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Provide Basic Nursing Care in Medical & Assisted Living Environments

The Practical Nursing Program at Pickens Technical College provides thorough training in various areas of nursing, including medical-surgical, maternal-infant, pediatric, and geriatric nursing. As part of the program, students will participate in supervised clinical experience courses. After finishing the program, students will have the opportunity to take the National Council State Board of Practical Nursing Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing. This will allow them to pursue careers in the healthcare field.

Pickens Technical College student success is evident in our program outcomes. For 2020-2023 the practical nursing students testing with the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)- PN achieved an ultimate NCLEX-PN pass rate of 81.3 %. Our students have 97% program complete rate for 2020-2023 and 87% employment response rate.

Program Flyer Steps for Enrollment Pickens Lookbook See the Classroom

What Our Students Learn

  • Record patient medical histories
  • Administration of medications promoting patient health
  • Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities
  • Administer basic healthcare or medical treatments
  • Healthcare workplace collaboration

Career Outlook

  • Employment opportunity in this field is 4 times higher than the national average
  • Entry-level salaries start at $47,000 and up
  • 10% of workers earn $73,000 or more
practical nurse with patient

Program Experience

  • Students learn the science of practicals in lecture, lab, and clinical settings
  • Students gain experience in a simulated medical environment with industry-grade equipment
  • Enrollment options are available for only post-secondary students
  • Off-site clinicals are built into the curriculum
  • The curriculum includes on-site simulation labs for practical application of the curriculum
  • 1 year of classes

Lori A Cook MS, RN, CNE

Director of Nursing
303-344-4910 ext. 27776
lcook@aurorak12.org

Lori has worked in the industry since 1985, and has been teaching since 2003. Lori worked in a variety of healthcare departments in the acute care hospital. She worked in Medical/Surgical nursing units, Trauma Intensive Care, Outpatient surgical settings, IV Therapy, and hospital house-wide education. Lori has taught nursing students in Practical Nursing, Associate Degree Nursing, and Baccalaureate level nursing students. She has experience teaching new graduate nurses and new hospital employees.

Certifications & Degrees:

  • Associate Degree Nursing
  • Bachelor’s Degree Nursing
  • Master’s Degree Nursing Education
  • Associate Certified Nurse Educator
  • Peer Evaluator Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing

Dr. Jane Idika, MSN, BSN, RN

Instructor, Practical Nursing
303-344-4910 ext. 27714
jcidika@aurorak12.org

Jane Idika’s background is in the nursing profession and has worked as a nurse for 29 yrs+.  She has acquired skills and experience in acute, skilled, and long-term settings in various areas of the healthcare setting. As a patient and staff advocate, she learned how to listen, reflect and rationalize before making decisions on what affects others. Jane became a nursing educator in 2018. Her knowledge and skills have qualified her to educate future nurses according to NLN (National League of Nurses) and ANA (American Nurses Association).

Certifications & Degrees

  • DNP, MSN, BSN, RN

Kayla Tillisch, BSN, RN

Instructor, Practical Nursing
303-344-4910 ext.27971
ktillisch@aurorak12.org

With 14 years of experience in the field of nursing, Kayla possesses a deep understanding of patient care, clinical practices, and the dynamic healthcare environment. She has had the privilege of working in diverse healthcare settings including Medical-Surgical, Critical Care, and Oncology. These experiences have not only honed her clinical expertise but have also enriched her ability to connect theory with real-world scenarios.

Kayla may be new to formal teaching, but she has already made significant contributions as a nurse educator within a hospital setting. Her teaching skills allow her to effectively communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences. She understands the importance of tailoring instruction to meet the specific needs of learners and employs innovative teaching strategies to engage and motivate others in their professional development.

Industry Certifications and Degrees:

  • Registered Nurse
  • Masters of Science in Nursing Education

Keith Garrett

Instructor, Sim Labs
303-344-4910 ext. 27967
keith.garrett@aurorak12.org

Keith’s background includes 8 years of experience in social work prior to returning to school to become a nurse. His experience includes addiction treatment/mental health nursing and home health care. As an instructor at Pickens Tech Keith has worked with a number of Health Pathway programs including Medical Assisting, Nurse Aide, and Practical Nursing. He currently works as the Simulation Coordinator for the Health Pathway. Keith works with all of our Health Pathway students to provide medical simulation activities to help students develop clinical readiness skills.

Certifications & Degrees

  • Associates degree in Biology from Arapahoe Community College in 2005
  • LPN from Pickens Technical College in 2015
  • Current Senior with the Indiana State University BSN program.

Accredited Certificate Courses (36 credits)

All credits earned at Pickens technical college are recognized by the Colorado Community College System (CCCS), and are eligible for transfer to other colleges within the state of Colorado.

Introduces the nursing student to the concepts and techniques of dosage calculations and medication administration by a variety of routes. Learners will apply basic math concepts to complex conversion of dosages between and among various systems of weights and volumes. Learners will apply critical thinking skills to the calculation and administration of medications by oral and parenteral (including intravenous) routes of administration. Recommended PreRequisite: Acceptance into a professional nursing program. Recommended CoRequisite: Successful completion of concurrent Practical Nursing course or permission of program director.

Introduces the Practical Nurse to basic concepts necessary for assessing and meeting the nursing care needs of adult and older individuals. The course focuses on the concepts of acute and chronic illness, pain management, fluid and electrolyte balance, peri-operative care, oncology, death and dying, infection and inflammation, and shock syndromes. Common disorders of the musculoskeletal, integumentary, respiratory and reproductive systems are presented. Relevant psychosocial and ethnocultural concepts and legal and ethical implications are integrated throughout. Recommended PreRequisite: Successful completion of preceding required program course work or permission of program director. Recommended CoRequisite: Successful completion of concurrent Practical Nursing course or permission of program director.

Provides a foundation in assessment and related therapeutic communication and teaching skills within the legal role of the Practical Nurse. Information is presented to assist the learner in obtaining a health history and in performing a basic assessment of adults and older adults with predictable outcomes. Health maintenance and health promotion concepts are incorporated throughout the course. Relevant mental health, psychosocial and ethnocultural concepts are integrated. Learning theory regarding teaching and learning concepts are presented. Recommended PreRequisite: Successful completion of preceding required program course work or permission of program director. Recommended CoRequisite: Successful completion of concurrent Practical Nursing course work or permission of program director.

Continues the concepts introduced in Alterations in Adult Health I. It introduces the learner to basic concepts necessary for assessing and meeting the nursing care needs of adults and older individuals. The course focuses on the common disorders of the neurological, cardiovascular, blood, lymphatic, immune, endocrine, gastrointestinal, renal, and urinary systems and the special senses. Relevant psychosocial and ethnocultural concepts are integrated throughout. Recommended PreRequisite: Successful completion of preceding required program course work or permission of program director. Recommended CoRequisite: Successful completion of concurrent Practical Nursing course work or permission of program director.

Introduces the Practical Nursing learner to the principles of basic procedures necessary in caring for clients across the lifespan with stable and predictable outcomes in selected health care settings. Emphasis is placed on use of the nursing process in providing care. Opportunities are provided in the classroom and laboratory to develop competence in the performance of nursing skills. Relevant psychosocial and ethnocultural concepts are integrated throughout. Content regarding multidisciplinary relationships, historical perspectives, and health care delivery systems is presented. (1 or more credits may be given for students completing a Community College of Colorado-approved CNA program.) Recommended PreRequisite: Successful completion of preceding required program course work or permission of program director. Recommended CoRequisite: Successful completion of concurrent Practical Nursing course work or permission of program director.

Introduces the basic concepts of pharmacology related to the actions, therapeutic and adverse effects, interactions of drugs, drug classifications, and the basic pharmacology of commonly used medications. Emphasis is placed on nursing considerations and client education. Learners will apply knowledge gained in selected clinical settings in caring for clients across the lifespan.

Introduces roles and responsibilities of the graduate Practical Nurse as defined by established standards, including the Colorado Nurse Practice Act. Emphasis is placed on accountability, delegation, and perspectives in health care. Career and job readiness skills are developed. Recommended PreRequisite: Successful completion of preceding required program course work or permission of program director. Recommended CoRequisite: Successful completion of concurrent Practical Nursing course work or permission of program director.

Introduces the study of families experiencing childbirth. The focus is on normal pregnancy and the physiological and psychological changes during this time including the care of the normal newborn. Selected common complications are discussed. Relevant psychosocial and ethnocultural concepts are integrated throughout. The nursing process is used as a framework to assist the learner in understanding basic maternal/ newborn needs and nursing care within the role of the Practical Nurse. Recommended PreRequisite: Successful completion of preceding required program course work or permission of program director. Recommended CoRequisite: Successful completion of concurrent Practical Nursing course work or permission of program director.

Provides the learner with a basic understanding of the care of both the well and sick child within the role of the Practical Nurse. Emphasis is placed on normal growth and development from infancy to adolescence. Nursing care of common childhood conditions is discussed. Theory is related to the nursing care of the well child, the sick child in various settings, the child with special needs, and the impact of pediatric care on the family. Relevant psychosocial, ethnocultural and family concepts are integrated throughout. Recommended PreRequisite: Successful completion of preceding required program course work or permission of program director. Recommended CoRequisite: Successful completion of concurrent Practical Nursing course work or permission of program director.

Introduces the learner to basic concepts of mental health and illness. The course focuses on clients throughout their lifespan. Emphasis is placed on mental health concepts, selected common psychiatric disorders, treatment modalities, and related nursing care. This course is designed to assist the Practical Nurse in caring for clients with varied psychosocial and ethnocultural backgrounds. Recommended PreRequisite: Successful completion of preceding required program course work or permission of program director. Recommended CoRequisite: Successful completion of concurrent Practical Nursing course work or permission of program director.

Introduces the learner to basic knowledge of normal aging, disorders related to aging, and nursing care of the older individual within the role of the Practical Nurse. Concepts regarding legal and ethical factors affecting the older individual are presented. Relevant psychosocial and ethnocultural concepts are integrated throughout. Recommended PreRequisite: Successful completion of preceding required program course work or permission of program director. Recommended CoRequisite: Successful completion of concurrent Practical Nursing course work or permission of program director.

Offers the clinical practicum to apply the related nursing theory.

Offers the clinical practicum to apply the related nursing theory.

Offers the clinical practicum to apply the related nursing theory.

Offers the clinical practicum to apply the related nursing theory.

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Accreditation

The Licensed Practical Nursing program at Pickens Technical College located in Aurora, Colorado is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN):

3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Licensed Practical Nursing program is Continuing Accreditations with Conditions. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program here.

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