Nursing

Vermont Tech offers a Practical Nursing (PN) certificate and an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. These programs are offered at four locations across the state with campuses in Bennington, Brattleboro, Williston, and Randolph Center. Both programs are also offered in a distance learning format at several locations around Vermont.

The PN program extends over two semesters and one summer session. Students learn PN skills through independent study, lectures, demonstrations, and practice in a nursing arts lab. Under instructor supervision, students also provide patient care in a variety of health care settings in neighboring health care agencies.

Upon completion of the program, PN graduates are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX for Practical Nurses. ADN program graduates are awarded an Associate of Science in Nursing and are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX for Registered Nurses. The Vermont State Board of Nursing application requests information regarding past history of substance abuse, prior felony convictions, and failure to pay child support and/or taxes for all graduates. Other states may ask similar questions. It is the Board’s responsibility to determine eligibility to sit for the licensure examination and to issue the license to practice. For more information, please refer to http://vtprofessionals.org/opr1/nurses

After licensure, PN graduates typically find employment in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care agencies and work under the supervision of a registered nurse, physician, or dentist. With experience, they can assume increasing responsibilities in the nursing field.

The ADN program articulates with the PN program and requires two further semesters of full-time study. The program is selective and rigorous and there is no assurance of admission from the PN program. Additionally, the twelve clinical credits earned in the PN program do not transfer to the ADN program. Vermont Tech also maintains articulation agreements with UVM for their BSN program and with Champlain College for their BS in Healthcare Management.

ADN graduates are prepared to work in a health care setting under the supervision of more experienced practitioners. With experience, they can assume increasing responsibilities and may be responsible for supervising others.

Students with a Certificate in Practical Nursing will be able to:

Employ the nursing process for selected clients to maintain, achieve, or regain their optimal level of self-care
Integrate knowledge of scientific, behavioral, and cultural principles in the care of clients in a variety of settings
Establish collaborative relationships with members of the nursing and health team
Maintain confidentiality in clinical setting and support the use of legal and ethical standards
Assume the role of a member of an interdisciplinary team
Provide care which maximizes the self-care potential of individuals across the lifespan in a variety of health care settings
Contribute to the development of a teaching plan for the client with an alteration in basic self-care needs
Assume responsibility for self-directed, goal-oriented growth

Students with an Associate of Science in Nursing will be able to:

Evaluate the plan of care to assist clients with complex health care needs to maintain, achieve, or regain their optimal level of self-care
Select appropriate scientific, behavioral, and cultural principles for the care of clients with complex needs in diverse settings
Evaluate interpersonal skills in professional practice
Incorporate behaviors consistent with legal and ethical standards of professional practice
Assume the role of manager of care within the interdisciplinary team
Competently deliver nursing care which maximizes the self-care potential of individuals with complex health needs in diverse settings
Evaluate a comprehensive teaching plan to meet the physical and emotional needs of individuals and groups with common and complex health care needs
Demonstrate accountability for growth as individuals, as members of society, and as professional nurses

The normal number of credits required for the certificate is 47; for the degree it’s 70.

Certificate in Practical Nursing

First Year

Fall Semester	Credits	Winter Semester	Credits
BIO 1030 - Nutrition	3	BIO 2012 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II	4
BIO 2011 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I	4	NUR 0121 – Principles & Practices of Nursing II	4
NUR 0111 – Principles & Practices of Nursing I	4	NUR 1010 - Pharmacology for Nursing	3
NUR 1020 - The Nurse-Client Relationship	3	NUR 1121 – Principles & Practices of Nursing II	5
NUR 1111 – Principles & Practices of Nursing I	5	PSY 1050 - Human Growth & Development	3
	19		19

		Spring 2 Semester**	Credits
		NUR 0131 – Principles & Practices Nursing III	4
		NUR 1131 – Principles & Practices of Nursing III	5
			9

Associate Degree in Nursing

Second Year

Fall Semester	Credits	Spring Semester	Credits
BIO 2120 - Elements of Microbiology	4	ENG 2080 - Technical Communication	3
ENG 10XX - English	3	MAT 1040 - Mathematics for Allied Health	2
NUR 2010 - Transition/Trends in Nursing	2	NUR 2011 - Advanced Pharmacology	1
NUR 2030 –Principles & Practices in Nursing IV	3	NUR 2130 – Principles & Practices in Nursing V	5
NUR 2040 –Principles & Practices in Nursing IV	2	NUR 2140 – Principles & Practices in Nursing V	4
ELE XXXX – AH elective	3	PSY 1010 - Introduction to Psychology	3
	17		18

* PN students may not enroll in spring or summer courses until after Spring2 courses are complete (see VSC enrollment consortium agreement).

Note: All BIO and NUR courses and PSY 1050 must be completed with a grade of "C" or better to continue in the program; only 35 credits from the PN program will count toward cumulative credits.

The certificate program includes 495 hours of theory and 630 hours of clinical/lab; the degree program includes 420 hours of theory and 315 hours of clinical/lab.

Any student who fails to receive a passing grade in the clinical and/or didactic portion of their final semester Nursing and/or Allied Health course is considered to have failed the program and is not eligible to participate in commencement activities.