Photo caption: A student in Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s new Practical Nurse Certificate Program checks the vitals of a simulated patient.
Beginning in the Fall 2022 semester, Kalamazoo Valley Community College will offer a new health career program with the launch of the Practical Nurse Certificate Program. Upon successful completion of all coursework, the graduate will receive a Certificate in Practical Nursing and will be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam for the Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN).
“The creation of the Practical Nurse Certificate Program was in close collaboration with our nursing faculty, community stakeholders and advisory committee members,” said Kalamazoo Valley’s Director of Nursing Patrick Joswick, DNP, AGNP-C, RN. “This new program promotes affordable, accessible and quality nursing education.”
The Practical Nurse Certificate Program uses hybrid learning modalities. The courses are offered in the evenings to accommodate the nontraditional student. Prerequisites for the program include 12 credits of science, math and liberal arts courses. In addition to the prerequisites, the Practical Nurse program is organized in three semesters that include theory, lab, clinical and simulation learning experiences.
In partnership with healthcare institution leaders, including both Bronson Methodist Hospital and Ascension Borgess Hospital, the Practical Nurse students will have the opportunity to apply for employment as a LPN intern/extern while enrolled in the certificate program.
Kalamazoo Valley’s Practical Nursing and Registered Nursing programs are also utilizing a holistic admissions review model. The admission criteria directly align with Kalamazoo Valley’s mission and values. “The holistic admissions will ensure that the college admits and graduates top-tier nurses,” Joswick said. “Students now have the opportunity to genuinely promote themselves as a person. Although GPA metrics are important, we also want to learn about the life experiences and attributes of our applicants.”
The Practical Nurse and Registered Nurse Program applications for the Winter 2023 semester will be accepted online Oct. 15-31. For more information about Kalamazoo Valley’s nursing programs, information workshops and to access the health careers application, click here.
ABOUT KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Established in 1966, Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers certificate programs in more than 50 areas of study and associate degrees in 60 others. These include business, healthcare, human and public service and technical occupations, culinary arts and brewing training. The college has four Kalamazoo, Michigan locations, including the Texas Township Campus, the Groves Campus, the Arcadia Commons Campus and the Bronson Healthy Living Campus. Classes are available during the day, evening, online and weekends.
