Vocational Nursing Program

LVNs work hands-on with patients as an important part of their patient care team. Under the direction of registered nurses and doctors, LVNs use their skills to provide basic patient care.

Here are some things LVNs 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' health²

²California 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 healthcare facilities
• Outpatient care centers
• General medical and surgical hospitals
• Community care facilities for the elderly²

²California Employment Development Department Detailed Guide, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

The American Career College Vocational Nursing curriculum is divided into five class modules approximately 10 weeks in length (15 weeks for evenings/weekends). Each class module comprises 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 program and the nursing profession. You will then progress sequentially until all class modules have been successfully completed:

Foundational Nursing Concepts – Course material will introduce you to human anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and the fundamentals of nursing as they pertain to caring for the surgical patient, pre- and post-operatively. You’ll begin skill lab and clinical instruction to help you apply basic nursing techniques in real-world settings.

Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing – This course sequence introduces you to pharmacology and the principles of medical-surgical nursing. You’ll spend time in clinical environments, applying what you’ve learned to patient care scenarios under the supervision of clinical instructors and registered nurses.

Intermediate Medical-Surgical Nursing – In this module, you’ll continue your study of pharmacology while advancing into intermediate medical-surgical nursing topics including caring for patients with alterations of health, such as cardiac, blood and lymphatics, endocrine, urinary systems and fluid and electrolytes. Clinical hours increase, giving you more hands-on practice.

Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing – Course material in this module covers more complex nursing scenarios, including patients with multi-system needs. This module also includes a course in life span development, helping you understand patient care across different age groups.

Specialized Nursing & NCLEX-PN Prep – Your final term focuses on maternal-child nursing, a clinical capstone course, and a concept mastery course designed to help you review and prepare for the NCLEX-PN exam, which is the final step toward becoming a licensed vocational nurse — as well as the Exit HESI examination, which is a graduation requirement for ACC’s 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 12 months. Students in the Vocational Nursing Evenings and Weekends program can earn their diploma in as little as 18 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. Visit our financial aid page to learn more about available opportunities.

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

ACC’s vocational nursing curriculum is designed to help prepare students for the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses) exam.