Practical Nursing

About

The Practical Nursing program at Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Dickson prepares students to become contributing members of the healthcare team.  The course includes classroom lecture, laboratory, and clinical practice.  Students study Nursing Fundamentals and related subjects such as Anatomy & Physiology, Nutrition, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, and Mental Health. Clinical experiences allow care of medical, surgical, obstetric, and pediatric patients in a supervised environment. Graduates are prepared using a curriculum approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing and are eligible to apply for licensure by an examination developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCLEX-PN).
TCAT Dickson does not have a Nursing Assistant program. Practical Nursing students are eligible to receive a Nurse Aid certificate upon successful completion of all first trimester coursework. If the student wishes to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, he/she would need to apply for certification through the state regulatory board.
 

Overview

Information Detail
Time Commitment Full Time
Typical Program Length 12 Months
Clock Hours 1,296
Class Type Day
Credentials Certificate, Diploma
Total Tuition/Fees $4,439.00
Textbook/Supplies Cost $3,182.21

Program Credentials

Option NameHoursCredentials
Nurse Aid432Certificate
Practical Nursing1296Diploma

Day Class Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 2:30 PM
Clinical Hours: Vary depending on clinical site availability.

An Information session is scheduled for Monday, September 18 at 10:00 am.  This is a virtual meeting that can be accessed at: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZGFkYTExMGItYTgxM...

We have an in-person information session scheduled for October 5 at 9:30 am on the Dickson campus.

The Dickson campus begins nursing classes in January, May, and September.

The Clarksville campus begins a nursing class in September.

The Franklin campus plans to begin a nursing class in January pending board approval.

*All start dates are dependent on sufficient enrollment.

Practical Nursing applicants:

Complete an online application for TCAT Dickson Practical Nursing and schedule a tour.  Applications expire one year from date of application.

Additional application requirements for Practical Nursing:

January admissions – All application documents must be received by November 1.

May admissions – All application documents must be received by March 1.

September admissions – All application documents must be received by July 1.

An official high school transcript or equivalent.  The transcript should be mailed directly from your school system to TCAT Dickson, Attn: Sherry LaRose-Bowman.  Foreign transcripts will require translation and evaluation from a credentialing service to verify US equivalency. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain appropriate credential verification.
Three current references. Click here for the reference form: TCAT Reference Form.pdf
Proof of immunity to MMR and Varicella.  Immunization records must show two doses of each vaccine, or the applicant must provide proof of positive titer levels.
Completion of the HESI Admission Assessment, math and reading sections.  Minimum scores are 70 in each section. See below for additional information.
Additional documentation will be required following admission to the program to meet clinical approval. Click here for a full list of clinical approval documentation: PN Clinical Approval Documents.docx

For questions about outstanding admissions requirements, please contact Sherry LaRose-Bowman at sherry.larose-bowman@tcatdickson.edu

HESI Admission Assessment Information

HESI testing slots are limited. Applicants will have an opportunity to schedule testing at the information session. The test fee must be paid when scheduling to reserve your spot.  The HESI Admission Assessment costs $40, which must be paid in cash.   The HESI test fee is nonrefundable.  Contact Sherry La-Rose Bowman at sherry.larose-bowman@tcatdickson.edu to schedule the HESI.

HESI testing is scheduled on the following dates:

Dickson – September 29th & October 13th at 9am

Clarksville – October 6th at 9:30am

Please arrive early for HESI testing.  Tests begin promptly at the scheduled time.  There will be no late admittance.

HESI retest policy:  Applicants must wait a minimum of 30 days before retesting.  Applicants may only retest once per trimester.

Achieving the minimum scores on the exam does not guarantee admission.  Admission to the Practical Nursing Program is highly competitive, and only a select number of students are enrolled in each class. Nursing applicants with a complete application are ranked based on scores on the entrance exam.

Applicants may utilize the HESI Admission Assessment Exam Review ISBN: 9780323582261 as a study guide.  The local Adult Education/Workforce Essentials offices in Dickson and Clarksville/Montgomery County offer free assistance with preparation.

For more information regarding the practical nursing program, please contact Stephanie Murphy, Director of Nursing and Health Careers, at 615-441-6220 or stephanie.murphy@tcatdickson.edu.

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Campus Locations

Clarksville Campus
135 International Blvd
Clarksville, TN 37040
Williamson Campus
1228 Liberty Pike
Franklin, TN 37067
Main Campus
740 Highway 46 South
Dickson, TN 37055

Certifications

Certified Nursing Assistant Exam after first trimester

Instructors

Angela Burns
615-441-6220
Katherine Sugg
615-441-6220
Stephanie Murphy
615-441-6220
Kristen Moffitt
615-441-6220
Teresa Kinney
931-572-1694
Megan Tomlin
615-441-6220
Misty Gann
931-572-1694

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