Students enrolled in P-TECH 535’s Practical Nursing (PN) pathway take courses at their associated high school that fulfill state graduation requirements such as social studies, science, physical education, and fine arts.

P-TECH 535 cohort students take P-TECH literacy and numeracy in years 1 and 2 that meet English and math requirements, in addition to a Workplace Experience course embedded in the learning block that prepares students for internships and the workplace.

In years 3 and 4, PN Pathway students take nursing courses for the college diploma at RCTC including a course certifying them to become nursing assistants, science and nursing classes. The PN Pathway diploma includes on-site clinical rotations throughout the final year of the PN diploma major.

Practical Nurses work in a variety of settings such as: hospitals (in all areas), physicians’ offices, nursing facilities, home health care services, and military hospitals. They may also work within the healthcare insurance industry, as school nurses, or in long-term care facilities.

Future career steps may include obtaining specialty certifications within the Licensed Practical Nursing field, earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing, becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) or nurse practitioner and eventually earning a Doctorate in nursing.