Nursing

The LVN-RN Transition to Registered Nursing Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus general education requirements, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See SCC graduation requirements.

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

• Licensure as an Licensed Vocational Nurse in the state of California.
• Application and acceptance into the LVN-RN Registered Nursing Associate in Science Degree Program at Sacramento City College.
• BIOL 430, BIOL 431, and BIOL 440 with grades of "C" or better and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
• PSYC 300 or PSYC 480; ENGWR 300 or ESLW 340 or ENGWR 488; COMM 301 or COMM 331or COMM 481; SOC 321 or SOC 482 or ANTH 310 or ANTH 481 with grades of "C" or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better. In-progress grades will not be accepted for prerequisite courses.
• A SCORE of 70 or higher on the Registered Nursing Multi Criteria Enrollment Form.
• It is strongly recommended that students complete all general education requirements (Area I-VI) and competency requirements (reading, writing, and mathematics) prior to application to the program.
• Completion of the latest edition of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), developed by the Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC (ATI). A minimum composite score is necessary to be eligible for application to the program. Additional information is available from the SCC Nursing website at https://scc.losrios.edu/academics/programs-and-majors/nursing.

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

• The Associate in Science Degree Registered Nursing Program at Sacramento City College uses a multicriteria enrollment process. The latest edition of the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) must be taken before applying, and a minimum composite score must be achieved in order to apply to the program. A Los Rios Community College District student identification number is required to access the online application. Points earned from the multicriteria enrollment form determine eligibility for the random selection pool from which a class is selected. Students must apply online and reapply each year. There is no waiting list.
• Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) who desire to complete the minimum number of units required to take the licensure examination may apply for this LVN to RN option. LVNs who select the “30 Unit” option method to satisfy the requirements for licensure as a registered nurse should consult with Student Personal Assistant or Program Director for an individual program consultation to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this option. Students who obtain licensure through this option may not be allowed to practice as an RN in any state but California. Admission to the program is by special application. Please refer to LVN to RN mobility program.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• integrate the nursing process with critical reasoning skills, in direct and indirect nursing care to meet the patient’s developmental and basic human needs.
• revise individualized nursing interventions to safely provide care to assist adult and older adult patients in need of preventative, restorative, or rehabilitative patient centered care.
• incorporate evidence-based practice, patient care standards, informatics, and critical thinking skills to enhance safety, quality improvement, and effectiveness of nursing care.
• generate therapeutic, respectful, and caring communication with patients and families, while promoting collegiality with peers and colleagues.
• formulate accurate and timely documentation and reporting of patient assessments, interventions, progress, and outcomes of care in the written and electronic medical record.
• design patient-centered teaching plans and assist patients and their families in developing self-advocacy skills necessary to maintain optimum levels of functioning and health.
• manage the nursing care for a group of patients, utilizing leadership skills, collaboration, teamwork, resource utilization, and supervision of team members consistent with their scope of practice.
• prioritize patient care needs, using critical thinking and time management skills, to organize and provide safe nursing care in a responsible and accountable manner.
• integrate ethical principles, legal boundaries, and cultural competency in all areas of nursing practice.
• assess learning needs through reflective thinking and use resources to engage in continuous improvement in skills and knowledge.

This program prepares the student for employment as an entry-level staff nurse in hospitals, physician’s offices, skilled nursing or long term care facilities, surgery centers, ambulatory care settings, occupational health, and other related agencies. Registered Nurses provide nursing care to clients and groups of clients throughout the lifespan. They have many responsibilities from direct patient care to leadership roles, depending on the specific setting in which they are working.

The Nursing, Registered Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus general education requirements, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See SCC graduation requirements.

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

• Application and acceptance into the Associate in Science Degree Registered Nursing Program at Sacramento City College.
• BIOL 430, BIOL 431, and BIOL 440 with grades of "C" or better and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
• PSYC 300 or PSYC 480; ENGWR 300 or ENGWR 488 or ESLW 340; COMM 301 or COMM 331 or COMM 481; SOC 321 or SOC 482 or ANTH 310 or ANTH 481 with grades of "C" or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better. In-progress grades will not be accepted for prerequisite courses.
• A SCORE of 70 or higher on the Registered Nursing Multi Criteria Enrollment Form.
• It is strongly recommended that students complete all general education requirements (Area I-VI) and competency requirements (reading, writing, and mathematics) prior to application to the program.
• Completion of the latest edition of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), developed by the Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC (ATI). A minimum composite score is necessary to be eligible for application to the program. Additional information is available from the SCC Nursing website at http://www.scc.losrios.edu/~nursing/.

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

• The Associate in Science Degree Registered Nursing Program at Sacramento City College uses a multicriteria enrollment process. The latest edition of the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) must be taken before applying, and a minimum composite score must be achieved in order to apply to the program. A Los Rios Community College District student identification number is required to access the online application. Points earned from the multicriteria enrollment form determine eligibility for the random selection pool from which a class is selected. Students must reapply each year. There is no waiting list.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• integrate the nursing process with critical reasoning skills, in direct and indirect nursing care to meet the patient’s developmental and basic human needs.
• revise individualized nursing interventions to safely provide care to assist adult and older adult patients in need of preventative, restorative, or rehabilitative patient centered care.
• incorporate evidence-based practice, patient care standards, informatics, and critical thinking skills to enhance safety, quality improvement, and effectiveness of nursing care.
• generate therapeutic, respectful, and caring communication with patients and families, while promoting collegiality with peers and colleagues.
• formulate accurate and timely documentation and reporting of patient assessments, interventions, progress, and outcomes of care in the written and electronic medical record.
• design patient-centered teaching plans and assist patients and their families in developing self-advocacy skills necessary to maintain optimum levels of functioning and health.
• manage the nursing care for a group of patients, utilizing leadership skills, collaboration, teamwork, resource utilization, and supervision of team members consistent with their scope of practice.
• prioritize patient care needs, using critical thinking and time management skills, to organize and provide safe nursing care in a responsible and accountable manner.
• integrate ethical principles, legal boundaries, and cultural competency in all areas of nursing practice.
• assess learning needs through reflective thinking and use resources to engage in continuous improvement in skills and knowledge.

This program prepares the student for employment as an entry-level staff nurse in hospitals, physician’s offices, skilled nursing or long term care facilities, surgery centers, ambulatory care settings, occupational health, and other related agencies. Registered Nurses provide nursing care to clients and groups of clients throughout the lifespan. They have many responsibilities from direct patient care to leadership roles, depending on the specific setting in which they are working. Program graduates are eligible to apply for the examination given by the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.

Prerequisite Courses

The Nursing, Vocational Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus general education requirements, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See SCC graduation requirements.

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

• Complete program application and submit by due date to be considered for acceptance into the program.
• 12th grade or equivalent as granted by the California State Department of Education
• BIOL 100 with a grade of B or better; or BIOL 430 and BIOL 431 with grades of “B” or better.
• AH 311, EDUC 300 or PSYC 370, NUTRI 300 or NUTRI 480, and PSYC 300 or PSYC 480 with a grade of "C" or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in these four (4) courses.
• ENGRD 11 for applicants who do not have an Associate Degree or higher.
• In-progress grades will not be accepted for prerequisite courses. Courses taken for Pass/No Pass (P/NP) will be calculated into the GPA as a "C" grade.
• It is highly recommended that the student take a medical dosage calculation class prior to beginning the program.
• A grade of 75% or better is mandatory in each required course for progression in the vocational nursing program. If the clinical performance is “unsatisfactory,” the semester grade will be “F” regardless of achievement in theory.
• Completion of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), latest version, developed by the Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC (ATI).

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

• A Los Rios Community College District student identification number is required to access the online application. Enrollment eligibility consists of successful completion of prerequisite courses in order to qualify for the random selection pool from which a class is selected. Students must reapply each semester. There is no waiting list.
• Successful completion of the online application, along with all supporting documents as stipulated on the online page, must be submitted to the Science and Allied Health Division by the posted due date.
• Students accepted into the program will be required to undergo a criminal background check and a 10-panel urine drug screen prior to their clinical laboratory experience.
• NOTE: Vocational Nursing courses must be taken in sequence.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• utilize the nursing process within organized health care systems to help patients with common illnesses meet their basic human needs through direct patient care services.
• provide individualized nursing measures to assist patients in need of rehabilitation, including lifestyle changes in the hospital, home, or in the community.
• apply established standards of care, critical thinking skills, and scientific knowledge when performing nursing functions or procedures.
• maintain therapeutic communication essential to the achievement of health related patient and/or organizational goals.
• demonstrate the ability to accurately report and document patient assessments, interventions, changes in patient status, and outcomes of care in the written and electronic medical record (EMR).
• act as a patient advocate and teacher in assisting patients and families to prevent illness and maintain their optimum level of functioning and health.
• organize care for a group of patients and participate in providing direction for personnel with less preparation or experiences in other than acute care settings.
• apply knowledge of cultural patterns, beliefs, and practices in providing culturally sensitive competent care.
• assume responsibility for his/her own professional development and function with accountability within the legal boundaries of LVN practice.

This program prepares the student for employment as a licensed vocational nurse. The LVN may work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, ambulatory care settings, skilled nursing facilities, correctional facilities, home health, and extended care facilities to provide basic patient care to clients of all ages under the supervision and direction of physicians or registered nurses. The specific procedures performed vary greatly depending on the work setting.

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

• Possession of a current clear and active California Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) license at the time of application and throughout program completion.
• Completion of a minimum of six months recent LVN work experience, preferably in the medical-surgical area.
• Completion of BIOL 431 or equivalent 4-5 semester-unit physiology course and BIOL 440 or equivalent 4 semester-unit microbiology course with a grade of "B" or better prior to enrollment in the nursing courses.
• Completion of the current curriculum planning summary sheet including the semester in which the pre-enrollment packet is being submitted.
• LIBR 307 is recommended.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• integrate the nursing process with critical reasoning skills, in direct and indirect nursing care to meet the patient’s developmental and basic human needs.
• revise individualized nursing interventions to safely provide care to assist patients of all ages in need of preventative, restorative, or rehabilitative patient centered care.
• incorporate evidence-based practice, patient care standards, informatics, and critical thinking skills to enhance safety, quality improvement, and effectiveness in nursing care.
• generate therapeutic, respectful, and caring communication with patients and families, while promoting collegiality with peers and colleagues.
• formulate accurate and timely documentation and reporting of patient assessments, interventions, progress, and outcomes of care in the written and electronic medical record.
• design patient-centered teaching plans and assist patients and their families in developing self-advocacy skills necessary to maintain optimum levels of functioning and health.
• manage the nursing care for a group of patients, utilizing leadership skills, collaboration, teamwork, resource utilization, and supervision of team members consistent with their scope of practice.
• prioritize patient care needs, using critical thinking and time management skills, to organize and provide safe nursing care in a responsible and accountable manner.
• integrate ethical provisions, legal boundaries, and cultural competency in all areas of nursing practice.
• assess their own learning needs through reflective thinking and use resources to engage in continuous improvement in skills and knowledge.

This program prepares the student for employment as an entry-level staff nurse in hospitals, physician’s offices, skilled nursing or long-term care facilities, surgery centers, ambulatory care settings, occupational health, and other related agencies. Registered nurses provide nursing care to clients and groups of clients throughout the lifespan. The State of California allows the LVN-RN 30-unit option student to be eligible for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). The LVN seeking this path to RN licensure may not receive reciprocal RN licensure in other states. LVNs considering moving out-of-state are encouraged to consult with that state's board of nursing for RN licensure requirements before committing to the 30-unit option.

Prerequisite Courses

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

• Complete program application and submit by due date to be considered for acceptance into the program
• 12th grade or equivalent as granted by the California State Department of Education
• BIOL 100 with a grade of "B" or better; or BIOL 430 and BIOL 431 with grades of “B” or better
• AH 311, EDUC 300 or PSYC 370, NUTRI 300 or NUTRI 480, and PSYC 300 or PSYC 480 with a grade of "C" or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in these four (4) courses
• ENGRD 11 for applicants who do not have an Associate Degree or higher
• In-progress grades will not be accepted for prerequisite courses. Courses taken for credit/no credit (C/NC) will be calculated into GPA's as a "C" grade.
• It is highly recommended that the student take a medical dosage calculation class prior to beginning the program.
• A grade of 75% or better is mandatory in each required course for progression in the vocational nursing program. If the clinical performance is “unsatisfactory,” the semester grade will be “F” regardless of achievement in theory.
• Completion of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), latest version, developed by the Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC (ATI). A minimum composite score is necessary to be eligible for application to the program. Additional information is available from the SCC Nursing website at http://www.scc.losrios.edu.edu/~nursing/
• Admission, Reentry or Transfer: please see SCC Vocational Nursing website at https://www.scc.losrios.edu/nursing/nursing-vocational/

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

• A Los Rios Community College District student identification number is required to access the online application. Enrollment eligibility consists of successful completion of prerequisite courses in order to qualify for the random selection pool from which a class is selected. Students must reapply each semester. There is no waiting list.
• Successful completion of the online application, along with all supporting documents as stipulated on the online page, must be submitted to the Science and Allied Health Division by the posted due date.
• Students accepted into the program will be required to undergo a criminal background check and a drug screen prior to their clinical laboratory experience.
• NOTE: Vocational Nursing courses must be taken in sequence.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• utilize the nursing process within organized health care systems to help patients with common illnesses meet their basic human needs through direct patient care services.
• provide individualized nursing measures to assist patients in need of rehabilitation, including lifestyle changes in the hospital, home, or in the community.
• apply established standards of care, critical thinking skills, and scientific knowledge when performing nursing functions or procedures.
• maintain therapeutic communication essential to the achievement of health related patient and/or organizational goals.
• demonstrate the ability to accurately report and document patient assessments, interventions, changes in patient status, and outcomes of care in the written and electronic medical record (EMR)
• act as a patient advocate and teacher in assisting patients and families to prevent illness and maintain their optimum level of functioning and health.
• organize care for a group of patients and participate in providing direction for personnel with less preparation or experiences in other than acute care settings.
• apply knowledge of cultural patterns, beliefs, and practices in providing culturally sensitive competent care.
• assume responsibility for his/her own professional development and function with accountability within the legal boundaries of LVN practice.

This program prepares the student for employment as a licensed vocational nurse. The LVN may work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, ambulatory care settings, skilled nursing facilities, correctional facilities, home health, and extended care facilities to provide basic patient care to clients of all ages under the supervision and direction of physicians or registered nurses. The specific procedures performed vary greatly depending on the work setting.