Vocational Nursing Program

As an LVN, you'll get to work hands-on with patients as an important part of their patient care team. With the direction of registered nurses and doctors, you will use your skills to provide basic patient care.

Here are some things you may do:

• Monitor patients' health by checking their vitals
• Administer basic care, like changing bandages or inserting catheters
• Provide basic comfort to patients, like helping them bathe or dress
• Report on patient status to registered nurses or doctors
• Keep records on patients' health

Vocational nurses play an essential role in nursing teams, from recording vital signs to ensuring patients are comfortable. Students in our vocational nursing program will be trained to do the following:

• Observe patients and perform basic assessments
• Report and document changes in a patient’s condition
• Measure vital signs
• Administer prescribed medication
• Collect samples and perform routine laboratory tests¹

¹California Employment Development Department Detailed Guide, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

If you have a passion for helping others in their time of need, nursing might be right for you.

Here are some of the top skills and attributes that make for a great vocational nurse:

Service orientation – A great vocational nurse is one with a passion for helping patients and for providing the best care possible.

Coordination – Vocational nurses should be able to adapt and coordinate care depending on patient needs.

Social perceptiveness - Being aware of and understanding patients’ reactions helps vocational nurses provide patient-centered service.

Active listening – Vocational nurses should be able to actively listen to patients’ needs and concerns, asking appropriate questions when necessary.

Judgement and decision making – Nurses should be able to judge each patient’s case and decide on how to provide the best possible care for each individual.

Vocational nurses can work in a variety of settings, including:

• Nursing care facilities
• Home health care facilities
• Outpatient care centers
• General medical and surgical hospitals
• Community care facilities for the elderly¹

¹California Employment Development Department Detailed Guide, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

The American Career College Vocational Nursing curriculum is divided into four class modules* approximately 13 weeks in length (20 weeks for evening/weekend). Each class module is comprised of prescribed courses of study that build upon each other.

You will begin your training with an introduction to the role of the student nurse in the Vocational Nursing (LVN) Program and the Nursing Profession. You will then progress sequentially until all class modules have been successfully completed:

Introduction to Client-Centered Care Module – Course material will introduce you to the concepts of nursing care of the surgical client, pre- and post-operatively. An introduction to Anatomy, Physiology, Nutrition and Pharmacological consideration will provide you with the necessary foundation of knowledge that is needed for progression in the school's program.

Care of the Client with Health Care Deviations I – This course sequence emphasizes the nursing intervention and the psychosocial aspects for the care of the client with an integumentary disorder. Selected clinical experiences will allow you to practice appropriate nursing skills. In this module, you will also study the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems.

Care of the Client with Health Care Deviations II – Coursework in this sequence will emphasize the nursing interventions and psychosocial aspects for the care of the client with a gastrointestinal, urinary, immunology/oncology and reproductive disorders. Selected clinical experiences will allow you to practice appropriate nursing skills.

Advanced Client-Centered Care – Course material in this module covers such areas as obstetrics, pediatrics, the neurosensory system and mental health/rehabilitation specialties. Selected clinical experiences will allow you to practice relevant nursing skills.

Nursing License Preparation – This review builds on previous learning in nursing theory, psycho-social sciences, basic statistics, nursing research and experiential learning as well as integrating the appropriate concepts of leadership, communication, research, the nursing process and critical thinking. The course is designed to recap and reflect on the program and prepare you to take and pass the Exit HESI examination, which is a graduation requirement for the Vocational Nursing program.

For a complete description of coursework in these modules, please refer to the ACC Catalog.

Students can earn their diploma to become a vocational nurse in as little as 13 months. Students of the Vocational Nursing Evening and Weekend program can earn their diploma in as little as 20 months

Our admissions advisors and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you figure out the vocational nursing school cost and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Vocational Nursing program cost, access our tuition info.

Yes, financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

Yes! ACC's vocational nursing program includes over 800 hours of clinicals which give students the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills they acquired learning hands-on throughout the training program.