Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
The vocational (practical) nursing program at Hartnell College is in accordance with
ACEN records, if located in Salinas, California is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the vocational (practical) program is initial accreditation.
The ACEN is an entity that is responsible for the specialized accreditation of nursing education programs, both postsecondary and higher degree, which offer either a certificate, a diploma, or a recognized professional degree (clinical doctorate, master’s/post-master’s certificate, baccalaureate, associate, diploma, and practical).
Email: info@acenursing.org
Web: www.acenursing.org
California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians
The Hartnell College Vocational Nursing Program is accredited by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians awarded Hartnell College "Continued Approval" status in February 2021.The mission of the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (Board) is to protect the public. Public protection is paramount to the Board and its highest priority in exercising its licensing, regulatory and disciplinary functions. Toward this end, the Board ensures that only qualified persons are licensed vocational nurses and psychiatric technicians by enforcing education requirements, standards of practice and by educating consumers of their rights. The nursing curriculum is dynamic and ever-changing.
Board Members
The Board is composed of eleven members with a public member majority. There are six public members and five professional members. Nine members are appointed by the Governor, one by the Speaker of the Assembly, and one by the Senate Pro Tempore.
BVNPT Public Protection
The California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (Board) protects the consumer from unprofessional and unsafe licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and psychiatric technicians (PTs). Public protection is the highest priority of the Board in exercising its licensing, regulatory and disciplinary functions.
To protect the public, the Board
- Establishes the minimum requirements for examination and licensure.
- Establishes educational standards for the accreditation of Vocational Nursing (VN) and Psychiatric Technicians (PT) schools in California.
- Adopts regulations to clarify the performance, practice and disciplinary standards for its licensees.
- Enforces the regulations governing the continued accreditation of VN & PT schools in California.
- Enforces the regulations governing LVNs and PTs by taking appropriate disciplinary action against incompetent or unsafe licensees efficiently and effectively.
The Board is responsible for examination and licensure of over 9,500 VN applicants
and 1,000 PT applicants annually. The Board contracts with the National Council of
State Boards of Nursing, Inc. for the year-round computer-adaptive vocational nurse
licensure examination (NCLEX) administered at over 200 test centers nationwide. After
an application has been approved, the applicant is sent an NCLEX Registration Bulletin
with instructions on registering for the examination. Once the applicant has registered
for the NCLEX, an Authorization to Test will be mailed from the NCLEX Data Center
in Minnesota. The applicant is then responsible for calling to schedule an appointment
to test.
A licensed vocational nurse is an entry-level health care provider who is responsible
for rendering basic nursing care. A vocational nurse practices under the direction
of a physician or registered nurse. The licensee is not an independent practitioner.
Curricular Requirements
Licensed vocational nursing programs must consist of 1,530 total instructional hours:
Theory - *576 Hours which includes 54 hours of pharmacology for nurses
Clinical - 954 Hours
Programs are located in community colleges (47.0%); adult education/high schools (24.0%); private
schools (20.0%); regional occupational centers (8.0%); and hospitals (1.0%).
LVN Employment
There are more than 200,000 licensed vocational nurses in California providing health care services in a variety of settings. Regardless of setting, the vocational nurse's practice is governed by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833
Phone: (916) 263-7800
Email: bvnpt@dca.ca.gov
Website: www.bvnpt.ca.gov
Program Description
The Hartnell College Vocational Nursing (VN) Program is a defined group of prerequisite, general education, and required major courses in a 24‐month program of study consisting of classroom, high‐fidelity simulation, nursing skills laboratory, and clinical experiences. Licensed vocational nurses perform essential nursing services under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. Upon successful completion of program requirements, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX‐PN). After passing, graduates may practice as vocational nurses in a variety of settings, including but not limited to community agencies, medical offices, hospitals, and long‐term care facilities. The Hartnell College VN Program is fully approved by the California Board of Vocational Nurses and Psychiatric Technicians (BVN/PT) and is the first and only vocational nursing program in California to earn national accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Associate of Science Program Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:
- articulate the role of the vocational nurse as a member of the health care team, committed to provide safe, quality care for diverse persons and their families.
- provide rationale for judgments used in the provision of safe, quality care and for decisions that promote the health of persons.
- promote the human dignity, integrity, self‐determination, and personal growth of persons, oneself, and members of the health care team.
- achieve quality care through effective communication, mutual respect, and shared decision making with the health care team.
- question the basis for nursing actions, considering research, evidence, tradition and personal preferences.
Certificate of Achievement Program Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:
- articulate the role of the vocational nurse as a member of the health care team, committed to provide safe, quality care for diverse persons and their families.
- provide rationale for judgments used in the provision of safe, quality care and for decisions that promote the health of persons.
- promote the human dignity, integrity, self‐determination, and personal growth of persons, oneself, and members of the health care team.
- achieve quality care through effective communication, mutual respect, and shared decision making with the health care team.
- question the basis for nursing actions, considering research, evidence, tradition and personal preferences.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rates
Expected Level of Achievement (ELA)
For first-time NCLEX-PN test-takers, the pass rate will be at or above 80% or the national mean pass rate (whichever number is greater) within the period of time defined by the BVNPT (Reported as fiscal year from July 1 to June 30 the following year).
Actual
Calendar Year
Licensure Examination Pass Rate as reported by the BVNPT
2017
84% (25)
2018
89% (28)
2019
100% (26)
2020
89% (27)
2021
Not reported yet
Program Completion
Expected Level of Achievement (ELA)
80% of the students will complete the nursing program within 3 semesters (100%) from the time of the start of the nursing courses.
Actual
| Graduation Year | Student Enrollment | Three-semester (on-time) Completion Rate | Four-to-six semester Completion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 26 | 22/26 = 84% | 22/26 = 84% |
| 2018 | 30 | 29/30 = 96% | 29/30 = 96% |
| 2019 | 31 | 25/31 = 80.6% | 29/31 =93.5% |
| 2020 | 35 | 26/35 = 74.3% | 29/35 = 83% |
| 2021 | 29 | 25/29 = 86% | N/A |
Faculty