Nursing - Practical Nursing | Gateway Technical College

Graduate with confidence: Gateway's Practical Nursing program students have historically passed the NCLEX-PN exam with high success rates. Among our graduates, we saw a 93.5% first time pass rate in 2023 and a 95% first time pass rate in 2024.
Learn hands-on with expert faculty to perform a variety of patient care procedures and assessments on the Racine and Elkhorn campuses.
Study on your schedule around work and family commitments with the ability to start in the Fall, Spring or Summer Semester.
Advance your education. Upon graduation from the Practical Nursing technical diploma program, continue your education through Gateway's Nursing associate degree program and build your skills further.

Program Credits

30

LOCATION

Elkhorn Campus, Racine Campus

Financial Aid Eligible

Yes

ESTIMATED PROGRAM COST

Tuition & Fees: $5,646
Books and Supplies: $1,034

Start Dates

Fall, Spring, Summer

Salary Outlook

$73,195

Career Opportunities:

Licensed Practical Nurse

Nursing - Practical Nursing Career Pathway

Career Pathways are designed to help you reach your educational goals and explore college and career options. Pathways are made up of related certificates, diplomas and degrees that build on common skills and knowledge. You can begin at any point on the Career Pathway and customize your pathway to fit your goals. View the pathway for your area of interest.

There are many opportunities, both in high school and through previous college, work, and/or military experience, to earn credit for prior learning at Gateway.

Technical diplomas help students learn hands-on occupational skills in as little as one or two years for full-time students. Technical diploma opportunities in this pathway include:

Nursing Assistant, Nursing - Practical Nursing

Associate degrees are typically completed in two years by full-time students and combine hands-on technical skills with general education. Associate degree opportunities in this pathway include:

Prepare to enter your exciting new career, or choose to continue your education with another Gateway program or by transferring your credits to a four-year college or university.

Part Time Curriculum:

31-543-1 Practical Nursing Part-Time 2025-26 Curriculum Sheet.pdf

Course Number: 801-136Credits: 3.00

This course is designed for learners to develop knowledge and skills in all aspects of the writing process. Planning, organizing, writing, editing and revising are applied through a variety of activities. Students will analyze audience and purpose, use elements of research, and format documents using standard guidelines. Individuals will develop critical reading skills through analysis of various written documents.

Course Number: 890-155Credits: 1.00

In this course, students explore the Gateway Technical College community. They examine college resources and services, investigate skills that lead to academic success, and identify strategies for achieving educational and personal goals.

Course Number: 806-177Credits: 4.00

This course examines the basic concepts of human anatomy and physiology as they relate to health sciences. Using a body systems approach, the course emphasizes the interrelationships between structure and function at the gross and microscopic levels of organization of the entire human body. It is intended to prepare health care professionals who need to apply basic concepts of whole body anatomy and physiology to informed decision making and professional communication with colleagues and patients.

Course Number: 809-188Credits: 3.00

Developmental Psychology is the study of human development throughout the lifespan. This course explores developmental theory and research with an emphasis on the interactive nature of the biological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes that affect the individual from conception to death. Application activities and critical thinking skills will enable students to gain an increased knowledge and understanding of themselves and others.

Course Number: 543-301Credits: 2.00

This course focuses on basic nursing concepts to provide evidence-based care to diverse patient populations across the lifespan. Current and historical issues impacting nursing will be explored within the scope of nursing practice. The nursing process will be introduced as a framework for organizing the care of patients.

Course Number: 543-303Credits: 2.00

This course introduces the principles of pharmacology, including drug classifications and their effects on the body. Emphasis is on the use of the components of the nursing process when administering medications.

Course Number: 543-302Credits: 3.00

This course focuses on the development of evidence-based clinical skills and physical assessment across the lifespan. Content includes mathematical calculations and conversions related to clinical skills. In addition, the course includes techniques related to obtaining a health history and basic physical assessment skills using a body systems approach.

Course Number: 543-304Credits: 2.00

This introductory clinical course emphasizes basic nursing skills and application of the nursing process in meeting the needs of diverse clients across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on performing basic nursing skills, the formation of nurse-client relationships, communication, data collection, documentation, and medication administration.

Course Number: 543-305Credits: 3.00

This course elaborates upon the basic concepts of health and illness as presented in Nursing Fundamentals. It applies theories of nursing in the care of patients through the lifespan, utilizing problem solving and critical thinking. This course will provide an opportunity to study conditions affecting different body systems and apply evidence-based nursing interventions. It will also introduce concepts of leadership and management.

Course Number: 543-306Credits: 3.00

This course focuses on topics related to health promotion for individuals and families throughout their lifespan. We will cover nursing care of the developing family, which includes reproductive issues, pregnancy, labor and delivery, post-partum, the newborn, and the child. Recognizing the spectrum of healthy families we will discern patterns associated with adaptive and maladaptive behaviors applying mental health principles. An emphasis is placed on teaching and supporting healthy lifestyle choices for individuals of all ages. Nutrition, exercise, stress management, empowerment, and risk reduction practices are highlighted. Study of the family will cover dynamics, functions, discipline styles, and stages of development.

Course Number: 543-307Credits: 2.00

This clinical experience applies nursing concepts and therapeutic interventions to patients across the lifespan. It also provides an introduction to concepts of teaching and learning. Extending care to include the family is emphasized.

Course Number: 543-308Credits: 2.00

This clinical experience applies nursing concepts and therapeutic nursing interventions to groups of patients across the lifespan. It also provides an introduction to leadership, management, and team building.

Ready to apply? We're here to help! Join us for a Get Ready Application workshop. Our New Student Specialists will answer any questions and assist you with the application process. Register for a workshop today.

Admissions Requirements

Application for Admission & Application Fee
Official High School Transcript or GED/HSED Credential, including a graduation or passing date.
Students must meet one of the following multiple measures: earned a technical diploma or higher,* earned a minimum high school GPA of 2.6, earned a minimum college GPA of 2.0 or submit ACT or Accuplacer test scores. Submit any needed transcripts or test scores. *Please note short term technical diplomas do not fulfill Multiple Measures. These programs include Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced EMT, and Truck Driving.
Order Background Check ONLY (CBC). Upon completing your order, the BID will be on your To-Do List. Download, print, and then upload the completed BID to your myCB within 30 days of your CBC order. BID's not uploaded within 30 days may result in the need to place a new CBC order.
- Student Instruction Form
For additional background check information, read and understand the Criminal Background Checks and Health Program Students information.
Nursing Information Video.
Review the Nursing Student Handbook.
Review the program technical standards. An acknowledgement of these standards will be completed within the online application.

Petitioning

This program has a required admission petition. Students are awarded seats by having met the program petition requirements, program acceptance date and current residency status. Students with earlier program acceptance dates and Gateway district (Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties) residence have priority over students with later program acceptance dates or who are outside of the Gateway district and/or residents outside of Wisconsin. See our Petitioning webpage for additional information.

Clinicals

The program of study that you have selected has a required clinical component for graduation. Each clinical placement has site specific requirements which may include COVID-19 vaccination requirements. These requirements are subject to change with little or no notice.

Note: Due to federal clock-to-credit regulations, three of the Practical Nursing program courses are not fully financial aid eligible. Students can reduce the financial aid impact by following their scheduled part-time or full-time curriculum track. Learn more.

After Petitioning

After being awarded a seat through the petitioning process:

Order Medical Document Manager ONLY (health forms/records and CPR). Upon completing your order, the required health forms and CPR requirement will be on your To-Do List. Prior to petitioning you will only be required to upload a copy of your valid CPR card. After being awarded a seat, you will be required to complete the remainder of the items in your To-Do List as soon as possible so that you can receive clearance to participate in clinicals. Please download, print and upload the completed forms to your myCB.
- Student Instruction Form
Order your Drug Test. During the order process, you will need to select your program location, i.e. Nursing - ADN/PN - Racine/Kenosha OR Nursing - ADN/PN - Burlington. Please read the “Additional Information” section found on the review page which is the beginning part of the order process. This will provide you with the necessary information to complete your drug test.
- Student Instruction Form

Background and Health Information requirement questions?
Please contact the Admissions Office at admissionsoffice@gtc.edu.

Note: Gateway's program meets the licensure requirements for the State of Wisconsin. Gateway has not determined if the program meets the licensure requirements of any other state.

The Practical Nursing program at Gateway Technical College at the Racine Campus located in Racine, Wisconsin is a candidate for initial accreditation by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website.

Gateway Nursing Student Outcomes

The outcomes for graduates are monitored including NCLEX-PN pass rate, time to completion, job placement, and satisfaction with the program and instructors. Of the 59 students who have graduated from the LPN program, 39 (66.1%) have stepped into the ADN program and 11 have indicated interest in stepping in within the next 6 months.

89.29% of the graduates passed the NCLEX-PN licensure exam in 2022.
60.0% overall completion and 54% on time completion.
91.76% of program graduates were employed within 12 months of graduation for 2021.