Vocational Nursing

Lori Boyd, Program Director
IB Hand Building Suite 207
817-598-6229 • lboyd@wc.edu

Weatherford College provides vocational nursing students with quality instruction from health care professionals who are not only experienced and competent nurses, but also caring individuals. The twelve-month course of study consists of 42 semester hours (1520 clock hours) and graduates are prepared to provide general bedside nursing care to medical, surgical, maternity/newborn, and pediatric patients. There are no prerequisites for the Vocational Nursing Program.

The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) approve the Vocational Nursing curriculum. Upon completion of the Vocational Nursing program, graduates may apply to take the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. The BON determines eligibility for licensure. The BON may be reached at 333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-640, Austin, TX 78701; phone: 512-305-7400. 

In order to minimize potential problems nursing graduates might experience in obtaining a nursing license, it is important to understand the licensing process. Schools of nursing do not have the power to grant licensure for the Graduate Vocational Nurse (GVN). The nursing program has full accreditation by the Texas Board of Nursing to provide education and training which qualifies a student to take the state licensing examination.

CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO INELIGIBILITY FOR STATE LICENSURE

The Texas Board of Nursing has identified certain circumstances that may render a potential candidate ineligible for licensure as a Licensed Vocational nurse in the State of Texas. The board provides individuals the opportunity to petition the board for a Declaratory Order as to their eligibility in accordance with Section 301.257 of the Nursing Practice Act.

If you are required to answer “yes” to any of the following questions, contact the Vocational Nursing Program Director for further instructions. Processing a petition may take 6 to 12 months, or longer, after you provide all required documentation and depending on your circumstances. Once all requested documents have been received, you will be notified that the petition has been transferred to the Enforcement Department for review.

  • 1) [ ] No [ ] Yes For any criminal offense, including those pending appeal, have you:
    1. been convicted of a misdemeanor?
    2. been convicted of a felony?
    3. pled nolo contendere, no contest, or guilty?
    4. received deferred adjudication?
    5. been placed on community supervision or court-ordered probation, whether or not adjudicated guilty?
    6. been sentenced to serve jail or prison time? court-ordered confinement?
    7. been granted pre-trial diversion?
    8. been arrested or any pending criminal charges?
    9. been cited or charged with any violation of the law?
    10. been subject of a court-martial; Article 15 violation; or received any form of military judgment/punishment/action?
    • (You may only exclude Class C misdemeanor traffic violations.)

NOTE: Expunged and Sealed Offenses: While expunged or sealed offenses, arrests, tickets, or citations need not be disclosed, it is your responsibility to ensure the offense, arrest, ticket or citation has, in fact, been expunged or sealed. It is recommended that you submit a copy of the Court Order expunging or sealing the record in question to our office with your application. Failure to reveal an offense, arrest, ticket, or citation that is not in fact expunged or sealed, will at a minimum, subject your license to a disciplinary fine. Nondisclosure of relevant offenses raises questions related to truthfulness and character.

NOTE: Orders of Non-Disclosure: Pursuant to Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.142(b), if you have criminal matters that are the subject of an order of non-disclosure you are not required to reveal those criminal matters on this form. However, a criminal matter that is the subject of an order of non-disclosure may become a character and fitness issue. Pursuant to other sections of the Gov’t Code chapter 411, the Texas Nursing Board is entitled to access criminal history record information that is the subject of an order of non disclosure. If the Board discovers a criminal matter that is the subject of an order of non-disclosure, even if you properly did not reveal that matter, the Board may require you to provide information about that criminal matter.

  • [ ] No [ ] Yes Are you currently the target or subject of a grand jury or governmental agency investigation?
  • [ ] No [ ] Yes Has any licensing authority refused to issue you a license or ever revoked, annulled, cancelled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, refused to renew a professional license, certificate or multi-state privilege held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded or otherwise disciplined you?
  • [ ] No [ ] Yes Within the past five (5) years have you been addicted to and/or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug?*
  • [ ] No [ ] Yes Within the past five (5) years have you been diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized for schizophrenia and/or psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder?
    • If “YES” indicate the condition: [ ] schizophrenia and/or psychotic disorders, [ ] bipolar disorder, [ ] paranoid personality disorder, [ ] antisocial personality disorder, [ ] borderline personality disorder

An individual enrolled or planning to enroll in a basic nursing program who has reason to believe that he/she is ineligible for licensure must petition the board for a declaratory order as to his/her eligibility. The individual must submit a petition on forms provided by the board which includes:

  1. a statement by the individual indicating the reason(s) and basis of potential ineligibility;
  2. if the potential ineligibility is due to criminal conviction, any court documents including, but not limited to, any indictments, judgments, probation records and evidence of completion of probation, if applicable;
  3. if the potential ineligibility is due to mental illness (which is defined as an illness, disease, or condition which either substantially impairs the person’s thought processes, perception of reality, emotional stability, judgment, or behavior), evidence of evaluation, including a prognosis, by a psychologist or psychiatrist, evidence of treatment, including any medication;
  4. if the potential ineligibility is due to chemical dependency including alcohol, evidence of evaluation and treatment, after care and support group attendance; and
  5. the required non-refundable fee of $39.00 (money order or cashier’s check) made payable to the Board of Nurse Examiners. 

Students participate in clinical in health care facilities located in Parker, Palo Pinto, Tarrant, Wise, and Erath counties. These facilities include area hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, doctor offices, public health departments, pediatric facilities, and home health agencies.

Vocational nursing offers a satisfying and rewarding career for men and women interested in giving direct patient care. A vocational nurse cares for acute, sub-acute, convalescent, and chronic clients requiring nursing care at home or in institutions, always under the direct supervision of a licensed physician or registered professional nurse. Hospitals, public health clinics, doctor offices, long-term care facilities, the armed forces, and home health agencies employ men and women as licensed vocational nurses. Job security can be found as a vocational nurse in the rapidly expanding health care field.

ADMISSION TO VOCATIONAL NURSING PROGRAM

Admission requirements considered include the following:

  1. Admission to Weatherford College
  2. Submit the following to the secretary of the nursing department: passing Accuplacer scores, Health Science application, high school transcript or GED scores, college transcripts (if applicable) and proof of first Hepatitis B immunization or positive titer or Department of State Health Services waiver. Only completed applications with Accuplacer scores, transcripts and Hepatitis B information will be accepted.
  3. Before being accepted into the Vocational Nursing Program an applicant whose native language* is not English must submit an acceptable score on the TOEFL iBT with the application. Additional information may be obtained from the Health Science Department. (* A native language is a language that is acquired naturally during childhood and is usually spoken at home, as opposed to a language that is learned later in life, for example, as a part of a person’s formal education.) Acceptable TOEFL Scores are:
    • A score of 20 or greater is required on the Speaking Skills Component.
    • A composite score of 83 or greater is required.
    • Four scaled section scores in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing are required.

Admission is competitive due to the limited number of positions. Selection into the program is based on a point system. Please contact the nursing department for more information.

Once selected as an applicant, the student must:

  • complete a criminal background check;
  • obtain a TB screen test or chest X-ray (current within one year), a urine drug screen, and a back/spine examination;
  • have a physical examination and submit records of up-to-date immunizations;
  • submit proof of major medical health insurance;
  • provide proof of a current CPR certificate for health care providers from the American Heart Association; and
  • provide proof of completion of Hepatitis B vaccine series. Completion of the Hepatitis B series is either completion of two Hepatitis B vaccines and then a positive titer, or completion of all three vaccinations.

Information on methods of obtaining the above criteria will be available to the student upon acceptance into the program.

Degrees and Certificates