Practical Nursing

New in 2026–2027: Program-specific course content will be weighted as Honors-level coursework. See Program Coursework below for more details.

Prerequisites: Practical Nursing Program

• Must apply as a rising senior ( HCPS students) or adult ( throughHenrico Adult Education )
• Must additionally apply ( and be accepted) through St. Mary's Hospital School Of Practical Nursing
• Three educational/work references
• Minimum GPA of 2.8
• High School Transcript
• Applicant Interview

The Practical Nursing program is an 18-month, pre-licensure nursing program designed to prepare students for entry into the nursing profession. High school seniors begin the program during their senior year and are required to continue for nine months after graduation to complete all academic and clinical requirements. Adult learners enrolled through Henrico Adult Education attend class alongside high school students during Phase I, creating a shared academic and professional learning environment.

The program is academically rigorous and fast-paced. Students must maintain required academic averages, meet attendance requirements, and successfully complete all coursework to remain enrolled.

Students should be prepared to learn in a mixed-population setting that includes both traditional high school seniors and adult learners. Classrooms and clinical environments operate with adult-level expectations for behavior, communication, accountability, and professionalism. Students are expected to engage respectfully, work collaboratively, and meet the same standards regardless of age or enrollment pathway.

Practical Nursing is physically and emotionally demanding. Students are trained in foundational nursing skills and are expected to perform tasks that include extended standing, bending, lifting, repositioning patients, and providing direct personal care. Instruction and clinical practice involve real patient care, not simulations, and may include exposure to bodily fluids such as blood, urine, vomit, and fecal matter. Physical stamina, attention to safety, and strict adherence to procedures are essential.

Clinical education is a required and essential component of the program. Students participate in supervised clinical experiences in healthcare settings where they provide direct patient care. These experiences require maturity, emotional readiness, confidentiality, and respect for patient dignity. Students must follow all clinical protocols and understand that clinical performance is evaluated just as seriously as classroom work.

Clinical experiences are a required part of the Practical Nursing program and are not field trips. On assigned clinical days, students must provide their own transportation and report independently and on time to their assigned clinical location. HCPS transportation is not provided to hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, or other clinical sites. Students may have different clinical assignments and do not necessarily attend clinicals at the same location or time.

Clinical partners may also require health and safety documentation beyond standard HCPS school requirements, such as, but limited to PPD/TB testing and influenza vaccination. These requirements are established by the healthcare facilities and are not optional. Students must complete and submit all required documentation by the established deadlines. Students who do not meet clinical facility requirements on time are not eligible to participate in clinical experiences, which are necessary for completing required direct patient-care hours and preparing for certification/licensure.

Students are expected to participate in HOSA – Future Health Professionals, a national student organization focused on leadership development, teamwork, and healthcare career readiness.In addition to earning course credit, students are eligible to work toward industry-recognized credentials, including:

• Basic Life Support (BLS Provider )
• Workplace Readiness Skills
• Qualification to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN)

NOTE: 48 clinical hours at local medical facilities under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) are mandatory, and absences for any reason do not waive this requirement.

This program is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing, certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), and is accredited with conditions by the Accreditation Commission of Education in Nursing (ACEN)

This program operates with expectations aligned to professional healthcare environments. Students are expected to:

• Purchase specific work attire for daily wear when attending ACE classes and events
• Display a visible ID badge at all times
• Demonstrate professional behavior, punctuality, accountability, and respectful communication

Work attire sample images appear in the image carousel below