Course Sequence
Acceptance to the program is required before an applicant will be permitted to register for PN courses.
This is a 37-credit-hour, accredited certificate program that can be completed in one year.
The curriculum includes practical nursing courses and assigned clinical experiences.
Practical Nursing Certificate – 025C
Course Information
Clinical Education Experiences
Clinical experiences may be scheduled during the day, evening and/or weekends at hospitals/clinics located throughout Southern Illinois and in the St. Louis region. Students may be required to travel outside the college district for clinical experience courses. Specific clinical placement cannot be guaranteed, and specific clinical schedules may be changed during courses.
Students should check location and schedule of classes to ensure availability and access. Students are responsible for their own transportation and attendance at any of the classes and clinicals assigned by the program.
Program Capacity
Summer Semester: Red Bud Campus – 20
Fall Semester: East St. Louis Community Center – 24
Spring Semester: Sam Wolf Granite City Campus – 35
Program Location
The Practical Nursing Education program consists of PN-prefix courses and assigned clinical experience. Specific locations depend on the course.
Certification Requirements
Upon successful completion of the Practical Nursing curriculum, graduates are awarded a certificate in practical nursing and are eligible to take the computer adaptive NCLEX-PN exam.To practice as a practical nurse, graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN examination. Graduates who pass the exam may apply to become Licensed Practical Nurses. All states require licensure to practice as a practical nurse.
Graduates who successfully pass the NCLEX-PN may also opt to continue their education at institutions which offer Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) programs or RN-Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Information on ADN or RN-BSN articulation/dual enrollment is available in the Nursing Education office.
Licensure Pass Rate
Examination pass Rate on NCLEX-PN
Benchmark: A minimum of 75% of Practical Nursing graduates will pass the NCLEX –PN exam on the first attempt.
Year 2024 pass rate is 84%
To compare SWIC graduate licensure pass rates to other Illinois colleges, go to the Illinois Approved Nursing Education Program Pass Rates – Last 5 Years: ilapnursingedprogpassrates.pdf (illinois.gov)
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Curriculum
Prerequisites may be required for some courses.
Refer to the Online Course Catalog or Class Search link in eSTORM for a full course description.
First Year
| Total Semester Credits: | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Course | Course Description | Credits |
| PN 100 | Fundamentals of Nursing I | 2 |
| PN 101 | Foundations of Nursing II | 3.5 |
| PN 102 | Fundamentals Clinical I | 2 |
| PN 140 | Human Body Structure and Function | 4 |
| PN 142 | Pharmacology | 3.5 |
| Total Semester Credits: | 5 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| Course | Course Description | Credits |
| PN 120 | Nutrition in Nursing | 2 |
| PN 152 | Mental Health Nursing | 3 |
| Total Semester Credits: | 17 | |
| Total Program Credits: | 37 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| Course | Course Description | Credits |
| PN 154 | Obstetric and Newborn Nursing | 3.5 |
| PN 155 | Pediatrics in Practical Nursing | 2.5 |
| PN 160 | Medical Surgical Nursing I | 3.5 |
| PN 161 | Med Surgical Clinical I | 2 |
| PN 162 | Medical Surgical Nursing II | 3.5 |
| PN 163 | Med Surg Clinical II | 2 |
State Regulatory Requirements
Meets Requirements in
This program MEETS the State educational requirements for licensure, certification or registry in: Illinois, Missouri
Does not Meet Requirements in
This program DOES NOT MEET the State educational requirements for licensure, certification or registry in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Changes?
Changes from Prior Year: N/A
