Austin Community College

FY 2005 Degree Plan

The Vocational Nursing Program is a certificate program, offering college credit, which includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical learning experiences. The program is designed to prepare the graduate to provide nursing care in structured health care settings for clients of all ages who have well defined health problems with predictable outcomes. Emphasis is placed on the ability to make sound judgments based on critical thinking skills, the knowledge of scientific principles and the ability to utilize technical skills in a variety of settings. Graduates are eligible to apply to take the National licensure examination to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). The Board of Nurse Examiners determines eligibility for licensure. Applicants for licensure must provide necessary information regarding any drug, alcohol, psychiatric and/or conviction history for determination of licensure eligibility. The program is approved by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners (333 Guadalupe Street Suite 3-460, Austin, TX 78701; telephone (512) 305-7400 and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006; telephone (212) 363-5555 ext.153).

Admission criteria have been established and enrollment is limited. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to the Vocational Nursing Program. All courses must be taken in the following sequence. Students must consult with the Vocational Nursing Department Chair and be accepted into the program prior to enrolling for any VNSG course. Admission criteria may be obtained from the Vocational Nursing Office. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) for Healthcare Providers certification must be acquired prior to enrollment and maintained through the Vocational Nursing Program. Students accepted into the program are required to have a physical examination by their own private physician, provide documentation of immunizations, and must verify annual tuberculosis status.

Completion of BIOL 2404, HPRS 1206, HPRS 2300 and Semester I VNSG courses required prior to enrollment in Semester II.

A Criminal Background Check will be required of students as mandated by law or as a condition of program approval/accreditation.

Prerequisites

	BIOL	2404		Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology1	4
	HPRS	1206		Medical Terminology2 OR	2-3
+	HPRS	2300		Pharmacology for Health Professions1/2
					------- 6-7

Semester I

+	VNSG	1423		Basic Nursing Skills	4
+	VNSG	1304		Foundations of Nursing	3
+	VNSG	1400		Nursing in Health and Illness I	4
+	VNSG	1115		Disease Control and Prevention	1
+	VNSG	1160		Introductory Clinical for Vocational Nursing	1
	HPRS	1206		Medical Terminology2 OR	2-3
+	HPRS	2300		Pharmacology for Health Professions2
					------- 15-16

Semester II

+	VNSG	1509		Nursing in Health and Illness II	5
+	VNSG	2331		Advanced Nursing Skills	3
+	VNSG	1461		Intermediate Clinical for Vocational Nursing	4
					------- 12

Semester III

+	VNSG	1510		Nursing in Health and Illness III	5
+	VNSG	2462		Advanced Clinical for Vocational Nursing	4
					------- 9

Semester IV

+	VNSG	1230		Maternal-Neonatal Nursing	2
+	VNSG	1234		Pediatrics	2
+#	VNSG	2463		Maternal-Child and Leadership Clinical Vocational Nursing	4
+#	VNSG	1219		Professional Development	2
					------- 10
				TOTALS	------- 52-54

¹ BIOL 2404 (or BIO 1714, BIOL 2401 or BIOL 2402 ) and HPRS 2300 must be current within the last five years.
² Students must complete both HPRS 1206 and HPRS 2300. Priority admission will be given to students who have completed all three prerequisites prior to admission to the Nursing Program.