Vocational Nursing

1. Function within the nurse’s legal scope of practice and in accordance with the policies and procedures of the employing health care institution or practice.
2. Apply a working knowledge of patient’s rights, protecting the rights and dignity of the patient and respecting the rights of others to have their own value system.

1. Utilize the nursing process, evidenced based practice and a commitment to caring for culturally diverse patients across the lifespan and wellness-illness continuum.
2. Use clinical reasoning and a problem-solving approach as the basis for decision making in practice, based on application of scientific principles and clinical data.
3. Provide patient centered nursing care for patients in structured health care settings who are experiencing common, well-defined health problems with predictable outcomes.
4. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for the quality of the care provided to patients and their families.
5. Utilize effective communication and collaborate with patients, families, and interdisciplinary health care team members.

1. Adhere to the Texas Nursing Practice Act and Texas State Board of Nursing Rules that emphasize safety.
2. Accept and make assignments that take into consideration patient safety and organizational policy.

1. Collaborate in the development and implementation of teaching plans for the patient and their families with common health problems and well defined health learning needs.
2. Assist in the coordination of human, information, and material resources in providing patient centered care.

1. Complete the requirements for admission to the College. Admission to Galveston College does not guarantee admission to the Vocational Nursing Program. 
2. Satisfactory completion of Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements.
3. Have an overall GPA of 2.5 as well as a GPA of 2.5 on all prerequisite courses for admission consideration. 
4. Satisfactory completion of VNSG 1320 within five years of the program start date.
5. Satisfactory completion of an Intermediate Algebra course (MATH 0304) or Foundation of Statistics course (MATH 0308), or a passing placement test score within five years of the program start date.  Mathematics courses are accepted according to Galveston College requirements. 
6. Be in good standing at Galveston College.
7. Personally complete the Nursing Program Application.  (This is a separate application from the Galveston College application.)  This application is to be filled out and turned into the Nursing Department. 
8. Obtain a clear background check. Any LVN applicant who has been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation, or treated for certain mental illnesses and/or chemical dependency must petition the Texas Board of Nursing for a Declaratory Order concerning their eligibility to the NCLEX.
9. Information about the Declatory Order can be found at www.bon.texas.gov and then type Declatory Order in the search window, print form; if the answer to any question 1-5 is “yes” a Declatory Order must be filed.
10. Provide evidence of first Hepatitis B vaccination prior to the first day of class.  All other immunizations must be complete prior to entering the program.
11. Pharmacology (VNSG 1231) may be completed in advance, but no more than 24 months prior to beginning the VN program. RNSG 1301 Pharmacology may substitute for VNSG 1231.
12. Prospective applicants will be required to pass an entrance test, as part of the admission criteria. Students must register with the Nursing Department to obtain information about the entrance examination and passing score.  A passing score on the exam is valid for one year.

1. Be informed by mail of acceptance to the program. All entering students will be required to attend a mandatory nursing orientation for new students. All entering students will be notified by mail of the date and time of the mandatory scheduled orientation session.
2. Submit a completed personal health history form furnished by the UTMB Office of Student Health. Health history and required immunizations will be at student expense.  Immunizations must be completed prior to beginning the program.  
3. Be certified in (American Heart only) Basic Life Support Health Care Provider (CPR) at program entry and maintain certification throughout the course of study.
4. Be required to produce a clear drug screening test as directed by the school.
5. Obtain a clear background check, eligibility letter, or a Declaratory Order from the Texas Board of Nursing.

1. Wait two years from the failure and apply for admission to the nursing program, taking nursing courses from their original point of entry (1st semester or transition).
2. Apply for admission to the program, taking nursing courses from the beginning of the program.  Students requesting to apply in this manner will be required to:
3. Meet all program admission criteria.
4. Submit a letter to the Admission and Progression Committee stating what they believe their weaknesses were and how they intend to return as a successful student.
5. Interview with the Admission and Progression Committee if necessary.
6. Be aware that students with zero nursing course failures will be considered prior to applicants with one nursing course failures.

TOTAL SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS IN PROGRAM: 45

Notes:

¹⁰MATH 0304 Intermediate Algebra or MATH 0308 Foundations of Statistics is a requirement to be met for admission to the program by placement or course completion; however, it should be noted that in order for the student to graduate from the program the student must be TSI complete. Must be completed within 5 years of starting program.

¹¹BIOL 2401 and 2402 may be used in place of VNSG 1320 Anatomy & Physiology for Allied Health.  VNSG 1320 will not apply towards the LVN to ADN Transition program.

¹²BIOL 1322 Nutrition and Diet Therapy I may be used in place of VNSG 1216 Nutrition.  BIOL 1322 or VNSG 1216 may be taken prior to entering the nursing program.

¹³May be enrolled in VNSG 1231 24 months prior to entering the nursing program.  RNSG 1301 Pharmacology may be used in place of VNSG 1231 Pharmacology.

* Identifies Capstone course

Underline– Identifies courses to meet general education requirements for AAS Degree.

VNSG courses must be retaken after a one year expiration.