Vocational Nursing Certificate of Achievement

The Vocational Nursing program is designed to prepare graduates to meet the requirements to practice as a vocational nurse in a variety of health care settings. The student is awarded a Vocational Nursing Certificate of Achievement upon successful completion of the program. The program is concept and competency based and provides sequential learning experiences progressing from theoretical to applied practice. Students learn in foundational courses the basic understandings of humankind as a physical, mental, and social being. Students learn about the wellness to illness continuum and how it impacts individuals uniquely. Within the clinical settings, students learn critical thinking and decision-making skills.   The program has three semesters of theory and clinical work. Lab and clinical work will be on campus and in community health facilities. Graduation from the program qualifies the student for examination for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). After successful completion of the examination and all requirements of the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, graduates may be licensed to work as Vocational Nurses in California.

Enrollment limitations include successful acceptance into Mendocino College LVN Program.  Acceptance will be based on minimum age of 18, proof of a high school diploma or equivalency and a score of BASIC or above on the TEAS test.  

The certificate will take 3 semesters to complete, we will enroll 24 students in every cohort.  We project 24 completers every 18 months which averages to 12 annually. 

Completing the Vocational Nursing Certificate of Achievement can lead to many career opportunities. Following graduation and successful completion of the licensure exam, Vocational Nurses can work in a wide variety of healthcare settings to provide basic nursing care. Licensed Vocational Nurse are employed in acute care hospitals, long term care and skilled nursing facilities, home care agencies, outpatient clinics, doctor’s offices, ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis centers, blood banks, psychiatric hospitals, correctional facilities, and Vocational Nursing Programs.