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.**

Apply to the college 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:

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

  1. Collaboration & Communication
  2. Integrity & Accountability
  3. Dignity & Respect
  4. Diversity & Social Justice
  5. Empathy & Compassion

Program 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 healthcare 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 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:

Julia Campbell, Assistant

253.680.7316

nursinginfo@batestech.edu

Lara Cooper, Director of Nursing

253.680.7297

nursinginfo@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.

  • Description:

     

    Required Courses
    Course CodeCourse TitleCourse Credits
    BIOL&160General Biology5
    BIOL&241Human Anatomy and Physiology I5
    BIOL&242Human Anatomy and Physiology II5
    ENGL&101English Composition I5
    MATH&146Statistics5
    PSYC&100General Psychology5
    PSYC&200Lifespan Psychology5
    Course CodeCourse TitleCourse Credits
    BIOL&260Microbiology5
    CHEM&121General Chemistry5
    NUTR&101Intro to Nutrition5
    Course CodeCourse TitleCourse Credits
    PNUR151Foundations of Nursing Practice5
    PNUR152Foundations of Nursing Practice Lab I2
    PNUR153Mental Health in Nursing Practice3
    PNUR154Medical Surgical Nursing I3
    PNUR155Nursing Simulation I1
    PNUR156Clinical I1
    PNUR157Foundations of Pharmacology2
    PNUR158Medical Surgical Nursing II5
    PNUR159Clinical II1
    PNUR160Foundations of Nursing Lab II3
    PNUR161Maternal Health and Care of Children3
    PNUR162Nursing Simulation II1
    PNUR163Clinical III5
    PNUR164Medical Surgical Nursing III6
    PNUR165Transition to Professional Nursing Practice3
    PNUR167Nursing Simulation III1
  • Description:

     

    Required Courses
    Course CodeCourse TitleCourse Credits
    BIOL&160General Biology5
    BIOL&241Human Anatomy and Physiology I5
    BIOL&242Human Anatomy and Physiology II5
    ENGL&101English Composition I5
    MATH&146Statistics5
    PSYC&100General Psychology5
    PSYC&200Lifespan Psychology5
    Course CodeCourse TitleCourse Credits
    PNUR151Foundations of Nursing Practice5
    PNUR152Foundations of Nursing Practice Lab I2
    PNUR153Mental Health in Nursing Practice3
    PNUR154Medical Surgical Nursing I3
    PNUR155Nursing Simulation I1
    PNUR156Clinical I1
    PNUR157Foundations of Pharmacology2
    PNUR158Medical Surgical Nursing II5
    PNUR159Clinical II1
    PNUR160Foundations of Nursing Lab II3
    PNUR161Maternal Health and Care of Children3
    PNUR162Nursing Simulation II1
    PNUR163Clinical III5
    PNUR164Medical Surgical Nursing III6
    PNUR165Transition to Professional Nursing Practice3
    PNUR167Nursing Simulation III1

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!).

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) (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:

  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.

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.

Learn more about this program's Advisory Committee.

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!)