The Grayson College Vocational Nursing program requires 42 credit hours and can be completed in 12 months. The Vocational Nursing Program meets five days a week and is considered a full-time program. Classes begin in August, and students complete three (3) semesters and one (1) minimester with scheduled breaks, completing the program the next July. Clinical course rotations may vary to include day or evening shifts. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded a Vocational Nursing Certificate. Graduates must subsequently apply to take the NCLEX-PN exam. If successfully completed, the graduate will be issued a license to practice nursing as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) by the Texas Board of Nursing.

Detailed information about the program is provided in an Information Packet, available by sending an email request to lvn@grayson.edu. The applicant should request the Vocational Nursing Information Packet. The packet will be sent to the applicant via email.

The following general information about the Vocational Nursing program is current at the time of printing, but all information is subject to change without notice or obligation.

Program Learning Outcomes

Member of the Profession

1. Demonstrate professional attitudes and behaviors
2. Advocate on behalf of patients, families, self, and the profession
3. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for the quality of nursing care provided to patients and their families

Provider of Patient-Centered Care

4. Use clinical decision-making skills appropriate to the level of a Vocational Nurse to provide safe, effective care for patients and families
5. Provide safe, compassionate, basic nursing care to assigned patients with predictable healthcare needs through a supervised, direct scope of practice
6. Implement teaching plans for patients and their families with common health problems and well-defined health learning needs
7. Manage resources in the provision of safe, effective care for patients and families
8. Assist in developing and implementing a plan of care to meet the needs of diverse patients and families

Patient Safety Advocate

9. Implement measures to promote quality and a safe environment for patients, self, and others
10. Assist in the formation of goals and outcomes to reduce patient risks

Member of the Healthcare Team

11. Collaborate with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary healthcare team in a timely manner to assist in the planning, delivery, and coordination of patient-centered care to assigned patients
12. Identify patient needs for referral to resources that facilitate continuity of care and ensure confidentiality
13. Collaborate with members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to promote and maintain optimal health status of patients and their families

Transfer of College Coursework

Students who desire admission via transfer to GC must adhere to the GC course transfer policies outlined in the GC Student Handbook. This includes submitting official copies of transcripts from each college or university previously attended to the Office of Admissions and Records and a copy of the transcripts to the Vocational Nursing program. Prerequisite and corequisite general education courses will be accepted for transfer and application toward the Vocational Nursing program if the course is evaluated as equivalent to the required course at GC. Nursing courses are accepted for transfer only with prior approval.  Students wishing to transfer nursing courses should request an Information Packet. Copies of course syllabi from all previous nursing courses must be submitted to the LVN Program Director to determine eligibility for transfer. Applicants must also provide a letter from the previous nursing program director stating that the applicant is currently passing and in good standing. 

Eligibility for Licensure

To qualify to take the licensing exam, students must meet eligibility requirements stipulated by the Texas Board of Nursing.  Applicants who have reason to believe they may be ineligible to take the licensing exam due to criminal background issues may petition the BON for a declaratory order.  This should be done prior to entering the LVN program since these eligibility issues also prevent the student from enrolling in the clinical courses. Information about eligibility is available in the VN Information packet and on the website for the Texas Board of Nursing.

Contact information regarding program approval:

Texas Board of Nursing
333 Guadalupe St #3-460
Austin, TX 78701
512.305.7400
http://www.bon.state.tx.us/