Overview
The LPN (Licensed Practical Nursing) diploma program at Mitchell Tech prepares graduates for entry into the nursing profession as a practical nurse. The program includes nursing and general education courses and can be completed in one calendar year. Mitchell Tech’s program does not require that you take your prerequisite courses before you start; enroll and take both simultaneously, saving you time.
This program focuses on the art and science of nursing, and is taught in classrooms, simulation labs, and in clinical practice settings. Students attend class, skills labs, and clinical simulation experiences on campus. Additionally, students participate in clinical learning experiences in various healthcare settings in surrounding communities and simulated clinical experiences under the guidance of nursing faculty. Clinical experiences provide students with the opportunity to apply nursing theory and critical thinking skills to patient care situations to help develop sound clinical judgment.
General education courses in the nursing curriculum are offered in traditional and online format. Students may elect to complete general education courses prior to entering the program.
Graduates of the program find jobs in a variety of health care settings including long-term care facilities, home health care agencies, state and federal correctional facilities, private duty nursing, clinics, and acute care settings.
Learn more about Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) as a career.
Curriculum
Award: Diploma
First Semester
This course meets CDC, OSHA and NFPA guidelines for basic life support. It focuses on immediate life-threatening situations, demonstrates quick, effective responses and presents perspectives on how frequently these situations occur. It is ideal for professionals such as firefighters, police, paramedics, lifeguards, athletic trainers, medical assistants and other medical professionals. Topics covered include the professional rescuer’s role in emergencies; victim’s condition assessment; basic life support; rescue breathing; cardiac emergencies; airway obstructions; AED use; and resuscitation in special situations. This class is offered for credit as a Pass/No Pass course.
0.5 creditsBasic anatomy and physiology of the human body. Systems studied include integumentary, musculo-skeletal, nervous, circulatory, lymphatic, respiratory, urinary, digestive, endocrine and reproductive. (A grade of ”C” or higher required to continue in medical programs.)
4 creditsPrepares nursing students to become more effective in test-taking strategies with topics of time management, critical thinking and clinical judgement, stress and anxiety management, and test question and answer evaluation methods. This course will help students understand the NCLEX-PN exam test plan and long term strategies to prepare students for the licensing exam. Additionally, this course introduces students to fundamental principles of clinical dosage calculations.0.5 credits
The clinical component of LPN 101. This course is a continuation of fundamentals course with application of theoretical nursing content into the clinical, lab, and simulation setting. Students will gain experience mastering basic nursing skills and foundational clinical decision making.
2 creditsDesigned to provide students with opportunities to develop pharmacological competencies necessary to meet the needs of individuals throughout the lifespan in a safe, legal, and ethical manner. This course contains a basic pharmacological foundation of knowledge of drug classifications and medication prototypes, therapeutic actions, side-effects, and nursing implications.
3 creditsThis course is designed to develop students’ problem-solving skills and quantitative reasoning through topics including: problem-solving processes, logic, percentages, measurement, ratios and proportions, statistics, linear equations, geometry and trigonometry, and personal finance.
3 creditsProvides a foundation for gaining the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for college success. Students will learn to make a successful transition to higher education by setting up a pattern of success that will last the rest of their lives. Students will define goals and develop thinking skills, learning strategies and personal qualities essential to both academic and career success. Please note: Students who have served active military duty (excluding basic training and AIT) may be exempt from the Student Success course. Student must provide a copy of DD214 or other official military documentation to the registrar for verification.
1 creditSecond Semester
Builds upon the fundamentals nursing course. This course is designed to acquaint the learner with classification of medical/ surgical diseases using the Body System approach as the framework. The significance of each symptom and the nurse’s responsibility for patient care will be stressed. Emphasis is placed on physiological disorders that require management in an acute and/or long term care facility. Nutrition, pharmacology, communication, and cultural concepts are integrated throughout this course.
5 creditsThe clinical component of LPN 105. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and implement safe patient care in lab, simulation, and selected clinical settings. Medication administration concepts and skills, patient care management principles and professional/therapeutic communication will be developed throughout the clinical course.
3 creditsProvides an integrative, family-centered approach to maternity and pediatric nursing, highlighting the ways in which infants and children differ from adults. Emphasis is placed on normal and abnormal pregnancies, birthing process, family dynamics, care of the newborn, growth and development and common pediatric disorders. The impact of psycho-social and cultural values and practices of the childbearing family unit are also explored. The nursing process is used in identifying and meeting the needs of the childbearing family to facilitate optimal functioning. Nutrition, pharmacology, and communication concepts are integrated throughout this course.
4 creditsThe clinical component of LPN 107. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and to provide safe patient care to childbearing family unit and children in the lab, simulation, and selected clinical settings.
2 creditsThird Semester
Ethical principles and legal regulations governing a medical practice.
2 creditsThis course builds upon Adult Health Nursing I and continues to acquaint the learner with classification of medical/surgical diseases using the Body System approach as the framework. The knowledge regarding disease processes and application of the nursing process is also emphasized. This course is designed to assist the student in developing concepts of mental health and his/her role in the mental health effort. An awareness of mental illness, its treatment, and relationship to all areas of nursing will be included. Nutrition, pharmacology, culture, critical thinking skills, prioritizing, ethical and legal issues, documentation, and working with other members of the healthcare team are concepts that are interwoven throughout this course.
4 creditsThis course is an overview of the normal physical, psychological and cultural aspects of the aging process. It addresses common disease processes of aging and exploration of attitudes toward care of the older adult as guided by the National League for Nursing Advancing Care Excellence for Seniors (ACES). Also covered are preventative care and restorative measures for the older adult. An emphasis is given on adaptations in the provision of nursing care to the older individual. Nutrition, pharmacology, communication, and cultural concepts are integrated throughout this course.
3 creditsThis course is the clinical component of LPN 110 and LPN 111. Clinical experiences provide the student an opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and to provide safe patient care to complex patient situations with an emphasis on the geriatric population with multiple co-morbidities in the lab, simulation, and selected clinical settings. Care of the patient with the student having a more autonomous role will be emphasized.
3 creditsThis course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to integrate clinical and theoretical learning from previous nursing courses through a role-transition clinical experience. The purpose is for students to function in the professional nursing role and further the transition from student nurse to professional practical nurse.
3 creditsDesigned to relate psychology to everyday life. Students will gain a basic understanding of how we develop throughout our life span and how we learn throughout our lives. Special emphasis is placed on understanding causes, symptoms and treatment of the most prevalent psychological disorders in our society. An empathetic perspective for those who suffer from these disorders and how the disorders affect their families is stressed.
3 creditsRequirements
ADMISSION INTO MITCHELL TECH
- Complete admission application
- Have a high school transcript sent to Mitchell Tech
- If you previously attended college and you have college or technical school transcripts, please arrange to have those transcripts sent to Mitchell Tech
- Scores from schools or agencies for any of the following tests you have taken: ACT or Accuplacer
- If above testing was not completed or scores do not meet program standards, the student must complete an admissions test at Mitchell Tech (no charge for this test)
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR LPN
1. | ACT score of 18 or above in all sections or ACCUPLACER equivalent(s); |
2. | High school or college cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above; and |
3. | TEAS Exam composite score of 62% or above |
NEXT STEPS FOR ACCEPTED STUDENTS
Once you have been formally accepted into the LPN program, you will be required to perform several tasks.
- Submission of your immunization record with documentation of all required immunizations (at your expense)
- Complete a criminal background check (at your expense)
- Undergo a student physical (at your expense)
- Present proof that you carry health insurance (at your expense)
- Provide proof of a minimum of 120 hours of direct patient care (i.e. CNA, patient care tech, nurses aid, etc.)
- Complete required documents provided to you by program administrator
LICENSURE DISCLOSURE
Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN and be licensed as an LPN in South Dakota. Students who are not South Dakota residents or South Dakota residents who are seeking employment outside South Dakota should contact that state’s Board of Nursing for any additional requirements (Board of Nursing Professional Licensure Requirements | NCSBN).
*Inquiries and questions may be directed to the South Dakota Board of Nursing or MTC Nursing Program Director.
Mitchell Technical College has determined that our program’s curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.
Mitchell Technical College has made no determination that our program’s curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands.
South Dakota is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact which allows a nurse that is licensed and residing in South Dakota to be able to practice in other compact states without obtaining additional licensure. This compact gives multistate rights to registered nurses and licensed practical nurses residing in a member state. The South Dakota Board of Nursing ( https://doh.sd.gov/boards/nursing/compact.aspx ) and National Council State Boards of Nursing (https://www.ncsbn.org/compacts.htm ) provides additional details about the Nurse Licensure Compact.
COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
This program allows you to bring your own laptop as long as it meets these minimum specifications:
Processor – Intel Core i Series (i3, i5, i7) or AMD Ryzen
Operating System – Windows 10
Webcam Recommended
Memory – 4 GB or more
Internal Storage – 64 GB or more
Microsoft Office is available at no charge as long as enrolled at Mitchell Tech
NO APPLE/MAC COMPUTERS
Accreditation
The Mitchell Tech Licensed Practical Nursing program has been granted Full Approval by the South Dakota Board of Nursing (SDBON).
For further information regarding the program’s status with SDBON, please contact:
Dr. Carena Jarding, DNP, RN
Nursing Program Director
Mitchell Technical College
1800 E. Spruce St.
Mitchell, SD 57301
605.995.7148
Licensure exam rates for Licensed Practical Nursing program graduates National Council Licensure Examination – Practical Nursing | |||
Exam Year | First-time Candidates | Passing | Percentage Passing |
2019 | 21 | 21 | 100% |
2020 | 17 | 17 | 100% |
2021 | 24 | 24 | 100% |
2022 | 23 | 22 | 96% |
2023 | 18 | 18 | 100% |
Completion rate for Licensed Practical Nursing program | |||
Cohort Year | Number Beginning Program | Number Graduating in 150% of Normal Time to Graduate | Completion Rate |
2018-19 | 28 | 21 | 75% |
2019-20 | 29 | 17 | 59% |
2020-21 | 37 | 25 | 68% |
2021-22 | 33 | 22 | 67% |
2022-23 | 30 | 18 | 60% |
Placement rate for Licensed Practical Nursing program graduates | |||
Year Graduated | Number Responding Graduates | Number Employed or Continuing Ed within 6 Months of Graduation | Placement Rate |
2019 | 21 | 21 | 100% |
2020 | 17 | 17 | 100% |
2021 | 23 | 23 | 100% |
2022 | 19 | 19 | 100% |
2023 | 17 | 17 | 100% |
Outcomes
- Demonstrate effective therapeutic communication to foster collaborative inter-professional teamwork and safe patient care across the lifespan.
- Integrate professional nursing standards, clinical judgment, code of ethics, and accountability with one’s own nursing practice.
- Demonstrate competence of nursing skills while providing culturally sensitive relationship-centered patient care.
- Provide thorough assessment, observation, monitoring, and reporting of patient health status.
- Demonstrate the ability to prioritize and implement patient care for multiple patients using technology and evidence-based practice under the direct supervision of the registered nurse.
- Incorporate physical and psychosocial assessment data into creating and revising patient’s plan of care in collaboration with the registered nurse.
Annual Program Review
Check out the 2023-24 Annual Program Review for information on how faculty ensure the quality and effectiveness of the program.
Faculty
Nursing Instructional Technician
Instructor
Instructor
Program Director
Instructor
Cost
Other Required Costs
Books / Tools (estimated) | $627 |
Scholarships
$500
2 AVAIL.
Avera Queen of Peace Endowed Scholarships
Avera Queen of Peace
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Human Services Technician
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology
Registered Nursing (LPN to RN)
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
$1000
1 AVAIL.
BPO Elks #1059 Endowed Scholarship
BPO Elks #1059
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Animal Science
Architectural Design and Building Construction
Automation Controls/SCADA
Business Management
Culinary Academy of South Dakota
Diesel Power – Ag Power Technology
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
Heating & Cooling Technology
Human Services Technician
Information Systems Technology
Machining and Manufacturing
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Medical Office Professional
Power Sports & Marine Technology
Precision Ag Technology
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology
Small Business Management
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Utilities Technology
Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
Wind Turbine Technology
$500
1 AVAIL.
Daniel Roy Todd Memorial Scholarship
Daniel Todd Family
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Animal Science
Architectural Design and Building Construction
Automation Controls/SCADA
Culinary Academy of South Dakota
Diesel Power – Ag Power Technology
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Heating & Cooling Technology
Human Services Technician
Information Systems Technology
Machining and Manufacturing
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Power Sports & Marine Technology
Precision Ag Technology
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology
Small Business Management
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
Wind Turbine Technology
$500
4 AVAIL.
Forty And Eight Voiture 481 Nurse Training Scholarship
Forty and Eight Voiture 481
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Registered Nursing (LPN to RN)
$1000
2 AVAIL.
John And Diane Weber “Career Change” Endowed Scholarship
John and Diane Weber Family and Friends
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Animal Science
Architectural Design and Building Construction
Automation Controls/SCADA
Culinary Academy of South Dakota
Diesel Power – Ag Power Technology
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
Geospatial Technologies
Heating & Cooling Technology
Human Services Technician
Information Systems Technology
Machining and Manufacturing
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Power Sports & Marine Technology
Precision Ag Technology
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Utilities Technology
Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
Wind Turbine Technology
$1000
2 AVAIL.
Laverne & Nell Tollefson Memorial Scholarship
Charlene Bainbridge
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Administrative Office Specialist
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Animal Science
Architectural Design and Building Construction
Automation Engineering Technology
Automation Controls/SCADA
Business Management
Culinary Academy of South Dakota
Diesel Power – Ag Power Technology
Diesel Power – Light Truck Technology
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
Geospatial Technologies
Heating & Cooling Technology
Human Services Technician
Information Systems Technology
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
Machining and Manufacturing
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Medical Office Professional
Natural Gas Technology
On Campus
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Power Sports & Marine Technology
Precision Ag Technology
Progressive Welding Technology
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology
Registered Nursing (LPN to RN)
Small Business Management
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Utilities Technology
Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
Wind Turbine Technology
$1000
1 AVAIL.
Mitchell Tech Retiree Endowed Scholarship
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Animal Science
Architectural Design and Building Construction
Automation Controls/SCADA
Business Management
Culinary Academy of South Dakota
Diesel Power – Ag Power Technology
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
Geospatial Technologies
Heating & Cooling Technology
Human Services Technician
Information Systems Technology
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
Machining and Manufacturing
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Medical Office Professional
Natural Gas Technology
Office Technology Specialist
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Power Sports & Marine Technology
Precision Ag Technology
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology
Small Business Management
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Utilities Technology
Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
Wind Turbine Technology
$500
MTC Freshmen Scholarship
Mitchell Tech Staff and Faculty
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Animal Science
Architectural Design and Building Construction
Automation Controls/SCADA
Culinary Academy of South Dakota
Diesel Power – Ag Power Technology
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
Geospatial Technologies
Heating & Cooling Technology
Human Services Technician
Information Systems Technology
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
Machining and Manufacturing
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Medical Office Professional
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Power Sports & Marine Technology
Precision Ag Technology
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology
Small Business Management
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Utilities Technology
Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
Wind Turbine Technology
$1000
4 AVAIL.
Osterhaus Endowed Scholarships
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Animal Science
Architectural Design and Building Construction
Automation Controls/SCADA
Business Management
Culinary Academy of South Dakota
Diesel Power – Ag Power Technology
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
Heating & Cooling Technology
Human Services Technician
Information Systems Technology
Machining and Manufacturing
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Medical Office Professional
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Power Sports & Marine Technology
Precision Ag Technology
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology
Small Business Management
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Utilities Technology
Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
Wind Turbine Technology
$500
3 AVAIL.
Tessier Family Foundation – Current Students
Tessier Family Foundation
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Accounting
Heating and Cooling Technology
Licensed Practical Nursing
Medical Assistant
$1000
4 AVAIL.
Thomsen Family Endowed Scholarships
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Animal Science
Architectural Design and Building Construction
Automation Controls/SCADA
Culinary Academy of South Dakota
Diesel Power – Ag Power Technology
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
Heating & Cooling Technology
Human Services Technician
Information Systems Technology
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
Machining and Manufacturing
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Medical Office Professional
Medical Office Professional
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Power Sports & Marine Technology
Precision Ag Technology
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology
Small Business Management
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Utilities Technology
Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
Wind Turbine Technology