Practical Nursing (PN)

Fall Entry
(Jackson County Campus, Jefferson Davis Campus, Perkinston Campus)

Fall Entry Only
(George County Center)

Summer Entry Only
(PN Exit Option
(George County Center)

At Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, we are proud to offer nursing program options which will allow our students to choose the nursing career path that is best suited to their current needs.

The MGCCC Nursing Division offers three nursing education options:

• Associate Degree Nursing
• Practical Nursing
• LPN to RN Mobility Track

The Practical Nursing (PN) program option includes one semester of pre-requisites and three semesters of nursing course work. The curriculum consists of nursing courses included in the first year of the ADN curriculum, as well as, one semester of PN exit courses. The PN program is designed to prepare students to become licensed practical nurses. The program is state accredited by the Mississippi Department of Education/State Board of Community and Junior Colleges (SBCJC), 3825 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211 (601 432-6518) and nationally accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30326 (404- 975-5000)

Successful completion of the Practical Nursing Option leads to an MGCCC diploma. Graduates will be eligible to apply for licensure from the Mississippi Board of Nursing and take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing® given by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and will earn the title Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) credentialed upon successful completion of the exam.

Program Mission, Concepts and Outcomes

The mission of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Nursing Program is to provide a learning environment that facilitates the development of qualified persons in the community to achieve the goal of becoming nurses who value the concepts of caring, competence and professionalism.

The Concepts and Outcomes of the Practical Nursing program are:

• Practice nursing that is client centered, caring, culturally sensitive and based on the physiological, psychosocial and spiritual needs of clients (Client-Centered Care).
• Serve as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team to promote continuity of client care (Interdisciplinary Collaboration)
• Use current evidence from scientific and other credible sources as a basis for nursing practice and clinical judgment (Evidence-Based Practice).
• Promote quality improvement by contributing to implementation of care related plans to improve health care services (Quality Improvement).
• Provide a safe environment for clients, self and others (Safety).
• Use information technology in the provision of client care (Informatics).
• Provide selected health-related education with guidance (Client-Education).
• Practice nursing in a professional, ethical, and legal manner (Professionalism).

Admission Procedure

1. Make application and be accepted to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Application can be completed online.
2. Submit copies of official transcripts of all schools attended to the Office of Admissions. All transcripts must be reviewed by the Office of Admission for determination of course credits.
3. Meet all Academic Requirements (listed below) and complete any program pre-requisites or Entry Requirements.
4. After successful completion of all academic and entry requirements, the student may submit a Nursing Application for Program Admission beginning April 15th of each year for Fall entry students. Please meet with a counselor on the Campus/Center of your choice to submit and complete your Practical Nursing Program Application Packet.

Application deadline for Fall Entry programs is July 1^st. All test scores, transcripts and required documentation must be received by this date. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Late applications may be considered depending upon the availability of program openings.

Academic and Entry Requirements

• Achieve a minimum ACT Composite Score of 18; to waive a composite ACT score of less than 18, the applicant must successfully complete 24 semester hours of degree-required courses with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. The 24 credit hours must include Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy & Physiology II and Microbiology with a grade of “C” or better in each. Science Courses (A&P I, II & Microbiology) must be less than 5 years old unless applicant is a LPN to RN Transitional student, a post professional BS degree conferred student, or has a conferred Health –related Associate of Applied Science Degree. (A post Baccalaureate-Degree student is defined as a student who currently holds a bachelor’s degree and is now pursuing the Associate of Applied Science Degree or a diploma in Nursing). Science Courses may be repeated only once within the five year period.
• Attend a Mandatory Pre-Nursing Orientation Session (Check http://www.mgccc.edu/programs_of_study/health_related_programs/ for current dates & times).
• Achieve a composite score of 60 or above on the TEAS V test.
• Comply with Mississippi law requiring a Criminal Background History Check with Fingerprinting through the Mississippi Department of Health. All Practical Nursing applicants are required to obtain a clear or acceptable Criminal Background Check from the MGCCC Campus Police at JD, JC, Perkinston or the George County Campus/Center. MGCCC’s Criminal Background Check Policy (including days and times) can be viewed on-line at http://www.mgccc.edu/programs_of_study/health_related_programs/

Selection Process

Program openings are filled based on Selective Admission; applicants are ranked based on their individual achievement test scores and prior college course work. Student ranking for entry into the Practical Nursing program is based on a point system and residency. Students are awarded points for the required ACT composite score, the G.P.A. (pre-requisite courses, plus any other work. Student ranking for entry into the Practical Nursing program is based on a point system and residency. Students are awarded points for the required ACT composite score, the G.P.A. (pre-requisite courses, plus any other degree-required nursing courses or previous nursing courses taken at MGCCC or another institution within the last five years), and the TEAS examination result. In-district applicants (Mississippi residents of Harrison, Jackson, Stone and George Counties) are admitted before out-of-district applicants (Mississippi residents of counties other than Harrison, Jackson, Stone and George). Out-of-state applicants are not admitted until all in-state applicants are admitted. Program enrollment is limited; however, enrollment is also influenced by availability of clinical rotation slots, applicant numbers, and faculty. Students who are selected are also held to the following program policies.

Practical Nursing Program Policies

• All Nursing and Allied Health students must submit to substance testing in accordance with the Substance Testing Policy and Procedures for Nursing and Allied Health Programs. The Nursing and Allied Health Program’s substance testing policy can be viewed on-line at www.mgccc.edu/programs_of_study/health_related_programs/.
• A student must be deemed physically and emotionally able to meet the requirements for the Practical Nursing program. A physical examination, immunization records, CPR Certification and completed health form, signed by a Medical Physician, is required prior to the first meeting of the program.
• Upon admission to the Practical Nursing Program, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA on the required courses and complete each course with a C or better.
• Adherence to additional clinical affiliation requirements may be necessary depending on clinical rotation placement. (i.e. hospital orientation, HIPPA training, etc.)