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Dallas College Catalog filtered for El Centro Campus
2021 - 2022 Dallas College Catalog
Catalog Filter(s): El Centro Campus (remove)

2021 - 2022 Catalog
Program: Vocational Nursing

VOCATIONAL NURSING -- PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN

(Level 1 Certificate)

El Centro campus only

  • Students pursuing this certificate are waived from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standards, but must meet course prerequisites.
  • Complete at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by Dallas College.

Degree Plan Code:C1.VN.PAT.CARE.TECH

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) Program is a certificate that prepares students for employment as a Patient Care Technician. The PCT Program provides didactic instruction and lab experience in the healthcare workforce skills of wellness theory, attitude development, the impact of cultural beliefs, patient care skills, safety issues, patient monitoring, health documentation, the management concepts necessary for effective health profession operations, pathology and general management of diseases and injuries across the lifespan.

Students will also learn the pharmacological principles of drug classifications, actions, therapeutic uses, adverse effects, and routes of administration as well as the calculation of dosages. Graduates will be able to perform head-to-toe body systems assessments, perform EKG's and identify basic arrhythmias, perform venipuncture and I.V. starts and management, handle medical records, apply basic first aid skills, utilize Universal Precautions and develop a written patient teaching plan.

This credential results in the acquisition of Patient Care Technician workforce skills for graduates of the program and prepares candidates for successful completion of the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant exam (CPCT/A). Successful completion of the CPCT/A exam will result in the candidate's eligibility to use the title Certified Patient Care Technician. The NHA is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

Course Course Title Credit Hours
HPRS 1201 Introduction to Health Professions 2
HPRS 1202 Wellness and Health Promotion 2
HPRS 1204 Basic Health Profession Skills 2
HPRS 2231 General Health Professions Management 2
HPRS 2300 Pharmacology for Health Professions 3
HPRS 2201 Pathophysiology 2
HPRS 2210 Basic Health Profession Skills 2 2
NUPC 1191 Special Topics in Patient Care Assistant/Aide 1
Semester Total 16
Minimum Hours Required 16

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.

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VOCATIONAL NURSING -- VOCATIONAL NURSING

Note: This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible. For more information, please visit: https://www.dallascollege.edu/hb1508.

(Level 2 Certificate)

El Centro campus only

  • Students pursuing this award program are required to meet Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standards and course prerequisites.
  • Complete at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by Dallas College.

Degree Plan Code: C2.NURS.LVN.08

The Vocational Nursing program is a twelve-month program that prepares students to give direct nursing care to acute and chronically ill patients with predictable outcomes in a variety of health care settings. The program is approved by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners (333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460, Austin, TX 78701; Phone: 512-305-7400; Fax: 512-305-7401) and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326; Phone: 404-975-5000; Fax: 404-975-5020). Upon completion of the program, the student is awarded a certificate and may write the Licensing Examination for Vocational Nurses (NCLEX-PN) in order to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) in Texas. The program includes classroom and laboratory work on campus as well as clinical experience at various area health care facilities.

Admission requirements include attending an information session, satisfactory completion of the HESI A2 Test, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on the three program prerequisite courses, and an overall GPA of at least 2.0 in all college course work completed. Completion of required support courses and documented experience in selected health care fields is also considered in the selection process.

NOTE: HPRS 1202, 1204, 2201, 2210, 2231, and 2300 are all health occupations core curriculum courses. These courses are listed and described in a separate section of the El Centro College campus: Health Occupations Core Curriculum.

Course Course Title Credit Hours
BIOL 2401 Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 4
ENGL 1301 Composition 1 3
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 3
Semester Total 10
Course Course Title Credit Hours
VNSG 1323 Basic Nursing Skills 3
VNSG 1409 Nursing in Health and Illness 2 4
VNSG 1204 Foundations of Nursing 2
VNSG 1360 Clinical - Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 3
Semester Total 12
Course Course Title Credit Hours
VNSG 2410 Nursing in Health and Illness 3 4
VNSG 2460 Clinical - Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 4
BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology 2 4
HPRS 2300 Pharmacology for Health Professions 3
Semester Total 15
Course Course Title Credit Hours
VNSG 1230 Maternal/Neonatal Nursing 2
VNSG 1234 Pediatrics 2
Semester Total 4
Course Course Title Credit Hours
VNSG 2160 Clinical- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training OR 1
VNSG 2162 Clinical - Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training (1)
VNSG 2163 Clinical - Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 1
Semester Total 2
Minimum Hours Required 43

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.

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