Program Review for Practical Nursing
Program Review Framework & Criteria
I. Connection: From interest to application (Qualitative, program head and dean)
1) Please provide a description of any changes to the program since the last cycle and the appropriate updates to the catalog (general education changes, program requirement changes, ancillary program costs for students, hours/credits of credentials, etc.).
There have been no changes to the program since transitioning to a 12 month program delivery (January to December) in 2017. However, beginning in Summer of 2022, the programs one year delivery will transition to a May to May sequence. This change has been scheduled and the curriculum is under development as the PNE course sequencing is being revised. The curricular change is in response to three years of below 80% first time NCLEX pass rates for program graduates. The Virginia State Board of Nursing provides regulations for programs to follow, and maintaining a first time pass rate at 80% or higher is a requirement.
2) How do students find out about the program? Please provide examples of advising activities, marketing materials, or other outreach and engagement events designed to recruit students to the program.
The program continues to highlight the program in the college catalog. We also use the associate degree nursing program webpage: www.patrickhenry.edu/healthcareers (select Practical Nursing)
The nursing department has a dedicated nursing retention specialist and she conducts nursing program information sessions that are required by all nursing applicants. The information sessions are advertised on the weekly calendars that are emailed out to all employees and students from the public relations department. They are also advertised on the TV screens throughout the campus buildings.
The nursing department now employs a full-time G3 Healthcare Advisor. Mrs. Lester is the main contact for pre-nursing students. She utilizes the departmental program specific advising sheet as a tool to direct students through the process of preparing to apply. These forms are also updated each semester and can be found on the PN webpage.
The department also has brochures for the nursing program, they are currently being updated to reflect the appropriate messaging related to the accrediting and approval bodies requirements.
The program coordinates with the high school career coaches and counselors and offers information sessions on site at the area high schools to provide a direct connection to interested high school students. We also attend and participate in open advising sessions coordinated by DE and the campus admissions department.
Pre-pandemic the program participated in the high school field trips and provided mini-sessions to students who were considering applying to or planning to attend P&HCC. We continue to provide direct advising support to assist in answering questions or advising and registering students in high school sponsored events.
Over the last two years we have been advertising in the community on billboards, highlighting the Sovah and P&HCC Nursing Simulation Center that we have established as a result grant funding from the Harvest Foundation. The addition of the simulation center has added valuable simulated clinical learning opportunities for Practical Nursing students.
II. Entry: From application to pathway entry (Qualitative, program head and dean)
1) Please provide a description of your program credentials and how they stack into one another.
The Practical Nursing program is a stand alone certificate totaling 49 credits. The program is not stackable into other degree pathways. However, graduates of the Practical Nursing program who successfully pass NCLEX-PN are eligible to apply to the Associate Degree Nursing Program as bridge or transition students.
Applicants must complete related pre-application and pre-requisite classwork as needed. Currently 8 out of 13 general education credit requirements are also included in the associate degree nursing pathway. In addition, students accepted to the bridge/transition program who successfully complete the first semester of the nursing program (NSG 115- 4 credits and NSG 200- 3 credits) are awarded 12 NSG credits as the students are exempt from the following courses - NSG 130, NSG 106, NSG 152, and NSG 170). The PN must hold a license as practical nurse to pursue the transition pathway.
Questions for consideration:
1.a. What is the employability (or transferability) of each credential?
Practical nurses are employed in many areas after successfully passing their NCLEX-PN licensing exam. Areas of employment include, but are not limited to: hospitals, long-term care, skilled care, schools, urgent care and other medical offices.
1.b. Do all credits from a sub-credential transfer into the parent credential?
Not applicable.
1.c. What is the timeframe of completion for all credentials within the program (i.e. is the program setup to award sub-credentials prior to the parent credential)?
The credential is a three semester certificate. The timeframe of completion is one year (January to December). The completion timeframe will change to May to May in the upcoming year (2022/2023).
2) Program enrollment, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization (Quantitative, IE)
The following outlines the completion data for the original cohorts:
There was a significant change in attrition noted for the 2021 cohort. Academic failure rate significantly higher than previous semesters, 1/15 dropped the program in first semester, 5/15 failed (scored a D or F) in first semester; 4/15 failed 2nd semester PN, leaving six (6) of the original cohort in the third and final semester for the 2021 year.
Concerns for enrollment:
The program has reviewed the entry level admission scores for the previous cohorts and determined that admission going forward should include a priority score of 60% on the ATI admission exam. Of the 10 students who did not progress in the program this 2021 year, 90% scored below a 60% on the ATI admissions test. The admission test scores ranged from a 50% to a 69%. Of the original cohort (n-15) accepted in spring 2021, 67% scored below the 60% threshold score. When comparing to the 2020 original cohort (n=20) 35% scored below the 60% threshold score. Of the original cohort (n=19) accepted in spring 2019, 47% of those accepted scored below the 60% threshold.
The attrition for 2021 is likely multifactorial, however a larger percentage of students accepted had a lower tier admission score. The concern is the preparedness of the applicant pool.
a. Annual program FTE and HC over the last review cycle (To include SCHEV program ratios and SCHEV class ratios)
The program must maintain a 1:10 faculty to student ratio for clinical instruction to comply with the Virginia Board of Nursing requirements. In addition, some clinical units limit the number of students who may rotate on a given shift. For example obstetrics rotations are capped at 6 total students.
| Practical Nursing (Cert) | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 21/22 |
| Headcount | 19 | 20 | 15 | 7 |
| FTE | 40 | 50 | 17 | 3.7 |
III. Progress: Pathway advancement (Quantitative, IE)
1) Student learning outcomes data
|
Learning Outcomes |
Who |
When |
What |
Criteria &
Benchmark |
Result |
|
|
To effectively apply the principles of safe and effective care
incorporating the foundational principles of practical nursing |
PNE 164 students |
End of course |
Effective Fall 2021: Kaplan
HESI Standardized test score assessment |
80% of graduates will score a 70% or higher on the Kaplan
Trainer #1.
100% of students will score 850 or higher on Exit HESI exam. |
Fall 2021 |
57% achieved a 70% of higher |
|
Fall 2020 |
50% achieved 850 or higher |
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|
Fall 2019 |
31.25% achieved 850 or higher |
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|
Fall 2018 |
50% achieved 850 or higher |
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|
Fall 2017 |
67% achieved 850 or higher |
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|
Learning Outcomes |
Who |
When |
What |
Criteria &
Benchmark |
Result |
|
|
To demonstrate basic fundamental skill competency
|
All graduates |
End of Course (PNE 141) |
Basic Skill Demonstration |
100% of students will demonstrate basic skill competency during
skill checkoffs |
Fall 2021 cohort |
100% |
|
Fall 2020 cohort |
100% |
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|
Fall 2019 cohort |
100% |
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|
Fall 2018 cohort |
100% |
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|
Fall 2017 cohort |
100% |
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|
Learning Outcomes |
Who |
When |
What |
Criteria &
Benchmark |
Result |
|
|
To demonstrate minimum competency to practice practical nursing
at entry level.
|
All graduates |
End of Course Clinical component (PNE 164) |
Clinical Evaluation Tool |
100% of students will score satisfactory on the end of program
clinical evaluation tool. |
Fall 2021 cohort |
Pending |
|
Fall 2020 cohort |
100% |
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|
Fall 2019 cohort |
100% |
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|
Fall 2018 cohort |
100% |
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|
Fall 2017 cohort |
100% |
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Practical Nursing Licensure Rates:
The percentage of first time writers passing the NCLEX-PN will be the
same or equal to the National average and Virginia Board of Nursing expected
percentage of 80%.
|
|
National |
Virginia |
PHCC |
|
2021 |
Pending |
Pending |
Pending 75% |
|
2020 |
83.08% |
79.83% |
56.25% |
|
2019 |
85.63% |
84.28% |
71.43% |
|
2018 |
85.93% |
84.15% |
86.67% |
|
2017 |
83.85% |
80.50% |
85% |
2) Program credit attainment (15/12 in one semester, 30/24 for those who enrolled in two consecutive semesters)
The practical nursing certificate program (49 cr.) is sequential and the PNE/NUR courses may not be completed until accepted to the competitive entry program. Of the 49 credits, 36 are PNE/NUR prefixed courses that must be taken in sequence, even if the general education classes were completed prior to program acceptance. The spring semester includes 12 PNE/NUR credits, the summer semester includes 12 PNE credits and the fall semester includes 14 PNE credits. These are sequential and may only be taken once accepted into the practical nursing program.
3) Program retention and persistence relative to the start date of the program (subsequent term calculation)
IV. Completion: Credential attainment (Quantitative, IE)
1) Sub-credential attainment and timeframe (are students completing sub-credential prior to or at the same time as parent credential?)
N/A (there is no sub-credential)
2) Parent credential attainment and timeframe, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization
The program is a 12 month certificate program. The delivery of the program is sequential. Any student who does not complete on time is subject to greater than 150% completion time.
| Practical Nursing (Cert) | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 |
| Graduates | 19 | 20 | 15 | 3 |
| Out of graduates, those who graduated within 150% timeframe |
a. Are students completing within 6 semesters (150% of graduation time)?
A student who does not complete on-time will always exceed 150% completion time.
V. Transition: Employment or transfer post-credential (Quantitative, IE)
1) Transfer outcomes (students who transfer with associate degree, students who transfer without)
The certificate is not intended for transfer.
2) Student perspective/satisfaction
| Question | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
| The courses I took at P&HCC prepared me for my educational goals. | 90.5 | |||
| The faculty at P&HCC are fair and supportive of students. | 86.0 | |||
| The faculty at P&HCC demonstrate thorough knowledge of the subject matter. | 95.4 | |||
| In the courses I took at P&HCC, classroom activities and outside assignments were appropriate and meaningful. | 95.6 | |||
| I would recommend the faculty at P&HCC | 94.5 |
VI. Sustainability: Future Program Outlook (Mixed methods, IE, program head and dean)
1) Program forecast (major expenditures, changes, personnel needs, etc.); any future costs should be explained in this section)
The program continues to conduct a 12 month program and has one 12 month and one 10 month faculty position. Adjunct nursing faculty are used minimally to support clinical in specialty areas. The program operations is not expected to take on additional cost unless there is a regulatory requirement for mandatory accreditation. The continuation of the nursing retention specialist is expected beyond the grant that is currently funding 50% of the position through 2022.
a. Any other pertinent information relevant to the review process should be provided here (e.g. community need, state/federal requirements, external accreditation, SCHEV low enrollment warning, etc.)
The Practical Nursing Program is approved with terms and conditions by the Virginia Board of Nursing. The change in approval status is due to low NCLEX-PN first attempt pass rates. The pending result for 2021 is 75%. See the historical pass rate information below:
Practical Nursing Licensure Rates:
| National | Virginia | PHCC |
2021 | Pending | Pending | Pending 75% |
2020 | 83.08% | 79.83% | 56.25% |
2019 | 85.63% | 84.28% | 71.43% |
2018 | 85.93% | 84.15% | 86.67% |
2017 | 83.85% | 80.50% | 85% |
b. Employment forecast for program (Analyst data)
The LPN is hired in many employment settings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is forecasting a 9% growth from 2020 to 2030 for this occupation.
| Occupation data for Patrick & Henry Service Region | Total Employed | Mean Wage | Projected Demand (5 years) |
| Licensed Practical Nurses | 260 | $41,600 | 97 |
| All Occupations | 47,606 | $42,000 | 25,599 |