The LVN, or licensed vocational nurse, is critically involved in the health and welfare of a large spectrum of people. Among them are the elderly at home or in nursing homes; the patients in hospitals; and the disabled or sick. To practice in California, a potential LVN must be licensed by the California State Board of Nursing. To qualify for the licensing exam, she must attend a state-approved nursing program, usually a one-year program at a technical or vocational school.
Training Programs
The LVN training programs contain both classroom and supervised clinical work. California requires that full-time students complete a total of 1,530 hours over a period of 12 to 14 months, and that part-time students do so over 18 to 20 months. Instruction covers basic nursing and patient care. It includes subjects such as nutrition, anatomy, physiology and administering medications and first aid.
Evaluating Schools
Accredited nursing schools are available throughout California, and a list of them can be found on the State of California's Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians' website. The best way to evaluate these schools is to learn how many of their students passed California's licensing exam, known as NCLEX-PN. The best schools have 100 percent passing.
Financial Aid
The good LVN schools usually offer aid in such forms as scholarships and grants to students in need of financial assistance. Some students, with financial responsibilities at home, must work at income-producing jobs and can afford to attend nursing school only part time. For such students, many California schools have evening and/or part-time programs.
Continuing Education
The California State Board of Nursing requires licensed LVNs to continue their education as they practice. Every two years, 30 hours of continuing education must be completed. Without it, LVN licenses will not be renewed.
Licenses
In addition to successfully completing an accredited nursing program, potential LVNs may qualify to take California's licensing exam in one of three other ways. They can graduate from an accredited nursing program in another state; complete similar education and experience, which includes 54 hours of pharmacology and 51 months of paid nursing; or finish one year as a corpsman in the U.S. military, having completed a basic nursing course and administered patient care over that period.
