What is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)?
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are entry-level nurses who provide basic, hands-on clinical care under the direction of the patient care team, which usually includes Registered Nurses (RNs), physicians, and other healthcare professionals.
About the Program
Singing River Healthcare Academy, in partnership with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College School of Nursing, is proud to be home to the state of Mississippi’s first Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Apprenticeship. Our students attend classes at MGCCC’s Tradition campus twice a week.
Beginning your healthcare journey in our Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Apprenticeship program will equip you with the skills and knowledge you will need to take and secure your license and begin your career.
Prerequisites
The LPN Apprenticeship Program is currently only accepting applicants employed at Singing River Health System.
Licensure
Successful completion of the MGCCC-sponsored LPN Apprenticeship related technical instruction (RTI) and on-the-job training (OJT) is required. Graduates will be eligible to apply for Licensure from the Mississippi Board of Nursing and take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing® (NCLEX-PN) 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.
Coursework
Over four, 16-week terms, this comprehensive nursing course covers a range of essential topics.
- Term I introduces the nursing profession, including its history, the healthcare system, therapeutic communication, physical assessment, the nursing process, legal and ethical considerations, basic medical terminology, dosage calculation, and pharmacology. It also explores human growth and development, focusing on both adult and pediatric patients, with emphasis on developmental stages, nursing implications, and family challenges. Basic clinical lab skills, including therapeutic communication, sanitary procedures, patient care, vital signs, and data gathering, are also introduced.
- Term II builds upon these fundamentals with intermediate nursing concepts for caring for adults with common illnesses, medication administration, and nutrition. It addresses care for patients with cardiopulmonary disorders, reviewing diseases like pneumonia, COPD, and heart failure. The endocrine system and its relation to aging, as well as care for patients with cancer, hematological, and lymphatic disorders are also covered. Intermediate clinical lab skills, such as sterile gloving, tube feeding, catheterization, and tracheostomy care, are practiced.
- Term III delves into the nervous and sensory systems, the gastrointestinal system, the genitourinary and renal systems, and the musculoskeletal and integumentary systems. Students learn about how these systems function and their relationship to patient health. Advanced clinical lab skills, including medication administration, oxygen administration, and injections, are taught.
- Term IV focuses on specialized areas of nursing, including mental health nursing, covering stress, anxiety, and major mental disorders; obstetrical and gynecological nursing, addressing care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum; and pediatric nursing, focusing on the care of newborns, infants, and pediatric clients.
LPN Career Path
Beginning your healthcare career as an LPN Apprentice can open doors to furthering your career growth as a Registered Nurse (RN) or helping to launch you into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, which can help set you apart and prepare you to move into nursing management, education, and higher pay.
