Vocational Nursing Program - About
Vocational Nursing offers a uniquely rewarding career as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) that is highly valued and respected. The Vocational Nursing Program is a one-year Certificate of Completion program. Students completing the VN curriculum are prepared to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) for licensure as a Vocational Nurse. Graduates function as beginning practitioners in many different health care agencies including hospitals, clinics, physician offices, public schools, and nursing homes.
Philosophy
Nursing Philosophy
- Nursing is a dynamic and evolving profession. The basis of nursing is “caring.” Licensed Vocational nurses demonstrate caring to a diverse population of patients and families. The unique role of the LVN is accomplished through core values of excellence, integrity, self-analysis, and reflection as they strive to provide holistic patient centered care.
Education Philosophy
- LVN education is the entry point into nursing education. Students take a proactive role in knowledge acquisition through a process of learning, refining, and integrating nursing science and knowledge. Faculty serves as mentors and coaches- guiding students in the inquiry process in order to developing nursing judgment and build professional identity so that they will flourish as members of the health care team.
Graduate Philosophy
- The graduate of the LVN program is prepared as a novice practitioner to provide and manage legal and ethical nursing care in a variety of health care settings. Graduates become lifelong learners who meet the competencies of national and state agencies and are prepared to write the NCLEX-PN exam.
Program Outcomes
The VN Graduate will be prepared to function as a:
Member of the Profession
- Function as a beginning practitioner within a legal scope of practice to provide quality care for patient and their families.
- Practice Vocational Nursing in an ethical and legal framework.
Provider of Patient Centered Care
- Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team and assume responsibility and accountability for the quality of care provided to patients and their families.
- Utilize the Nursing Process to collaborate with team members to carry out the patient’s plan of care.
- Provide nursing care to ethically, socially, and culturally diverse patients and their families using clinical reasoning skills and established evidenced- base practice.
- Uses problem solving approach to carry out the patient’s plan of care, and to meet their healthcare goals.
Patient Safety Advocate
- Apply current technology and informatics while maintaining confidentiality and safety in a cost containing manner.
- Implement and maintain safe standard of practice.
- Practice in a confidential manner at all times.
Member of the Healthcare Team
Appropriately assign nursing care to VN’s or other unlicensed personnel.
Demonstrate caring relationships while advocating on behalf of patients and their families.
Demonstrate responsibility for continued competency in nursing practice through lifelong learning.
Considerations
- Students enrolling in this program must be high school graduates or provide proof of GED.
- Prerequisite courses (BIOL 2401 and HITT 1305) are offered during fall, spring, and summer sessions. Vocational Nursing courses are offered during fall and spring semesters.
- Level I and Level II clinical, class, and labs are approximately 8 hours per day (40 hours per week, (Monday-Friday).
Nursing classes are taken in sequence according to the VN Degree Plan. If you are interested in applying to the program, click here: Admission Process, or contact the Vocational Nursing Staff at (806) 354-6015 or ACnursing@actx.edu.
Amarillo College Vocational Nursing
P. O. Box 447
Amarillo, TX 79178