You might be wondering what exactly a vocational nurse is. The (BVNPT) describes a vocational nurse as “an entry-level health care provider who is responsible for rendering basic nursing care.”

As a vocational nurse, you will work alongside doctors and registered nurses in many different medical settings. You’ll perform tasks like taking blood pressure, changing bandages and maintaining patients’ health records.

Depending on the state in which you are employed, a vocational nurse’s role may be vastly different than LVNs in other states.

Vocational nurses (VNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) perform the same duties. The titles can be used interchangeably and the version used typically depends on the state in which you study or practice.

There are many perks of becoming a vocational nurse. We’ve highlighted a few of the many upsides of studying to become and working as a vocational nurse.

Get to Work Sooner

One advantage that LVN students have over BSN students is that they enter the healthcare workforce sooner. LVN programs can typically be completed in 12 and 20 months, whereas Bachelor of Science of nursing (BSN) programs take more than twice that time. And even if you have stellar grades, there are a limited number of spots at four-year colleges and you are not guaranteed to get one of them.

Save Money on Education

Another upside to choosing the LVN route compared to pursuing a BSN degree is the monetary cost. As you can probably infer, spending less time in school means spending less money to attend school.

Depending on the school, a four-year BSN degree costs anywhere between $40,000 and $200,000. Most VN programs, on the other hand, typically run between $20,000 and $40,000.

Job Outlook

The United States Census projects that number of people in the United States who are age 65 or older, currently , will more than double by 2060. The number of people with chronic illnesses, such as obesity and diabetes, is also on the rise. According to the National Council on Aging, “about 80 percent of older adults have at least one chronic disease, and 68 percent have two.”

These factors and more have created a need for nurses that is at an all-time high. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment for licensed practical and vocational nurses to through 2024.

Job prospects are expected to be even more favorable for candidates who “are willing to work in rural and medically underserved areas,” according to the BLS.

While the national employment of vocational nurses is expected to rise at a greater rate than the average of other occupations, the outlook in California is even more promising. The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) anticipates that LVN employment in California will increase by 21 percent during that same period.

Multitude of Places to Work

Combined with stable starting salaries and promising job outlook, LVNs also have a variety of places where they can work. The many places vocational nurses are employed include:

• Physician’s offices
• Rehabilitation facilities
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes

Vocational nurses are often employed by insurance companies or for insurance purposes. In such instances, these nurses conduct examinations of individuals to protect employers against fraudulent workers’ compensation cases.

Find Your Passion

Vocational nursing programs tend to have well-rounded curricula and allow students to gain exposure to many arenas of medicine. These include pediatrics, obstetrics, pharmacology or more, depending on the program.

Exposing students to a variety of subjects prepare them to be more complete LVNs. They develop valuable skill sets that will be put to work in the healthcare field. Not only that, it allows them to find which area of medicine they are most passionate about. This gives them the option to specialize and further their education at a later time should they choose to do so.

Working as a vocational nurse can be a stepping stone to a more specialized career in the medical field.

Helping People

There are fewer feelings more satisfying than knowing you helped another person or helped make them feel better. Like any other professional in the healthcare field, vocational nurses enjoy helping patients.

LVNs not only perform routine procedures like inserting catheters, but they also listen to a patient’s concerns. Showing compassion and understanding is often just as important as the services performed by doctors.

Education is the first step

The various perks of becoming a vocational nurse might sound great, but it all starts with your education. Completing a quality LVN program can help aspiring LVNs stand out during their quest for healthcare employment.

ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝â€™s Vocational Nursing program is one of the largest LVN programs in California and is accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nurses and Psychiatric Technicians. Students who enroll in ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝â€™s LVN program receive a well-rounded nursing education that allows them to provide optimum care after licensure.

offers both full-time and part-time enrollment in its LVN program, providing students with flexibility around their busy lives.

The full-time program offers classes during the day and can be completed in 12 months. The part-time program offers classes during evenings and weekends to accommodate students who work other jobs. Students in the part-time program complete it in 18 months.

ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝ offers the Vocational Nursing program at its Colton Campus.

ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝â€™s LVN program consists of both theoretical and clinical components. Once these are completed, students receive a certificate from the program. The course work at ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝ prepares students not only for real-world healthcare positions, but also for passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

All vocational nurses in the United States are required to take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The exam assesses the core competencies required by all candidates to fulfill the role of a vocational nurse safely and effectively. Each state in the U.S. has at least one board responsible for the licensure of nurses. The licenses required by the state boards of nursing help ensure public safety.

ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝ offers plentiful resources to its vocational nursing students to help them prepare for the NCLEX. Such resources include full-time NCLEX tutors and NCLEX review classes, which are offered for free as part of enrollment in the program. In some cases, students may be eligible for financial assistance with first-time application costs, in addition to other fees associated with acquiring a vocational nursing license.

ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝ also offers students career assistance beyond acquiring their vocational nursing license, including resume help, mock interviews and externships. These resources help LVN students capitalize on lucrative entry-level healthcare jobs.

As far as financing your education while you’re in school, ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝ has you covered. They offer a variety of different financing and payment options. There is also financial aid available to those who qualify. All you have to do is fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Vocational nurses start making a difference and saving lives sooner than other nurses. The need for nurses will only continue to grow as millions more Americans reach age 65 and beyond. Every LVN will make a difference in combatting the need for healthcare professionals.

All of the benefits of becoming a vocational nurse can be yours. What are you waiting for? Discover the ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝ Difference. Get started today at summitcollege.edu.

There are currently living in the United States who are over 65 years old. The United States Census projects this number will more than double by 2060. In conjunction with increasingly prevalent chronic illnesses, such as obesity and diabetes, the need for nurses is at an all-time high.

While many future nurses opt to attend four-year colleges and universities for their degrees, vocational nurses can enter the workforce sooner. Many vocational nurse (VN) programs can be completed in less than two years.

It is crucial that the number of nurses in the workforce meets the demand for healthcare in the coming years. An increase in vocational nurses can help meet these needs.

What is a Vocational Nurse?
What exactly is a vocational nurse? The (BVNPT) describes a vocational nurse as “an entry-level health care provider who is responsible for rendering basic nursing care.” They typically work under the guidance of a registered nurse or a physician.

A vocational nurse (VN) and a licensed practical nurse (LPN) are the same in educational requirements, certification process and the tasks they perform on the job. The titles may be used interchangeably.

What do they do?
Vocational nurses work along side doctors and registered nurses in a variety to different medical settings. Common tasks licensed professional nurses perform include the following:

•Monitoring a patient’s health (i.e. taking blood pressure, temperature, etc.)
•Administration of basic care (e.g. applying/changing bandages, inserting catheters)
•Listening to patients’ concerns and address them
•Maintaining patients’ health records

The responsibilities of an VN are not as extensive as a registered nurse (RN) or a nurse with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). However, depending on the state in which they are employed, a vocational nurse’s role may be vastly different than VN’s in another state.

Where do they work?
Among the many places vocational nurses are employed are physician’s offices, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals and nursing homes. Where doctors and registered nurses are employed, there are also likely to be VNs.

In addition to medical establishments, vocational nurses are often employed by insurance companies or for insurance purposes. In such instances, these nurses conduct examinations of individuals to protect employers against fraudulent workers’ compensation cases.

How do you become a VN?
Students seeking to become vocational nurses typically enroll in a VN program at a college offering a program. VN programs are comprised of both theory and clinical components.

The specific number of hours required to complete an VN program vary depending on the school and the state in which the school is located. Using California as an example, the BVNPT curriculum requires 1,530 total hours of study: 576 hours of theory and 954 hours completed in a clinic. The 576 hours of theory include 54 hours of pharmacology.

Once the clinical and theoretical work is completed, students receive a certificate from the program. Following completion of the program, aspiring vocational nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Candidates must pass the exam to work in the healthcare field as VNs.

Licensure exam
All vocational nurses in the United States are required to take and pass the NCLEX. The exam measures a candidate’s competencies needed to perform the role of a vocational nurse . Each state in the U.S. has at least one board responsible for the licensure of nurses. The licenses required by the state boards of nursing help ensure public safety.

VN vs. BSN
There are many benefits of enrolling in an VN program at a vocational school as opposed to a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program at a four-year university. One advantage that VN students have over BSN students is that they can enter the workforce sooner. Whereas BSN programs traditionally take four years to complete, VN programs are typically completed in less than half the time, between 12 and 20 months.

Another upside to choosing the VN route compared to pursuing a BSN degree is the price tag. Depending on the school, a four-year BSN degree can cost . On the other hand, VN programs tend to run between $20,000 and $40,000.

Nursing programs at four-year colleges require stellar academic performance in the first two years of classes for admission into that institution’s nursing school. Even with immaculate grades, there are a finite number of students accepted each term. With VN programs, there is no such waiting or rigorous application process for admission.

Alternatives to in-state education
Though completing a vocational school’s VN program in one’s desired state of employment is one way to qualify to take the NCLEX, it is not the only way. Just as each state has its own nursing board, each state also has its own guidelines for licensure exam eligibility.

California, for example, has three additional ways a candidate can qualify for the exam beyond completing a vocational nursing program in the state.

Other means of qualifying include completing an approved out-of-state vocational nursing program or equivalent schooling and experience. Applicable education and experience in the United States military is also an option for gaining NCLEX eligibility.

Candidates can visit their respective state’s for more information on licensing eligibility options.

Employment Outlook
Given that VNs perform a variety of duties in a variety of different medical settings, it is no surprise that the job outlook for vocational nurses is promising. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for licensed practical and vocational nurses to by 2024, relative to 2014. The BLS attributes this projected growth to the rising demand for healthcare services needed to care for the aging baby boomer population.

According to the National Council on Aging, “about 80 percent of older adults have at least one chronic disease, and 68 percent have two.” vocational nurses will be especially needed in residential care facilities to care for this aging generation.

The BLS also suggests that job prospects are even more favorable for candidates who “are willing to work in rural and medically underserved areas.”

While the national employment of vocational nurses is expected to rise at a greater rate than the average of other occupations, the outlook in California is even more promising. The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) anticipates that VN employment in California will increase by 21 percent during that same period.

Education is the first step
A quality education can help an aspiring vocational nurse stand out during their quest for healthcare employment. ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝â€™s Vocational Nursing program is one of the largest VN programs in California is accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nurses and Psychiatric Technicians. Students who enroll in ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝â€™s VN program receive a well-rounded nursing education that allows them to provide optimum care after licensure.

ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝ offers both full-time and part-time enrollment in its VN program, providing students with flexibility around their busy lives. The full-time program offers classes during the day and can be completed in 12 months. The part-time program offers classes during evenings and weekends to accommodate students who work other jobs. Students in the part-time program complete it in 18 months. ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝ offers its Vocational Nursing program at its Colton Campus.

ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝ offers plentiful resources to its vocational nursing students to help them prepare for the NCLEX. Such resources include full-time NCLEX tutors and NCLEX review classes, which are offered for free as part of enrollment in the program. In some cases, students may be eligible for financial assistance with first-time application costs, in addition to other fees associated with acquiring a vocational nursing license.

ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝ also offers students career assistance beyond acquiring their vocational nursing license, including resume help, mock interviews and externships. These resources help VN students capitalize on lucrative entry-level healthcare jobs.

Vocational nurses start making a difference and saving lives sooner than other nurses. The need for nurses will not be going away any time soon. Discover the ĐÇżŐ´«Ă˝ Difference. Get started today at summitcollege.edu.