/Institutions/Vernon-College/json/2018-2019/General-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Vernon-College/json/2018-2019/General-Catalog.json

Licensed Vocational Nursing

Certificate of Completion

Licensed Vocational Nurses are Allied Health professionals who assist Registered Nurses and physicians to provide care for clients with a variety of health care needs in various settings. In performing their work, LVNs monitor clients, gather and record information, provide basic care, as well as administering medications and treatments. Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate will be able to take the NCLEX-PN licensure exam which credentials the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN).

Licensed Vocational Nurses can find career opportunities in long-term care facilities, clinics, physician offices, home health agencies and hospitals.

The Licensed Vocational Nursing Program is fully accredited by the Texas Board of Nursing.

For further information, contact the Program Director at 940.696.8752 ext. 3222.

Program Admissions Requirements

Licensed Vocational Nursing Program

1. Complete the Vernon College admission procedure. A student must be accepted by the College before being accepted by the LVN program. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the Vocational Nursing Program.
2. Texas Success Initiative complete in Reading, Writing and Mathematics.
3. Submit an application for admission to the Vocational Nursing Program.
4. Provide evidence that the following immunization requirements have been met prior to enrollment in the nursing program: tetanus/diphtheria toxoid (TD), varicella measles (students born after January 1, 1957), rubella, and mumps (students born after January 1, 1957), and hepatitis-B series. Bacterial Meningitis vaccination is also required for students younger than 22 years of age (read the vaccination requirement and exemptions on the VC website). For immunization exclusions and waivers and acceptable documentation of immunizations, students should contact the director of the program.
5. Obtain a Healthcare Provider CPR card from the American Heart Association. CPR Classes are offered through Continuing Education in order to obtain this card.
6. A person convicted of a felony that relates to the duties and responsibilities of an LVN may be disqualified from obtaining licensure as an LVN. The Texas Board of Nursing may not license such a person and, upon conviction of a felony, may suspend or revoke the license of a person previously licensed.
7. Information regarding program standards and policies is printed in the Vocational Nursing Program Student Handbook.

Readmission

Readmission to the Nursing Program assumes that the applicant is eligible to return to the College. Only after such applicant eligibility is determined in the affirmative will the following application process progress.

Application

1. Application for readmission following withdrawal in good standing:
   1. Obtain and return application from Vocational Nursing Department.
   2. Submit application form and a letter of request for readmission which explains previous failure/withdrawal and any remediation that has occurred. Also include a reason for expected success if allowed to re-enter the program.
   3. After receiving a letter of request for readmission, the director and the Admission and Review Committee for Vocational Nursing will review the student’s records, class space availability, and appropriate placement for times and rotations.
   4. Based on the total record and the criteria set down by the Vocational Nursing Program, the Admission and Review Committee will make a recommendation to the program director.
2. Application for readmission, following academic suspension:
   1. Submit application and a letter of request for readmission.
   2. Submit written evidence in a letter of request for readmission to document the deficiencies that may have influenced or caused the academic suspension have been remediated. This documentation should demonstrate that the student may be expected to succeed in a reasonably rigorous academic program.
   3. Based on the total record including placement criteria the Vocational Nursing Admission and Review Committee will make a recommendation to the program director.
   4. Any applicant who has failed two (2) or more Vocational Nursing courses or the same course twice is not eligible for readmission for a period of three (3) years.
3. Application for readmission following administrative withdrawal:
   1. Submit application and a letter of request for readmission.
   2. Any student who has exhausted all of their allotted time and who has exhausted their extension of time will not be eligible for readmission for three years.
   3. Any applicant who has been withdrawn twice is not eligible for readmission
   4. Applicants with a course failure will receive lowest priority for readmission.
   5. Based on the total record, including placement criteria, the Admission and Review Committee for Vocational Nursing will make a recommendation to the program director.
4. All readmissions will be on a space available basis, based on State requirements for faculty student ratio.
5. After the Vocational Nursing Admission and Review Committee has rendered its decision relative to readmission/placement, a written notification of that decision will be sent to the applicant at his/her address of record.
6. In the event the applicant’s request is rejected by the committee, the applicant may refer to the non-academic grievance policy in the Vernon College Student Handbook.

Placement in the Curriculum

As part of the readmission process, the student’s placement in the program will be reviewed by the Vocational Nursing Admission and Review Committee for Vocational Nursing and the program director. Placement will be based on the following criteria:

1. Students not completing the first semester must enter at the beginning of the program unless special provisions are granted by the Admission and Review Committee for Vocational Nursing.
2. Students who successfully complete any course can use the course grade for up to two years of withdrawal from the program. After a period of two years, the student may apply for a departmental challenge of the course(s) previously passed. This will include a technical skills examination to determine current clinical competence. If the challenge exam is failed, then that course will have to be repeated. The rationale for the competency exam(s) is to assure that the necessary competencies are met in order to successfully pass the NCLEX-PN, the national licensure examination.
3. Prospective students with college Vocational Nursing courses may apply for admission as a transfer student. The applicability of transfer work to the nursing curriculum will be determined by the program director after assessing the transcripts and will be done on an individual basis. The student may have to complete final examinations for the courses being credited. Courses evaluated may include military or professional nursing courses. If credit is to be given for previously taken nursing courses, the applicant must also submit:
   1. Course syllabus containing course outlines and course objectives.
   2. A letter of recommendation from the Dean/Director of the Nursing Program previously attended.

Special Course Requirements

Prerequisites for enrollment in practicums that involve direct patient contact in medical care facilities include the following: consent of coordinator and practicum supervisor, evidence of liability insurance, and validated documentation of immunizations.

When liability insurance is required, it will be listed as a fee for the practicum and will be charged during the registration process.

When immunizations are required, evidence of the following must be presented to the program coordinator before enrollment in a practicum: tetanus/diphtheria toxoid (TD), varicella measles (students born after January 1, 1957), rubella, and mumps (students born after January 1, 1957). Bacterial Meningitis vaccine is also required for students younger than 22 years of age (read the vaccination requirement and exemptions on the VC website). For immunization exclusions, waivers, and acceptable documentation, students should contact the program coordinator.