About the CareerASSOCIATE
DEGREE IN NURSING
DIPLOMA IN PRACTICAL NURSING
About the CareerKnown as “the profession of caring,” nursing is one of the most exciting and fulfilling careers in the world today. A decision to become a nurse is a decision to help people when they need it the most. It’s a career where trained professionals face nearly limitless opportunity. The satisfaction many students receive from a career in nursing is like no other.
Employment in the nursing field is expected to grow quickly. This is in response to a growing number of elderly persons with functional disabilities, consumer preference for care in the home, and technological advances that make it possible to bring increasingly complex treatments into the home.
The Nursing Programs at Midlands Technical College prepare students for nursing in the real world. Students study in a realistic health care environment and train with the real tools that nurses use on the job every day. At MTC students have the best facilities and best equipment to give them the educational advantage.
To earn the title of Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse, graduates must pass the National Council Licensing Exams. Midlands Technical College’s fully accredited programs prepare students for these national exams.
Registered Nursing (RN)The registered nurse builds on the basic knowledge and practice of the practical nurse, being able to function with greater independence, in more complex situations and with more acutely ill patients. The RN serves a vital role in teaching patients about their condition and ways to improve their health, while assessing the patient’s condition, developing the plan of care and making ongoing judgments as to the patient’s progress. RNs have supervisory responsibilities for licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants and other health care workers.
Because jobs in traditional hospital nursing positions are no longer the only option, RNs will have many more employment choices. Positions for RNs are available in offices and clinics of physicians and other health practitioners, home healthcare agencies, nursing homes, schools, residential care facilities and social service agencies.
About the Degree ProgramThe Associate Degree Nursing program incorporates a base of biological and social sciences with the knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of nursing in the Registered Nurse role. Students develop skills in assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care and in the critical thinking necessary to provide safe
and effective patient care in today’s health care environment. The curriculum is competency-based and includes classroom instruction and practice in simulated laboratories and various clinical settings.
After successfully completing the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination and, upon satisfactory completion, they will be designated as Registered Nurses. The ADN program is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and is approved by the South Carolina Board of Nursing.
The practical nurse participates in health promotion and maintenance activities for the individual in the context of the family. Practical nurses are prepared to give basic, therapeutic, rehabilitative and preventive care to clients with commonly occurring health problems in a variety of health care settings. Typical duties include taking vital signs, changing dressings, giving medications, helping patients with mobility and hygiene. Practical nurses are employed by nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, physicians’ offices, clinics and hospitals.
About the Diploma ProgramThe Practical Nursing Program is designed to teach students basic nursing skills in medical, surgical, obstetrical and pediatric nursing. The course of study balances classroom instruction with relevant clinical experience and provides the opportunity for students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become effective practitioners of practical nursing.
Practical Nursing students and the Associate Degree Nursing students attend the same classes in the three semesters of the Practical Nursing Program. After successfully completing the program, the Practical Nursing graduates take the National Council Licensure examination, and upon satisfactory completion, they will be designated as Licensed Practical Nurses. The Practical Nursing program is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and is approved by the South Carolina Board of Nursing.
