Practical Nursing is a vocation in which the individual practices the art of nursing under the supervision of a registered nurse and/or a licensed physician. The aim of the Smyth County School of Practical Nursing is to provide qualified applicants an opportunity to develop into safe entry-level practitioners of all areas of practical nursing.
The Smyth County School of Practical Nursing is co-sponsored by Smyth County Schools and Smyth County Community Hospital, Mountain States Health Alliance; it is accredited by the Virginia Department of Education, Health and Medical Sciences Education Services.
At the Smyth County School of Practical Nursing, the faculty views nursing as an art and allied science anchored in knowledge from the biological, physical, and social sciences. Nursing is also viewed as a service-oriented health profession directed toward meeting the health needs of all. Nursing contributes to the maintenance of optimum health and provides care during illness until the client is able to assume responsibility for meeting his/her basic needs.
The school of nursing believes that learning is a continuous process that students and faculty will share. The faculty assumes the responsibility for developing, implementing, and evaluating the student’s learning experience and for providing an atmosphere in which the student can develop professionally and personally. The student is expected to assume the responsibility for learning, retaining, and recalling the theory/information that is taught and by utilizing critical thinking, to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to fulfill the requirements of the program.
The faculty views the Practical Nurse as an important component of the health team. Practical nursing education prepares the student nurse to assess and meet the needs of clients in relatively stable and predictable nursing situations and to provide safe nursing care under the supervision of the registered nurse and medical staff.
The instructors are registered nurses who have completed the prescribed courses in Teacher Education as required by the Virginia Department of Education. The faculty members listed below may be contacted as necessary for information not addressed in this document.
| Betsy Hall, RN, BSN, MS, Director, Pre-clinical Instructor |
| Email address: betsyhall@scsb.org |
| Available Mon.- Fri. Smyth Career & Technology Center |
| Best times: 8:15- 9:00 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.; 3:00-3:45 p.m. |
| Phone: 276-646-8117 |
| Nina Call, RN, BSN, MS; Clinical Instructor |
| Email address: ninacall@scsb.org |
| Available Mon.and Tues. at Smyth Career and Technology Center |
| Best times: 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. Phone: 276-646-8117 |
| Available Wed., Thur., and Fri. at Smyth County Community Hospital |
| Best times: 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Phone: 276-782-1234 and ask operator to page |
| Gail Vipperman, RN; Clinical Instructor |
| Email address: gailvipperman@scsb.org |
| Available Mon.and Tues. at Smyth Career & Technology Center |
| Best times: 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. Phone: 276-646-8117 |
| Available Wed., Thur., and Fri. at Smyth County Community Hospital |
| Best times: 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Phone: 276-782-1234 and ask operator to page |
The Practical Nursing course consists of approximately 18 months of study; it is divided into 2 phases of instruction, each consisting of about 9 months.
The first year or preclinical phase, begins in the fall on the opening day of public school and ends with the last day of school in late May or early June.
The second year or clinical phase, begins in mid-June of that same year and continues through the summer, fall, and winter months; it ends in late March to mid-April.
Practical Nursing classes are taught at Smyth Career and Technology Center.
Official acceptance into the program is made only after satisfactory completion of admission requirement. Applicants who are seniors at Smyth County high schools are given priority for admission and receive three (3) credits toward graduation. Adults residing in Smyth, Wythe, and/or Bland counties are admitted if there are vacancies in the class. Students are admitted into the program at the beginning of each county school year.
Admission to the School of Nursing is based on the following:
Preclinical and clinical fees cover textbooks and class materials, copying, national and state HOSA dues, standardized tests, CPR class materials, and liability insurance.
Approximate expenses for the entire 18 month program are $2,000 – 2,400. All fees and/or expenses are subject to change as necessary.
Financial aid is available to qualified adult students through several government agencies. Scholarships are available to qualified students enrolled in the clinical year of the program.
Pre-clinical Courses include:
Personal and Vocational Relationships I- an introduction to practical nursing including desirable personal characteristics, legal and ethical aspects of nursing, multi-cultural nursing, and the basic organization of health care in the United States
Anatomy and Physiology- the study of normal structure and function of the human body with a brief comparison with disease and abnormal conditions affecting each body system
Normal Nutrition- a study of normal nutrition including cultural aspects, food sources and functions of nutrients, and an introduction to diet therapy
Gerontology- the study of normal aging and recognition of nursing needs of the older adult
Medical-Surgical Nursing I- an introduction to concepts related to wellness and illness
Nursing Skills I- the study of principles and performance of fundamental nursing procedures
Dosage Calculation- the study of basic mathematics, systems of measurement, conversions, equipment used in dosage measurement, interpreting drug orders, understanding drug labels, and calculating drug dosages
Class in the preclinical year is taught one-half day in either a morning or afternoon session 5 days a week beginning at approximately 9:00 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. High school students either drive to Smyth Career and Technology Center or are transported by school bus.
Limited experience in basic patient care is provided in the latter part of the preclinical year at an area nursing home.
The fee due upon admission to the pre-clinical year ranges from $375.00 for high school students and $560.00 for adult applicants from Smyth County to $600.00 for adult applicants who do not reside in Smyth County (covers the cost of books and curriculum materials); additional expenses of approximately $400.00 occur at intervals throughout the year.
*These expenses are approximate and are subject to change during the clinical year.
Clinical Courses include:
Medical-Surgical Nursing II- an on-going study of the concepts of total patient care, diseases affecting all body systems and related treatment and nursing actions, mental health vs mental illness, administration of medications, principles of growth and development of the adult, cultural diversity, diet therapy, drug therapy, advanced nursing skills, rehabilitation, patient teaching, ethical dilemmas, and leadership and management skills for the beginning practitioner
Maternal Nursing- the study of the expectant woman and her family; includes health assessment of the mother, fetus, and neonate; health promotion, patient education, psychosocial responses of the family unit, cultural considerations, and related nursing care during normal and/or abnormal pregnancy, labor and delivery, and post-partum period
Nursing of Children- the study of growth and development of children, health promotion and maintenance, reaction to illness and separation from family; assessment, treatment, and nursing care for disorders of children from infancy through adolescence.
Class in the clinical year is held weekly usually on Mondays and Tuesdays for a full day beginning at 8:00a.m. Clinical experience/rotation is scheduled for full days on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays usually beginning at 7:00a.m.
Clinical experience is acquired mainly at Smyth County Community Hospital, its specialty departments, and at community health agencies. Additional clinical training is offered through in-service, continuing education, and the student organization (HOSA), and through limited participation and observation at child care facilities, physicians’ offices, mental health agencies, home health services, community health screenings and health fairs, long-term care facilities, and rehabilitation services.
The clinical fee that is due on Orientation Day of the clinical year is $650.00 and covers the cost of books and curriculum materials for the year. Some items are required for clinical performance (BP cuff, stethoscope, pen-light); there are additional expenses related to graduation, a review session in preparation for the licensing exam, and then the exam and application for licensure also in the early spring. The approximate cost for the clinical year of the program is $1330.00.
*These expenses are approximate and are subject to change during the clinical year.
The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) is an organization of students interested in pursuing careers in health and medical sciences. The purpose of HOSA is to educate its members in the skills of daily living and work. HOSA provides a means for members to develop leadership and technical skills through a program of motivation, awareness, and recognition that is an integral part of the Health and Medical Sciences curriculum. All students enrolled in the practical nursing program at Smyth Career and Technology Center are members of Chapter 42, Smyth County HOSA and will join the Virginia Association of Health Occupations Students of America (VA HOSA) and National HOSA. The practical nursing instructors serve as chapter advisors.
The student will be a candidate for graduation after completion of all classroom theory with a “C” average in each course and satisfactory clinical performance.
The graduate is qualified to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing and upon passing is licensed by a State Board of Nursing to work as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
Employment opportunities include general duty nursing in hospitals, clinics, out-patient services, and nursing homes; private duty nursing, industrial nursing, psychiatric nursing, public health nursing, home health nursing, office nursing, school nursing, child care, nursing in correctional institutions, out-come management, and many more areas of health care.
According to the Virginia Employment Commission, employers of LPNs in the state of Virginia reflect the following pay scale:
Hourly scale:
Yearly scale: