Programs
The requirements, procedures, application dates, and program offerings for all Health Sciences programs are subject to change. It is the responsibility of each student to seek up-to-date information. It is also the responsibility of any student interested in the nursing program to schedule an appointment as soon as possible with the Health Sciences counselor.
You may find full course descriptions in the Ventura College Course Catalog. See the Schedule of Classes for examples of typical lecture and laboratory scheduling.
Important
All students enrolling in any Nursing Science or Health Science course must meet all of the following conditions prior to enrollment:
- Freedom from criminal convictions*
- Fingerprint background check
- Proof of freedom from and immunity to communicable diseases
- Physical examination demonstrating general good health
- Current CPR certification for health care provider or professional rescuer
*See Conviction Codes for specific penal code sections that result in automatic disqualification.
Further, students must be able to safely perform certain physical tasks. Please read Functional Abilities to make sure that you can achieve these standards.
All students admitted to a School of Nursing and Allied Health program are expected to maintain the highest personal standards of conduct consistent with the professional standards as perceived by the School of Nursing and Allied Health faculty and professional personnel in the agencies used as extended campus sites. Any information indicating that such standards are not maintained is subject to review by members of the School of Nursing and Allied Health faculty and may result in a recommendation to the College for dismissal from the program.
Quick Menu
- Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
- Nursing: 30-unit Option for LVN/LPN Entrants
- Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
- Continuing Education for Registered Nurses
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
See Admissions for ADN program qualifying and admissions requirements.
The ADN Program is intended to develop the necessary knowledge and skills basic to the functions of registered nurses in the direct care of clients. Many of the courses assigned to this curriculum are transfer courses and articulation is possible with the baccalaureate programs in nursing at the California State University campuses. The courses may be applied as a foundation for advanced work at the discretion of the accepting institution. Courses are taken on campus concurrently with supervised clinical experience in selected hospitals and agencies, constituting a nursing science practicum or laboratory experience. Although each course merits a letter grade, the laboratory experience is based on pass-fail and it is necessary to pass the laboratory section of the course in order to proceed in nursing. Failure in the laboratory portion of nursing courses constitutes an "F" in the course.
For successful completion of the program, a minimum grade of C is mandatory in all courses required for the nursing major. These include courses outside the discipline of nursing but required for the major, such as anatomy, microbiology, etc. The student must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 to continue in the program.
Courses are taken on campus concurrent with supervised clinical laboratory experience in selected hospitals and agencies which serve as extended campus sites. Each student is responsible for his/her own transportation to the extended campus sites, some of which are a distance from the College.
The nursing program is accredited by the California State Board of Registered Nursing. To be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination leading to licensure as a registered nurse, the student must have fulfilled all requirements as defined by the California State Board of Registered Nursing. Students who choose not to complete the degree requirements are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensing examination after completion of content required for licensure. Please contact the ADN program director for additional information.
Please be aware that conviction of a felony may prohibit you from being licensed as a registered nurse. Each case is reviewed and adjudicated by the Board of Registered Nursing. According to the California Business and Professions Code, Division 2, Chapter 6, Section 2761(f): "The Board of Registered Nursing may deny an application for a certificate or license for any conviction of a felony or of any offense substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of a registered nurse, in which event the record of the conviction shall be conclusive evidence thereof." A student with any felony conviction is ineligible to participate in any Department of Health Sciences program or course. A student with any misdemeanor conviction should consult with the Nursing Science Program Director before applying to, or registering for, any Department of Health Sciences program or course. The Board considers the nature and severity of the offense, additional subsequent acts, recency of acts or crimes, compliance with sanctions, and evidence of rehabilitation. Contact with the Board of Registered Nursing to discuss previous convictions may be initiated before entry into the program and this will be recommended in certain cases.
Courses Required for Admission
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. Moorpark College and Oxnard College equivalent courses are acceptable. See Admissions for details.
Complete one year of high school chemistry or select one of the following course sequences.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM V01A-V01AL | General Chemistry I & Laboratory | 3-2 |
| or | ||
| CHEM V20-V20L | Elementary Chemistry & Laboratory | 4-1 |
Complete all courses listed. Students who plan to continue on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) should take separate anatomy and physiology courses.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANAT V01 | General Human Anatomy | 4 |
| PHSO V01 | Introduction to Human Physiology | 5 |
Complete this course.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MICR V01 | General Microbiology | 5 |
Select one of the following courses or qualify for exemption.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH V01 | Elementary Algebra | 5 |
| or | ||
| MATH V11A-B | Elementary Algebra | 3-3 |
| or | ||
| MATH V30 | Applied Math for Health Care Personnel | 4 |
| or | ||
| Satisfactory score on the Ventura College elementary algebra test | ||
Although not required, it is highly recommended that the following courses be taken prior to admission.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH V30 | Applied Math for Health Care Personnel | 4 |
| NS V07 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| NS V75 | Nursing Readiness | 3 |
Courses Required Prior to Entering Program
Complete the following course or satisfy the requirement.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| HS V10-V10L | Certified Nurse Assistant | 3.5-2.5 |
| or | ||
| Current certification as a nurse assistant (CNA) in California or equivalent | ||
Select one of the following courses.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| HEC V24 | Human Development | 3 |
| or | ||
| PSY V05 | Introduction of Developmental Psychology | 3 |
Program Required Courses: Nursing Science
Complete all of these courses.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NS V10 | Introduction to Professional Nursing | 10 |
| NS V20 | Nursing Process Applied to the Client with Health Care Deviations I | 11 |
| NS V30 | Nursing Process Applied to the Client with Health Care Deviations II | 10.5 |
| NS V40 | Nursing Process Applied to the Client with Health Care Deviations III | 10.5 |
Other Program Required Courses
Complete all of these courses.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL V01A | English Composition | 5 |
| PSY V01 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
Select one of the following courses.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH V02 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| or | ||
| SOC V01 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or | ||
| SOC V02 | Social Problems | 3 |
| or | ||
| SOC V03/AES V11 | Racial and Ethnic Group Relations | 3 |
Select one of the following courses.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SPCH V01 | Introduction to Speech Communication | 3 |
| or | ||
| SPCH V10 | Critical Thinking in Oral Communication: Argumentation and Debate | 3 |
Nursing: 30-unit Option
See Admissions for complete eligibility requirements. The 30 units are distributed as follows:
Select one of the following courses.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANPH V01 | Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | 5 |
| or | ||
| PHSO V01 | Introduction to Human Physiology | 5 |
Complete all of these courses.
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MICR V01 | General Microbiology | 5 |
| NS V31 | Nursing Process Applied to the Client with Health Care Deviations II: 30-UO | 10 |
| NS V41 | Nursing Process Applied to the Client with Health Care Deviations III: 30-UO | 10 |
Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
The Certified Nurse Assistant provides care to clients in a variety of health care settings. This one-course program prepares students to apply for nurse assistant state certification. Students also have the option to pursue additional training through workshops and volunteer work experience. This program serves as the foundation for the Home Health Aide program, and is prerequisite to the Associate Degree Nursing program admission.
The course coordinates theory presentation with clinical practice in skilled nursing facilities and follows the state required curriculum. Topics include patient rights, interpersonal skills, safety, asepsis, clinical skills, nutrition, rehabilitation, documentation, and death and dying. Upon completion of this course and the corresponding laboratory, with grades of "C" or better, the student will receive a certificate of completion and be prepared to take the certification exam from the California Department of Health Services.
Required Courses
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| HS V10 | Certified Nurse Assistant | 3.5 |
| HS V10L | Certified Nurse Assistant Clinical Practice | 2.5 |
Continuing Education for Registered Nurses
Students who hold a California Registered Nurse license and who are presently enrolled and in good standing in Ventura College may petition, after completion of 12 units in residence at Ventura County Community College District, for 42 units of Nursing Science credit applicable toward an A.S. degree. Please contact the Health Sciences counselor to initiate this process.
Many credit courses offered by Ventura College are acceptable as credit for continuing education. It is the nurse's responsibility to contact either the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider No. 01293) or the Board of Licensed Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technician Examiners for approval of courses.
Recommended Courses
| ID | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NS V78 | Cardiac Rhythm Recognition and Treatment Modalities | 3 |
