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Nursing (Practical and Registered)

Nursing Program at MCTC

The nursing program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) provides you with many “pathways” to pursue a career in nursing. MCTC’s Nursing Pathway Program is designed to allow students to complete their education in a series of steps that allows you to work at various levels of nursing as you complete your education. This pathway approach also allows you to complete the program on a full- or part-time basis to better balance work and life demands with school. You will have the option to earn a Practical Nursing (P.N.) diploma after completion of the first two semesters of the nursing pathway program. You may then continue with the second year of the curriculum and be eligible to earn an associate in science degree in nursing. Students who complete the A.S.N. degree can then apply for admission to other colleges and universities to earn a bachelor of science in nursing (B.S.N.). After satisfactorily completing the practical nurse and/or associate in science in nursing program degree requirements, qualified students are eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Exam – PN and/or RN. Authorization to take this exam comes from the Minnesota State Board of Nursing as a result of the graduate’s application to the board for licensure. After passing the exam, students are eligible to apply for licensure in all states. If you already are an L.P.N., you can earn your A.S.N. degree at MCTC through the Nursing Mobility program which allows you to make the most of your current training to complete your degree. MCTC’s experienced faculty members are committed to providing a high-quality educational experience using a flexible nursing program schedule.

Nursing Program Accreditation:

The Nursing program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10014 (800/669-1656 x153).

Degree and diploma options

Nursing Pathway Program:

In this program, students will have the option to earn a Practical Nursing Diploma after completion of the first two semesters of the program. You may then choose to continue on in the second year of the curriculum to be eligible to earn an A.S. degree in nursing. Click here for a listing of program coursework.

Nursing Mobility Program for Currently Licensed P.N.’s:

If you are a currently Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.), the nursing mobility program enables you to earn an A.S. in nursing upon completion of two transition courses and semesters three and four of the nursing program. Click here for a listing of program coursework.

Admission to the Nursing Programs:

The nursing programs at MCTC are very popular and admission is highly competitive. Each year we have several hundred applicants for a limited number of spaces. All applicants to the program are required to meet several admission requirements before they are eligible to apply to the program. Upon completion of the admission requirements, students may apply for admission to the program. The current admission requirements and process for the Fall 2009/Spring 2010 Nursing Programs are available at:

For more information about the nursing programs at MCTC:

Students are strongly encouraged to attend an information session.

Please view further down this page for our Nursing Program FAQ'S

 

If you still have questions after you have attended an information session: New and/or transfer students who have never enrolled at MCTC can contact Carmen Franzmeier, Nursing and Health Careers Admissions Advisor via email or by phone at 612-659-6212. Current or returning MCTC students should contact the Counseling and Advising Office at 612-659-6700.

Other Health Career Options at MCTC

In addition to nursing, MCTC offers a wide array of health career programs that lead to jobs in the health care industry. Those programs include:

To learn more about these programs, click on the links above or pick up a copy of the MCTC Guide to Liberal Arts and Career programs.

Men in Healthcare Professions

Luring Men Into Healthcare—Check out this article in Star Tribune.

Degrees, diplomas and certificates (with articulations)

Read the requirements for individual degrees, diplomas and certificates available through the Nursing (Practical and Registered) program.

Read MCTC's articulation agreements with other colleges and universities.

Faculty/staff listing

Name Office Phone
Ashley, Cynthia H.5134 612-659-6000
Faculty x4048
Burt, Joyce H.5006 612-659-6116
Office & Admin Specialist
Culbert, Heidi H.5134 612-659-6000
Faculty x4476
DeJesus, Lourdes H.5108 612-659-6025
Faculty
Duffy, Patricia H.5124 612-659-6464
Continuing Ed
Dunn, Mary Alice H.5127 612-659-6000
Faculty x4475
Fietzer, Christine H.5103 612-659-6458
Faculty
Frahm, Laurie H.5105 612-659-6098
Faculty
Gabatino, Richard T.3500 612-659-6146
College Laboratory Asst 2
Gbarbea-Kaine, Demenia H.5114 612-659-6463
Faculty
Halverson, Jean H.5129 612-659-6045
Faculty
Johnson, Ruth H.5128 612-659-6462
Faculty
Kelly, Terri H.5140 612-659-6000
Faculty x4009
Lasar, Kathleen H.5139 612-659-6460
Practical Nursing
Linck, Raney 612-659-6000
Faculty x4123
Lindgren-Clendenen, Debbi H.5132 612-659-6000
Faculty
McCabe, Rita H.5116 612-659-6449
Faculty
McCullough-Zander, Kathleen H.5115 612-659-6055
Faculty
McDonald, Ann H.5101 612-659-6457
Miller, Nancy H.5102 612-659-6090
Faculty
Novak, Heidi H.5138 612-659-6000
Faculty x4137
Paurus, Jeff H.5112 612-659-6401
Faculty
Peitersen, Meg H.5121 612-659-6109
Assistant to the Dean
Perkins, Lynn H.5140 612-659-6000
Continuing Education x4425
Persoon, Jane H.5104 612-659-6403
Faculty
Potter, Teddie H.5123 612-659-6407
Faculty
Versaguis, Lori H.5140 612-659-6000
Faculty x4471
Vesel, Laura H.5117 612-659-6099
Faculty
Watts, Bonnie H.5113 612-659-6438
Nursing Director
Ziefle, Katrice H.5118 612-659-6431
Faculty

Frequently asked questions

What makes MCTC the best choice to start a career in nursing?
The nursing pathway design allows for seamless education from the practical nursing to the registered nursing level. The program has part-time and full-time options, as well as evening and on-line course offerings. The downtown Minneapolis campus is on a bus line and is also close to numerous potential clinical and employment opportunities.
Why is MCTC's program so different from other nursing programs?
MCTC responded to the needs of the nursing student and the healthcare industry by redesigning its nursing education pathway. This education pathway eliminates duplication between levels of nursing education and creates a series of career entry and exit points. The goal of the pathway is to allow for ease and flexibility of advancement through content from practical nursing to registered nursing levels of education.
Do you have a Practical Nursing Program?
Yes, it is part of an innovative nursing education pathway. MCTC's Nursing program includes a 36 credit Practical Nursing Diploma after 2 semesters of program and general education coursework. Students will be admitted to the Nursing Pathway and may elect to declare Practical Nursing as their major after the first year of the program. They will then receive a Diploma in Practical Nursing and will be eligible to complete the NCLEX-PN exam.
Where can I find information regarding nursing careers?
We recommend a visit to www.iseek.org where you can research skills, abilities, knowledge, wages, benefits, and job outlook for both practical nursing and registered nursing careers.
What if I want to pursue a bachelor's degree?
If you are seeking a bachelor's degree, MCTC is part of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) which makes transfer to other public colleges and universities virtually seamless. MCTC has articulation agreements with all Minnesota state universities and several private colleges which allows you to apply your MCTC Nursing and general education coursework toward a bachelor's degree or higher in Nursing.
Are there any additional costs for this program?
Other costs include books, uniforms, liability insurance for clinical courses, skills lab kit and off site parking fees for clinicals.
What additional requirements are needed to enter the Nursing programs?
You must fulfill certain academic requirements to begin coursework in these programs. Furthermore, the Nursing Programs have an extensive list of requirements including medical and background checks as well as additional admission documentation. Refer to the Nursing website at www.minneapolis.edu/nursing for complete details regarding the program and admission requirements. Applicants are responsible for knowing the program requirements including any changes from the previous year. Timing of coursework is critical in order to meet application deadlines. Students are strongly advised to meet with a counselor or advisor to discuss course selection.
When are applications accepted?
Applications are accepted on an annual basis. Students who apply during the application period will be considered for admission into the following fall and spring programs. Applications for the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 programs will be accepted Tuesday, January 20, 2009 through Monday, February 2, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.
What will improve my chances of being accepted into the Nursing Pathway Program?
Take and do well in the science courses for the program and work to keep your GPA above the minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA required. In most cases, applicants admitted to the program exceed the minimum admission requirements for the program. Most applicants have GPA’s that exceed the minimum requirement, have completed most, if not all, of their general education requirements for the Associate in Science degree, and have experience working as a nursing assistant.
How many applications do you receive on an annual basis?
The number of applications varies from year to year. For example, in 2008 we had nearly 800 applicants for 120 spaces in the Nursing Pathway program. Unfortunately that means more qualified applicants are denied admission than accepted to the program. Applicants need to be aware that meeting admission requirements and submitting a completed application does not guarantee admission into the program and may wish to consider applying to more than one nursing program in the area to increase their chances of admission.
Does MCTC have an evening and/or weekend nursing program?
The nursing program offers evening and online courses, however the program cannot be completed entirely during the evening or online.
I have a college degree, why do I need to take the placement test in reading?
Completion of a college degree does not indicate a student’s ability to read at the college level. The nursing program requires students to be reading at a college level due to the high level of reading comprehension necessary to understand and apply the material being read and the volume of reading required of the student on a weekly basis. For this reason, the nursing program wants to ensure that all students are reading at the college level. Completion of the reading placement test is the best indicator of college reading readiness at the time of application.
Why do I have to take the reading placement exam if I have already completed college English?
College English is a course that focuses primarily on writing skills and can be used to waive the writing portion of the placement test. Reading courses focus on comprehension of reading material and assess a different area of readiness.
How do I get additional information about your RN-A.S. or RN-Mobility A.S. degree?
We recommend that you visit our website at www.minneapolis.edu/nursing for more detailed information and attend a Nursing Information Session. The schedule for the information sessions is available at: http://savvy.minneapolis.edu/nursing/informationsessions.cfm. To request information about the nursing program to be mailed to you, contact the Admissions Office by e-mail at Admissions.Office@minneapolis.edu or call 612-659-6200.
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