Nursing, Vocational Nursing (VN)

VN 215        6 units  
Fundamentals of Nursing  
63 hours lecture, 135 hours laboratory  
Recommended Preparation: MATH 805.  
Grading: letter grade.  

This combined lecture/lab course is designed to prepare students to perform basic-fundamental nursing skills required in the care of residents in long-term/skilled nursing facilities. Content includes safety principles, physical care, emotional support and infection control. Upon completion of the course, the student qualifies for the certified nursing assistant (CNA) written and performance examination to be administered at regional testing centers. Students are required to complete 4 hours through out the course of the semester in a Multidisciplinary Success Center to complete activities and assignments that relate specifically to this course's content.

VN 216        1.5 units  
Home Health Aide  
18 hours lecture, 27 hours laboratory  
Prerequisite: Completion of VN 215 or possession of a valid current California Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate.  
Grading: letter grade.  

This course meets the requirements set by the California State Department of Public Health Services for a Certified Nursing Assistant to become a Certified Home Health Aide.

VN 220        4 units  
Transition to Vocational Nursing  
54 hours lecture, 54 hours laboratory  
Prerequisite: BIO 60 and VN 225 or ADN 225.  
Recommended Preparation: MATH 815 or higher or met the Math college proficiency and READ 82 or READ 83 or met the Reading college proficiency.  
Grading: letter grade.  

This combined lecture/campus lab course is designed to prepare students for success in the vocational nursing program. Content includes critical thinking & problem solving, communication, cultural competency, professional roles and responsibilities, and developmental levels across the lifespan. Additional topics include learning styles, nursing terminology, nutrition, basic documentation, dosage calculation, and health and safety policies. Students are required to complete 2 additional hours of Supplemental Instruction in a designated Success Center.

VN 222        1.5 units  
Intravenous Therapy & Blood Withdrawal  
27 hours lecture, 9 hours laboratory  
Prerequisite: VN 255 or VN 265, or licensed as a vocational nurse (LVN).  
Grading: pass/no pass.  

This course is designed for instruction and supervised practice of the concepts and techniques of intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal procedures. The course is designed to meet the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) Intravenous & Blood Withdrawal Certification. This course is designed for students currently in the last semester of the Vocational Nursing Program, or those preparing for licensure.

VN 225        3 units  
Pharmacology  
54 hours lecture  
Recommended Preparation: BIO 60 or ANAT 1 and PHYSI 1 and READ 82 or completion of Reading proficiency.  
Grading: letter grade.  

This course introduces the fundamentals of pharmacology as it pertains to the basic understanding of medications by focusing on common drug classifications and prototypes. Nursing responsibilities regarding safe medication management for application in the clinical setting are covered. Dosage calculation is not included. This course is not open for credit to students who have completed ADN 225 as ADN 225 and VN 225 are equivalent courses.

VN 230        3 units  
Common Health Deviations 1  
54 hours lecture  
Prerequisite: VN 220, VN 225, and BIO 60.  
Corequisite: VN 230L.  
Grading: letter grade.  

Admission to the program is required prior to enrolling in this first clinical course of the vocational nursing program. The course includes the nursing concepts of the nursing process, Orem's self-care theory, disuse syndrome, skin integrity/wound care, activity and rest, altered nutrition, and risk for injury and fluid and electrolytes. Other topics include pathophysiology and nursing care for patients with diabetes, sensory(eye and ear), cardiovascular problems and respiratory disorders.

VN 230L        3.5 units  
Common Health Deviations 1 Lab  
189 hours laboratory  
Prerequisite: VN 220.  
Corequisite: VN 230.  
Grading: pass/no pass.  

This course provides opportunity for nursing students to practice the concepts learned in VN 230 in a variety of healthcare settings. The campus lab content includes basic data collection and health assessment, preparation of nursing care plans, documentation, oxygen therapy, medication administration, and a college level writing assignment based on individual case studies. Compliance with all clinical agency policies is required the first day of the course. Students are required to complete 189 hours: 72 hours on campus and 117 at off-campus clinical sites.

VN 235        3 units  
Common Health Deviations 2  
54 hours lecture  
Prerequisite: VN 230 and VN 230L.  
Corequisite: VN 235L.  
Grading: letter grade.  

This course provides the theoretical basis for the provision of nursing care for patients with various medical and/or surgical health care deviations in a variety of healthcare settings. This course continues to develop the concepts of nursing process and Orem's self-care theory that were introduced in previous courses. This course covers the nursing concepts of pain management and nutritional support, and the pathophysiology and nursing care for patients with health deviations that include the musculoskeletal system, gastrointestinal system, immune system, urinary-renal system, hepato-biliary system, and infectious diseases.

VN 235L        3.5 units  
Common Health Deviations 2 Lab  
189 hours laboratory  
Prerequisite: VN 230 and VN 230L.  
Corequisite: VN 235.  
Grading: pass/no pass.  

This course provides opportunity for nursing students to practice the concepts of medical-surgical nursing in a variety of health care settings, including perioperative nursing care, as learned in VN 235. Topics presented in the campus nursing lab include skills required for care of surgical and medical patients. Compliance with all clinical agency policies is required the first day of the course. Students are required to complete 189 hours: 45 hours on campus and 144 hours at off-campus clinical sites.

VN 240        3 units  
Mental Health Nursing  
54 hours lecture  
Grading: letter grade.  

This course is designed to assist vocational nursing students with self-development and with acquisition of behaviors needed to provide a helping relationship with their patients. Topics include principles of personality development, psychosocial development, psychopharmacology, common mental health deviations, and major psychiatric illnesses.

VN 245        2 units  
Maternal-Infant Nursing  
36 hours lecture  
Prerequisite: VN 230 and VN 230L.  
Grading: letter grade.  

This course provides instruction in the normal developmental phases of the child-bearing family and the most common related problems. Orem's self-care theory and the nursing process are continued in the study of prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum nursing care.

VN 245L        1 units  
Maternal-Infant Nursing Lab  
54 hours laboratory  
Grading: pass/no pass.  

This course provides opportunity for nursing students to provide prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal nursing care in both hospital and ambulatory care facilities. Campus lab content includes data collection and routine care of the postpartum mother and her newborn. Compliance with all clinical agency policies is required the first day of this course.

VN 250        2 units  
Nursing Care of Children  
36 hours lecture  
Prerequisite: VN 230 and VN 230L.  
Grading: letter grade.  

This course provides instruction in the growth and development of normal children along with the most common health problems of childhood and adolescence. Orem's self-care theory and the nursing process are applied to the study of health promotion and disease prevention for children and adolescents.

VN 250P        1 units  
Nursing Care of Children Practicum  
54 hours laboratory  
Corequisite: VN 250.  
Grading: pass/no pass.  

This course provides opportunity for nursing student to provide nursing care for child-rearing families in ambulatory care clinics. Campus lab content includes application of the principles of growth and development. Compliance with all clinical agency health and safety policies is required the first day of the course.

VN 255        3 units  
Common Health Deviations 3  
54 hours lecture  
Prerequisite: VN 235 and VN 235L.  
Corequisite: VN 255L.  
Grading: letter grade.  

This course is the third medical surgical nursing course in the program. Orem's theory of self-care and the nursing process is continued in the study of vocational nursing concepts. Pathophysiology and nursing care of the following health deviations are studied: female reproductive, male Prostrate & reproductive, sexually transmitted diseases, basic emergent and cardiac deviations, advanced fluid and electrolyte balance, oncological, hematologic, neurological, thyroid & endocrine disorders.

VN 255L        3.5 units  
Common Health Deviations 3 Lab  
189 hours laboratory  
Prerequisite: VN 235 and VN 235L.  
Corequisite: VN 255.  
Grading: pass/no pass.  

This course provides opportunity for nursing students to become more proficient in the nursing care of patients with medical surgical problems. Students practice with staff vocational and registered nurses to develop competency in the role of the vocational nurse in a variety of health care settings. Compliance with all clinical agency health and safety policies is required the first day of the course. Students are required to complete 189 hours: 45 hours on campus and 144 at off-campus clinical sites.

VN 260        1.5 units  
Roles and Responsibilities  
27 hours lecture  
Prerequisite: VN 240.  
Grading: pass/no pass.  

This course is designed to assist the vocational nursing student in the transition to the responsibilities of the graduate vocational nurse. Topics include the ethical, legal, regulatory, leadership, and policy issues that control the practice of vocational nursing in California. Opportunity is provided for career planning, including job skills and application for licensure.

VN 265        3 units  
Common Health Deviation-4  
54 hours lecture  
Prerequisite: VN 255 and VN 255L.  
Corequisite: VN 265L.  
Grading: letter grade.  

This is normally the last clinical course of the vocational nursing program. Orem's theory of self-care and the nursing process is continued. Geriatric and Adult health deviations commonly requiring chronic health care are studied. Other topics include disaster preparation, leadership and supervisory roles of vocational nurses in a variety of health care settings including long term, sub-acute and rehabilitative/restorative care.

VN 265L        3 units  
Common Health Deviation-4 Lab  
162 hours laboratory  
Prerequisite: VN 255 and VN 255L.  
Corequisite: VN 265.  
Grading: pass/no pass.  

This course provides opportunity for students to apply nursing theory regarding chronic illnesses in the care of the older adult/geriatric population. A variety of health care settings is utilized including long term, sub-acute, rehabilitative and restorative. Students are required to complete 162 hours at off-campus clinical sites. Compliance with all clinical agency health and safety policies is required the first day of the course.