Nursing: Vocational/Practical
Prepare students for entry-level vocational nursing licensure and competent practice.
Program Admission Requirements
- California Nurse Assistant (CNA) Certificate
- High School: Proof of high school graduation (12 years) is required. Official transcripts from a U.S. high school, or an official General Educational Development (GED) certificate, or official transcripts from a college showing an AA/AS/BA/BS is required. All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by ACEI translation service.
- Reading Proficiency: Meet graduation proficiency reading requirement, or completion of READ 82 or READ 83 with a grade of “C” or better, or Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited U.S. college/university (foreign transcript evaluation not accepted for Reading).
- Mathematics Proficiency: Successful completion with a grade of “C” or higher in a college math course at the level or MATH 680 Math Prep for Vocational Nursing Program.
- Pharmacology: Successful completion of VN225 or ADN 225 with a grade of “C” or better.
- Life Science: Successful completion of BIO 60 OR Anatomy 1 and Physiology 1 with a grade of “C” or better.
- Grade Point Average: If previous college work has been completed, a GPA of 2.0 must be achieved.
- Information Meeting: It is highly recommended that applicants view the recorded VN Information Session prior to applying. The recorded session can be viewed on the VN webpage. Question and Answer sessions are held monthly to answer questions prospective students may have.
- Prerequisite Courses: All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to applying to the program. Applications are accepted during the Fall and Spring semester. Please refer to the VN website for exact dates. Prerequisites must have been completed within the previous seven years.
- Background Check: Vocational nursing students must obtain a clear criminal background check prior to the first day of clinical experience. Vocational nursing graduates send fingerprints with the application for licensure.
- A social security card is required by the California Board of Nursing in order to take the NCLEX. In addition, a social security card is required by some clinical agencies. Inability to provide proof of a social security card may jeopardize a student from completing clinical requirements.
Program Information
- Although students may choose to obtain an Associate of Science degree or certificate, the program admission requirements are the same.
- Selection for admission to the next beginning class will be anonymous. If more students apply than can be accepted, selection will be based upon the student’s combined science and pharmacology GPA.
- We offer a full-time 3 semester program. The program admits students twice a year in the Fall and Spring semesters.
- While waiting for the program to start, the student should take any of the following courses to strengthen reading, language or mathematics skills and prepare for a nursing career:
Course List Code Number Course Title Credits AH 60 Medical Terminology 3 BIO 60L Human Biology Laboratory 1 CDECE 47 Human Development 3 COUNS 1 Orientation for College Success 1 LEARN 11 Learning and Academic Strategies 3 PSYCH 1 Introduction to Psychology 3 SOCIO 1 Introduction to Sociology 3 KINPP 23 First Aid and Safety 3 ENGL 1 Reading and Composition 4 ADN 810 Preparation for Nursing 0.5 - For questions about any of the above, telephone the School of Nursing at (562) 938-4169 and (562) 938-4166 or visit the Vocation Nursing web page.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.