Practical Nurse

Do you enjoy caring for others? A degree in practical nursing may be perfect 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. A degree in practical nursing opens doors to opportunities. Make your dream a reality. At Bates, students have access to childcare, access to public or free transportation to and from the college, and the ability to locally transfer to an ADN or BSN bridge program. Apply today!

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

Downtown Campus

7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Program Affiliations:

  • The logo for NLN CNEA Accreditation

More about the program:

Mission

To prepare qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds for practical nursing licensure by meeting all program learning objectives.

Vision Statement

Nursing is both an art and a science. Nursing is composed of skills requiring a high level of competency and knowledge achieved by observation, study and research. The educational process for Nursing is available to qualified adult learners, regardless of race, color, gender or religious preference.

Values

The Bates Technical College Practical Nursing Program is committed to high quality, current nursing education in a rich, supportive learning environment.

Students prepare for careers as licensed practical nurses in a variety of healthcare settings. Clinical activities are an integral part of this program which is approved by the Washington Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. During the clinical phase, students demonstrate nursing competencies under supervision at clinical sites and improve skills by working with a healthcare professional in a preceptorship role. Graduates are required to apply for licensure with the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission and receive authorization to test for licensure with the National Council of Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and pass the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Additional information and specifics for licensure application and testing is provided in the Nursing Student Handbook and discussed during the final quarter of study.

Degrees & Certificates:

  • Associate of Applied Science
  • CIP: 51.3901 EPC: 326 

Program Lengths:

  • 4 Quarters

Faculty and Other Contact Information:

Eileen Beck

253.680.7368

ebeck@batestech.edu

Julia Campbell, Assistant

253.680.7316

jcampbell@batestech.edu

Lara Cooper, Director of Nursing

253.680.7297

lara.cooper@batestech.edu

Maria Mendez

253.680.7317

maria.mendez@batestech.edu

Bill Swarens

253.680.7334

bswarens@batestech.edu

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.

Prerequisites

Must achieve a B/3.0 or better in all classes (may be evaluated by the director on a case by case bases, for lower than 3.0)

  • ENGL& 101
  • PSYCH& 200* Psychology through the lifespan
  • CHEM& 121* (must include lab) beginning of chemistry
  • BIO& 241 (must include lab) Anatomy and Physiology
  • BIO& 242 (must include lab) Anatomy and Physiology
  • BIO& 260* (must include lab) Microbiology
  • MATH& 146 (or higher) basic statistics
  • NUTR& 101 Nutrition
  • CMST& 210

Admission Requirements

  • Minimum age for program entry: 18 years of age.
  • Criminal background checks: FBI and State of Washington criminal background checks must be completed after paying the $50 college registration fee and before enrolling. Order your background check here.
  • Health status: Current immunization status and medical and dental exam.
  • CPR training: Current American Heart Association, Health Care Provider-approved CPR card.
  • Nursing assistant training and certification
  • Reading and writing assessment
  • Pass a drug screen (10Panel)
  • Possess current liability insurance coverage in the amount of $1 million (optional)

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

Background Check Information

http://audiscreening.com/bates-college/

Bates College Nursing

  • User ID- BATESNURSING
  • PW- PASSWORD

Bates College Bio Tech

  • User ID- BATESBIOTECH
  • PW- PASSWORD

Bates College Dental

  • User ID- BATESDENTAL
  • PW- PASSWORD

CASAS Testing

  • Reading, Writing, and Math Assessment (CASAS): Completed during the first week of class. Performance on the test does not preclude students from participating in the Practical Nurse program.

Health Status Information

Medical and dental exams need to be completed.

  • Current immunization status: ALL 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.

Tuition and Fees

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)

Upon completion of the Practical Nursing Program, the graduate will be prepared to take the licensing examination, and as a beginning practitioner will be able to:

  1. Assist in implementing the nursing process to provide care that is safe, compassionate, culturally and developmentally appropriate.
    1. Assessment – make observations, gather data and assist in the identification of needs and problems relevant to the client.
    2. Analyzing – assist and collaborate in developing a list of actual and potential nursing diagnoses and selecting the goals for care.
    3. Planning – contribute to the development of nursing interventions to meet the needs of clients and families.
    4. Implementation – carry out planned interventions to client care.
    5. Evaluation – appraise the effectiveness of care.
  2. Make judgments that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe, quality care
  3. 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.
  4. Demonstrate, in a work environment, responsibility for own actions by using critical thinking and decision-making to plan and organize client care.
    1. Participate in self-assessment, including self-evaluation of personal health habits.
    2. Seek learning opportunities that will foster growth.
    3. Apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and responsibilities pertinent to self, client, and others.
    4. Practice conservation of available resources.
    5. Follow employer rules and regulations.
  5. Assist in the health teaching of clients recognizing individual differences.
    1. Health teaching – assist in the development of teaching plans for individual clients and families.
    2. Implement teaching of basic health information according to the individualized teaching plan.
    3. Communicate client’s request for information to appropriate team member.
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of own role in the health care delivery system.
    1. Function as a practical nurse within the health care delivery systems.
    2. Recognize functions of health care delivery system.
    3. Act as client advocate in health maintenance and clinical care.
  7. Recognize the need for change health care and demonstrate willingness to participate in effecting change.
    1. Recognize need to adjust functions to comply with the accepted Practical Nurse role and assist in assessing effectiveness of current nursing practices.
    2. Discuss the value of belonging to professional organizations.
  8. Use information systems and patient care technologies in support of safe nursing practices.
First Quarter
TitleCredits
PNUR 202Professional Vocational Relations4
PNUR 202I-BEST Support
PNUR 203Nursing Fundamentals 1 /Sim 17
PNUR 203I-BEST Support
PNUR 204Introduction to Medical surgical Nursing4
PNUR 204I-BEST Support

 

Second Quarter
TitleCredits
PNUR 220Nursing Fundamentals 2 /Sim 24
PNUR 220I-BEST Support
PNUR 223Medical Surgical Nursing 13
PNUR 223I-BEST Support
PNUR 224Pharmacology/Nursing Math4
PNUR 224I-BEST Support
PNUR 222Clinical 1/ Sim 3/ Clinical Math2

 

Third Quarter
TitleCredits
PNUR 230Medical Surgical 25
PNUR 230I-BEST Support
PNUR 235Newborn/ Maternal /Repro/Peds4
PNUR 235I-BEST Support
PNUR 233Clinical 2 /Sim 4 /Clinical Math2
PNUR 234Clinical 3 /Sim 5/ Clinical Math2

 

Fourth Quarter
TitleCredits
PNUR 240Medical Surgical Nursing 37
PNUR 240I-BEST Support
PNUR 241Clinical 4/Sim 6/ Clinical Math2
PNUR 242Preceptorship experience4