PN Mission, Program Outcomes, and End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes

PN Mission

As an integral part of the larger college system, the Practical Nursing program faculty endorses the mission of Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) which is committed to helping every student succeed. The College provides high-quality, accessible educational opportunities and skills development to promote life-long learning and engage in the lives of its students and communities (College Catalog). The PN faculty adheres to that mission when offering the Practical Nursing Program. The mission of the Practical Nursing program is to provide a high quality educational program that prepares the student to function as a practical nurse providing safe, quality, evidence-based nursing care in the current healthcare environment and to plan for lifelong learning in the nursing profession.

Program Outcomes

Licensure Exam (NCLEX)

  • The most recent annual licensure examination pass rate for the program will be at least 80% for all first-time test-takers for the same 12-month time period.
  • The most recent annual licensure examination pass rate for the program will be at least 80% for all first-time test-takers on each campus for the same 12-month time period.

Program Completion

  • The 3-cohort mean completion rate for all students enrolled in the first nursing course who complete the program within 150% time will be greater than the College 3-year mean completion rate in 150% time for students earning a technical certificate for the same time period.
  • The 3-cohort mean completion rate for students enrolled in the first nursing course on each campus who complete the program within 150% time will be greater than the College 3-year mean completion rate in 150% time for students earning a technical certificate for the same time period.

Job Placement 

  • 75% of all graduates will be employed in a position requiring PN licensure within 6 months of graduation.
  • 75% of graduates on each campus will be employed in a position requiring PN licensure within 6 months of graduation.

End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes and Related Competencies

The Practical Nursing faculty uses the following student learning outcomes and competencies to measure student achievement of program student learning outcomes and related competencies. 

  1. Provide safe, quality, evidence-based, patient-centered nursing care to restore, promote, and maintain physical and mental health throughout the lifespan in a variety of healthcare settings.

    • Conduct comprehensive and/or focused physical, behavioral, psychological, and spiritual assessment of health and illness parameters in patients experiencing common health problems, using developmentally and culturally appropriate approaches.

    • Work with the professional nurse or other healthcare provider to identify patient needs based on assessment findings.

    • Contribute to a patient-centered plan of care based on knowledge of evidence and patient information/preferences to meet individual patient needs.

    • Provide patient-centered care focusing on restoration, promotion, and maintenance of physical and mental health.

    • Incorporate factors that create a culture of safety when providing patient care.

    • Reinforce patient teaching that reflects developmental stage, age, culture, spirituality, patient preferences, and health literacy considerations.

    • Implement nursing interventions to prevent illness, and restore, promote and maintain physical and mental health of patients across the lifespan.

    • Collect patient outcome data used to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of nursing care.

    • Deliver care within expected timeframe.

    • Communicate information about care provided and evaluation data including appropriate handoff at each transition in care.

    • Incorporate cultural awareness/sensitivity when providing care to diverse patients in a variety of healthcare settings.

    • Assist with the revision of the plan of care based on an ongoing collection of patient data including recognition of alterations to previous patient conditions.

    • Safely perform all psychomotor skills needed for efficient, safe, and compassionate patient care including accurate calculation of dosages.

    • Accurately document all aspects of patient care.

  2. Engage in clinical judgment to make patient-centered care decisions within the scope of practice of the Practical Nurse.

    • Use clinical judgment to ensure accurate and safe care when implementing all steps of the nursing process.

    • Anticipate risks, and predict and manage potential complications for patients experiencing common health problems.

    • Prioritize patient care.

    • Incorporate knowledge of the healthcare system and how it impacts the nurse’s ability to provide safe, quality care. \

  3. Incorporate quality improvement activities to improve patient care.

    • Participate in quality improvement activities.

    • Use the data from quality improvement activities to plan patient care.

    • Report identified quality improvement concerns to appropriate personnel (e.g., nurse manager, risk manager, etc.).

    • Assist in analyzing errors and identifying system improvements.

  4. Participate in collaboration and teamwork with the interprofessional team, the patient, and the patient's support persons.

    • Share pertinent, accurate and complete information with the interprofessional team.

    • Work with the professional nurse to plan patient safety and quality improvements within the context of the interprofessional team.

    • Interpret the impact of team functioning on safety and quality improvement.

  5. Use information technology to support and communicate the provision of patient care.

    • Use patient care technologies, information systems/technologies, and communication devices to support safe nursing practice.

    • Use high quality electronic sources of healthcare information.

    • Enter computer documentation accurately, completely, and in a timely manner. 

  6. Incorporate management, legal, and ethical guidelines within the scope of practice of a Practical Nurse.

    • Practice within the legal and ethical frameworks of practical nursing.

    • Demonstrate accountability for nursing care given by self and/or delegated to unlicensed personnel.

    • Delegate nursing tasks to unlicensed personnel.

    • Advocate for patient rights and needs.

    • Initiate a plan for ongoing professional development and lifelong learning.

 

*These PCCUA Student Learning Outcomes and Related Competencies should not be duplicated in any manner without written permission from PCCUA.