Vocational Nursing Certificate

Cathy Carney, MSN, RN
Division Chair, Vocational Nursing
Gainesville Campus Room 2411
(940) 668-7731 ext. 4371
ccarney@nctc.edu

The Vocational Nursing program is fully approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) and is a certificate program. This program is designed to prepare entry-level practitioners to provide direct care to patients of all age groups under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed physician. Emphasis is placed upon the ability to make sound judgments based on the knowledge of scientific principles and the ability to utilize technical skills in a variety of settings.

Classes are admitted in the fall semester on the Gainesville, Corinth, Bowie, and Graham campuses and in the spring semester on Gainesville Campus and Hybrid. The program is 12 months in length. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be awarded a certificate of completion and is eligible to submit an application to write the National Council Licensing Examination - Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN).

Students admitted to the hybrid e-campus are enrolled in the spring semester. The hybrid curriculum is identical to the one taken by students in the traditional classroom. The students accepted to the e-campus will complete all testing on campus, will complete the curriculum in 12 months, will be awarded a certificate of completion, and will be eligible to submit an application to write the NCLEX-PN.

Classroom and hybrid instruction are correlated with clinical practice where students apply the theory and skills of nursing in giving direct care to patients. Active, student-centered learning is the goal. Students will participate in a combination of classroom, hybrid, and online learning during the course of the program. Clinical experiences are offered in a variety of settings such as hospitals, long-term care, physician's offices, home health facilities, and community venues.

Programmatic Outcomes

Graduates successfully completing the program demonstrate the following program learning outcomes:

Member of the Profession

• Function within the nurse's legal scope of practice and in accordance with regulation and the policies and procedures of the employing health care institution or practice setting.
• Assume responsibility and accountability for the quality of nursing care provided to patients and their families.
• Contribute to activities that promote the development and practice of vocational nursing.
• Demonstrate responsibility for continued competence in nursing practice, and develop insight through reflection, self-analysis, self-care, and lifelong learning.

Provider of Patient-Centered Care

• Use clinical reasoning and knowledge based on the vocational nursing program of study and established evidence-based practice as the basis for decision-making in nursing practice.
• Assist in determining the physical and mental health status, needs, and preferences influenced by culture, spirituality, ethnicity, identity, and social diversity of patients and their families, and in interpreting health-related data based on knowledge derived from the vocational nursing program of study.
• Report data to assist in the identification of problems and formulation of goals/ outcomes and patient-centered plans of care in collaboration with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team.
• Provide safe, compassionate, basic nursing care to assigned patients with predictable health care needs through a supervised, directed scope of practice.
• Implement aspects of the plan of care within legal, ethical, and regulatory parameters and in consideration of patient factors.
• Identify and report alterations in patient responses to therapeutic interventions in comparison to expected outcomes.
• Implement teaching plans for patients and their families with common health problems and well-defined health learning needs.
• Assist in the coordination of human, information, and physical resources in providing care for assigned patients and their families.

Patient Safety Advocate

• Demonstrate knowledge of the Texas Nursing Practice Act and the Texas Board of Nursing Rules that emphasize safety, as well as all federal, state, and local government and accreditation organization safety requirements and standards.
• Implement measures to promote quality and a safe environment for patients, self, and others.
• Assist in the formulation of goals and outcomes to reduce patient risks.
• Obtain instruction, supervision, or training as needed when implementing nursing procedures or practices.
• Comply with mandatory reporting requirements of the Texas Nursing Practice Act.
• Accept and make assignments that take into consideration patient safety and organizational policy.

Member of the Health Care Team

• Communicate and collaborate in a timely manner with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team to assist in the planning, delivery, and coordination of patient-centered care to assigned patients.
• Participate as an advocate in activities that focus on improving the health care of patients and their families.
• Participate in the identification of patient needs for referral to resources that facilitate continuity of care, and ensure confidentiality.
• Communicate patient data using technology to support decision-making to improve patient care.
• Assign nursing activities to LVNs or unlicensed personnel based upon an analysis of patient or work place need.
• Supervise nursing care by others for whom the nurse is responsible.
• Assist health care teams during local or global health emergencies or pandemics to promote health and safety, and prevent disease.

Admission

To be officially admitted to the Vocational Nursing program at NCTC, students must meet qualification requirements beyond college standards and carefully follow the step-by-step process outlined below. Attending a Vocational Nursing program information session is recommended, but not mandatory. Times and locations for the information sessions are posted and updated on the Information Session link of the nursing program website. Applying for the next class has additional detailed information regarding testing, including a checklist of things needed before submitting an application to the program.

Step One

A student may apply for Admission to NCTC through ApplyTexas. Complete the college admission process as outlined on the NCTC website. An applicant should submit official transcripts from every college attended by sending them to the Admissions Office. This must be done early enough so that a degree audit can be completed by the Registrar's Office before submitting an application to the nursing program.

Step Two

Once all admission requirements are met, an applicant will be notified by the Admissions Office of acceptance to NCTC. At this point, the applicant may begin the process of registering for the nursing entrance exam.

Step Three

After an applicant has completed steps one and two, an applicant should apply for admission to the Vocational Nursing Program. Vocational Nursing Applications should be submitted online to the MyNCTC page. Copies of the required entrance exam, transcripts from high schools, all colleges other than NCTC, and a copy of a degree audit must be provided at the time of submission. Applications may be completed between:

• March 1-31 for Fall Semester admission
• August 1-31 for Spring Semester admission

If an applicant is not admitted to the Vocational Nursing Program after submitting an application, they must submit a new application during the next application period to be considered for admission in subsequent semesters.

Step Four

An applicant's entrance exam and transcripts will be evaluated to determine eligibility for the Vocational Nursing Program. Applicants will be ranked according to scores on the Entrance Exam then additional application points:

• The Entrance Exam consists of four areas: Reading, Math, Writing, and Science. Applicants will be given points based on their scores.
• Application points will be given if Anatomy & Physiology for Allied Health or Anatomy & Physiology I, Anatomy & Physiology II were completed with a “C” or higher.
• An application point will be given if the applicant submits proof of certification as a Certified Nurse Aide, Certified Medical Assistant, Certified Patient Care Technician, or has their EMT or Paramedic license.

Step Five

Candidates with the highest application points will be considered for admission to the Vocational Nursing Program. Applicants may not take the entrance exam more than twice during an academic year (August through July). Applicants accepted to the program will be registered in nursing courses by the nursing program. Students do not enroll themselves in nursing courses.

Any applicant wishing to re-apply for the following semester must go through the admission process again in order to be considered.

Step Six

Those students selected for admission will be sent details on the following items:

• Physical Examination form signed by a physician.
• Proof of major medical insurance coverage or accident insurance coverage.
• Malpractice insurance. This is added to the tuition/fees bill at the time of registration. Malpractice insurance must be renewed each fall semester.
• All students will be subject to random Drug Screening throughout the entire program. The nursing office will arrange this.
• Proof of current CPR certification (American Heart Association - Basic LIfe Support).
• Meet the required Immunizations.

Program Progression

Nursing courses are grouped in progressive levels of complexity, and students must successfully complete all course work in one level before progressing to the next.

In order to succeed in the Vocational Nursing Program students must:

• Make a grade of “C” or higher in all required courses.
• Adhere to the program’s course of study- including completion of support courses.
• Maintain current CPR certification and immunization status.
• Successfully complete the required Math Exams each semester. Failure to meet math requirements will result in a clinical failure and dismissal from the nursing program.

Students will not be allowed to continue in the Vocational Nursing program without satisfying these criteria. However, when deficiencies are corrected, the student may petition to be readmitted to the appropriate courses. Students will be allowed to continue only with the approval of the LVN Program Admission, Progression, and Advisement (APA) Committee. Students are allowed one readmission to the nursing program. Students withdrawn from nursing courses for any reason will be subject to NCTC’s refund policy.

Grading Policy

Grades in classroom work are based on numerical averages, with corresponding letter grades. A grade of “C” or higher is required in all Vocational Nursing curricula. Grades will not be rounded.

• 90-100 = A
• 80-89 = B
• 77-79 = C
• 65-76 = D
• 64 or lower = F

About Clinicals

Clinical courses require students to travel to sites off the college campus. Clinical sites include–but are not limited to–hospitals and other health care facilities in Gainesville, Muenster, Sherman, Denton, Decatur, Corinth, Flower Mound, Ardmore, Nocona, Wichita Falls, Argyle, and Lewisville.  Clinical times and days will vary by facility and availability. Students must be prepared to drive to any of these locations for clinicals.

Students not successful in completing any course in their first semester are required to reapply to the program and start the process from the beginning. Refer to the NCTC Vocational Nursing Student Handbook for more detailed information about this procedure.

Summary of Program Cost

The sum and total cost per-semester for the Vocational Nursing Program at North Central Texas College is listed below.

• Tuition
• “Combined” student fees (such as malpractice insurance and testing fees)
• Textbooks
• Supplies and incidentals
• Nursing kits

Supplies and Incidentals

Students admitted to the LVN program are required to buy the following items.

• Uniforms - specific scrubs for class and clinical
• Patches
• Nursing shoes
• Stethoscope
• Skills kit
• Wristwatch with a second hand
• Students will need normal school supplies
• Access to instructional technologies

Other costs are listed below.

• Major Medical Insurance
• Physical examination and immunizations
• CPR training
• ATI fees
• Jurisprudence Exam fees
• Graduation fees
• State Board of Nursing fees
• NCLEX-PN testing fees

LVN students must have access to a computer with internet access.

Credit Hours

• A 1:1 ratio is used for lecture hours - 1 lecture hour is equivalent to one credit.
• A 2:1 ratio is used to determine lab hours to credit hours - 2 lab hours are equivalent to 1 credit.
• A 3:1 ratio is used to determine clinical hours - 3 clinical hours are equivalent to 1 credit.

See catalog course descriptions for the number of hours, lecture, laboratory, and clinical hours required for each course.

Graduation

Graduates may apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), which is administered by the Texas Board of Nursing. Graduates become LVNs once the NCLEX-PN is passed.

Graduates must pass the state-mandated jurisprudence exam with a minimum grade of 75 before applying for the NCLEX-PN.

NCTC Vocational Nursing graduates are encouraged to continue nursing education toward an associate's degree or higher. Vocational Nursing students completing all program requirements are highly encouraged, as are all graduates, to participate in the college’s formal commencement ceremonies.

Eligibility for Licensure

It is important to understand the licensing process of the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) in order to minimize potential problems nursing graduates might experience in obtaining a nursing license. Schools of nursing do not have the authority to grant licensure for LVNs or RNs. The nursing program is granted permission from the BON to educate and train individuals to apply to take the licensing exams. Individual graduates must apply to the Texas Board of Nursing to take the licensing exam.

Nursing students enrolled or planning to enroll in a nursing program who have reason to believe that they might be ineligible for licensure must provide the BON with information and they will determine eligibility for licensure. The BON will ask candidates the following.

Answers to issues related to eligibility are available on the Board of Nursing website under FAQs for new students.

Board of Nursing FAQ

Specific question related to licensure of individuals with Criminal History is Rule 213.28

Common eligibility issues that may need to be addressed by the BON include answering yes to any criminal offense, including those pending appeal. The BON will ask the following questions.

Have you:

• Been convicted of a misdemeanor?
• Been convicted of a felony?
• Pled no contender, no contest, or guilty?
• Received deferred adjudication?
• Been placed on community supervision or court-ordered probation, whether or not adjudicated guilty?
• Been sentenced to serve jail or prison time or court-ordered confinement?
• Been granted pretrial diversion?
• Been arrested or have any pending criminal charges?
• Been cited or charged with any violation of the law?
• Been subject of a court-martial; Article 15 violation; or received any form of military judgment, punishment, or action?

Results of the DPS/FBI Background check and fingerprint scan may prohibit final admission to the program until the Declaratory Order is received by the student from the BON. The student must inform the Division Chair of the outcome of the petition for Declaratory Order by providing a copy of the clearance letter received from the BON, the Declaratory Order with or without conditions received from the BON, or the letter of denial received by the BON.

Essential Physical Competencies for Nursing

In response to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a national survey of administrators of health care facilities, which employ nurses, validated a list of essential competencies a nurse must possess in order to function safely and effectively in a variety of clinical settings.

Results indicate that relatively high numbers of activities were identified in each essential competency category by the health care agencies as being necessary for nursing practice.

These competencies include:

• extended walking and standing daily,
• ability to grasp, push, and/or pull,
• ability to bend and stoop,
• moving quickly in response to an emergency using upper body movements,
• ability to reach,
• carrying and moving equipment, and reaching and/or lifting.

Other essential competencies identified for nursing care include:

• vision acuity to allow detecting physical changes such as cyanosis and the ability to discriminate small print,
• hearing that allows responding to physical and verbal cues,
• a sense of touch that allows for assessment and palpation,
• manual dexterity that allows for skill performance,
• communicate effectively and efficiently in English in both oral and written forms,
• cognitive ability to exercise good judgment, and
• attention to detail and ability to complete tasks within required time limits.

Adaptations most frequently reported as being used by nursing staff were hearing aids, adaptive phones, and calculators.

The ADN and LVN Programs have accepted these competencies as expectations for success in the program. Applicants may be asked to complete a Functional Abilities Performance upon conditional acceptance into the program.