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If you’d like to learn more about the Practical Nursing program, we’d love to talk with you. We’re here to answer any questions and guide you through our application process step-by-step. Send us your contact information, and we’ll help you get started right away!
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Estimated Program Cost
Financial Aid
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Program Overview
The Practical Nursing (PN) program at Madison College offers training for in-demand jobs in nursing and health care. Students learn from experienced nursing professionals in digital classrooms and modern labs.
The Practical Nursing (PN) Program prepares graduates to provide basic hands-on nursing care needed by patients in a variety of health care settings. Practical nurses assist with data collection, collaborate on nursing care plans, reinforce teaching provided by RN's or other appropriate health care personnel, and participate as a member of the health care team in meeting basic client needs.
This is an excellent career for people who enjoy working with people and caring for individuals with physical or emotional concerns. Students must be willing to learn, have effective communication and interpersonal skills, and have an interest in health care as a career.
Please note that upon admission to the Practical Nursing program, you will be required to complete a background check and provide documentation of current required-immunizations and current Healthcare Provider CPR certification. Clinical placements in the Practical Nursing program may require drug testing and onboarding requirements.
Program Details
Wisconsin law requires background checks for persons who provide care for others or have access to people who receive care. This law applies to students in many School of Nursing programs. Please review the Caregiver Background Check information on the Health Sciences and Nursing Programs Forms and Policies.
The Practical Nursing program is available at the Goodman South campus location in Madison, Wisconsin and the Fort Atkinson Campus(Fall admission, full-time required) and is approved as a candidate for initial accreditation by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, 404.975.5000 http://acenursing.org/
The Madison College Practical Nursing (PN) program is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services to enroll students in a nursing program.
Your Advantages at Madison College
- Learn in leading-edge facilities. Nursing classrooms offer fully-functioning labs, using both low fidelity and simulated patient settings for hands-on learning.
- Learn the skills, concepts and ethics of the nursing profession with nurse instructors from a wide range of professional backgrounds.
- Be ready to take your career to the next professional level with Madison College. As an LPN, you may be eligible to advance your educational preparation to become a registered nurse.
Earning your Practical Nursing technical diploma prepares you for professional work as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN).
Career
After successful completion of the Practical Nursing Program, graduates may be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam, to become a Licensed Practical Nurse and practice as an LPN.
Madison College Practical Nursing Degree 2022 Composite NCLEX Score: 100 percent (ACEN Standard 6)
National Average: 83.08 percent
Madison College Nursing programs prepare students to obtain the required licensure to be employed and practice in the state of Wisconsin. The College does not guarantee its curriculum matches the requirements for preparation, examination, or licensure for other states.
Wisconsin participates in an enhanced, multi-state nursing licensure compact as of January 19, 2018. Multi-state nurses meet uniform licensure requirements for all participating states, meaning that nurses with a Wisconsin license may be eligible to practice nursing in the following states:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Please refer to the NCSBN website for current information related to licensure, employment and practice regulations in other states.
For questions related to the enhanced nurse licensure compact (eNLC), contact dsps@wi.gov.
Resources
If you need assistance accessing this PDF document, please contact the School of Nursing at 608.246.6780.
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2024-2025 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
Pre-Program CoursesFirst SemesterSecond Semester -
Admission
To Apply
Students need to complete the petition process to get into core-program classes for this program. Before submitting an application, it’s important to review the Petition Process webpage which also includes estimated wait times for each program.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
- There is currently 0-2 semesters between acceptance into pre-program and the start of core classes. The estimated time to enter the core-program is subject to change based on the variable number of students ready to petition each semester.
- During the course of the program, you must demonstrate the ability to perform these essential functions safely, reliably and efficiently within the scope of practice. If you need accommodations to help you perform these functions, contact our Disability Resource Services office.
- Learn more about the Madison College experience and get help with the admissions process
After Acceptance
Once you have been accepted in a pre-program status, your next step is to complete the Petition Requirements. See the Petition information in the next section.
Additional Notes
Students are required to meet the current admission and petition requirements. Requirements are subject to change based on updates to accreditation requirements or Madison College program assessment data.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Practical Nursing career.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
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Petition
After Admission (Petition Requirements)
Run a Degree Progress Report to confirm which pre-program requirements are satisfied/not satisfied and specific ways to satisfy requirements.
Complete the Petition Requirements for Practical Nursing. Courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. A grade of C- will not be accepted.
Mandatory workshop in BlackBoard
Prerequisites:
- Math (testing, college coursework or bachelor’s degree in a related biological science)
- Chemistry or Biology (high school or college coursework)
Course Requirements:
- Nursing Assistant (course or Proof of certification as a Nursing Assistant)
- English 1 or Written Communication
- Body Structure and Function or General Anatomy and Physiology or Anatomy Physiology 2
- Human Growth and Development
- Oral/Interpersonal Communication or Speech
Testing Requirement: Within four years (2025-2026 applicants = September 1, 2021 to present)
- HESI: Cumulative score of 70%+
- Due to the customizable nature of HESI, the test must be completed at Madison College
- Due to the customizable nature of HESI, the test must be completed at Madison College
- ACT: Composite score of 18+
Petitioning
This program petitions for entry into the following terms:
- Fall - Petition window opens on April 1
- Spring - Petition window opens on September 1
Review the Petition Process for details on how and when to petition.
After Petitioning
If awarded a seat, you will receive instructions regarding the below required items. If you do not complete the required items, it may result in losing your seat and starting the application process from the beginning. Please view the Health and Nursing Programs Policies for more information.
- Healthcare Provider CPR Certification
- Health Screening Form
- Background Information Disclosure Form (Criminal Background Check). An acceptable background check is required prior to starting clinical courses.
- Enrollment in core program courses. Students who are awarded a seat are expected to start the core program courses for the awarded term. Students who choose not to begin the core program courses or are not able to begin core program courses may be discontinued from pre-program status.
- Mandatory Nursing Orientation via BlackBoard
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
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Career Outcomes
After completing the Practical Nursing program at Madison Area Technical College you will be able to:
1. Integrate Practical Nursing identity reflecting integrity, responsibility, and nursing standards.
2. Communicate basic information using multiple sources in nursing practice.
3. Utilize theoretical knowledge to participate in decision making.
4. Apply the nursing process to basic client care across diverse populations.
5. Function as a healthcare team member to provide safe and effective care
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2023 Number of Program Graduates 19 Number of Surveys Sent 19 Number of Surveys Returned 15 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 14 Percent Available for Employment 93.3% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 6.7% Available for Employment
2023 Graduates Employed 14 Percent of Graduates Employed 100.0% Employed in Related Occupation 13 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 92.9% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 1 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 7.1% Employed - No Response 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% Seeking Employment 0 Percent Seeking Employment 0.0% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2023 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.7 Number of Satisfaction Responses 15 Very Satisfied (4) 10 Percent Very Satisfied 66.7% Satisfied (3) 5 Percent Satisfied 33.3% Unsatisfied (2) 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% Very Unsatisfed (1) 0 Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2023 Number of Primary Reason Responses 15 Preparation for Getting a Job Percent Preparation for Getting a Job Career Change Percent Career Change Improvement of Existing Skills Percent Improvement of Existing Skills Preparation for Further Education Percent Preparation for Further Education Personal Interest Percent Personal Interest Other Percent Other 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2023 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 14 Before Enrollment 2 Percent Before Enrollment 14.3% While Attending the College 3 Percent While Attending the College 21.4% After Training at the College 9 Percent After Training at the College 64.3% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2023 Number of Employment Location Responses 14 In College District 13 Percent In College District 92.9% In Wisconsin, Not in District 1 Percent of In Wisconsin 7.1% Outside of Wisconsin 0 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.0% Employer Location Unknown 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% Salary Trend 2023 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 8 Average Monthly Wage $4,002 Average Hourly Wage $23.27 Average Work Hours per Week 42.3 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 5 Average Hourly Wage $23.74 Average Work Hours per Week 30.0 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2023 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Agrace HospiceCare Nurse Fitchburg Columbia County Health Care Center Licensed Practical Nurse Wyocena Dean-Medical Associates Licensed Practical Nurse Baraboo Lemke Facial Surgery Licensed Practical Nurse Oshkosh Madison Metropolitan School District Nurse Specialist SSM Health Licensed Practical Nurse 5 St Clare Hospital & Health Services Licensed Practical Nurse Baraboo UW Health Hospitals & Clinics Certified Nursing Assistant Watertown Regional Medical Center Licensed Practical Nurse Watertown * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
*** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu
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