Health Care Careers

Our Healthcare-related programs provide numerous unique learning opportunities:

• Field trips and observational experiences
• Guest speakers
• The application of classroom learning in clinical settings
• A rural community that provides a personal touch to healthcare
• A community of healthcare professionals willing to facilitate student learning experiences
• Cohorts with student ages ranging from the traditional to the adult learner

Practical Nursing Admission Requirements

Practical Nursing Guide Sheet

Practical Nursing Check List / PN Information Sheet

RN Program through HCC

The Practical Nursing Program at Itasca provides carefully selected classroom instruction and clinical practice which enable the student to meet the basic needs of patients and function as a practical nurse. Nurses are in high demand. Career opportunities for nurses include:

Successful completion of the ICC Practical Nursing Program enables students to career ladder in healthcare without loss of credits and allows for articulation to RN programs throughout Minnesota. Graduates can continue on in any Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program in the Minnesota state college system, including Hibbing Community College. A student who earns the ADN then can apply to take the examination leading to licensure by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

The Minnesota Board of Nursing and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools approve the program. Graduates can apply to take the National Council Examination for Licensed Practical Nursing. Our students have averaged a state board examination passing rate of 94% over the past four years.

Nursing Assistant

The Nursing Assistant Program at Itasca provides information and training so that a student may become employable in a healthcare facility. Graduates of this program receive both classroom instruction and clinical experience. Students have opportunities to apply classroom learning in community clinical settings. Graduates are trained in basic nursing skills. It is the responsibility of each employing institution to implement and enlarge upon the basic program based on its individual employee needs. A criminal background study is required to be employed as a nursing assistant.

The Nursing Assistant Program at Itasca offers the necessary, approved training to take the ASI Nursing Assistant (NA) test to become registered as a nursing assistant and placed on the NA registry in Minnesota. Itasca's program is accredited by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Graduates of the Nursing Assistant Program have excellent employment opportunities with:

• Nursing homes
• Hospitals
• Schools
• Private homes
• Foster care
• Special care facilities

Students also have the option to further their training by enrolling in the Home Health Aide and Practical Nursing programs. The nursing assistant course is a prerequisite to both programs.

Home Health Aide

The Home Health Aide Program at Itasca provides the instruction and training so that a student may become employable in a home healthcare agency. Graduates of the program are skilled beyond the Nursing Assistant level to provide basic nursing and homemaking skills and to function competently in the home.

Itasca offers approved training toward a Certificate of Completion for the Home Health Aide course, which is required to work in the home care field. The college's program is approved by the Minnesota Department of Health Accreditation. When you study in Itasca's Home Health Aide Program, your instructor will work closely with you. You'll learn how to work with families and special populations, and you'll acquire skills in documentation. The program also offers many opportunities to gain insights from professionals in the field. For example, guess speakers provide expertise in areas such as hospice care, food and nutrition, special needs children, alcoholism, maternal/child care, AIDS, and homemaking.

Career opportunities for graduates are excellent, including working for home healthcare agencies or working privately, in clients' homes. Graduates also have the option to further their education and training by enrolling in Itasca's Practical Nursing Program.