What will I learn in a Practical Nursing Diploma program

Earning your scrubs and beginning your nursing career sooner rather than later certainly sounds like a good plan. But what will you actually learn in an LPN diploma program? Let’s walk through the skills, courses and clinical experience you’ll gain.

LPN skills

Nurses at all levels need a variety of soft skills that help them effectively connect and communicate with patients. Critical thinking, communication and working well with others are all necessary traits for LPNs, according to ONET.

These transferable skills and others—such as digital fluency, information literacy and ethics and professional responsibility—are a specific focus of the Practical Nursing Diploma program at Rasmussen College. Soft skills like these allow LPNs to contribute to an evidence-based, therapeutic environment and choose safe, effective interventions for their patients.

Of course, technical skills are also an important part of the field. LPNs can expect to learn the process of taking basic vital signs, understanding standard safety precautions, accurately calculating medication and providing an emergency response.

LPN courses

These aren’t skills you’ll be expected to pick up on your own! Rasmussen College’s Practical Nursing Diploma courses are designed to provide aspiring LPNs with the knowledge and skills they need to pass the NCLEX-PN exam and work with patients in the field.

Here are just a few of the courses you can expect to see on the LPN track:

• Structure and Function of the Human Body: Students will gain a working knowledge of the human body, including tissues and cells and the anatomy and physiology of the skeletal and muscular systems. You’ll also complete an introductory study of the body systems, including the nervous, digestive and cardiovascular systems.
• Introduction to Nursing: Here, students gain a basic understanding of nursing theory, standards of care and medical terminology.
• Client-Centered Care I, II, III, and IV: These four courses build upon one another to teach students how to apply theoretical knowledge in real-life healthcare settings, including caring for patients with various disorders or other health needs. These courses also include a clinical component.
• Principles of Pharmacology: Students are given a foundation of knowledge related to major drug classifications and how medications affect the body. They explore how to safely administer medication, including legal, ethical and professional considerations.
• Principles of Mental Health Nursing: This course prepares students to care for patients with mental health concerns, including crisis management interventions. This course also covers caring for patients with substance abuse or addictive disorders.

LPN clinical experience

There’s only so much you can do with the knowledge of nursing without taking it into the field for real-life experience. Many of Rasmussen College’s Practical Nursing Diploma courses include a clinical component that allows students to gain hands-on experience with qualified professionals.

With extensive clinical training that fits into your schedule, you can rest assured that you’ll be prepared to care for patients as a licensed practical nurse.