About Our Program
Valley Baptist Medical Center (VBMC) School of Vocational Nursing offers a broad, hands-on education. We are adjacent to the award-winning and nationally recognized Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen. Our students receive valuable direct patient care experience in clinical settings.
- A 12-month program approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and Texas Workforce Commission
- Classroom-based settings and clinical training that include face-to-face instruction, student-centered and computer-based learning activities and low-fidelity simulation
- Full-time registered nurse on staff
- Engaged, board-qualified faculty with experience in ER, ICU, orthopedics, diabetic education, corrections, home health, pediatrics, surgical, administration and more
- Fields of study include anatomy and physiology, obstetrics, pediatrics, orthopedics and pharmacology
Rich in history and tradition with a more than 65-year history of training
Through our program, we prepare our graduates to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) and assume the roles and responsibilities of a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in various hospital and community-based settings. Our current passing rate is 95%.
Our nursing program fulfills a continued need for nurses in our local community. While other LVN schools are pushing for online LVN programs, we work very closely with our hospital and medical educators to provide our students with hands-on and face-to-face learning methods. Although a large portion of nursing and medicine topics can be learned online or from books, a student attending our program gains a unique learning experience because they are taught by faculty staff from various medical backgrounds.
What Is Vocational Nursing?
A licensed vocational nurse or LVN is a term used interchangeably with licensed practical nurses (LPN). LVN provides professional nursing care and frequently works under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or other medical professionals. An LVN practitioner focuses on providing basic care and medications to patients in nursing homes, hospitals or rehabilitation facilities. They can also be hired for in-home care, as well.
How To Become an LVN in Texas?
An LVN has completed a Texas Board of Nursing-approved program and passed the NCLEX-PN. We evaluate our students’ performance both in the classroom and clinical areas. A grade of 77 or above is considered passing. Only Texas Board of Nursing-approved program graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN.
To be eligible for our vocational nurse program, an applicant must:
- Complete a Criminal Background Check with (Safran) Morphotrust USA and be cleared by the Texas Board of Nursing
- Be at least 17 years of age and 18 years of age by the time of graduation
- Have a high school diploma or have completed and received a GED
- Take and pass the most current TEAS Pre-entrance examination
- Meet all admission criteria
- Individuals who have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor (other than a minor traffic violation) may be disqualified from taking the national licensure examination
How Long Is an LVN Program?
Our accelerated coursework pace requires our students to take responsibility to plan for their learning. We encourage students to spend a minimum of two to four hours a day on class and clinical preparation time. Typically, an LVN program can be completed in 12 to 24 months. Some schools may offer daytime, night or weekend schedules. Call us at 956-389-1721 to inquire about our academic timeline. You may also click the buttons below for more details.
Read the Academic Catalog and Student Handbook
Read the Pre-Entrance Packet for Class 2023
About Our Educators
Our faculty members meet board qualifications and offer a rich diversity in their educational and clinical backgrounds. Full-time RN faculty provide most of our vocational nursing instruction. We also have two adjunct faculty members to provide instruction as needed. Our staff is well-versed in almost all nursing fields, including:
- Emergency care
- Intensive care unit (ICU)
- Orthopedics
- Diabetic education
- Corrections
- Home health
- Pediatrics
- Surgery
- Administration
- Advanced practice nursing
Our faculty members are engaged in curriculum planning, implementation and evaluation. They meet regularly and make decisions collaboratively. Some of our instructors started as LVNs before advancing their careers to RN through transitional courses.
Enroll Now
Call our program representative at 956-389-1721 to learn more.
