Practical Nursing

Nursing is an essential part of our healthcare system. If you love caring for people and making a difference in people’s lives, get started on your healthcare career today. 

What’s a Practical Nurse? A Practical Nurse or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) are an important part of the U.S. healthcare system. LPNs provide hands-on care to patients under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs) and physicians. LPNs are often in charge of basic bedside care for patients, including taking vital signs, treating bedsores, preparing and giving injections, applying dressings, monitoring catheters and more. With additional training, LPNs can also administer intravenous (IV) fluids and medications. 

The Emily Griffith Practical Nursing program is one of the oldest in the state of Colorado. It began in 1949. In our program, you will learn how to give direct patient care in a multi-disciplinary healthcare setting. You’ll start learning and practicing essential skills immediately in our nursing skills lab and then move on to clinicals in local health care facilities. 

National accreditation

The Emily Griffith Practical Nursing program is accredited through the Accreditation Commision for Nursing Education (ACEN). The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, 3343 Peachtree Rd, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326; (P) 404-975-5000; (F) 404-975-5020; acenursing.org.

Students who complete the program are qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN Examination) Passing this exam qualifies you as nationally licensed LPN. If you successfully complete the IV Therapy for LPNs course, you are eligible for IV certifiation by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. 

Clinical placement: Complete 4 different clinical placements in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, nursing facilities, and more. 

Program Requirements: In order to apply for the Practical Nursing program at Emily Griffith, you will need to complete several prerequisites and submit an Admissions Portfolio. You must be certified as a nurse assistant (CNA) or must have completed a medical assistant (MA) program. You will also need to complete the BIO 106 course and HPR 139 or HPR 178 course before you can enter the Practical Nursing program. 

Learn more about the Practical Nursing Admissions Process here. And view the full Admissions Portfolio Checklist here. 

The priority deadline to submit a portfolio for the Evening August 2021 cohort is October 2020. The priority deadline to submit a portfolio for the Day January 2021 cohort 1st, 2020. 

Want more information? Get the Practical Nursing Program Flyer, the Practical Nursing  Program Checklist, the Practical Nursing Student Handbook, Practical Nursing Achievement Outcomes and the Practical Nursing Student Outcomes.

Public announcement of upcoming accreditation review visit by the ACEN.

What Can I Do with an Emily Griffith Practical Nursing Certificate?

Graduates from Emily Griffith’s Practical Nursing program have gone on to work as an LPN in:

  • Ambulatory Care Centers
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities
  • Hospital Systems
  • Correctional Care
  • Long-term Care Facilities

Students who complete their LPN can also go on to other careers in the healthcare field, including Registered Nurse (RN), Nurse Practitioner (NP), Physician’s Assistant (PA) and administrative roles. 

Required Practical Nursing Courses

These are the classes you will take as a Practical Nursing student. The Practical Nursing program qualifies for federal financial aid.

Prerequisite Courses

  • Medical Terminology
  • Basic Anatomy and Physiology
Health & Wellness
$11,701
Approximate cost. Additional material and book fees may apply
11 Months FT / 18 Months PT
Full-time program length
8/17/2020
Next Start Date
Apply to Emily Griffith Technical College

Course Information

Required Courses

Course Code Course Title Credits
NUR 102 Alterations in Adult Health I 4
NUR 103 Basic Assessment for the PN 1
NUR 105 Practical Nursing Arts and Skills 6
NUR 170 Clinical I 3
NUR 102 Alterations in Adult Health I

Provides acquisition of basic nursing theory, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking necessary for safe, patient-centered nursing care to diverse adult patients experiencing common health alterations requiring medical/surgical interventions. The course introduces Practical Nursing and incorporates the legal and ethical responsibilities of the Practical Nurse.

Start Date: 08/17/2020
Instructor: Monica Johnston
NUR 103 Basic Assessment for the PN

Provides the theoretical knowledge and psychomotor skills used by the Practical Nurse performing a basic assessment of health status of stable adult patients with predictable outcomes, including collecting, reporting, and recording objective/subjective data, observing conditions or changes in condition, and differentiating normal from abnormal findings. Principles of therapeutic communication and patient teaching are included. Includes practice collecting basic assessment data in the nursing skills laboratory.

Start Date: 08/17/2020
Instructor: Peggy Korman
NUR 105 Practical Nursing Arts and Skills

Employs basic nursing theory and applies that theory and theory from other co-requisite nursing courses to the performance of nursing skills. Communication, collaboration, and critical thinking necessary for safe, patient-entered nursing care are applied to the care of patients across the lifespan with stable and predictable outcomes. The course applies guidelines related to the professional, legal, and ethical scope of practice of the Practical Nurse, including demonstrating safe performance of all psychomotor skills.

Start Date: 08/17/2020
Instructor: Peggy Korman
NUR 170 Clinical I

Offers the clinical practicum to apply the related nursing theory.

Start Date: 08/17/2020
Instructor: Monica Johnston
EMILY’S STORIES


"If you want to do it, go back and do it!"

Nia initially came to Emily Griffith to get her GED after she discovered she was pregnant. She left off for a while but decided to return last spring. A big motivation for returning was to show her kids that it is never too late to come back to school. 

She had a lot of anxiety around the new test and was initially discouraged after she stared class. But her teacher was so supportive, she knew she could do it this time. And she did! She finished and passed all of her tests this June! 

Now she’s planning on getting her certificate in Phlebotomy at Emily Griffith starting in January. She is in recovery and is interested in working in a rehab facility in order to help others going through the recovery process. 

She says it’s never too late to finish your education, “If you want to do it, go back and do it!”

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