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Licensed Vocational NursesLVN Schools in California What is a licensed vocational nurse (LVN)?LVNs are entry-level health care providers who are responsible for rendering basic nursing care. A vocational nurse practices under the direction of a physician or registered nurse - the licensee is not an independent practitioner. Requirements for vocational nurse licensure are specified in the Vocational Nursing Practice Act. There are four methods by which one may qualify for the licensure examination. Each method is designed to provide an individual access into the job market as an entry-level practitioner.
What are the curricular requirements for a licensed vocational nurse in California?1,530 total training hours: theory - 576 Hours ( includes 54 hours of pharmacology ), clinical - 954 hours. Program length: full-time 12-14 months of training, part-time 18-20 months of training. What is the course content for a Vocational Nursing program?Anatomy & Physiology, Psychology, Pharmacology, Nursing Process, Communication, Patient Education, Nutrition, Normal Growth and Development, Rehabilitation Nursing, Maternity Nursing, Nursing Fundamentals, Pediatric Nursing, Medical and Surgical Nursing, Gerontological Nursing, Supervision, Leadership, Communicable Disease including Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Where are Vocational Nursing Programs located?Community Colleges - 47.0% Where are LVNs employed?
Licensed Practical Nurses ( LPN ) and Licensed Vocational Nurses ( LVN ) are trained for one year in a state-approved program mostly at vocational or technical schools. The LVN training includes both classroom study and supervised clinical practice. They must pass a licensing examination ( NCLEX-PN ® ) after completing the approved practical nursing program. LVNs study basic nursing and patient care subjects, usually including but not limited to nutrition, anatomy and physiology, pediatrics, administration of drugs and first aid. The clinical practice usually takes place in hospitals. The main duty of licensed vocational nurses is to provide care for the disabled, injured or sick. The requirements for licensing LPN and LVN are set by the Board of Nursing of each state. LVN who wish to become Registered Nurses can enroll in special programs such as LVN to RN nursing programs which take into consideration prior education. Licensed vocational nurses work under the direction of a physician or registered nurse - RN. The duties of licensed vocational nurses vary greatly depending on factors such as employer type (nursing home, hospital or doctors' office), staff available and shift. Some of the LVN job responsibilities are to take vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, pulse and respiration, to observe and promptly report adverse reactions to treatment or medications, to prepare and give injections, treat bedsores, apply dressings, give massages and feed the patients. Licensed vocational nurses provide bedside care, evaluate patient needs, develop care plans and supervise the actions of nursing aides. They may also be required to make appointments, perform clerical and administrative duties, prepare meals and train other employees. Licensed vocational nurses may also collect testing samples and perform simple laboratory tests, monitor catheters, keep detailed records of food/fluid intake and output for each patient as well as help patients bathe, dress and maintain a good level of personal hygiene. Depending on the state, they may also be allowed to help deliver, monitor and feed infants or administer medicine. Some experienced licensed vocational nurses may also be required to supervise nursing assistants and aides. Most licensed vocational nurses work full-time in hospitals and nursing care facilities and may be required to work some nights, weekends or holidays. LVNs are expected to help patients move, stand or walk and often deal with stress, heavy workloads and uncooperative or agitated patients. Employment of licensed vocational nurses is expected to grow due to an increasing number of older persons with disabilities that prefer and can afford home-based care. The typical salary range of licensed vocational nurses is $15 - $20 per hour. Median annual earnings of licensed vocational nurses are above $30,000 but in some areas in California it can be higher than $40,000. The best paying jobs are offered by employment services, home health and nursing facilities. Your pay can be dramatically affected by factors such as employer size and years of experience. For more information about nursing select a topic of interest from the menu at the top of this page. |
Board of Registered Nursing Prevails in Excelsior College Court Decision Sacramento - The California Board of Registered Nursing prevailed in a state Court of Appeal decision upholding the BRN's position that Excelsior College graduates, like other out-of-state school graduates, must fulfill all California licensing requirements, including supervised clinical practice, in order to qualify for licensure as a registered nurse in California. Ruth Ann Terry, BRN Executive Officer, stated, "This decision is of critical importance to the quality and safety of RN practice in California. It affirms the Board's position that there is nothing more basic to safe nursing practice than ensuring that students learn hands-on skills through sufficient hours of supervised clinical practice in patient settings." Documents filed with the court by Excelsior College describe the college as a distance learning program based in New York. The California Court of Appeal decision states, "As opposed to California's 810 hours of supervised clinical practice in a variety of settings with various patients, Excelsior's students simply take the weekend CPNE." The court explains the CPNE (Clinical Performance Nursing Examination) is "a weekend course, administered over two and one-half days, with a limited number of patients involving only two areas of nursing." The litigation background is as follows. Excelsior College sued the BRN in December 2003 after the BRN ruled that, in order to be eligible for examination and licensure in California, Excelsior College graduates enrolled on or after December 6, 2003, like all other out-of-state school graduates must meet the legal requirements for licensure in California, including the requirement of supervised clinical practice concurrent with theory. Excelsior's lawsuit consisted of a petition for writ of mandate and a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief. Read more about BRN's position that Excelsior College graduates must fulfill all California licensing requirements. |