Vocational Nursing

The Hartnell College Vocational Nursing (VN) Program is a defined group of prerequisite, general education, and required major courses in a 24-month program of study consisting of classroom, high-fidelity simulation, nursing skills laboratory, and clinical experiences. Licensed vocational nurses perform essential nursing services under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. Upon successful completion of program requirements, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). After passing, graduates may practice as vocational nurses in a variety of settings, including but not limited to community agencies, medical offices, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. The Hartnell College VN Program is fully approved by the California Board of Vocational Nurses and Psychiatric Technicians (BVN/PT) and is the first vocational nursing program in California to earn national accreditation from Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing

Adding an associate degree track in vocational nursing would result in no change to the number of full-time equivalent students.  At present, Hartnell College has a BVNPT-imposed enrollment cap of 35 students per annual admission cycle.   

Vocational nursing students closely mirror the Hartnell College student population at large.  On average, 85% are from minority groups, 71% are first generation college students, and 42% are non-native English speakers.  Six percent are males.  Between 2010 and 2017, 52% of incoming students had completed all general education course requirements for an associate degree.  Approximately 17% transfer into a registered nursing program.  Adding an associate degree in vocational nursing will be a draw for students interested in receiving a degree.  Currently, Hartnell College students desiring an associate degree are referred to Gavilan College.  Transfers and referrals to Gavilan College have averaged 10 full-time students per admission cycle since 2010.     

PROGRAM OUTCOMES  

1. articulate the role of the vocational nurse as a member of the health care team, committed to provide safe, quality care for diverse persons and their families.

2. provide rationale for judgments used in the provision of safe, quality care and for decisions that promote the health of persons. 

3. promote the human dignity, integrity, self-determination, and personal growth of persons, oneself, and members of the healthcare team. 

4. achieve quality care through effective communication, mutual respect, and shared decision making with the healthcare team.  

5. question the basis for nursing actions, considering research, evidence, tradition and personal preferences.

This proposal request is in support of a new associate degree in vocational nursing (VN).  Because more than50% incoming VN students have completed coursework for an associate degree and because the academic entry skills and education for healthcare professionals continue to rise (Hooper & Ayars,2017; Shulock, Lewis, & Tan,2013), faculty proposes the addition of an associate degree in vocational nursing. If the proposal is approved, Hartnell College vocational nursing students will have a choice between earning a certificate of achievement or an associate degree in science.

General Education Courses/Prerequisite for Vocational Nursing Program
	Language and Rationality
	A. Written Composition	ENG-1A	College Composition and Reading/ Multicultural perspectives	3.0
	B1. Communication and Analytical Thinking	MAT-123	Intermediate Algebra	5.0
	B2. Communication and Analytical Thinking	COM-1 or COM-3	Introduction to Public Speaking or Introduction to Communication	3.0
	Humanities	ANT-21	Introduction to Cultural Anthropology	3.0
	Required Major Course (Natural Sciences)	BIO-11* or BIO-5* and BIO-6* and BIO-6L*	Introductory Human Anatomy & Physiology or Human Anatomy and Introductory, Physiology and Physiology Lab	4.0 (4.0) (3.0) (2.0)
	Required Major Course (Social & Behavioral Sciences)	PSY-2*	General Psychology	3.0
	Ethnic Groups in the United States	**	See catalog for course selection	3.0
	Required Prerequisite for Vocational Nursing Program	HES-120	American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers	0.5
			Subtotal	24.5 (29.5) units
	Semester 1
	Required Major Course	NUTR-51 * or NUTR-1	Essentials of Nutrition or Nutrition	3.0
	Required Major Course	NVN/NRN- 70* or PSY 25	Growth and Development Across the Lifespan or Developmental Psychology: Lifespan	3.0
	Required Major Course	NVN 110	Foundations for Success for Vocational Nursing Students	1.0
	Required Major Course	NVN-119	Vocational Nursing Theory I: Fundamentals	4.0
	Required Major Course	NVN-119.1	Vocational Nursing Clinical I: Fundamentals	4.0
	Required Major Course	NVN-130 A	Basic Pharmacology A	1.0
			Subtotal	16 units
	Semester 2

	Required Major Course	NVN 121	Vocational Nursing Theory II: Health Promotion and Maintenance Across the Lifespan	7.0
	Required Major Course	NVN 121.1	Vocational Nursing Clinical II: Health Promotion and Maintenance Across the Lifespan	6.0
	Required Major Course	NVN 130 B	Basic Pharmacology B	1.0
			Subtotal	14 units
	Semester 3
	Required Major Course	NVN 123	Vocational Nursing Theory III: Coordination of Care	6.0
	Required Major Course	NVN 123.1	Vocational Nursing Clinical III: Coordination of Care	7.0
	Required Major Course	NVN 130 C	Basic Pharmacology C	1.0
			Subtotal	14 units
			Total	68.5 units (73.5)

Academic Programming Between 2010 and 2017, approximately 175 vocational nursing students completed the 12-month certificate program that consisted of five nine-week learning modules, totaling 40.3 units. Full-time students completed the 61.3 units academic program within three years. More commonly, VN students completed 21 units in prerequisite courses on a part-time basis, averaging a 6.5-year completion time for a certificate degree. In February 2018, the VN program will revert to a three-semester schedule from the 12-month schedule because time to completion was not meeting the VN expected level of achievement. The new three-semester schedule has benefits, including shorter classroom and clinical hours per day. In addition, faculty converted several prerequisites to corequisites. In theory, vocational nursing students will no longer have delays in course scheduling and admission eligibility. It will be possible for students to complete the proposed associate degree and the current certificate nursing program within two years.

From: Debra Kaczmar [mailto:dkaczmar@hartnell.edu] Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2019 5:25 PM To: Marcia Scott; Carla Gard; Trodgers@carrington.edu; ljones@unitekcollege.edu; mburnette@centralcoastcollege.edu; Rosalind Ann Hartman Subject: Hartnell College Proposal to add an AS degree, vocational nursing option Dear Colleagues, Hartnell College requests your endorsement of the proposal to add an associate degree, vocational nursing option to the current certificate of achievement option. I have included the proposal and LMI data for your review. In summary, the addition of the associate degree option would result in no change to enrollment numbers, clinical sites, faculty assignments, nursing coursework, or physical or financial resources. Students who choose the AS degree option instead of the certificate of achievement option would complete intermediate algebra instead of beginning algebra, which is required for the certificate of achievement track. Please contact me should you have questions after reviewing the documents. Your approval or rejection of the proposed addition of the AS in vocational nursing option at Hartnell College can be sent via email to me or in a letter addressed to me at the Hartnell College address listed below. Thank you for considering our request. Debra Debra Kaczmar, Ph.D. Dean of Academic Affairs | Nursing and Allied Health ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Rosalind Ann Hartman Date: Wed, Sep 11, 2019 at 8:21 AM Subject: RE: Hartnell College Proposal to add an AS degree, vocational nursing option To: Debra Kaczmar Hi Debra, Sorry this took so long. I just started back here in an interim role last week! I am happy to endorse your proposal to add an associate degree to your vocaonal nursing program. We are all here to encourage our students to connue their learning. I appreciate the data that you shared also! Hope to see you in San Diego! Warm Aloha, Roz Rosalind Hartman Interim Director of Nursing and Allied Health Gavilan College 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd. Gilroy, CA 95020 P 408.848.4866 On Tue, Sep 10, 2019 at 5:35 PM Marcia Scott wrote: Dear Debra You have my endorsement and my blessing. Best wishes, Marcia Scott Director of Nursing Cuesta College