Certificate Level I Vocational Nursing

The Vocational Nursing program is a 12 month Certificate program that offers college credit. It is designed to prepare students to perform direct patient care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse and/or physician. Students are prepared for upward mobility in a nursing career. The program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Upon completion, students will make application to take the State Board Examination (NCLEX-PN) to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Many Vocational Nursing students after passing the State Board Exam return to Howard College Big Spring campus to pursue the Accelerated (Transition) Associate Degree Nursing Program to become a Registered Nurse.

Program Requirements

All admission requirements with the exception of prerequisite classes must be completed by June 1.

1. San Angelo Campus: attend a Howard College Health Professions Orientation. A Schedule may be obtained by contacting the HCSA Health Professions Division at (325) 481-8371, ext. 3435. Orientations will also be announced on the HCSA homepage.
2. Take a reading test. HC administers the ACCUPLACER exam. The testing schedule is posted on the website for each campus or may be obtained by contacting  the Testing Coordinator at (325) 481-8300, ext. 3406 in San Angelo and STEPS Lab at (432) 264-5618 in Big Spring.
3. Complete the required prerequisite courses with a final grade of "C" or above.
4. Take the PSB Aptitude Exam for Practical Nursing. The testing schedule is posted on the website for each campus or may be obtained by contacting Student Life and Testing at (325) 481-8300 ext. 3244 in San Angelo and STEPS Lab at (432) 264-5618 in Big Spring. This exam can only be taken once every 60 days.
5. Provide proof of required immunizations.
6. Successful completion of a criminal background check.
7. Submit a Nursing Application to the Health Professions Division for the appropriate campus along with an official transcript indicating high school graduation or proof of GED and an official transcript from each college/univeristy attended including Howard College.

Vocational Nursing Prerequisites

Prior to actual admission to the Vocational Nursing Program, applicant must successfully complete the required prerequisite courses with a final grade of "C" or above. If enrolled in these courses during the summer, applicant must furnish proof of enrollment.

• BIOL 2401 Anatomy & Physiology I
• BIOL 2402 Anatomy & Physiology II
• PSYC 2314 Life Span Growth & Development
• BIOL 1322 Nutrition

It is recommended that the following course be taken in advance of entering the Vocational Nursing Program. However, the program is structured so the course can be taken in the Falll semester once accepted into the program. This course must be successfully completed before entering the 2nd semester of the Vocational Nursing program.

• BIOL 2420 Microbiology

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Course Curriculum

• Course Description: Assessment and management of the childbearing family. Emphasis on the bio-psycho-socio-cultural needs of the family during the phases of pregnancy, childbirth, and the neonatal period including abnormal conditions.
• End of Course Outcomes: Discuss the bio-psycho-socio-cultural needs of the childbearing family; and utilize the nursing process to assist in planning the care of the childbearing family. VNSG1234 PediatricsCourse Description: Study of childhood diseases and childcare from infancy through adolescence. Focus on the care of the well and the ill child utilizing the nursing process and includes health promotion, growth and development, and immunizations.End of Course Outcomes: Identify safety principles related to childcare; identify common childhood illnesses; and utilize the nursing process to assist in planning care for the well or ill child.

• Course Description: A work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills, and concepts. Focus is on mothers and neonates.
• End of Course Outcomes: As outlined in the learning plan, apply the theory, concepts, and skills involving specialized materials, tools, equipment, procedures, regulations, laws, and interactions within and among political, economic, environmental, social, and legal systems associated with the occupation and the business/industry and will demonstrate legal and ethical behavior, safety practices, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and appropriate written and verbal communication skills using the terminology of the occupation and business/industry.

• Course Description: Introduction to the nursing profession including history, standards of practice, legal and ethical issues, and role of the vocational nurse.
• End of Course Outcomes: Identify roles and legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities of a vocational nurse as a member of the health care team in a variety of health care settings; identify characteristics of a therapeutic nurse/client relationship; examine positive mental heatlh practices emphasizing cultural and spriitual diversity; relate the history of nurssing to the present day; and recognize the components of the nursing process related to primary nursing interventions.

• Course Description: Mastery of entry level nursing skills, medical terminology, and competencies for a variety of health care settings.
• End of Course Outcomes: Demonstrate competency in basic nursing skills; identify the steps in the nursing process and how each relates to nursing care; and discuss the delivery of basic nursing skills in a variety of health care settings.

• Course Description: A work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills, and concepts.
• End of Course Outcomes: As outlined in the learning plan, apply the theory,concepts, and skills involving specialized materials, tools, equipment, procedures, regulations, laws, and interactions within and among political, economic, environmental, social, and legal systems associated with the occupation and the business/industry and will demonstrate legal and ethical behavior, safety practices, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and appropriage written and verbal communication skills using the terminology of the occupation and the business/industry.

• Course Description: Introduction to common health problems of the adult and ill child requiring medical and surgical interventions.
• End of Course Outcomes: Compare and contrast normal physiology of body systems to pathologic variations in the client with medical-surgical health problems; compare and contrast diagnostic evalutation and treatment of the client with common medical-surgical health problems; and apply the nursing process in caring for the client with common medical-surgical health problems including nutrition and drug therapy.

• Course Description: Continuation of Nursing in Health & Illness II. Further study of common medical-surgical health problems of the adult and ill child including concepts of mental illnes. Incorporates knowledge necesary to make the transition from student to graduate vocational nurse.
• End of Course Outcomes: Compare and contrast normal physiology of body systems to pathologic variations in the client with medical-surgical health problems; compare and contrast diagnostic evaluation and treatment, and apply the nursing process in caring for the client with common medical-surgical health problems including nutrition and drug therapy. discuss concepts of mental illness; and utilize learned skills and knowledge for transtion from student to graduate vocational nurse.

• Course Description: A work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills, and concepts. A learning plan is developed by the college and employer.
• End of Course Outcomes: As outlined in the learning plan, apply the theory, concepts, and skills involving specialized materials, tools, equipment, procedures, regulations, laws, and interactions within and among political, economic, environmental, social, and legal systems associated with the occupation and the business/industry and will demonstrate legal and ethcal behavior, safety practices, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and appropriate written and verbal commmunication skills using the terminology of the occupation and the business/industry.

• Course Description: A work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills, and concepts.
• End of Course Outcomes: As outlined in the learning plan, apply the theory, concepts, and skills involving specialized materials, tools, equipment, procedures, regulations, laws, and interactions within and among political, economic, environmental, social, and legal systems associated with the occupation and the business/industry and will demonstrate legal and ethical behavior, safety practices, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and appropriate written and verbal communication skills using the terminology of the occupation and the business/industry.
   
  For more information on the Vocational Nursing program, please contact the Program Director at the respective campus.

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Contacts

Program Directors
Big Spring Campus		San Angelo Campus
	Vanessa Arista, RN, BSN Program Director - Nursing (432) 264-5067 (432) 264-5622 - Fax This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it		Nancy Chavez-Coleman, R.N. Program Director - Vocational Nursing St. John's - Office HC-1002 (325) 481-8371, ext. 3428 (325) 481-8310 - Fax This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Department Contacts
Big Spring Campus		San Angelo Campus
	Janet Davis-Somers Nursing Department Secretary (432) 264-5070 (432) 264-5142 - Fax This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Jill Estes, RN Vocational Nursing Instructor (432) 264-5023 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it		Jennifer Cedillo Assistant to Health Professions Division (325) 481-8371, ext. 3435 (325) 481-8373 - Fax This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Brenda Contreras R. N.-B.C. Vocational Nursing Instructor (325) 481-8371, ext. 3426 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Glenda Corker, R.N. Vocational Nursing Instructor (325) 481-8371, ext. 3429 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Nancigail Economidis R.N.-M.S.N. Vocational Nursing Instructor (325) 481-8371, ext. 3427 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Martha Alvarez Vocational Nursing Instructor (325) 481-8371, ext. 3442 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Manuel Tobias Vocational Nursing Instructor (325) 481-8371, ext. 3445 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Faleasha Moutry, RN, CCRN Vocational Nursing Instructor St. Johns - Office HC1005 325-481-8371 ext. 3425 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it