Vocational Nursing Certificate, CERT2

(CIP 51.3901.)

281-756-5630

Purpose: The purpose of the Alvin Community College Vocational Nursing Program (ACC VN Program or VN Program) is to provide a Texas Board of Nursing (BON) approved educational curriculum designed to prepare students to be eligible to write the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) after the student has successfully completed the VN program. Those passing this examination will become licensed to practice Vocational Nursing in the State of Texas. The program delivers the instruction necessary for the LVN to function, at an entry level, in the following roles: as a member of the profession, as a provider of patient centered care, as a patient safety advocate, and as a member of the healthcare team. LVN practice is a directed scope of practice. VN licensure enables the nurse to care for clients with predictable health care needs in a variety of healthcare settings while under the supervision of a registered nurse, advance practice registered nurse, physician’s assistant, physician, dentist or podiatrist.

Accreditation: The program is fully approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). The stated mission of the BON is to protect and promote the welfare and safety of the people of Texas by ensuring that each person holding a license as a nurse in the State of Texas is competent to practice safely.

Procedure for Program Application for Conditional Admission: A new class starts at the beginning of each 11-week summer semester. Enrollment is limited to approximately 50 qualified applicants per class. The number of students accepted will depend upon instructor and clinical site availability. To be considered for conditional admission to the ACC VN program, the applicant MUST complete the following steps by the application deadline:

1. Be fully admitted to the college, then submit a completed online VN application at www.alvincollege.edu/vocational-nursing during application period. See the VN web page for exact dates of application period. Applications may be accessed on the web page on the first day of the application period and will not be accepted after the close of the application period.
2. Attend an applicant meeting. Check the VN web page for meeting location, dates, and times. The last meeting is conducted on the application deadline date.All initially required application documents (3-5 below) should be turned in at an applicant meeting. Those arriving late to an applicant meeting may not receive credit for attendance. This meeting is for applicants only.
3. All applicants must be TSI met in order to be accepted into the program.
4. All applicants must provide an original High School Diploma, or official High School transcript, or a GED certificate, or official college transcripts showing completion of 12 credit hours of core courses attained while attending an accredited college. The VN program does not accept foreign high school or college credits until they have been evaluated for U.S. equivalency by an ACC approved transcript evaluation services provider. You will find a list of approved companies in the “Academic Policies & Regulations” section of this catalog. The original transcript evaluation document must be submitted to the VN department.
5. Submit HESI A2 exam scores to the VN department. Applicants are required to take the following sections of the exam: Math, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary & General Knowledge, Grammar and Anatomy & Physiology. VN applicants may combine section scores from different HESI exams. If an applicant wishes to repeat the entire exam, they may do so. HESI A2 scores for all required test sections must be less than five years old as of the application deadline. If the exam is taken at ACC, the VN department automatically receives a score report. If the exam is taken elsewhere, you must have the results sent to nursing@alvincollege.edu. It may take up to 2 weeks for us to receive them. Plan accordingly, we MUST receive the exam scores no later than the application deadline. ACC VN does not accept HESI score reports from applicants.
6. Submit proof of Hepatitis-B (HBV) vaccine injection #1, or proof of HBV immunity (a titer).

Selection for Admission: Admission to the VN program is competitive. There are no prerequisite courses for the VN program. After the application deadline, applicants are primarily ranked according to their HESI-A2 exam scores. Applicants must achieve a reading comprehension score of 70% or better and a composite score of 65% or better. Additional admission preference is given to applicants achieving the required HESI exam scores if they:

1. Live in-district for Alvin Community College. To determine if you reside within the district, contact the Admissions Office at 281-756-3531.
2. Have completed BIOL 2401 - Anatomy and Physiology I  and BIOL 2402 - Anatomy and Physiology II  by the application deadline. The grade attained in each course must be a “C” or better and must be no more than 5 years old as of the application deadline.
3. There are no minimum score requirements for the Grammar, Vocabulary & General Knowledge, or Math sections of the HESI exam. Those scoring 85% or higher on any of these sections will receive additional admission consideration.

Program Information:

1. The program consists of both academic courses and associated clinical learning experiences as required by the BON. The student must demonstrate the ability to meet the course objectives identified in each academic course plus the learning and skill performance objectives identified for each clinical course in order to progress in the program.
2. The ACC VN program is affiliated with a variety of healthcare facilities in order to provide the clinical experiences required by the BON. The days and shifts available for clinical vary from facility to facility. Clinical assignments can be in any geographical area in Brazoria County or the counties surrounding it. Clinical hours can be scheduled for any hour on any day of the week.
3. The following (a-g) are requirements that must be completed after conditional acceptance in order to become fully accepted. There are specific instructions and deadlines for meeting them in the packet send to all conditionally accepted applicants.
   1. Attend the VN Program new class orientation in May.
   2. Have healthcare provider complete, sign, and date a “Statement of Fitness,” VN department will provide the form.
   3. Pay for and complete two criminal background checks. Results of background checks must be deemed as satisfactory according to VN Program policy, the requirements of VN clinical affiliates, and must meet the eligibility criteria, as determined by the BON that will allow graduated students to write for the NCLEX-PN. A social security number is required and will be verified during the background checks. One of the background checks is done by a private firm and is required by clinical affiliates. The other is a DPS/FBI background check that the Texas Board of Nursing requires for all nursing students. See VN Program Information and Application Instructions at alvincollege.edu/vocational-nursing for further information about BON background check procedures and BON Licensure Eligibility Questions.
      Note: Persons convicted of a felony offense, those who have received deferred adjudication for a felony offense, and those appealing a felony conviction, are not eligible for admission to the ACC VN Program. The ACC VN program defines the term “conviction” as BON rule 213.1.12 does. This policy is applicable even when a prospective student has filed a “Petition for Declaratory Order” with the BON and received BON consent to sit for the NCLEXPN after graduation from an approved VN program. The VN program reserves the right to dismiss, at any time, any student. The reasons for dismissal include, but are not limited to, the infractions listed in BON rule # 214.8. The VN program adheres to ACC Academic Dishonesty & Integrity policies and procedures.
   4. Pay for and submit a urine drug screen. The screen must be negative in order to maintain accepted student status.
   5. Obtain CPR certification from the American Heart Association, it must be for Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers.
   6. Provide proof of the following:
      1. Up-to-date immunizations or titers that show proof of immunity for - measles mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (pertussis booster required after age 18), varicella, all 3 injections of the Hepatitis B vaccine series or a titer that shows proof of immunity to HEP B, seasonal flu vaccine when available for the upcoming flu season, and negative tuberculin screen (yearly).
   7. Pay for lab supplies.
   8. Order and pay for VN uniforms on program orientation day.

Transfer Students / Readmission Students

1. Applicants from ADN or VN programs not affiliated with ACC are considered new students. They must complete an application, meet with the VN Department Chair, and meet and abide by the current VN admission, curriculum, and program requirements. Courses from other ADN or VN programs will be evaluated for transfer on an individual basis by the VN Department Chair. The courses must be no older than 2 years as of the application deadline. If the VN Department Chair finds the course content suitable for transfer, evidence of competency in the previously completed nursing courses will be required before the courses are accepted for transfer.This will be accomplished by a written exam and may include clinical skills competency demonstration. The student must pass the written competency testing with a 75% or better in order for the courses to be accepted. Skills competency demonstration is evaluated on a pass-fail basis.
2. ACC ADN students who wish to join the VN program may apply. If the student must enter VN program in the first semester, they must complete an application and meet with the VN Department Chair. Admission is not guaranteed, it is dependent upon admission slots available after ranking and acceptance of non-ADN applicants. ADN applicants must meet and abide by the current VN admission, curriculum, and program requirements.
3. ACC ADN students who wish to enter the VN program in the fall semester will be placed on a wait list after filling out an application. The students will be admitted on a space available basis if they meet and abide by the current VN admission, curriculum, and program requirements. Evidence of competency in previously completed nursing courses will be required before the courses are accepted. This will be accomplished by a written exam and may include clinical skills competency demonstration. The student must pass the written testing with a score of 75% or better in order to be admitted. If skills competency demonstration is required, it will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
4. ACC VN students who fail to complete the program in the first semester and wish to make a second attempt must reapply to the program. They will then be ranked for admission along with all other applicants. They must meet & abide by the current VN admission, curriculum, and program requirements.
5. All students are allowed two attempts, maximum, to complete the program. For returning VN students entering in the second or third semester, the second attempt must be made within 1 year of the previous withdrawal from the program.
6. ACC VN students who complete the summer semester successfully, but fail to complete the fall semester may return for one further attempt. The second attempt must be made within 1 year of the previous withdrawal from the program. They must complete a new program application, and must meet and abide by the current VN admission, curriculum, and program requirements. The students will then be placed on a wait list and admitted as space permits. Evidence of competency in previously completed VN courses will be required before the courses are accepted. This will be accomplished by a written exam and may include clinicals skills competency demonstration. The student must pass the written competency testing with a 75% or better in order to be admitted. Skills competency demonstration is evaluated as pass/fail. The ACC VN program does not readmit applicants who:

• failed clinically, or;
• were dismissed for professional behavior issues, or;
• committed acts of academic dishonesty

Progression and Dismissal Policies:

1. The VN program is a block scheduled program with one entry point and one exit point. A new cohort enters each June and exits the following May. All courses are taken in the same sequence and at the same time by all students. Course sequencing is shown in the curriculum below.
2. Students must attain a “C” or better in all required courses. A 75% is the lowest score accepted as a “C”.
3. In classes that have both a classroom and clinical component, the student must attain a 75 % or greater in both components. If a student receives a grade of less than 75% in either component, the student cannot continue either course or any co-requisite courses. The student must withdraw from the program and, if eligible, reapply to the program within the required time-frame.
4. Absences in the VN program are not excused. The student is allowed a specific number of unexcused absences in each course. The maximum allowable absences in summer semester (11 week) is two per academic course, and one total for clinical. The maximum allowable absences in the fall and spring semesters (16 weeks each) is three per academic course and two total for clinical.