgical Nursing III 6 PNUR165 Transition to Professional Nursing Practice 3 PNUR167 Nursing Simulation III 1 -
Practical Nurse Certificate (80 Credits)
Description:Program Required Prerequisite Courses
Course Code Course Title Course Credits BIOL&160 General Biology 5 BIOL&241 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 5 BIOL&242 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 5 ENGL&101 English Composition I 5 MATH&146 Statistics 5 PSYC&100 General Psychology 5 PSYC&200 Lifespan Psychology 5 Practical Nursing Certificate Program
Course Code Course Title Course Credits PNUR151 Foundations of Nursing Practice 5 PNUR152 Foundations of Nursing Practice Lab I 2 PNUR153 Mental Health in Nursing Practice 3 PNUR154 Medical Surgical Nursing I 3 PNUR155 Nursing Simulation I 1 PNUR156 Clinical I 1 PNUR157 Foundations of Pharmacology 2 PNUR158 Medical Surgical Nursing II 5 PNUR159 Clinical II 1 PNUR160 Foundations of Nursing Lab II 3 PNUR161 Maternal Health and Care of Children 3 PNUR162 Nursing Simulation II 1 PNUR163 Clinical III 5 PNUR164 Medical Surgical Nursing III 6 PNUR165 Transition to Professional Nursing Practice 3 PNUR167 Nursing Simulation III 1
Complete the Practical Nurse program application
Download the Practical Nurse application (Word)
Prerequisites
Must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (may be evaluated by the director on a case-by-case basis, for lower than 3.0). Students must be a minimum of age 18.
- ENGL& 101
- PSYCH& 100 General Psychology
- PSYCH& 200* Psychology through the Lifespan
- BIO& 160
- BIO& 241 (must include lab) Anatomy and Physiology
- BIO& 242 (must include lab) Anatomy and Physiology
- MATH& 146 (or higher) Basic Statistics
Clinical Participation Requirements
Immunizations
In order to participate in the clinical experiences during the program, the students will need to have the following immunizations completed.
- Current immunization status: Vaccinations must be up-to-date and current.
- IMPORTANT: COVID-19 Vaccine Required: Provide vaccination documentation. Practical Nurse students are required to be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19 according to current CDC guidelines in order to participate in required clinical experiences.
- COVID-19: Must be boosted if you are under the age of 50, and double-boosted if you are over the age of 50, per CDC guidelines.
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR): Two MMR doses of vaccinations or proof of immunity by Titer.
- Varicella (Chicken Pox ): Two doses of the Varicella vaccination or positive antibody by Titer.
- Hepatitis B: Three vaccinations and positive Hep B sAB antibody by Titer.
- TB skin test, two-step: The TB skin test needs to have two tests 1-3 weeks apart and within the last 12 months of the program. The TB test is good for one year and needs to be updated every year.
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (TDaP): Provide documentation of a TDaP vaccination within the last 10 years, or booster date if older than 10 years.
- Influenzas: Provide vaccination for the current year.
- Influenza Required: Provide vaccination for the current year.
Background Check
All students need to complete a background check. More information about this will be provided during the program orientation.
For more information about clinical participation requirements, please consult the Practical Nurse Student Handbook (Coming Soon!).
At Bates, our tuition is affordable and there are options to help make it even easier to gain an education. Federal aid is available for many of our students. Scholarships are also available through the Bates Foundation.
See if you qualify for other funding through our special funding programs with the Workforce Education office.
- National Median Salary: $63,270
- National Potential Annual Job Openings: 60,700
This information is based on data from O*Net, captured on July 2022.
National accreditation
The Bates Technical College Practical Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20032, 202-909-2526.
State and regional approvals
Bates Technical College Practical Nurse Program has conditional approval from the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. Bates Technical College is fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Bates Technical College Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLO) (see updated PSLOs below, effective Fall Quarter 2023)
Upon completion of the Practical Nurse program, the graduate will be prepared to take the licensing examination, and as a beginning practitioner will be able to:
- Assist in implementing the nursing process to provide care that is safe, compassionate, culturally and developmentally appropriate.
- Assessment – make observations, gather data and assist in the identification of needs and problems relevant to the client.
- Analyzing – assist and collaborate in developing a list of actual and potential nursing diagnoses and selecting the goals for care.
- Planning – contribute to the development of nursing interventions to meet the needs of clients and families.
- Implementation – carry out planned interventions to client care.
- Evaluation – appraise the effectiveness of care.
- Make judgments that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe, quality care
- Use communication skills effectively in order to function as a member of the Nursing team and apply beginning skills in verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
- Demonstrate, in a work environment, responsibility for own actions by using critical thinking and decision-making to plan and organize client care.
- Participate in self-assessment, including self-evaluation of personal health habits.
- Seek learning opportunities that will foster growth.
- Apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and responsibilities pertinent to self, client, and others.
- Practice conservation of available resources.
- Follow employer rules and regulations.
- Assist in the health teaching of clients recognizing individual differences.
- Health teaching – assist in the development of teaching plans for individual clients and families.
- Implement teaching of basic health information according to the individualized teaching plan.
- Communicate client’s request for information to appropriate team member.
- Demonstrate an understanding of own role in the health care delivery system.
- Function as a practical nurse within the health care delivery systems.
- Recognize functions of health care delivery system.
- Act as client advocate in health maintenance and clinical care.
- Recognize the need for change health care and demonstrate willingness to participate in effecting change.
- Recognize need to adjust functions to comply with the accepted Practical Nurse role and assist in assessing effectiveness of current nursing practices.
- Discuss the value of belonging to professional organizations.
- Use information systems and patient care technologies in support of safe nursing practices.
Updated PSLO Effective Fall Quarter 2023
Outcomes
1. Nursing Care- Integrate patient-centered care in all aspects of health care practice to provide safe, compassionate culturally and developmentally diverse care.
2. Clinical Judgement- Provide safe nursing care by applying current nursing science and clinical reasoning to deliver safe, evidence-based care.
3. Professional Behavior and Scope of Practice- Demonstrate integrity by understanding and upholding all ethical and legal principles of the LPN role. Practice and use professional communication with clients and associated health care team(s).
4. Health Promotion- Enhance and promote the client’s health and well-being and prevent disease.
5. Collaboration- Actively participate and collaborate with the health care team to deliver patient-centered care and achieve the best outcomes for patients.
6. Quality Improvement – Integrate quality improvement and evidence-based practice to promote the health of clients, families and communities.
7. Informatics – Incorporate health care informatics to improve the safety and wellbeing of individuals and communities across health delivery systems.
Effective Fall Quarter 2023
Fall Quarter Full-Time Practical Nurse Program (scroll below for part-time program)
First Quarter
PNUR 151 Foundations of Nursing Practice I, Credits: 5
PNUR 152 Foundations of Nursing Practice Lab I, Credits: 2
PNUR 153 Mental Health in Nursing Practice, Credits: 3
PNUR 154 Medical Surgical Nursing I, Credits: 3
PNUR 155 Nursing Simulation I, Credits: 1
PNUR 156 Clinical I, Credits: 1
Second Quarter
PNUR 158 Medical Surgical Nursing II, Credits: 5
PUNR 161 Maternal Health and Care of Child, Credits: 3
PNUR 157 Foundations of Pharmacology, Credits: 2
PNUR 160 Foundations of Nursing Lab II, Credits: 3
PNUR 162 Nursing Simulation II, Credits: 1
PUNR 159 Clinical II, Credits: 1
Third Quarter
PNUR 164 Medical Surgical Nursing III, Credits: 6
PNUR 165 Transition to Professional Nursing Practice, Credits: 3
PUNR 167 Nursing Simulation III, Credits: 1
PUNR 163 Clinical III, Credits: 5
Effective Spring Quarter 2024
Part-Time Practical Nurse Program
First Quarter
PUNR 151 Foundations of Nursing Practice, Credits: 5
PUNR 152 Foundations of Nursing Practice Lab I, Credits: 2
PUNR 155 Nursing Simulation, Credits: 1
Second Quarter
PNUR 154 Medical Surgical Nursing I, Credits: 3
PNUR 157 Foundations of Pharmacology, Credits: 2
PUNR 160 Foundations of Nursing Lab II, Credits: 3
Third Quarter
PNUR 158 Medical Surgical Nursing II, Credits: 5
PNUR 162 Nursing Simulation II, Credits: 1
PUNR 156 Clinical I, Credits: 1
Fourth Quarter
PNUR 161 Maternal Health and Care of Child, Credits :3
PUNR 153 PNUR 153 Mental Health in Nursing Practice, Credits: 3
PUNR 159 Clinical II, Credits: 1
Fifth Quarter
PNUR 164 Medical Surgical Nursing III, Credits: 6
PUNR 167 Nursing Simulation III, Credits: 1
Sixth Quarter
PUNR 165 Transition to Professional Nursing Practice, Credits: 3
PUNR 163 Clinical III, Credits: 5
Please review the Practical Nurse program Student Handbook (Coming Soon!)