If you’re a certified nursing assistant desirous of career growth and a greater role in patient care, transitioning to the role of a licensed vocational nurse is fast and rewarding. Licensed vocational nurses work under the supervision of a registered nurse to provide basic nursing care. They have a broader scope of practice than CNAs but have less responsibilities than registered nurses. Some of their duties include wound care, supervising nurse aides, assisting with the development of patient care plans, observing patients’ reactions to treatment, administering medications, starting IVs, measuring vital signs, and ensuring the general care and comfort of patients. By enrolling in a vocational nursing program, you can acquire the skills and knowledge to take on a broader scope of practice. You will also have greater diversity in the choice of places to work. While nurse aides work in long-term care primarily, vocational nurses may have opportunities to work in physicians’ offices, hospitals, clinics, schools, and outpatient facilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, LVNs earned a median annual salary of $54,260 in 2021. This is a marked improvement on your CNA salary.
El Centro College
The vocational nursing program at El Centro College is open to certified nursing assistants who want to take the next step on the nursing career ladder. The program includes theory and practical instruction designed to equip students with the skills to function in the role of a vocational nurse. Although CNAs must continue to work while in attendance of the program, full-time employment is not recommended. Areas of study include basic nursing skills, nursing in health and illness ii, foundations of nursing, human anatomy and physiology ii, pharmacology for health professions, maternal/neonatal nursing, and pediatric nursing. Students will participate in a clinical experience where they will perform the duties of a vocational nurse under the supervision of an experienced preceptor. Attendance to all the clinical sessions is required for graduation. The clinical sessions take place on the weekdays during daytime hours. Graduates will be prepared for success on the NCLEX-PN for Texas licensure. The duration of the program is 12 months – two academic semesters comprising of 16 weeks and two summer semesters comprising of 5 weeks each. Admission to the program is competitive so applicants must meet and exceed requirements. Only 30 persons are admitted for each cycle.
Admission criteria:
- Must complete an information session either online or in-person
- Must obtain a passing score of 80 or above on the HESI exam – 5 sections. The scores are valid for two years
- Must complete Texas Success Initiative requirements
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on prerequisite courses – Human Anatomy and Physiology, Composition I, and General Psychology
- Apply for admission to Dallas County Community College before applying to the nursing program
- Must have graduated from an accredited high school or have a GED
- Must have current BLS for Healthcare Providers throughout the program
- Must request official transcripts from high school and all colleges attended to be sent to DC
- Must complete a satisfactory physical exam and negative drug screen
- Must provide documentation of current immunization
- Submit documentation of current CNA certification for extra points in the admission process
- Must have an maintain personal healthcare insurance coverage throughout the program
- Must obtain a satisfactory criminal background check and drug screen
The estimated cost of tuition is $3,397 for Dallas County residents. Students must cover the cost of books, materials, and supplies.
- Website: https://www.dallascollege.edu/
- Address: 801 Main St, Dallas, TX 75202, United States
- Phone: (214) 860-2000
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 98.30%
Concorde
Nurse aides may enroll in the vocational nursing program at Concorde Career Institute and prepare for an broader experience in the delivery of patient care. Through classroom sessions, and hands-on training in the lab, they will acquire knowledge and develop skills to care for patients under the supervision of registered nurses. The program will cover a total of 1319 contact hours of theory and clinical experiences. Students will learn how to communicate and interact with patients while observing their rights and independence. They will learn the disease process, how to think critically, administer medication, start IVs, move and lift patients, and follow the procedures for proper control of infections. Course modules include fundamentals of anatomy and physiology, foundations of nursing, college mathematics, pharmacology, introduction to medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, transition to practice, family health nursing, and clinical practice. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN to practice as a vocational nurse.
Admission criteria:
- Must attend a personal interview and campus tour
- Must submit a completed application for admission and sign the Enrollment Agreement
- Must demonstrate online readiness through a passing score on the assessment
- Must have graduated from an accredited high school or completed a GED
- Must submit documentation of good health and current immunization
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age before the start of the clinical practice
- Must be able to speak, read, and write English
- Obtain a score of 17 or above on the Wonderlic SLE or 70 on the HESI A2
- Must complete a satisfactory criminal background check
- Submit documentation of current nurse aide certification
The cost of attendance is $33,927 including application fee, books, and tuition.
- Website: https://www.concorde.edu/
- Address: 12606 Greenville Ave., Suite 130, Dallas, TX 75243
- Phone: 469-221-3400
- Fax: 469-221-3480
- Toll-free: 1-800-693-7010
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 72.32%
North Central Texas College
CNAs may enroll in the vocational nursing certificate program at North Central Texas College and prepare for employment as a vocational nurse. The curriculum includes theory and practical instruction designed to prepare entry-level practitioners to provide direct care to patients of all ages. There will be an emphasis on the development of critical thinking, sound judgment, communication, and leadership. Students will learn how to use their knowledge of scientific principles and technical skills in various settings. They may choose to complete the full program in-person or in a hybrid format where a portion of the coursework will be delivered online. Areas of study include pharmacology, anatomy and physiology for allied health, basic nursing skills, nursing in health and illness, essentials of medication administration, professional development, maternal-neonatal nursing, and pediatrics. Students will be assigned a clinical site by the faculty. The clinical experience requires travel to hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics in the area which may be a distance from the campus. Getting to the clinical site is the student’s responsibility. Clinical times vary based on shift rotations. Graduates will receive a certificate of completion and be eligible to take the NCLEX for Practical Nurses. The duration of the program is 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must apply for admission to NCTC through Apply Texas
- Must attend an information session or view the LPN program overview video
- Submit an official high school transcript or proof of GED certification
- Must submit official college transcripts from every college attended
- Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade C or better
- Must take the TEAS entrance exam and obtain a minimum 52% total score
- Submit a completed application to the Vocational Nursing Program
- Show proof of Major Medical Insurance or Accidental Injury Medical Insurance
- Provide proof of immunizations – Tdap, MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Influenza, negative TB test. Clinical sites may require COVID vaccination
- Submit documentation of CNA certification
The total in-district cost for tuition and fees is $7,081. Total in-state cost is $10,861. The cost for books and supplies is not included.
- Website: https://www.nctc.edu/
- Address: 1525 West California Street, Gainesville, TX 76240
- Phone: (940) 668-7731
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 91.30%
Navarro College
The Vocational Nursing Certificate program at Navarro College is open to nurse aides who want to continue their education to prepare for entry-level employment as a vocational nurse. Theory and practical experiences will expand their patient care skills and prepare them for success on the licensure exam. The Texas Board of Nursing approved curriculum covers a total of 50 credit hours. Course topics include health science, basic nursing skills, pharmacology, essentials of medication administration, vocational nursing concepts, growth and development, medical surgical nursing, pediatrics, maternal neonatal nursing, advanced nursing skills, mental health, mental illness, professional development, special topics in practical nursing, and clinical. Graduates will be eligible to apply to take the NCLEX for Practical Nurses. The duration of the program is 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must obtain admission to Navarro College – does not guarantee admission to the LVN program
- Take and pass the TEAS test – applicants must score at or above the national mean for the reading section
- Must attend a mandatory program orientation
- Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade C or better – anatomy and physiology, medical terminology
- Provide documentation of previous health care experience – CNA certification
- Submit immunization documents including TB, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Varicella
- Must have current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR (BLS)
- Complete a mandatory urine drug screen
- Sign a release giving permission to disclose criminal history check to the clinical sites
- Must maintain health insurance throughout the program
- Must submit two letters of recommendation with the program application
The total estimated program cost of $11,404 includes tuition, health professions fee, textbooks, software, liability insurance, mock trials, uniforms, shoes, supplies, drug screen, background check, CPR certification, and lab kit.
- Website: https://www.navarrocollege.edu/
- Address: 3200 West 7th Avenue, Corsicana, TX 75110
- Toll-Free: 1-800-NAVARRO
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 88.89%
Collin College
The vocational nursing program at Collin College is ideal for nurse aides who want to take their careers to the next level. The program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and includes a clinical component designed to give students real-world experience. Classes meet approximately 60 to 65 hours a week. Students must have a minimum number of class hours attendance to graduate from the program. Areas of study include fundamentals of nursing, medical surgical nursing, , anatomy and physiology for nurses, obstetrical nursing, pediatric nursing, pharmacology, state board of exam review, transition to practice, mental health and professional development. Students are required to provide their own transport to the clinical sites. Clinical days start at 5:15 am or 6:00 am. Students must arrive promptly at the same. Attendance is crucial for successful completion of the program. Graduates are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX for Practical Nurses. The duration of the program is 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Apply for admission to Collin College
- Must attend a program information session – 5 admission ranking points will be awarded for confirmed attendance
- Must submit a completed VN program application. All accompanying documentation must be copied on 8.5 x 11 paper
- Must be at least 16 years of age
- Must take the TEAS and obtain a minimum score of 60% on each of the reading and math sections and a minimum score of 50% on the English Language section
- Submit copy of CNA certification or 2 extra points on the admission process
- Must have a high school diploma from an accredited high school or GED
- Must pass a drug screen
- Must obtain an FBI criminal background check – instructions provided after acceptance
- Submit official transcripts from colleges attended
- Must provide records of immunization including a negative TB test, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Tdap, MMR, and seasonal flu shot
- Must have current Healthcare Provider BLS card
- Must attend an orientation session approximately six weeks before the program start date
- Must provide proof of COVID vaccination
- Must provide proof of medical insurance
Tuition and fees cost $9,000 for current residents of Collin County. The estimated cost includes all mandated requirements such as tuition, fees, uniforms, supplies, textbooks, a personal laptop computer, ATI learning materials, malpractice insurance, drug testing, skills trainer, and skills kit. It also includes application to the Texas Board of Nursing and LVN licensure exam. A flexible payment plan is available for all students.
- Website: https://www.collin.edu/
- Address: 4800 Preston Park Blvd, Plano, TX 75086
- Phone: 469.905.3590
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 93.56%
Crystal G
Crystal is a certified Registered Nurse (RN) with a passion for writing about nursing education. Through her articles, Crystal shares insights and tips to help fellow nurses enhance their skills and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. With a focus on practical advice and relevant topics, Crystal's writing is a valuable resource for nursing professionals seeking to advance their careers.