Vocational Nursing (Pending BVNPT Approval)

The Nursing Program is a 12 month 1,560 Clock Hour (99.0 Credit Units) full time program offered at the Mission Career College Campus. The program includes 680 (68 Credit Units) theoretical hours of classroom education, correlated with 120 hours (6.0 Credit Units) classroom laboratory training, and 760 clinical practicum hours ( 25.3 Credit Units). The subject matter reflects the knowledge and skills specified by Board of Vocational Nursing Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) regulation, rules, and laws. All clinical practicum will be under the supervision and direction of a licensed BVNPT-approved clinical instructor. The curriculum may be periodically revised to reflect the evolution of the profession and BVNPT laws and regulations.

Theory and clinical program content shall reflect the client and patient population that are normally associated with the licensed Psychiatric Technician: Mentally disordered, personality disordered, substance abuser, and developmentally disabled. Since enrollment is limited, students will be selected on the basis of a special application. Call (951) 736-7411to request an application packet and application deadline information.

MINIMUM CRITERIA.

Completion/challenge/credit for the previously outlined courses will make the student eligible for licensure examination by the Board of Vocation al Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners following application. Students wishing to also receive an associate degree should consult their counselor concerning additional degree requirements.

VN100 FUNDAMENTALS OF VOCATIONA NURSING PREREQUISITE: ADMISSION TO THE DEPARTMENT - This course introduces the vocational nursing student to the core concepts, principles, and clinical skills common to all areas and levels of nursing practice. It presents the delivery of nursing care based on the hierarchy of universal human needs which impact health, quality of life, and achievement of potential. The entry-level student is introduced to the components and use of the nursing process. The student is introduced to health care resources for electronic information retrieval. This course provides the basic platform of nursing knowledge, skills, and caring upon which subsequent nursing courses build.

VN110 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY PREREQUISITE: SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF VN100 - This course covers anatomy and physiology of the body systems and the structure, functions of the major organs of each system. The nursing student will study of the skeletal system through the endocrine system including the muscular and nervous system. Medical terminology for twelve systems is covered in this course with an emphasis on twelve anatomical systems covered by domain.

VN120 NUTRITIONAL/NORMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PREREQUISITE: SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF VN100/VN110 - Focus on basic principles of nutrition and their application to health and life cycle. This course provides an introduction to medical nutrition therapy and emphasizes the importance of the nurse’s role in reinforcement of diet and nutrition in all aspects of patient care.

VN130 NURSING PROCESS/COMMUNICABLE DISEASE PREREQUISITE: SUCCESSFULE COMPLETION OF VN100/VN110 - This course provides the student with standards of nursing care and framework to meet individual needs of the patient and family. Communicable disease within the community health division’s prevention and treatment are also covered in this course.

VN140 COMMUNICATION, BEHAVIOR AND PATIENT EDUCATION PREREQUISITE: SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF VN100/VN110 - This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to behavioral science and interpersonal relationships with the patient and medical team. Communication skills are emphasized in the development of interpersonal relationship skills. Basic behavior responses by patients, family medical team are covered.

VN150 PHARMACOLOGY PREREQUISITE: SUCCESSFULE COMPLETION OF VN100/VN110 - The course focus is on the introduction to the vocational nursing student the basic knowledge of pharmacology required to administer medications. The nursing process and unmet human needs provides a framework for the study of selected classes of medications. The role of the nurse in promoting safe and effective pharmacological therapy is stressed. The importance of health team communication and patient teaching regarding medication administration is incorporated throughout the course.

VN160 MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING PREREQUISITE: SUCCESSFULE COMPLETION OF VN100/VN110 - This course addresses the need of patients across the lifespan who require more complex nursing interventions and skills. Content also includes an introduction to rudimentary leadership and supervision as well as contemporary practice issues. The student is encouraged to build on competencies gained from the previous courses in anatomy by taking the surgical approach to each system.

VN170 ERONTOLOGICAL NURSING REHABILITATION PREREQUISITE: SUCCESSFULE COMPLETION OF VN100/VN110 - The vocational nursing student will be taught the basic physical as well as psychological changes resulting in the aging patient within this course outline. The student will be introduced to the care of the gerontological patient. This course also covers an introduction to rehabilitation nursing skills and medical anatomical therapy. Various clinical aspects of the aging patient are covered within this course with an emphasis on skill applications.

VN180 MATERNITY NURSING AND PEDIATRIC NURSING PREREQUISITE: SUCCESSFULE COMPLETION OF VN100/VN110 - The vocational nursing student will be taught on the needs of the growing family and incorporates both maternity and pediatric nursing content. The nursing process is stressed as the student learns to adapt previously acquired knowledge to unmet needs of the maternity and pediatric patient. Emphasis is placed on the observation and direct care of the normal maternity patient/family and the pediatric patient/family experiencing commonly encountered health problems.

VN190 LEADERSHIP/SUPERVISION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOMENT PREREQUISITE: SUCCESSFULE COMPLETION OF VN100/VN110 - The preparations of nursing students to be team leaders with assuming leadership responsibilities are covered within this course. Students will learn career developments job seeking skills. Clinical Hours Included.

VN200 PSYCHOLOGY PREREQUISITE: SUCCESSFULE COMPLETION OF VN100/VN110 - A combined theory and clinical course which explores basic concepts of psychiatric/mental health nursing that will benefit the vocational nursing student in understanding patients affected by psychosocial health needs. The course will facilitate the care of patients in a variety of settings who are experiencing psychological problems due to physical and/or emotional factors. The course provides an introductory framework for focused psychosocial assessment while utilizing therapeutic communication skills within a nurse/patient relationship. The student will apply the nursing process in the clinical area. Important nursing implications in the administration of psychotropic medications will be discussed Clinical Hours Included.

VN210 NCLEX-PN PREREQUISITE: SUCCESSFULE COMPLETION OF VN100/VN110 - This course is designed to assist the nursing student to determine the extent of their understanding of the nursing vocational profession. It is a preparation for licensure examination. Effective Study, Test-taking Skills, Scoring and Framework for the development of situations is covered.

Occupations/Job Titles

Vocational Nurses work in hospitals, nursing homes, private and private clinics, offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners. You may also find them in outpatient care centers, public and private educational services, other ambulatory healthcare services, State and local government agencies, medical and diagnostic laboratories, nursing care facilities, and employment services.