Southwest Virginia Community College’s Practical Nursing Program will expand this summer through an additional section of the program offered on the main campus. The program will continue to be offered at the Grundy Plaza Center in Grundy , Virginia. Applications for the practical nursing program are accepted through March 1.
The program leads to a certificate in practical nursing through an accelerated evening and weekend program. The four-semester program prepares students to be contributing members of the health profession. “The program qualifies students for positions in health related facilities such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, physician’s offices, or other health-related agencies, said Sherrie Phillips, Practical Nursing director. “All classes are scheduled during the evening with weekend clinical rotations. This unique evening and weekend program provides course time to individuals who cannot attend traditional daytime classes. The class schedules also make it convenient to those who might be making a career change or are bound by other time restraints.”
With the goal of training qualified individuals for employment in the healthcare field, the program may also be a stepping stone to licensure as a practical nurse. “Successful completion of the program and with application approval of the State Board of Nursing, students are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN) exam,” Phillips said. ‘To date, we have an overall average of 89% of SwVCC practical nursing graduates to successfully pass the NCLEX-PN, which is above the national average.” In addition, Phillips said, “We are pleased with the outstanding student retention rate.”
Students interested in enrolling for summer 2007 must apply no later than March 1. Acceptance into the program is made only after satisfactory completion of the admission requirements is met. For additional information contact Sherrie Phillips at 276.964.7539 or by email at sherrie.phillips@sw.edu.