Practical Nursing (LPN)

Virginia Western is seeking highly motivated, caring individuals interested in providing hands-on care. If you have always wanted to be a nurse, realize it is time for a change to meet your life goals, or recognize that a career in health care could improve your personal and professional situation, now is the time to begin.

What can I do as a practical nurse?

Practical Nursing students join other nursing care providers to meet the ever-increasing health care needs of the population. Typically, an LPN will administer medications, manage IV fluids, perform treatments for would care, and work with other care providers to meet any patient needs. Understanding of labs and medications is extremely important.

How often is program entry?

Virginia Western admits students twice yearly to maintain small cohort sizes with a good faculty-to-student ration in classrooms and in clinical settings. Admission is restricted and potential students must apply to the program and complete an admission entrance test, such as the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) exam.

Related Programs

• LPN to RN Nursing Bridge Program (Associate of Applied Science)
• Nursing (Associate of Applied Science)

Program Approval

This program is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Virginia Board of Nursing, Perimeter Center, 9960 Maryland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA, 23233-1463.

Practical Nursing Program Philosophy

The Virginia Western Community College Practical Nursing Program recognizes the unique qualities and life experiences of our students and assists the students to achieve their potential. Assessment of individual needs of the dynamic student facilitates transition from student learners into knowledgeable, empathetic nurses, safe to practice in a variety of health care settings. Lifelong Learning is enhanced by an educational climate which promotes self-direction, self-esteem, critical thinking, and reasoning. Graduates possess the capability of rendering empathetic, safe, dependable clinical judgement in a variety of health care settings to individuals of various age, ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. 

2025-26 Practical Nursing Faculty

Please be aware that per the Code 23.1-903.5 by Virginia General Assembly, Practical Nursing education within the VCCS will be a common curriculum beginning Fall 2026. As we know more information and details are approved, we will post the updated information on the Fall application website.

Mission Statement & Goals

The Virginia Western Community College Practical Nursing Program’s mission is to prepare students to provide competency based, empathetic, safe, and effective health care in a culturally diverse society and in a wide variety of health care settings.

To effectively implement the program mission, the college and program faculty have made a commitment to:

• Utilize the Nursing Process to meet clients’ needs and promote collaborative care.
• Perform nursing interventions (client assessment, skills performance, dosage calculation, medication administration, and client teaching) based on assessed need.
• Explain factors that impact client care (environment, culture, family, and biopsychosocial) across the lifespan.
• Incorporate professional communication skills (verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic) to promote optimum outcomes.
• Attain eligibility to sit for NCLEX-PN.

5 Year NCLEX-PN Pass Rates

• 2019 – 87.5%
• 2020 – 88.2%
• 2021 – 88.9%
• 2022 – 90.91%
• 2023 – 100%

Student Learning Outcomes

Based on Quality and Safety Competencies (QSEN) Students will be able to:

1. Engage in practices that provide safe and holistic nursing care throughout the lifespan grounded in science and the nursing process. (Safety)
2. Apply nursing judgment to ensure the delivery of patient-centered care and promotion of health for patients within a family and community environment. (Patient-Centered Care)
3. Demonstrate the use of critical thinking/clinical judgement skills while utilizing the nursing process to provide care to patients throughout the lifespan. (Critical Thinking & Clinical Judgement).
4. Collaborate effectively within nursing and interdisciplinary healthcare teams to foster open communication, respect, and shared decision making to ensure safe, quality patient care. (Teamwork)
5. Demonstrate the use of the best current evidence to guide clinical decision making to provide safe care for patients and families across the lifespan. (Evidence-Based Practice)
6. Integrate information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, and support decision making in the practice of nursing care. (Informatics)
7. Utilize concepts related to culture, ethnicity, and spirituality in the delivery of patient care. (Culture)

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Current and prospective students located outside the state of Virginia or who may be considering licensure in a state other than Virginia should review the disclosure information for this program here: Virginia Western Professional License Disclosures for Students Outside of Virginia.