Make a difference with Davenport’s practical nursing program
Practical Nursing Diploma (46 credits)
With a practical nursing diploma from Davenport University, you'll be prepared to make a real difference while delivering patient care. Through this practical nursing degree, you’ll gain skills in key areas, such as scope of practice, care provision, communication and management.
Your classes for LPN are taught by expert nursing faculty on Davenport’s Detroit Warren Campus. When you earn your practical nursing diploma, you can choose to immediately start your career as an LPN or continue on to your bachelor of science in nursing and finish in only three years.
Davenport's practical nursing program is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The ACEN accreditation, coupled with a 100% job placement for graduates of our LPN program in Michigan, means you can be confident that your practical nursing diploma will help you rise above the rest in today’s job market.
What is a licensed practical nurse?
Licensed practical nurses (LPN) are trained professionals who provide nursing care to the ill or injured. They work under the direction of a registered nurse or other licensed health professional. Licensed practical nurses are employed by hospitals, long-term care facilities, mental health facilities, clinics and other healthcare settings. They are trained to administer medications, collect assessment information (such as vital signs), provide personal hygiene care, collect samples and complete many other patient care activities. Licensed practical nurses may supervise nursing assistants in some settings. By completing the practical nursing program at Davenport, you’ll become a licensed practical nurse who can work with interdisciplinary teams to make important and rewarding contributions to patient care.
Explore classes for LPN at Davenport
Davenport's classes for LPN include topics like anatomy and physiology with human disease, foundations of nursing and critical thinking and pharmacology. The classes for LPN will prepare you to take the NCLEX-PN exam and put you on a path to become a licensed practical nurse. All courses are taught by Davenport professors who are RNs and hold advanced degrees, including master’s degrees in nursing and PhDs.
Foundations of Health Professions |
0 Credits | |
---|---|---|
HLTH101M | Intro to Health Careers | 0 |
Major |
28 Credits | |
---|---|---|
NURS101 | Fndtns Nursing/Critical Think | 3 |
NURS101C | Fndtns Nursing/Crit Think Clin | 2 |
NURS125 | Pharmacology I | 2 |
NURS126 | Pharmacology II | 2 |
NURS135 | Nutrition in Nursing | 2 |
NURS144 | Nursing of Adults | 4 |
NURS144C | Nursing of Adults I Clinical | 4 |
NURS165 | Maternal & Child Nursing | 2 |
NURS165C | Maternal&Child Nursing Clinicl | 1 |
NURS175 | Geriatrics & Mental Health | 3 |
NURS195 | PN Leader & Manager Capstone | 3 |
Foundations of Excellence |
17 Credits | |
---|---|---|
BIOL115 | A & P w/Human Disease I | 4 |
BIOL116 | A & P w/Human Disease II | 4 |
ENGL109 | Composition | 3 |
MATH120 or MATH125 | College Mathematics or Intermediate Algebra | 3 |
PSYC101 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
Which class should I take? When should I take it?
See our Recommended Program Sequences:
Why get a practical nursing degree at Davenport?
Complete the practical nursing program at Davenport in just three semesters so you can start making an impact sooner. If earning Davenport’s BSN degree is your goal, you can continue into the BSN PL program with only three years to completion.
Experience the Davenport difference:
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Learn from expertsLearn from practical nursing program faculty who are highly experienced in the field and have advanced degrees in nursing. |
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Pass the NCLEX-PNPrepare to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam through classes for LPN. Davenport beats the national average with a 100% passing rate. |
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Acquire hands-on experienceGain real-world experience as part of your licensed practical nurse program with clinical courses and simulation labs right on campus. |
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Network with professionalsJoin Davenport's Student Nurses Association to network and collaborate with actual licensed practical nurses. |
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Prepare for careersGet to work faster when you earn your practical nursing degree in just three semesters. Davenport has a 100% job placement rate. |
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Earn your BSNTake what you've learned in the licensed practical nurse program and go on to earn Davenport’s BSN degree. |
Get started on your LPN degree
Take the next step toward earning your licensed practical nurse diploma at Davenport University.
Talk to an admissions advisor
Davenport’s admissions team is here to answer your questions. Please call us at 800.686.1600 or email us at info@davenport.edu.
Apply now or request more information
Request more information about the licensed practical nurse program or get started on your application.
Davenport programs related to practical nursing diploma
Additional resources
The High School Direct Admit Practical Nursing (PN) Program at Davenport University is an exclusive opportunity for high school graduates who are interested in pursuing a career in nursing.
This program is designed to reward high school students who have achieved high academic excellence! The High School Direct Admit Program is unique as it offers high-performing students the opportunity to earn admission into the Nursing Program directly out of high school - no TEAS test, no essay, no letters of recommendation required! Apply now!
HIGH SCHOOL DIRECT ADMIT/ PRACTICAL NURSING REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must be admitted to DU in the Fall of the year they graduate. Example: Admitted to DU for Fall 2021 as a 2021 High School graduate.
- GPA of 3.2 or above
- SAT 1020 or above (based on composite score out of 1600)
- Completed NURS CAS Admission for either the Midland or Warren campus.
Mable Engle Nursing Program Philosophy:
The multifaceted roles of the practical and professional nurse are taught at Davenport University and include care provision, communication, management, and scope of practice.
Theoretical foundations shape the curricula and guide the nursing education. The Davenport University Nursing Program is a dynamic system that provides for the educational growth and development of the nursing student. An adaptation of Fawcett’s metaparadigm is utilized and includes person, environment, health, and nursing.
- Person - The concept of person refers to the individual or individuals as part of culture, family, community or aggregate groups who interact with the nurse in a therapeutic manner.
- Environment -The environment is made up of the physical surroundings and the settings in which the person interacts with society as a whole. This integrates the totality of social, cultural, and religious foundations and influences. Individuals are affected by environment and, in turn, have the ability to effect the environment.
- Health - The health continuum from birth to death includes physical, mental, cultural, and spiritual elements. Wellness describes the function of a person at his or her maximum potential.
- Nursing - Nursing is a caring profession that is guided by the ANA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Nursing is not limited to physical care but incorporates the promotion, protection, and optimization of health. Nursing practice is guided by research which contributes to the delivery of evidence-based practice.
Graduate Learning Outcomes:
The following objectives were developed by the faculty with the use of nursing criteria referenced in the MI public Health Code, The Michigan Board of Nursing Curriculum Rules, the DU Excellence System, adaption of Fawcett’s metaparadigm, and the National Association Practical Nurse Education and Service (NAPNES).
STUDENT/GRADUATE LEARNING OUTCOMES – CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GRADUATE
SCOPE OF PRACTICE
Provide care appropriate to the scope of practice and ethical dimensions for one’s own action according to the NAPNES Standards of Practice.
- Demonstrates and practices within an ethical and legal framework constituting professional behaviors.
- Functions and describes accountability and responsibility for one’s own choices and behaviors related to practical nursing care.
- Complies and examines ethical and legal issues surrounding health care issues.
- Demonstrates and implements client and organizational confidentiality.
CARE PROVISION
Implements prescribed care regimen while utilizing holistic cultural awareness and the nursing process in collaboration with the interdisciplinary health care team.
- Demonstrates and develops nursing assessment skills.
- Assesses data within established protocols and guidelines under the direction of a Registered Nurse or physician.
- Demonstrates educational needs of the client or patient.
- Demonstrates patient outcomes.
- Demonstrates and revises the plan of care based on individual patient outcomes.
COMMUNICATION
Identifies and utilizes effective communication skills to interact with patients, families, and the health care team.
- Utilizes effective therapeutic communication skills in interactions with individuals and families.
- Utilizes effectively with individuals, peers, and members of the interdisciplinary health care team.
- Utilizes college-level writing and verbal skills.
- Maintains and uses technology for obtaining and presenting information.
MANAGEMENT
Directs aspects of holistic care for patients, families, and communities with health care needs in a variety of settings.
- Assists leadership and management roles for delivery of patient care.
- Directs aspects of delegation consistent with the Michigan Public Health code – Nursing for LPNs.
- Organizes trends that influence the cost in health care savings.
- Assists patient care in collaboration with individuals and families.
Associate Dean (Interim): Aleta Pillai, PhD, RN
Department Chair (Nursing): Tracy Alberta, MSN, RN
Nursing Administrative Assistant: Maria Banfill
Program Director: Cherie Reitzel MSN, RN
Simulation Lab/Clinical Coordinator: Janetlynn Erickson, MSN, FNP
Campus Faculty: Sharon Long PhD, FNP, Lynette Zigo, MSN, ANP_BC, Amanda Binge, MSN, RN, Gideon Njankwi, PhD, RN
Indicator | 2020-2021 | 3-Year Aggregate |
NCLEX-PN Pass Rates (1st time test-takers) | 60% | 75% |
Student Completion Rate | 24.3% | 55% |
Post-Graduation Employment Rate | 85.7% | 89.6% |
Some programs require a student to complete a portion of their degree plan off-campus.
View a full list of those programs and courses