Program Information
If you are a compassionate, take-charge person with a desire to make patients feel comforted in the face of illness, then a career in vocational nursing may be the right career for you. As the population is quickly expanding and aging, the need for quality health care is greater than ever and those who can provide that care are in short supply. A nursing certification from San Jacinto College will change your life and help save the lives of others.
The San Jacinto College Vocational Nursing curriculum includes:
- a focus on helping students develop as individuals and as responsible citizens who will become a competent practitioner in nursing;
- a combination of class lectures, nursing skills training, and clinical experience in a variety of health care settings; and
- an approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Board of Nursing. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates may apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination - Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN). Graduates who pass this examination are granted a license by the Texas Board of Nursing to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN).
Program Accreditation
Texas Board of Nursing
1801 Congress Ave
Suite 10-200
Austin, Texas 78701-3944
Phone: 512-305-7400
Fax: 512-305-7401
Career Opportunities
The US Department of Labor is reporting a sharp increase for these jobs, with specific increases in large cities and metropolitan areas.
Graduates can work in:
- Hospitals,
- Out-patient facilities, and
- Nursing homes.
Earning Potential
Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN): $55,2711 per year
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Source: texaswages.com, median salary Gulf Coast region, 2022
For more information, students may contact the following:
North Campus
281-998-6350, x7128 or vnnursingnorth@sjcd.edu
South Campus
281-998-6350, x3592 or vocational.nursing@sjcd.edu
Campuses
North Campus
South Campus
Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) (also known as Licensed Practical Nurses, LPNs) are a valuable member of the health care team and provide basic nursing care. They work under the direction of registered nurses and doctors. The vocational nursing curriculum is 45 credits and includes a combination of 480 hours of class lectures, 416 hours of lab, and 448 hours of nursing skills training and clinical experience in a variety of health care settings. The program is approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Texas Board of Nursing. Upon successful completion of the program (minimum grade of C in each course), graduates are awarded a Level 2 Certificate, and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN® exam). Those students who pass this examination are granted a license by the Texas Board of Nursing to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.
Students enrolling into San Jacinto College programs with external learning experiences (i.e., clinical, practicum, externship, cooperative, etc.) will be required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the clinical/external learning sites to engage in all clinical/external learning experiences. Vaccination requirements at clinical/external learning sites are implemented pursuant to the independent authority of such facilities and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet the immunization requirements mandated by clinical/external learning sites may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the clinical/external learning site.
Admission
Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) (also known as Licensed Practical Nurses, LPNs) are a valuable member of the health care team and provide basic nursing care. They work under the direction of registered nurses and doctors. The vocational nursing curriculum is 45 credits and includes a combination of 480 hours of class lectures, 416 hours of lab, and 448 hours of nursing skills training and clinical experience in a variety of health care settings. The program is approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Texas Board of Nursing. Upon successful completion of the program (minimum grade of C in each course), graduates are awarded a Level 2 Certificate, and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN® exam). Those students who pass this examination are granted a license by the Texas Board of Nursing to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.
Applicants for the program must meet the requirements for general admission to the College and must also meet program-specific requirements.
- Be a high school graduate, GED, or equivalent;
- Have a GPA minimum of 2.25 on college-level coursework;
- Pass a physical examination and meet specific immunization requirements; and
- Pass a criminal history check and drug screen.
For detailed information concerning admission requirements and deadlines for submitting applications and related documents, students may contact the department of Vocational Nursing.
South Campus Contact Information:
Email: vocational.nursing@sjcd.edu
Phone: 281-998-6150, x3592
Website: Vocational Nursing Admission Information
North Campus Contact Information:
Email: vnnursingnorth@sjcd.edu
Phone: 281-998-6150, x7128
Website: Vocational Nursing Admission Information
Texas Board of Nursing
1801 Congress Ave
Suite 10-200
Austin, Texas 78701-3944
Phone: 512-305-7400
Fax: 512-305-7401
In accordance with Texas House Bill 1508, the College informs all students in this program who may have a criminal background that a criminal history could keep graduates from being licensed by the state of Texas.
Students with any questions about their background and licensure may speak with the Department Chair. Students enrolling into San Jacinto College programs with external learning experiences (i.e., clinical, practicum, externship, cooperative, etc.) will be required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the clinical/external learning sites to engage in all clinical/external learning experiences. Vaccination requirements at clinical/external learning sites are implemented pursuant to the independent authority of such facilities and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet the immunization requirements mandated by clinical/external learning sites may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the clinical/external learning site.
Requirements
Students applying for admission to the Vocational Nursing program must submit the following items:
1. A recent application for San Jacinto College via the website at https://www.sanjac.edu/.
2. Application for the Vocational Nursing Program (provided online) during the application period.
3. Application Periods.
The Vocational Nursing program accepts applicants twice a year (spring and fall). Students may obtain the admission application and specific application periods on the Vocational Nursing webpage.
Students are strongly encouraged to contact a Program Advisor at the Advising, Career, and Transfer office to assist in the San Jacinto College and Vocational Nursing program process. Students may contact 281-998-6150, or the Vocational Nursing webpage to schedule an appointment.
4. Selection criteria.
Students should submit all required documents in one packet prior to the last day of the application period. Students who apply for admissions to the VN program will be selected on the basis of the highest score on the admissions rubric. The rubric components can be found on the ADN website. Meeting minimum admissions requirements does not guarantee program admission.
5. Code of Conduct.
All students admitted to the VN program are expected to maintain the highest personal and professional standards of conduct in class and clinicals in accordance with the College Student Handbook, the Nursing Department Student Handbook, and clinical facility policies and procedures, which are used as extended campus sites. Any information indicating that such standards are not adhered to is subject to review by the Department Chair, and/or members of the nursing department faculty, and may result in a recommendation to the College for dismissal from the program.
6. Official Transcripts must be submitted with the application packet.
a. Applicants must submit current official transcripts from all colleges previously attended. Transcripts should be sent electronically to Admissions. Transcripts should be requested as soon as possible. Applicants are encouraged to begin accessing their transcripts early in the application process to ensure that all required documents are available for review. All course work taken outside of San Jacinto College is required to be evaluated for transfer of credits towards the Vocational Nursing program..
b. The College requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25.
c. Students must submit copies of all official transcripts from other colleges. San Jacinto College students must include a copy of an unofficial transcript from SOS at https://www.sanjac.edu/soslogin.
7. ATI TEAS EXAM
Applicants seeking admissions must take an official Nursing Admissions Assessment Exam (ATI TEAS). TEAS exam will cover reading, math, science, English and language usage. THE ATI TEAS exam may only be taken twice (test and a retake) per application period. Waiting period between the test and retake is recommended to be 30 days. Students should request official test scores as soon as possible. After placing an order for official TEAS transcript, transcripts are sent to the school administrator. The first transcript ordered is free. Additional transcripts will cost $15.00 each. Students may visit the Vocational Nursing webpage for more information and testing dates that are available on the south campus.
8. Criminal Background Check through the Texas Board of Nursing.
All applicants are required to complete a criminal background check (CBC) as part of the application/admissions process. According to the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) effective Jan. 1, 1996, a person who has been convicted of a felony that relates to the duties and responsibilities of a licensed registered nurse may be disqualified from obtaining licensure as a licensed registered nurse (213.28 Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, Rules and Regulations, Sept. 2004). For further inquiry, the applicant should directly contact the Texas BON. Applicants will provide permission and complete the Texas Board of Nursing's CBC upon acceptance into the program. Applicants will be required to submit a blue card or decision letter to confirm admission and progression into the program.
9. Completion of Background Check and Drug Screen in CastleBranch.
Upon acceptance into the program, applicants will be required to purchase a package with CastleBranch, a document tracker used for clinical compliance. The procedure for completing the criminal background check and drug screen requirements can be found on the Vocational Nursing webpage.
10. Clinical Requirements.
Evidence of completing the American Heart Association (AHA) CPR and Immunization requirements must be uploaded to the CastleBranch website. Students may see the Vocational Nursing webpage for additional information regarding the required process. Requirements with time frames that need recertification or renewal must be kept current until the last day of each semester.
Students are responsible for maintaining the following:
a. CPR - from the American Heart Association Health Care Provider (online courses are not accepted); Copy of CPR Card to be uploaded to CastleBranch;
b. Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) with proof of a positive titer;
c. Varicella Immunization with proof of a positive titer;
d. Hepatitis B with proof of a positive titer;
e. Hepatitis C with proof of a negative antibody test;
f. Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) within the last 10 years;
g. Seasonal Flu vaccination, due annually each August;
h. TB Skin Test (within 12 months); Chest X-Ray, (within two years)
The Texas Administrative Code Rule 97.64 states that enrolled students may not participate in course work activities, including direct patient contact, until full vaccination series have been completed. Titers for MMR, Varicella, and Hepatitis B are required to be on file in the student’s record prior to clinical rotations. Clinical Affiliates may request additional components. Applicants must pass the drug screen and background check to be considered for progression into the program.
11. Physical Examination is required.
Evidence of physical and emotional fitness upon admission and throughout the program is expected and is subject to review by the vocational nursing department and medical opinions or policy of hospital/agencies that are used as extended campus sites for assigned educational experiences.
After the College selects and accepts a student into the program, the student must pass a physical examination prior to entry into the vocational nursing program. Students may schedule physical exams with a healthcare provider with forms issued by the vocational nursing program. The physical examination must demonstrate that the student is physically and emotionally fit to meet all requirements of direct patient care without any limitations and is free from all communicable diseases.
Application Requirements:
1. Current Active CPR BLS/ACLS from the American Heart Association,
2. Copies of official transcripts from all institutions,
3. Unofficial San Jacinto transcript,
4. GPS report after transcript evaluation is complete,
5. ATI TEAS exam result,
6. Cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher, and
7. Successful completion of pre-requisite course minimum of C.
Course List
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 2301 | Anatomy and Physiology I (Lecture) | 3 |
| BIOL 2101 | Anatomy and Physiology I (Lab) | 1 |
Plan of Study
5NUR-LVN
| Prerequisites | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Note: The prerequisite for enrolling in the first term is acceptance into the program. | ||
| BIOL 2301 & BIOL 2101 | Anatomy and Physiology I (Lecture) and Anatomy and Physiology I (Lab) | 4 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| First Term | ||
| BIOL 2302 & BIOL 2102 | Anatomy and Physiology II (Lecture) and Anatomy and Physiology II (Lab) | 4 |
| VNSG 1327 | Essentials of Medication Administration | 3 |
| VNSG 1423 | Basic Nursing Skills | 4 |
| VNSG 2431 | Advanced Nursing Skills | 4 |
| VNSG 1260 | Clinical I | 2 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Second Term | ||
| VNSG 1509 | Nursing in Health and Illness II | 5 |
| VNSG 1331 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| VNSG 1261 | Clinical II - Licensed Practical/Vocational Nursing Training | 2 |
| VNSG 1226 | Gerontology 1 | 2 |
| VNSG 1162 | Clinical III - Practical Nurse 1 | 1 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Third Term | ||
| VNSG 1330 | Maternal-Neonatal Nursing | 3 |
| VNSG 1334 | Pediatrics | 3 |
| VNSG 1301 | Mental Health and Mental Illness 1 | 3 |
| VNSG 2161 | Clinical IV - Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training | 1 |
| VNSG 1105 | NCLEX-PN Review | 1 |
| Credits | 11 | |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
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VNSG 1226 Gerontology, VNSG 1301 Mental Health and Mental Illness, and VNSG 1162 Clinical III - Practical Nurse will rotate second and third term.
Capstone Experience: VNSG 1105 NCLEX-PN Review
Students must earn a C or better in all Vocational Nursing (VNSG) and all science courses and maintain an overall cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 to remain in and/or graduate from the program.