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Vocational Nursing Certificate Health Sciences Total Units: 68
A newer version of this program is available. View the latest version here.

Catalog rights may apply, see a counselor for more information.

 Term Effective: Fall 2018

Description:

The program is on hiatus until further notice, please check back in Fall 2021.

The program provides training in vocational nursing. A minimum of 1,530 hours of instruction and clinical experience are required by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT). Clinical sites are arranged at local health care facilities and community agencies for a wide range of clinical hands on experiences. The SRJC vocational nursing program is accredited by the California BVNPT. No wages or stipends are paid to students during their training period.

Upon successful program completion, eligible graduates will be allowed to sit for NCLEX-PN (National Counsel of Licensed Examiners for Practical/Vocational Nurses) examination required by the BVNPT. Successful passing of the NCLEX-PN exam is required to receive the Vocational Nursing license from the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

The vocational nurse (LVN) is an important member of the health team who works under the direct supervision of an RN or physician. The LVN provides direct personal nursing care and is able to perform numerous technical skills such as administering oral and injectable medications; performing cleansing, palliative, and remedial treatments; using specialized equipment and instruments in giving treatments; and documenting facts related to the nursing process and client care in written and electronic medical records.

The employment outlook for vocational nurses is excellent. Vocational nurses are employed in skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, MD offices, clinics, home care, the prison system, developmentally delayed facilities, public health departments, visiting nursing associations, Peace Corps, and other agencies.

Students completing the LVN program and who are interested in becoming Registered Nurses have many options including the SRJC LVN to AD Nursing Career Ladder Program, and many online college programs for LVN to BSN. It is strongly recommended that students interested in pursuing the ADN program take ANAT 1 and PHYSIO 1, not ANAT 58 and PHYSIO 58 to avoid repeat of ADN program prerequisites. See a Health Sciences counselor for more information.

Licensure Note: The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) may deny licensure for crimes substantially related to the practice of nursing. This includes convictions involving sex crimes, drug crimes (including DUI), and crimes of violence. It is the responsibility of the applicant to present sufficient evidence of rehabilitation to the BVPT prior to licensure.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  1. Satisfy the requirements for application to the take the NCLEX-PN Licensure Exam;
  2. transition from student to vocational nurse in a variety of health-care settings;
  3. practice competently and safely in a variety of health care settings appropriate to entry level vocational nurse;
  4. communicate effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team;
  5. maintain high professional and ethical standards of vocational nursing practice;
  6. utilize concepts of human growth and development and psycho/socio/cultural needs of clients as they apply to self-care models; and, promote family centered care that is culturally sensitive;
  7. assume responsibility for ongoing educational and professional development;
  8. provide leadership and effective supervision of unlicensed assistive personnel within the vocational nursing scope of practice;
  9. adapt rapidly to new technologies and changing conditions of health care; and
  10. grow in the ability to think critically and incorporate new knowledge and skills into the theoretical knowledge base acquired in the VN program.

Program Requirements:

The requirements for the Vocational Nursing Certificate program are:

  • Complete 68 units from
    • Vocational Nursing Prerequisite Requirements
    • Vocational Nursing Requirements

Vocational Nursing Prerequisite Requirements - complete 18.00 units
PSYCH 4Child and Adolescent Psychology3.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
ANAT 1General Human Anatomy5.00
ANAT 58Introduction to Human Anatomy3.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
COMM 1Introduction to Public Speaking3.00
COMM 5Group Discussion and Problem Solving3.00
COMM 6Interpersonal Communication3.00
COMM 7Intercultural Communication3.00
COMM 60Communication Skills3.00
Complete a combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
FDNT 62Nutrition and Diet Therapy3.00
FDNT 10 AND
Elementary Nutrition3.00
FDNT 162Diet Therapy for Healthcare2.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
PHYSIO 1Human Physiology5.00
PHYSIO 58Introduction to Human Physiology3.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
PSYCH 1AGeneral Psychology3.00
PSYCH 5Abnormal Psychology3.00
PSYCH 7Theories of Personality3.00
PSYCH 56Aging, Dying and Death3.00
 
Vocational Nursing Requirements - complete 50.00 units
NRV 51Fundamentals and Basics of Vocational Nursing8.00
NRV 51LFundamentals & Basic Vocational Nursing Clinical Experience6.00
NRV 52.1Intermediate Vocational Nursing8.00
NRV 52.1LIntermediate Clinical for Vocational Nursing4.00
NRV 52.2Maternal-Child Health Vocational Nursing2.00
NRV 52.2LMaternal-Child Health Vocational Nursing Clinical2.00
NRV 53Advanced Vocational Nursing Theory8.00
NRV 53LAdvanced Vocational Nursing Clinical6.50
NRV 58AFundamental Skills Lab for Vocational Nursing1.00
NRV 58BIntermediate Vocational Nursing Skills Lab1.00
NRV 58CAdvanced Skills Lab for Vocational Nursing0.50
NR 203Fundamental Pharmacology for Nursing2.00
PHARM256.1Advanced Pharmacology1.00

Term Effective: Fall 2018

The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.

Term Inactive: Fall 2020

Previous Versions:

Vocational Nursing - effective Fall 2017
Vocational Nursing - effective Spring 2012
Vocational Nursing - effective Fall 2011
Vocational Nursing - effective Fall 2010
Vocational Nursing - effective Spring 2010
Vocational Nursing - effective Fall 1981

Program Requirements Notes:

  • Program requirements are put in place by external accreditation and regulatory agencies (BVNPT) and are not subject to catalog rights.
  • Eligibility for ENGL 1A
  • Eligibility for MATH 150A
  • A clear background check is required by clinical agencies. Accepted students must successfully pass a criminal background check (paid by students) this will require social security numbers.
  • Complete all health requirements noted on VN program webpage (paid by students).
  • Strongly recommended to meet with a Health Science counselor for guidance with VN certificate or VN Major. Call (707) 527-4451 for Santa Rosa campus or (707) 778-3914 for Petaluma campus to make an appointment.
  • Proof of high school graduation or equivalency (HS Diploma, transcript showing Associate Degree or higher degree, GED certificate, document of equivalency of foreign education to US High school graduation or higher.
  • Official transcripts showing proof of all pre-requisite course completion, this includes official SRJC transcripts.
  • Meet the current Chancellor’s cut score for cohort (includes grade in Anatomy/Physiology, GPA)
    • Cut score determined by State Chancellor's calculation pattern.
    • Important: Chancellor’s cut score based on highest grade, in A&P. Basic requirement Anatomy 58 and Physio 58. Students should NOT repeat sciences unless critical, points lost in Chancellor’s cut score.
    • All classes and pre-requisites must be completed with a C or better.
    • All qualified candidates assigned a random number per Chancellor’s guidelines.
    • First 32 qualified applicants will be selected at random from applicant pool.
    • Other qualified applicants not selected assigned rank number as alternate.
    • Once class starts, alternate status is closed and applicants must reapply for a future class.

Course Prerequisites and Advisories:

Courses in a program of study may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Please check for prerequisites or advisories by clicking on the course numbers in the Program Requirements section.

It is important that students who are completing an Associate Degree and desire to transfer to a four-year institution meet with a counselor to plan their lower division coursework. While many majors at SRJC are intended to align with lower division major preparation required by California public universities, specific lower-division major requirements vary among individual campuses. See a counselor, visit the Transfer Center, and check Guides For Transfer in Specific Majors, and ASSIST to review transfer preparation guides for specific schools and majors.

Notes:

All program classes must be completed with a C (75%) or better.

Contact
Information		 Phone Email Website
(707) 527-4290
smeehl@santarosa.edu
 Health Sciences