Graduates of the Practical Nursing (PN) certificate program meet the requirements set by the New Mexico State Board of Nursing to take the NCLEX-PN licensing examination. Specific terms of licensure can be obtained through the New Mexico Board of Nursing. The Practical Nursing (PN) certificate program prepares practical nurses to care for patients in a variety of health care facilities under the supervision of registered nurses, physicians, or dentists.
Nursing courses emphasize a holistic approach to client care utilizing the concepts of communication, critical thinking/nursing process, caring and competence. The curriculum for this program includes classroom, laboratory, and supervised clinical instruction which integrates the required arts and sciences courses with the nursing courses. The PN program is accredited through the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. 3343 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326.
Special Requirements
The Practical Nursing Certificate program is designated as a Limited Entry Program at CNM. Students who wish to pursue this program will need to apply and be accepted before they can start the program. Students who will apply in fall 2011 should refer to the Nursing Program Website for information about the application process and admission criteria. Students who wish to apply in spring 2012 or later should refer to the Office of Limited Entry Programs for information about application requirements, selection criteria, and deadlines, which will be different from those used in 2011.
Exit competencies for this program of study are available at cnm.edu/exitcomp.
For the graduation policy refer to the Moving On section.
Special Notes
After students are accepted into the program through the Office of Limited Entry Programs, requirements for entering clinical courses are:
Demonstrated competence in Basic Patient Care skills. Students accomplish this by either successfully demonstrating the skills at a Competency Check-Off Session or completing the NA or NAHA courses at CNM, have a current NM CAN certification or complete Nursing 223 at the University of New M The skills competence must be current; meaning completed no more than 18 months before the student’s start date for Check-Offs OR 24 months for the NA or NAHA class. Specific details of these requirements will be mailed to students upon successful acceptance to the program.
Career and Educational Opportunities
Practical nursing graduates find employment opportunities in nursing homes, clinics, and long-term care facilities. CNM nursing students are encouraged to continue their education toward and Associate Degree in Nursing and ultimately a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in order to pursue leadership positions in nursing and in the community.
**Must be completed within five years of applying; will accept BIO 2710 and BIO 2711 (Pathophysiology I and II) in lieu of re-taking Anatomy and Physiology I and II.