Practical Nursing

The Practical Nursing Program Fall 2025 application process opens FEBRUARY 3^rd at 8:00 and closes APRIL 25^th at noon - ALL applications and testing scheduling MUST be done so prior to the deadline. There are no extensions.

To meet criteria to apply, you MUST:

Be 18 years of age by August 1, 2025
Have a High School Diploma or GED on file with NWCC Admissions office
- Official transcripts must be on file prior to submitting application
Have an ACT of 16 or greater on file with NWCC Admissions office

Letter of Employment Proof Form MUST be completed prior and uploaded with your application for points to be awarded. NO forms will be taken once application has been submitted.

HESI testing dates varies depending on the campus you are applying for and selected:
Ashland: May 13, 14, and 15 8:30 AM
DeSoto: May 12, 13, and 15^th 8:30 AM or 12:30 PM
Oxford: May 12^th and 13^th 8:30 AM or 12:30 PM
Senatobia: May 12, 13, 14, and 15^th 8:30 AM

*NO test dates will be changed once you submit the HESI date you selected. Failure to show on your testing date forfeits your testing fee.

Seat notifications May 30, 2025
Seat acceptance June 6, 2025 by 1000

Mandatory Fingerprinting and orientation (2 different appointments) will be based on campus you have been selected to attend. Fingerprinting will take place at Highland Hills Hospital in Senatobia, Mississippi. You will receive this information from the Lead instructor at the campus you applied for. The fingerprinting will be the week of July 7-11, 2025. Orientation will be the week of July 14-18, 2025. Again, all appointments are MANDATORY.

Click here for the Letter of Employment Proof Form (MUST be uploaded with application)

Click here to Apply

The Practical Nursing Program is designed to provide the student with knowledge and skills necessary to function as a Licensed Practical Nurse. This program prepares the individual to assist in providing general nursing care requiring basic knowledge of the biological, physical, behavioral, psychological and sociological sciences, and of nursing procedures that do not require the skills, judgment, and knowledge required of a registered nurse. This care is performed under the direction of a registered nurse or licensed physician.

Students who successfully complete the program will be eligible to apply for LPN licensure. The State Board of Nursing, to which the student applies for licensure, may deny any individual the right to take the NCLEX-PN based on previous criminal records.

The Day Program is a 12-month program
- Fall start is offered at Senatobia, DeSoto, Oxford and Ashland
  - August to July
- Spring start is offered at Senatobia and Oxford
  - January to December
The Evening/Weekend Program is an 18-month program
- It is offered at DeSoto and Oxford
- Evening/Weekend starts in August on the even years

Program Information

Mission and Values

MISSION
- The mission of the Practical Nursing Program is to provide excellent academic instruction for effective learning and competent nursing care by emphasizing the safety and cultural needs of the client. The faculty seek to educate students on the vital qualities and core values required to meet the needs of the healthcare industry in the community.
VALUES
- Integrity
- Accountability
- Proficiency
- Compassion
- Professionalism

How Do I Get Into This Program?

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

At least 18 years of age.
Have a high school diploma or GED/HiSET equivalency.
Have an enhanced ACT composite score of 16 or greater on file with the Office of Admissions and Records.
Have a NWCC application on file with the Office of Admissions and Records.
Have an NWCC Student ID number.
Have all transcripts including high school and any college courses on file with the Office of Admissions and Records.
Complete the NWCC PN Program checklist.
Complete a Practical Nursing application online.

DO NOT COMPLETE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS. ONLY REGISTER TO TAKE THE HESI TEST ONE TIME.

Pre-Entry Testing

After completing the PN application online, you will receive information on how to schedule a testing date for the HESI. You are only allowed to register to test for ONE exam. If you register for more than one date, your last score will be deleted. If you fail to meet the application criteria, you will not be allowed to sit for the HESI. You must register to take the HESI in Evolve, so please look over the HESI Resources for more info.

Note: Only the HESI score, obtained by NWCC, will be used to calculate your admission to the Practical Nursing Program. HESI scores taken for entrance to other colleges are not transferable.

NWCC HESI

Content: Math and Reading
Study Preparation: A study guide is available to purchase from HESI once you create your account, or you may find a used copy on another site.
Location: You may register for a HESI test date after you make your HESI test payment. Go to the HESI resources tab for more information on how to pay for your HESI test and schedule a test date. You will choose the campus that you wish to attend when applying for the program.
Cost set per HESI. NOTE: The fee will be paid online with HESI when you create your account and register for the test. You WILL NOT pay on campus.
Bring: #2 pencil, current photo ID, your HESI account login information, and copy of your receipt for exam. You may not bring anything else into the testing room
Time: Arrive 30 minutes prior to the time on your confirmation sheet to allow check-in time and preparation. The test will start promptly per the instructions. Please be prepared to be in the test for 3 hours. Per guidelines, no student is allowed to exit the room and return.
Score: An average of 65 or higher is required for consideration.

* There is no guarantee that you will have an alternative testing date if you fail to bring your photo ID or miss your scheduled testing date.

PN Rubric For Admission

The following grading scale is completed for each candidate who meets the admission criteria. A score of 11 or greater increases the possibility of acceptance into the program; however, this is not guaranteed.

Students applying for admission to the PN program will be notified via email.
Note: The student is responsible for providing a current email address and frequently checking the email account for communication.

Click here for the Northwest PN Grading Rubric.

Contact

Director: Betty Ginn, bginn@northwestms.edu, (662)560-1119

Senatobia Campus
Mailing Address: 4975 Hwy 51 North | P.O Box 5432, Senatobia, MS 38668
Senatobia actual location: 103 Porter Street, Senatobia, MS 38668
Lead Contact: Jessica Barham, jesbarham@northwestms.edu, (662)562-3232
Contact: Jessica Barham, BSN RN, jesbarham@northwestms.edu, (662) 562-3232

Ashland Campus
Benton County Career Tech Building | 25 Industrial Rd, Ashland, MS 38603
PN Lead Faculty: Stephanie Richardson, MSN RN, strichardson@northwestms.edu

DeSoto Center
5197 W.E. Ross Parkway, Southaven, MS 38671
PN Lead Faculty: Tamara Pittman BSN RN, tpittman@northwestms.edu (662) 280-6128

Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center (Oxford)
1310 Belk Drive, Oxford, MS 38655
PN Lead Faculty: Katina Johnson BSN RN, kajohnson@northwestms.edu (662) 238-7947

Senatobia Campus Contact:
Jessica Barham
jesbarham@northwestms.edu
(662) 562-3232

Oxford Campus Contact:
Katina Johnson
kajohnson@northwestms.edu
662.238.7947

DeSoto Campus Contact:
Tamara Pittman
tpittman@northwestms.edu
662.280.6218

Ashland Campus Contact:
Stephanie Richardson
strichardson@northwestms.edu

Course Curriculum

Program Policies

Admissions Policy
A student must apply to become a NWCC student and obtain the student identification number. Once this number is obtained, the student needs to have their high school and/or college transcripts sent to NWCC admission. The student must have an ACT of 16 or greater. The ACT score must be sent to NWCC admission. Additional requirements include: 18 years of age or older and have a High school diploma or GED. Once the information is reviews, the student will then take the HESI exam. An overall score of 65 qualifies (not guarantees) a student to be considered. Students are then ranked by their points earned (see “PN Rubric for Admission”). Based on ranking from the points, students are either sent an acceptance letter, alternate letter, or denial letter.

Withdrawal Policy
If a student finds it necessary to withdraw from the program for any reason, the official steps as outlined in the NWCC Bulletin must be followed. A Student who properly and officially withdraws will receive a grade of “W” (official withdrawal) in all classes. Withdrawal must be made prior to exam week. An unofficial withdrawal is attributed to a student who leaves the program without going through the published withdrawal procedures. This unofficial withdrawal will result in the student receiving “F” grades in all classes.

Readmission Policy
Any student who is dismissed from the Practical Nursing Program (regardless of how far along they are in the program) will not be given any credit for work that has been completed before the dismissal. Upon re-admittance, the student will start over completely as if they are beginning the program for the first time. A grade of 80% or above is required in all courses in order to progress. The student who does not achieve these criteria will be allowed one chance to reenter the Practical Nursing Program.

High Risk Student
A student is considered high risk if they have previously been in the Northwest Mississippi Community College Practical Nursing Program and are returning to the program for the second admission. The Practical Nursing Program can only accept 15% of the total number of students being accepted into the Practical Nursing Program that are classified as high risk.

Progression Requirements
A student must obtain an average of 80%/C or greater in all assigned courses to advance to the next semester. The Practical Nursing Program is outlined per semester and is not able to be taken out of sequence. Once a student has complete the Practical Nursing Program, they are eligible to sit for the NCLEX.

Graduation Requirements
In order for a student to graduate from the Practical Nursing Program, the student must have successfully completed the courses as outlined based on which semester and cohort the student started in. The student must maintain an average of 80%/C for all classes.

Legal Limitations for Licensure as a Practical Nurse
Legality is the application of legal codes, laws, rules, and regulations of society to the practice of nursing. Ethics is a set of philosophical principles and values governing the right code of conduct. The Mississippi Board of Nursing defines nursing, levels of nursing, and functions of nursing through these two principles. Ethical and legal principles for the Practical Nursing Program in general are privacy, confidentiality, professionalism, and ramifications of care of clients in various health care settings. These practice principles are required at all times. Students who fail to conform to these principles may be placed on probation, suspended, or dismissed from the program. Graduates of a Practical Nursing Program must apply to the Mississippi Board of Nursing for licensure to practice as a licensed practical nurse. All applicants should be advised that the Mississippi Board of Nursing reserves the right to allow or decline the applicant to test for the NCLEX-PN®. According to MS State Law, an individual may not be eligible for employment in a healthcare agency if the person has ever been convicted of a felony, or plead guilty to, or plead no contend to a felony of possession or sell of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23(f), child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust or aggravated assault, or felonious abuse and/or battery of a vulnerable adult.

Credit for Prior Classes Taken
Northwest Mississippi Community College Practical Nursing Program does not give any credit for previously taken courses from another nursing program. Students must start and complete the Practical Nursing Program courses as outlined based on the program and cohort entered.

Notification of Changes
When policies, procedures, syllabi, course outlines, or any additional changes need to be made, the faculty will notify the students verbally as well as post the changes into the student’s course content via canvas.

Non-Discrimination Policy
Northwest Mississippi Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, gender identity, age, or status as a veteran or disabled veteran in all its programs and activities. Northwest Mississippi Community College prohibits sexual harassment and all forms of sexual violence, regardless of sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. The following have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990/Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Disability Support Services Coordinator, Tate Hall, P.O. Box 5555, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668, telephone number 662-562-3309, e-mail address gbeard@northwestms.edu; Title II of the Age Discrimination Act: Vice President for Finance, James P. McCormick Administration Building, P.O. Box 7017, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668, telephone number 662-562-3207, e-mail address gtmosley@northwestms.edu; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972/Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Vice President for Student Services, Tate Hall, P.O. Box 7010, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668, telephone number 662-562-3997, e-mail address dsmith@northwestms.edu.

Practical Nursing Differences from NWCC
The Practical Nursing (PN) Program has differences in relations to NWCC. The PN Program requires an ACT of 16 or great, 18 years of age, HESI test with overall score >65, and an admission rubric to calculate points with highest points being placed first for seats; high risk students are considered repeaters from the PN Program previously; students must maintain 80%/C in all courses to progress in the program and graduate; the grading system defines passing a course as 80%/C; students must have CPR, a physical noting that student is physically fit for program requirements, and Criminal Background Check via Fingerprinting. Students must be proficient in skills to practice as a practical nursing. Dress code for the class and clinical promotes professional appearance and allows students to be identified easily in the clinical agency.

Dress Policy
The classroom and clinical area dress code are detailed in the NWCC Practical Nursing Student Handbook.

Suggested Courses

Entrance into the Practical Nursing Program is very competitive.

There are no required pre-requisite courses; however, there are course offerings at NWCC that are very beneficial to student success.

Suggested Classes for Preparation into Healthcare Program.

These are not required for entry into the PN program but may help increase HESI score and preparation for course work in the Practical Nursing Program.

BIO 1533 Survey of Anatomy and Physiology with BIO 1531 Lab
BIO 2513 Anatomy and Physiology with BIO 2511 Lab
BOT 1613 Medial Office Terminology 1
BOT 1623 Medical Office Terminology 2
BOT 1643 Pathophysiology
BOT 1763 Communication Essentials
BOT 2183 Career Readiness
Health Care Assistant Program (HCA)
Medical Office Technology Program

Program Resources

Professional Licensure or Certifications

The NWCC Practical Nursing program has not made a determination on whether the degree meets the state requirements for other US States, Territories, or District of Columbia. Professional license requirements for Mississippi, other states, and jurisdictions may be found on the Board of Nursing Professional Licensure Requirements website.