Why Vocational Nursing?

The medical field is exciting and full of opportunities for people looking to forge a new career path. If you’re interested in the medical field, enjoy helping others, and want a successful and sustainable career then you should consider pursuing a career in Vocational Nursing.

What is Vocational Nursing?

In every state except Nevada and California, they are referred to as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs); in the state of California the official title is Vocational Nurse. A VN is different from an Registered Nurse (RN) in several ways. RNs have graduated from a nursing program at a college or university and have either a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Nursing. Though both RNs and VNs must pass the national licensing exams in order to work in a medical facility, the NCLEX-RN for Registered Nurses and the NCLEX-PN for vocational nurses (called Practical Nurses in other states).

Working as a Vocational Nurse

Blake Austin’s Vocational Nursing program provides an array of placement options when it comes to employment. VNs are often employed in hospitals as well as:

• Home health service
• Nursing care facilities
• Community care facilities
• Physician’s offices

Basic duties of a vocational nurse also vary depending on work setting. While VNs are trained in the basic application of nursing and caregiving principles, they adapt to the needs of their patients. Duties and responsibilities can include but are not limited to:

• Intravenous administration of medicines
• Patient charting, reporting and tracking
• Basic patient care such as wound care, post surgical care, and catheterization and more

Why Should I Pursue Vocational Nursing?

There are many reasons to pursue becoming a licensed vocational nurse, but at the core, you should pursue this path of education if you are looking for opportunities that will open up with your license in vocational nursing.

Affordability

For many joining the medical field, the end goal is to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) and become a registered nurse. However, that goal can sometimes be difficult to reach if the prospect of attending a four year college or university is not financially possible. Attending Blake Austin college for Vocational Nursing allows both flexibility with scheduling and pricing. For so many of our students higher education is their ultimate dream and we work to ensure that it will come true.

Earning a vocational nursing license also means that you will have the opportunity to maintain a stable and liveable income while you pursue the rest of your education. Wages for those working entry level in the medical field are vastly higher than the national average for minimum wage with a median hourly rate of approximately $19.00 for licensed vocational nurses alone.

Time

Training to become a vocational nurse can usually be completed in less than one year, which is about two semesters. That makes it much easier to transition from one career field to another, and it provides flexibility for students who work or have families to maintain outside of class and clinical time. Blake Austin College offers three start dates every year, one in January, one in May and our night school unit begins every August. We pride ourselves on the ability to provide helpful resources to all of students and we work diligently to guide students along their journey.

Higher Education

If you haven’t noticed yet, though a career in vocational nursing is both lucrative and personally satisfying, it paves the way for furthering your academic progress. The medical field is about care and growth – both for the patients who are treated and the professionals who make it possible. Though you could begin a basic nursing program at a university and pay the university ticket price, you can also develop a sustainable career at a pace more suited to your personal needs and financial circumstances.

Is this the Career for Me?

Do you enjoy learning new things and helping people?  Are you a good communicator with a desire to do good things? Are you interested in working in healthcare? If you answered yes to those questions, then vocational nursing something you should investigate!

Our curriculum features e-learning incentives to ensure that our students have support in and outside of the classroom. Each student enrolled in the program receives a Chromebook, and our textbooks live online for student convenience. Our 8,000 sq ft facility also features a simulation lab for students to get the most of their clinical practice. Each student experience in the lab is entirely unique to them, and their interaction with the experience.

Find out how to get started. Call and speak with an admissions representative today and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have!

Blake Austin College | Nursing, Medical, Dental, Office : 611K Orange Drive Vacaville, CA 95687 | (707).455.0557