What can I do with this?
The Vocational Nursing Certificate
- Is an intensive program totaling 1,662 hours.
- Is approved by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
- Prepares students to take the licensure examination provided by the National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCLEX-PN).
You can use this to:
- Become a Licensed Vocational (Practical) Nurse (LVN/PN)
Nurses are in high demand and job opportunities for nurses vary widely. Employment opportunities are found in long-term care and acute care hospitals as well as in assorted clinics, physician's offices, and correctional facilities. Jobs for LVNs are projected to increase by 22.4% by 2020. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Monthly Labor Review, Jan 2012
Find it! Be it! Find out how Cerro Coso Community College is helping students get training and education close to home and gain skills for good-paying jobs.
What will I learn?
- To identify the etiology, pathophysiology and signs and symptoms of disorders of all body systems and stages of development.
- To demonstrate an understanding of the nursing process.
- To take a leadership role in both the profession of Vocational Nursing and in the community.
- To successfully pass the State Mandated NCLEX-PN Boards.
Program Learning Outcome Assessments
What courses do I take?
Note: Some courses within the major may have a required prerequisite. If you feel you have equivalent knowledge and skills to those included in the prerequisite course through professional experience, licensure, or certification, you have the opportunity to submit a Prerequisite Challenge to be reviewed by the faculty chair. For the Prerequisite Challenge to be considered, you must submit documentation/verification to substantiate the basis for the challenge. Please consult a counselor for more information regarding Prerequisite Challenge.
Complete all of the following courses:
SEMESTER I
Prerequisite: BIOL C125 and/or BIOL C251 and BIOL C255, HCRS C132, HCRS C150, PSYC C101 or PSYC C101H. Co-requisite: HCRS C103, HCRS C107, HCRS C113
54 hours lecture. This theory course begins with an introduction to the roles of the vocational nurse and provides a foundation of basic nursing arts and sciences necessary for the practice of nursing including concepts specific to the gerontological client. Using the nursing process as a framework, concepts of professionalism, growth and development, safety, and health concerns for the adult and geriatric population are discussed. Legal and ethical considerations, cultural diversity, the nursing process, and basic data collection are included as theory topics along with the presentation of basic mental health concepts applicable to the geriatric client. Fundamental nursing skills are discussed in detail with concurrent hands-on practice of skills in the Vocational Nursing Lab I course.
Prerequisite: HCRS C100, HCRS C107, HCRS C113
54 hours lecture. This theory course focuses on the application of the nursing process in common health/illness situations. Using the nursing process as a framework, instructors emphasize the role of the vocational nurse as a provider of care in assisting the adult and geriatric client with chronic disorders affecting the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, endocrine, and integumentary systems. Topics include an overview of basic nutrients, basic therapeutic diets, and patient education specific to chronic conditions. Basic mental health concepts are introduced. Concepts in this course are correlated with the clinical settings presented in Vocational Nursing Lab I.
Co-requisite: HCRS C100, HCRS C103, HCRS C113
36 hours lecture. This course is designed to prepare the vocational nurse to function safely when administering medication. Using the nursing process as a framework, instructors present the concepts of pharmacology, calculations, and nursing considerations that pertain to the safe administration of medication.
Co-requisite: HCRS C100, HCRS C103, HCRS C107
324 hours laboratory. This laboratory course focuses on the care role of the vocational nurse in assisting the adult and geriatric client to meet essential activities of daily living. A beginning knowledge of nursing techniques and medication administration with an understanding of the principles, rationales, and procedures for each technique is emphasized. Using the nursing process as a framework, students provide basic care for adult and geriatric clients with various uncomplicated diseases and disorders who require nursing intervention to meet basic human needs. Basic communication techniques for the adult and geriatric client with mental health disorders are integrated throughout. This clinical course includes experience in the skills lab and long term care clinical settings.
10 hours lecture. This is a Healthcare Provider - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Course that meets the current American Heart Association standards. The course provides training in emergency treatment for life-threatening cardiopulmonary arrest, airway and breathing management, and foreign body obstructed airway for all age groups in a particular setting. This course also includes one and two rescuer CPR, use of barrier devices, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use and the prevention of disease transmission.
SEMESTER II
Prerequisite: HCRS C100, HCRS C103, HCRS C107, HCRS C113. Co-requisite: HCRS C214
162 hours lecture. This theory course uses the nursing process as a framework to guide the development of critical thinking skills used to determine nursing actions for adult and geriatric clients with cancer and conditions affecting the cardiovascular, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, endocrine, and respiratory systems. The role of the vocational nurse as a provider of care and manager of care related to leadership, supervision, and rehabilitation are also discussed. This course integrates care of the medical surgical client with mental health disorders. Concepts in this course are correlated to the various clinical settings presented in HCRS C214 Clinical Nursing Lab II.
Co-requisite: HCRS C204
324 clinical hours. This clinical lab course concentrates on the application of the nursing process and the continued development of the manager and provider of care roles for adult medical-surgical clients from various cultural and social backgrounds. Clinical experiences build on the basics from first semester as students perform more advanced skills when providing nursing care to clients. Incorporated into the course is the utilization of intermediate assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation under clinical supervision. This clinical course includes acute care and rehabilitation settings which correlate with the topics presented in HCRS C204 Medical Surgical Nursing II.
SEMESTER III
Prerequisite: HCRS C204. Co-requisite: HCRS C216
63 hours lecture. Using the nursing process as a framework, this theory course reinforces the critical thinking skills necessary to care for adult and geriatric clients with acute and complex medical surgical disease states, including multisystem involvement. The care for the client with increasingly complex mental health conditions is explored. Role expectations related to being a member of the profession are also discussed. Knowledge of nursing principles and leadership/management techniques to determine and prioritize nursing actions are correlated with the clinical settings presented in HCRS C216 Clinical Nursing III.
Co-requisite: HCRS C207 and HCRS C216
54 hours lecture. This theory course provides an overview of contemporary family-centered childbirth and a foundation for pediatric nursing using growth and development concepts as a framework for presenting health problems and the special concerns of the pediatric client. This course focuses on the provider and manager of care role of the vocational nurse in assisting families experiencing common health/illness situations associated with their age groups. Using the nursing process and developmental theory as a framework, instructors discuss the nursing responsibilities of the child-bearing family and the pediatric client. The course concepts are correlated with the clinical settings in HCRS C216 Clinical Nursing III.
Co-requisite: HCRS C206 and HCRS C216
18 hours lecture. This theory course reinforces and emphasizes the basic principles of pharmacology and calculations necessary for safe and effective medication administration. The primary focus is on the pharmacology content and variables that influence drug therapy when caring for the child-bearing family and the pediatric client. Utilization of the pharmacological principles from this course correlates to HCRS C216 Clinical Nursing III.
Co-requisite: HCRS C216
27 hours lecture. This theory course focuses on the concepts of critical thinking skills and clinical reasoning strategies utilizing a case study approach. Leadership skills, capabilities, and knowledge essential to the vocational nurse including roles and responsibilities, application of the nursing process to problem solving methods, and supervision and evaluation of the effectiveness and quality of care are discussed. Managerial traits, styles, roles and models are also explored. Critical thinking skills and utilization of the nursing process in clinical decision making are presented and correlated to the Clinical Nursing III course.
Co-requisite: HCRS C205, HCRS C206, HCRS C207, HCRS C208
324 clinical hours. Using the advanced application of the nursing process and developmental theory as a framework to guide the plan of care, students provide care for the childbearing family, pediatric clients, and clients with acute medical and surgical illnesses. The care focuses on multiple clients from various ethnic and social backgrounds. Clinical experiences provide opportunities for the demonstration of leadership skills, capabilities, and knowledge essential to the role of the vocational nurse as a member of the health care team and supervisor of other vocational nurses and unlicensed health care givers. Application of critical thinking skills and the utilization of the nursing process in clinical decision-making are assessed. This clinical course includes settings in acute care, clinics, physician offices for obstetrics and pediatric clients, and acute and sub-acute settings for the care of clients with acute medical and surgical illnesses. The clinical content correlates with HCRS C205, HCRS C206, HCRS C207, and HCRS C208.
Select 3 units from the following courses:
Advisory: ENGL C101
54 hours lecture. This course presents the components of pharmacology including techniques of administration, dosage calculations, foundations of pharmacology, patient education, health promotion, and a detailed overview of each drug class and commonly used drugs by body system. Pharmacology is an integral part of every aspect of health careers and this course is recommended for any individual with a Health Career objective.
Advisory: ENGL C101
54 hours lecture. This course familiarizes the students with the fundamentals of cultural diversity as an integral part of every aspect of health care. This course is encouraged for any individual with a health career objective. Students explore cross-cultural theory and analyze forms of cultural diversity including gender, age, and family. Students analyze how cultural diversity affects health/illness dynamics and how recognition of ethnocentrism and bias can help improve health care delivery. Approved for Local GE Area 6.
Advisory: ENGL C070
54 hours lecture. This course is designed to enable students to interpret basic cardiac rhythms in health care related settings. Heart anatomy, physiology, and dysrhythmias relating to atrial and ventricular dysfunction, basic electrical conduction disorders and treatment plans are presented.
Advisory: ENGL C101
54 hours lecture. This course explores the theories, models, and principles that serve as guides for ethical behavior within the healthcare content. Ethics is an integral part of every aspect of health careers and this course is encouraged for any individual with a health career objective. The students explore the complexities created by science and technological advances, the variety of health care settings, and the diversity of patients in their care, all while emphasizing the importance of principled behavior in personal and professional situations. Global issues such as health policy, economics, social, gender, transcultural and spiritual considerations are addressed.
Conditions of Enrollment
Vocational Nursing requires the completion of prerequisite courses for entrance into the program.
Advisory: ENGL C070
54 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This course is an introductory anatomy and physiology course for students in health career programs. Emphasis is on the structure and function of human cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. Human development and heredity are also covered. The laboratory component provides a hands-on approach to learning anatomical structures and their physiology. Not open to students who have completed BIOL 121. Approved for IGETC Area 5B & 5C, CSU GE Area B2 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
C-ID: BIOL 110B Human Anatomy with Lab
Prerequisite: ENGL C101
54 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This course covers the structural organization of the human body and includes the study of microscopic and gross anatomy of body organs and systems, including skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, endocrine, reproductive, and integumentary systems. Approved for IGETC Area 5B & 5C, CSU GE Area B2 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
C-ID: BIOL 120B Human Physiology with Lab
Prerequisite: ENGL C101. Advisory: BIOL C125, CHEM C101, MATH C055
54 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This course provides students with an understanding of the function and regulation of the human body and physiological integration of the organ systems to maintain homeostasis. Course content includes neural and hormonal homeostatic control mechanisms, as well as functions of the integumentary, musculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, lymphatic and immune, reproductive, and endocrine systems. Approved for IGETC Area 5B & 5C, CSU GE Area B2 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
Advisory: ENGL C101
27 hours lecture. This course covers concepts and techniques for managing and maintaining manual and electronic health records (EHR). Topics include structure and use of health information including data collection and analysis, data sources/sets, archival systems, and quality and integrity of health care data. The focus of this course is system-wide clinical documentation guidelines and regulatory standards.
54 hours lecture. This course is designed to familiarize the student with the language of medicine. The components of medical terminology are highly beneficial for any individual with a healthcare employment objective. The course presents the components of medical works including word roots, combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes. Using medical terminology as a focal point, the instructor discusses the systems of the body.
C-ID: PSY 110 Introductory Psychology
Advisory: ENGL C070
54 hours lecture. This course offers the student an introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes focusing on exploration of major psychological theories and concepts, methods, and research findings in psychology. Topics include the biological bases of behavior and mental processes, perceptions, consciousness, memory, cognition, learning, motivation, emotion, development, intelligence, personality, social psychology, psychological disorders and therapeutic approaches, and applied psychology. The American Psychological Association (APA) format is taught and applied to written assignments and papers. Approved for IGETC Area 4, CSU GE Area D, Local GE Area 2.
C-ID: PSY 110 Introductory Psychology
Advisory: ENGL C101 Limitation on Enrollment: Acceptance for the Honors Program or eligibility for this honors course as determined in consultation with the instructor.
72 hours lecture. This course offers the student an introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes focusing on exploration of major psychological theories and concepts, methods, and research findings in psychology. Topics include the biological bases of behavior and mental processes, perceptions, consciousness, memory, cognition, learning, motivation, emotion, development, intelligence, personality, social psychology, psychological disorders and therapeutic approaches, and applied psychology. The American Psychological Association (APA) format is taught and applied to written assignments and papers. The honors course provides more content and requires greater intensity and depth of study than the non-honors class. Approved for IGETC Area 4, CSU GE Area D, Local GE Area 2.
Enrollment is through Counseling only. Vocational Nursing requires the completion of prerequisite courses for entrance into the program. All prerequisites must be successfully completed with a grade of "C" or better before entering the program. Students must also possess a current CNA certificate and must complete a Certified Background Check before enrolling.
Program Pathways
All classes needed for this certificate are available at the following campuses: Ridgecrest / IWV Bishop Mammoth Lakes Lake Isabella
See Counseling for specific help with enrolling and completing this major.
How can I afford it?
This certificate requires 47.5 units and will likely take 4 semesters.
Approximate Total Costs
CA Residents
47.5 units
at $46 per unit
Equals $2,185 in tuition and fees
Plus approximately $2,850* for books and supplies
Total cost $5,035 for 4 semesters
Non-residents
47.5 units
at $388 per unit
Equals $18,430 in tuition and fees
Plus approximately $2,850* for books and supplies
Total cost $21,280 for 4 semesters
*This is an estimate. Actual costs will vary.
Need help? Financial Aid can help with fee waivers and scholarships and other aid. Make sure to fill out your FAFSA every January.