Practical Nursing

Why choose Practical Nursing at PPSC?

The Pikes Peak State College Nursing Department's mission is to provide you with quality nursing education that prepares you to be a knowledgeable, safe, and trusted member of the healthcare profession. The faculty, instructors, and staff in the Nursing Department are passionate, and dedicated to supporting each student. PPSC’s clinical partnerships provide students with many hours of onsite clinical training at multiple local hiring institutions. The Practical Nurse program provides a quick and direct path to becoming a working nurse. In one year after entering the program, you will be competent and ready to provide hands-on care to diverse populations in ever-changing healthcare environments. You can practice meaningful work that pays a comfortable minimum salary, or you can choose to continue advancing your nursing education and career. This program offers day and evening classes to provide some flexibility for our working students.

More Information

Arts, sciences, humanities, and nursing knowledge are the foundation of the Pikes Peak State College Nursing Program Organizing Framework. The structure of the curriculum is built upon seven (7) key concepts from the nursing philosophy which are: professionalism, nursing process, communication, health illness continuum, holistic care, caring intervention, teaching/learning, and leadership. These guiding concepts are foundational to education for the roles of the professional nurse, and represent our Student Learning Outcomes. The curriculum is also guided by the Colorado State Board of Nursing (CSBON), The National League for Nursing (NLN) Competencies of the Associate Degree Nurse, and the American Nursing Association (ANA) standards.

These concepts thread through each course and guide the development of each part to create a whole curriculum. This structure promotes progressive development of breadth and depth of knowledge.

Upon completion of the Practical Nursing Program, the following outcomes are expected from the graduate:

Apply concepts of nursing to safe, quality, person-centered care considering research, evidence, and patient preferences as the basis for the care of patients across the life span.
Utilize critical thinking/clinical judgement within the PN scope of practice to make person-centered care decisions when caring for patients across the life span with common health alterations requiring various interventions.
Relate performance improvement and quality improvement measures to improved care for patients across the life span with common health alterations.
Apply information about the nurse’s role in collaboration with healthcare team members, the patient, and the patient's support persons when planning effective patient care for patients across the life span experiencing common health alterations requiring interventions.
Discuss the use of information technology to support and communicate the planning and provision of patient care.
Apply practical nursing theory to manage care for patients across the life span with common health alterations requiring interventions through the process of planning, organizing, and directing.
Demonstrate professional, legal, and ethical guidelines for the care of patients across the life span experiencing common health alterations requiring interventions, within the scope of practice for the practical nurse.
Apply concepts of a culture of caring to provide support, compassion, and culturally competent, holistic care for patients across the life span experiencing common health alterations requiring interventions.

The PPSC Nursing program is currently not accepting transfers into the program. Interested students will need to apply during the application periods, but will not be placed in on-going cohorts.

Practical Nurse program at Pikes Peak State College is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing and has received candidacy for Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accreditation.

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

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website.

During your time in our Nursing Program, you are expected to be responsible, accountable partners in this educational process. This Handbook is designed to help you become oriented with the policies and procedures affecting your education in the PPSC Nursing Program and your successful progression toward your graduation and eventual licensure.

Student Handbook coming soon

In addition to tuition and classroom-based supplies, the nursing program has additional costs:

CPR Class
A watch with a second hand
Stethoscope
Criminal background check and drug screen
PPSC Nursing Program Patch (can be purchased from the PPSC bookstore)
Name Pin
Gait Belt
Uniforms and Shoes
Required vaccines/screenings
Testing for LPN and/or RN certification

LPN Cost Outline Coming Soon