The nursing program has received notice that it has been awarded Candidate Status for Initial Program Accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

The Practical Nursing Program has received Full Approval Status from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing on September 15, 2011.

NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR NURSING CALLS ON THE NURSING COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LICENSED PRACTICAL/VOCATIONAL NURSE
Please see the full news release on the NLN website

First graduating class,
January 2011. Achieved
a 100% pass rate
on the NCLEX exam

REVIEW SESSION – Next review sessions (Math and Reading) for the TEAS test are being offered. Sessions start January 31st (provided we have 10 people registered and payment of $150.00 has been received). If you are interested we must receive your registration form and payment no later than January 19th, 2012. Download the TEAS Review Session Registration for details (If we do not hold a review session, money will be refunded).

NEXT INFORMATION SESSION – February 7th, 2012 from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
(Call 508-529-7758 x3122 to register)

Next TEAS Test –January 21, 2012– Application, TEAS Test Registration form and fee must be in at least 3 weeks prior to test date. MORE DATES and INFO

The Practical Nursing Program supports and adheres to the mission of the School District. The Practical Nursing Program is committed to serving the Blackstone Valley by fostering community partnerships through careful preparation of entry-level safe, competent practical nurses. The Practical Nursing Program offers a comprehensive student centered nursing curriculum that promotes cultural awareness and understanding, critical thinking and problem solving skills, using innovation and technology. The Practical Nursing Program is designed to prepare the graduate to demonstrate professional attributes required to provide nursing care to clients or groups of clients with well-defined health care needs throughout the lifespan, in a variety of structured health care settings.

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is an integral member of the health-care team. Employment of LPNs is expected to grow 21 percent between 2008 and 2018, faster than the average for all occupations, in response to the long-term care needs of an increasing elderly population and the general increase in demand for health care services. The projected growth for licensed practical nurses offers exciting opportunities for those considering a nursing career.

Licensed Practical Nurses are prepared as competent, safe, ethical, and caring nurses whose actions are based on knowledge and skill. The licensed practical nurse is a direct patient care provider in a variety of health settings. Licensed practical nurses respond to patient and family needs by providing emotional and physical comfort, assuring patient safety by monitoring and reporting changes. Practical nurses perform restorative, preventive nursing care in structured health care settings for clients with common, well-defined problems. Practical nurses perform more specialized nursing functions such as administering medications and therapeutic treatments and assisting with rehabilitation.

Licensed Practical Nurses perform nursing functions and duties specified by guidelines set by each individual state’s Nurse Practice Act.

Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School Practical Nursing Program receivedFull Status Approval from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing on September 15, 2011. Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School is pleased to offer a part time, 60-week evening adult practical nursing program with the next class beginning August 2012. (Applications are now being accepted). The program meets the requirements of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing by providing 1090 hours of instruction; a minimum of 945 hours are nursing courses and 540 hours of the nursing course hours are in clinical practice.. The program design offers comprehensive practical nursing instruction that considers care to multicultural and diverse human beings across their life span from birth to death. The curriculum will concentrate on caring for the older adult. In keeping with health care trends: health care issues, new technologies and community nursing needs will also be addressed. The program curriculum is designed to prepare program graduates to pass the National Council Licensing Examination for Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN).

The evening program will meet three times per week and one weekend clinical per month. Evening hours will be generally from 4:00-10 p.m. Weekend clinical may be day or evening hours. To offer a comprehensive practical nursing curriculum that considers care of clients and families across their lifespan, some clinical experience may be scheduled during day hours.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will receive a Certificate of Completion from Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School and are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN exam. Program graduates who pass the NCLEX-PN exam are prepared to begin entry-level Licensed Practical Nursing careers in long term care, office settings, ambulatory care settings, acute care settings, rehabilitation centers or to continue their nursing education. Graduates anticipating licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must comply with the Good Moral Character for Licensure requirement.

The Practical Nursing Program in the process of completing requirements for eligibility to participate in Title IV Federal Financial Aid

It is the policy of the Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or homelessness in its educational policies.

If there is a student with limited English proficiency, a qualified staff member from Blackstone Valley Technical School will assist the applicant in completing the necessary forms and assist in interpreting during the entire application and admission process upon the request of the applicant. Students with disabilities may voluntarily self- identify for the purpose of requesting reasonable accommodations during the application and admission process. Information on limited English proficiency and/or disability submitted voluntarily by the applicant for the purpose of receiving assistance and accommodations during the entire application and admission process will not affect the applications admission to the vocational technical education program.