Practical Nurses impact patients’ lives and experience in hospitals, long-term care facilities, physician offices, and homes. Working under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician, an LPN provides basic care, administers medications and injections, takes vital signs, assesses, plans, and implements patient care plans, maintains patient records, and observes and monitors patients’ response to treatment. The Massachusetts Board of Nursing defines a licensed practical nurse as one who has successfully completed an approved nursing education program, passed the state licensing exam, and met all other requirements for licensure. The career outlook for Licensed Practical Nurses is favorable as the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the profession as one of the fastest growing profession in the United States. With a growth rate of 25% by 2022, the profession is well above the average growth rate of all professions. LPNs in Massachusetts earn a median hourly wage of $25.55 which translates to a yearly mean wage of $53,020.
MassBay Community College
Students completing the Board-approved Practical Nursing program at MassBay Community College will receive a certificate which will make them eligible to take the state’s NCLEX-PN exam. The daytime-only class concludes 40 weeks following the fall enrollment. The curriculum includes lecture, lab, and clinical experiences and emphasizes patient-centered care as students develop skills in a broad range of nursing activities. Course topics include medical terminology, essentials of nutrition, the foundations of practical nursing, issues and trends in practical nursing, introduction to medical-surgical nursing, life span psychology, principles of pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, and care of the family. Courses must be taken concurrently and sequentially, and students must maintain a minimum grade C for progression in all the practical nursing courses.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent or associate degree or higher
- Attend an information session
- Place into Freshman English or complete Fundamentals of Composition with a grade of C or higher
- Place into Intermediate Algebra or complete Introductory Algebra with a grade C or higher
- Complete the Reading Assessment Test with a score of 245 or higher
- Complete prerequisite courses with a grade C or higher – Anatomy and Physiology I and II
- Submit documentation from a healthcare provider indicating completion of Hepatitis B vaccine
- Take and pass the HESI (A2) exam with a score of 70% or better – scores are valid for one year or a minimum composite score of 60% on the ATI TEAS
- Attend a mandatory New Student Orientation
- Initiate a Castle Branch account at least 6 weeks before the first day of class
- Upload medical clearance with proof of immunization to the Castle Branch account
- Provide proof of CPR certification – Basic Life Support Provider Card from the American Heart Association
- Complete Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) form to authorize search of conviction and pending criminal case information
Tuition for the 44-credit program for resident students is $8,960. Additional costs for books, supplies, and uniforms are not included.
- Website: https://www.massbay.edu/academics/health-sciences/nursing/practical
- Address: 50 Oakland Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
- Phone: 781-239-3000
- Email: info@massbay.edu
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100%
Greater Lowell Technical High School
The Practical Nursing Program at Greater Lowell Technical High School gives high school graduates the opportunity to prepare for employment in an in-demand industry. The program runs for 40 weeks and includes 1097 hours of classroom and clinical instruction. The classroom instruction includes lectures, seminars, demonstrations, and presentations in the fundamentals of nursing, the role of the practical nurse, communication, legal and ethical issues, leadership, professionalism, medical-surgical nursing, mental health concepts, and issues and trends. The clinical experience, which takes place at various healthcare facilities, gives students the opportunity to apply the principles learned in the classroom. Successful graduates are eligible to take the state licensing exam. The program is available as both a daytime and evening/weekend option. The daytime division is open for admission every August and meets Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 2:35 pm. The evening division admits 40 new students every August and concludes in June. Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 4:00 pm to 10:30 pm and every other weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm.
Admission criteria:
- Complete the online registration form and pay the application fee of $40 for the one-time entrance exam
- Must be at least 17.5 years of age before classes begin
- Take and pass the ATI TEAS with a passing score of at least 60%
- Attend an interview via Zoom
- Provide a Personal Statement of not more than 200 words
- Provide a copy ore resume indicating an healthcare related work
- Provide official high school and college transcripts
- Provide three letters of reference from current/former supervisors and/or teachers. Must be on company/business letterhead
- Provide proof of Citizenship status
- Provide social security card and proof of residency
- Upload medical clearance with proof of immunization to the Castle Branch account
- Provide proof of CPR certification – Basic Life Support Provider Card from the American Heart Association
- Complete Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) form
Tuition for in-district students is $7,500. Out of district students pay $11,579. Financing is available through Pell Grants and Direct Loans for qualifying students.
- Website: https://www.gltech.org/domain/99
- Address: 250 Pawtucket Boulevard, Tyngsborough, MA 01879
- Phone: 978-454-5411
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 89%
Northshore Community College
The Practical Nursing Program at Northshore Community College is a 10-month program that concludes with a certificate for successful students. The student-centered curriculum emphasizes the development of technical competencies, critical thinking and communication skills, and patient safety. Experienced faculty guide students’ development using relevant learning experiences in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings. Graduates of the Massachusetts Board-approved program are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN for state licensure.
Admission criteria:
- Attend a mandatory information session before submitting an application
- Take and pass the ATI TEAS with a scores of Reading (69%) Math (63.3%), Science (45.8%), English (54.2%). Applicants are limited to two attempts
- Submit an application online
- Upload copy of high school transcript or GED score report to the student account
- Demonstrate communications proficiency. This may be demonstrated through SAT or Accuplacer scores
- Demonstrate math proficiency – SAT or Accuplacer scores are accepted
- Submit an electronic reference from a most recent employer. Must include name and email address of reference on the application
- Upload a completed essay responding to the question – “Why would you like to pursue a Practical Nursing career and what qualities do you feel would make you a good candidate for our program.”
- Submit all official college transcripts from previously attend colleges
- Must undergo a criminal background check
- Submit evidence of physical and emotional health
- Submit a completed immunization record – TdaP, MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Meningitis, TB test
- Provide proof of current CPR certification(BLS certified from the American Heart Association) and health insurance
Tuition for the 16-month program is $9,589 for resident students. Books and supply cost must be added to the total.
- Website: https://www.northshore.edu/academics/programs/pnr
- Address: 1 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923
- Phone: (978) 762-4000
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 96%
Quincy College
The Practical Nursing Certificate program at Quincy College is founded on sound educational principles. The blended curriculum covers Nurse of the Future Competencies and concept-based learning. Nurse of the Future Competencies serve as the major program concepts. Students learn in a supportive environment that encourage student contributions and active involvement. Course topics include college algebra, growth and development, human behavior, microbiology, nutrition, fundamentals of practical nursing, applied anatomy and physiology, introduction to care of the adult, medical-surgical nursing, and practical nursing across the continuum. All students must attend the scheduled clinical experiences, which take place in a variety of healthcare settings. Full-time students complete the certificate requirements in 10 months, and part-time students take two years to graduate. Full-time classes meet Monday through Friday for approximately 30 hours a week. Part-time students meet three times a week for approximately 20 hours. Acceptance to the program does not guarantee clinical placement.
Admission criteria:
- Attend a required Nursing Program Information Session – dates are available on the website
- Submit an application for admission to the PN program and the non-refundable application fee.
- Submit official high school transcript or GED scores
- Submit official college transcripts from previously attended colleges
- Submit copies of any certifications in the medical field – CNA, medical assistant, etc.
- Schedule and pass the ATI TEAS test – Reading 65% or higher, Math 50% or higher, English 55% or higher
- Provide information for a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check
- Register with CastleBRanch and upload mandatory health data including but not limited to proof of current immunization, physical exam, criminal background check results, and current health care provider CPR
Tuition for the 44 credit program is $25,731 plus expenses for textbooks, prerequisite courses, fees, CastleBranch, and clinical supplies.
- Website: http://www.quincycollege.edu/academic-divisions/nursing
- Address: 1250 Hancock St., Quincy Center, MA 02169
- Phone: (617) 405-5920
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100%