La Feria News

School of Vocational Nursing Training Nurses for the Valley

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HARLINGEN – A School of Vocational Nursing at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen is celebrating its 58th anniversary and gearing up for a new class by offering pre-entrance testing for prospective nursing students through September 22.

The Valley Baptist Medical Center School of Vocational Nursing offers a comprehensive full-year training program which includes classroom work and clinical experience at the hospital. The program is designed to successfully prepare students to become a vocational nurse (LVN) trained to treat acute or chronically-ill patients.

The school has provided a unique opportunity for hundreds of Valley young people – many who became the first in their family to pursue education past the high school level. But in addition to students coming straight out of high school, the school has provided a new opportunity for older residents seeking to change career paths.

Adrienne Reyes, RN, BSN, Instructor / Student Development with the Valley Baptist Medical Center School of Vocational Nursing, places a cap on Alexandra Munoz during a special “Capping Ceremony” held every spring as the students continue their study to become vocational nurses.

Adrienne Reyes, RN, BSN, Instructor / Student Development with the Valley Baptist Medical Center School of Vocational Nursing, places a cap on Alexandra Munoz during a special “Capping Ceremony” held every spring as the students continue their study to become vocational nurses.

Numerous graduates of the Valley Baptist program have continued their education toward becoming a registered nurse (RN), and function in many capacities in the community, as well as with Valley Baptist.

VBMC’s Vocational Nursing Program began in 1957. The program emphasizes that nursing care is a service committed to promoting a state of wellness — and at the same time to educating people on the prevention of disease.

The nursing school’s curriculum is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Veterans Administration. Graduates receive a certificate of completion and are prepared to take the National Licensing Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN). The passing rate for Valley Baptist students on the licensing exam usually exceeds the state and national averages.

Classes begin in January, 2016. More information on the program, pre-entrance testing, and how to register is available on the school’s website at: http://www.ValleyBaptist.net/LVNSchool. Janis Baker, RN, BSN, who serves as director for the program, said interested Valley students “should hurry,” as pre-entrance testing for the class of 2016 ends September 22. For more information, please call (956) 389-1721 or e-mail: [email protected].

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