Nursing | Academic Catalog

San Bernardino Valley College's Nursing Program, approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, is a two-year program designed to prepare students to give direct nursing care to clients in various practice settings. The Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ADN) prepares students as providers of care across the health/illness continuum and as members within the profession. SBVC's Nursing Program respects the individuality of the student and aims to provide a positive, innovative learning community that enables the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills so that students are equipped to deliver care to a culturally diverse population in a variety of healthcare settings. Upon successful completion the ADN, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Prerequisites for the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program

Accepted Students are admitted in the Fall and Spring semesters. Students must complete required prerequisites to apply. Students must also meet application requirements on the Application Page.

Prerequisite Courses - Required G.P.A.

General Education G.P.A.: 3.0
Science G.P.A.: 2.8

Prerequisites - Required General Education Courses:

The GE courses below must be completed with grade of C or higher and a minimum of a 3.0 G.P.A:

Course List
Code	Title	Units
ENGL 101	College Composition	4
or ENGL 101H	College Composition - Honors
COMMST 100	Elements of Public Speaking	3
or COMMST 100H	Elements of Public Speaking - Honors
or COMMST 111	Interpersonal Communication
or COMMST 111H	Interpersonal Communication - Honors
MATH 108	Introduction to Probability and Statistics	4
or MATH 108H	Introduction to Probability and Statistics - Honors
or PSYCH 105	Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
PSYCH 100	General Psychology	3
or PSYCH 100H	General Psychology - Honors
SOC 100	Introduction to Sociology	3
or SOC 100H	Introduction to Sociology - Honors
or ANTHRO 102	Cultural Anthropology
or ANTHRO 102H	Cultural Anthropology - Honors
Arts/Humanities - Complete one to three units ¹
Ethnic Studies - Complete three units maximum from the courses below:
ETHS 100	Introduction to Ethnic Studies
ETHS 103	Ethnicity and Identity in Media
or FTVM 103	Ethnicity and Identity in Media
ETHS 107	Native American Experiences in U.S. History
or HIST 107	Native American Experiences in U.S. History
ETHS 108	Introduction to Native American Studies
or ANTHRO 108	Introduction to Native American Studies
ETHS 141	Race and Ethnic Relations
or ETHS 141H	Race and Ethnic Relations - Honors
or SOC 141	Race and Ethnic Relations
or SOC 141H	Race and Ethnic Relations - Honors
ETHS 163	Chicana/o Literature
or ENGL 163	Chicana/o Literature
ETHS 165	African-American Literature
or ENGL 165	African-American Literature

¹: See Associate Degree Graduation Requirements Area 3A for list of arts and humanities courses.

Prerequisites - Required Science Courses:

Science courses listed below must be completed with a grade of C or higher and a minimum G.P.A. of 2.8 in the four courses:

Course List
Code	Title	Units
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Select one series from the following:
BIOL 250 & BIOL 251	Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology II	8
BIOL 260 & BIOL 261	Human Anatomy and Human Physiology	8
Microbiology
BIOL 270	Microbiology	5

Note: Online sciences will not be accepted. BIOL 250 & BIOL 251 must be completed at the same regionally accredited institution.

Recommended Courses

Course List
Code	Title	Units
CIT 144	Medical Terminology	3
PHT 062	Pharmacology I	3
PHT 064	Pharmacy Calculations	3

Application to the Nursing Program

Applications to the nursing program may only be submitted when all program prerequisites have been completed and met GPA requirements. Admission to the program is based on a multi-criteria points system. Applications must be received when application period is open, please visit the SBVC Nursing website for updated information on when application period is open. Applications are available online during the application periods. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is by invitation only.

Overview of the Application Process:

Step One: Submit the following to the College Admissions and Records Office

Official Transcripts: Students must have completed high school or equivalent (transcripts, G.E.D., or the California State High School Proficiency Exam). International Students must show high school equivalent through third party. The documents below must be submitted to Admissions and Records.
- Evaluation of prior college credit - Official college transcripts from all colleges or universities attended except for SBVC Transcripts must be issued within the last 6 months and document that the program prerequisites have been completed.
- International transcripts must be evaluated for equivalency.
- High school completion or equivalent (transcript, G.E.D. or the California State High School Proficiency Exam).
- International students need their high school equivalency evaluated by outside agency

Step Two: Complete Program Prerequisite Courses and Meet G.P.A. Requirements

Students must have completed the program prerequisites with the following G.P.A: (See Prerequisite Page for additional information)
- General Education G.P.A.: 3.0
- Science G.P.A.: 2.8

Step Three: Electronically submit nursing program application during open application period.

Step Four: Upon Invitation from the ADN Program

Complete TEAS Entrance Exam

Selection Process

Round 1 selected applicants will be selected based on a multi-criteria selection process (point system).
Round 2 selected applicants will be invited back to take the TEAS exam that will determine entry into the nursing program.
Entrance to the nursing program is limited to students who have completed all prerequisites, met all G.P.A. requirements, taken the TEAS exam.

LVN to RN Career Ladder

The Nursing Program offers an LVN to RN Career Ladder allowing Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) to become Registered Nurses (RN) by completing the required prerequisites and nursing coursework.

The application, prerequisites, and scoring system are the same for the LVN to RN Career Ladder as SBVC’s ADN Program. Prerequisites must be completed at the time of application. LVNs must be licensed and have one year's full-time LVN work experience. Applicants to the LVN to RN Career Ladder Program will be invited to take the TEAS. Accepted students will be given a series of challenge exams and may be placed in either the first, second, or third semester of the nursing program, depending on exam results. Students are welcome to reapply if their application is denied and it is recommended that they meet with a counselor prior to re-application. Students applying on the point system for the LVN to RN Career Ladder Program will not be competing with the SBVC’s ADN applicants. Instead, they will be considered for admission using a separate pool with LVN to RN students.

Requirements for LVN to RN Career Ladder

Complete all program prerequisites. (Same as the ADN Program)
One year's full-time work experience as an LVN
Current California LVN license
Employment verification with signature - letter verifying employment as an LVN
Detailed Résumé summarizing work experience as an LVN (employer, type of patient care unit, month/year starting and ending dates)
Upon admission to the ADN Program the LVN to RN candidate will:
1. Enroll in NURS 140 Vocational to Professional Nurse
2. Be provided the opportunity to challenge the first and second semester nursing courses consisting of NURS 151, NURS 160, and NURS 161. A student’s final placement into either first, second, or third semester of the nursing program will be dependent on passing the required challenge exams for first and second semester.

LVN 30-Unit Option (California Code Regs 1429) Preparation Requirements

(a) An applicant who is licensed in California as a vocational nurse is eligible to apply for licensure as a registered nurse if such applicant has successfully completed the courses prescribed below and meets all the other requirements set forth in section 2736 of the code. Such applicant shall submit evidence to the board, including a transcript, of successful completion of the requirements set forth in subsection (c) and of successful completion or challenge of courses in physiology and microbiology comparable to such courses required for licensure as a registered nurse.

(b) The school shall offer objective counseling of this option and evaluate each licensed vocational nurse applicant for admission to its registered nursing program on an individual basis. A school's determination of the prerequisite courses required of a licensed vocational nurse applicant shall be based on an analysis of each applicant's academic deficiencies, irrespective of the time such courses were taken.

(c) The additional education required of licensed vocational nurse applicants shall not exceed a maximum of thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter units. Courses required for vocational nurse licensure do not fulfill the additional education requirement. However, other courses comparable to those required for licensure as a registered nurse, as specified in section 1426, may fulfill the additional education requirement.

Nursing courses shall be taken in an approved nursing program and shall be beyond courses equivalent to the first year of professional nursing courses. The nursing content shall include nursing intervention in acute, preventive, remedial, supportive, rehabilitative, and teaching aspects of nursing. Theory and courses with concurrent clinical practice shall include advanced medical-surgical, mental health, psychiatric nursing, and geriatric nursing. The nursing content shall include the basic standards for competent performance prescribed in section 1443.5 of these regulations.

SBVC Nursing Department policy for the LVN 30 Unit Option

The 30-Unit Option LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) to RN (Registered Nurse) program is available to individuals licensed as LVNs in California.
Successful completion of prescribed courses provides eligibility to apply for licensure by examination as an RN in the State of California, however, completion does not meet the requirements for the Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ADN).
Students completing this program will not be a graduate of the college's nursing program and cannot receive the program's nursing pin.
Students qualifying for admission to the 30 unit option are placed on a space available basis.

Note: Additionally, several states in the United States will not recognize persons completing this option as being an RN, even though they have successfully completed the NCLEX-RN examination. The licensure resulting from completion of this option cannot be changed later.

LVN 30 Unit Option

Course List
Code	Title	Units
Required Courses:
BIOL 261	Human Physiology	4
BIOL 270	Microbiology	5
NURS 140	Vocational to Professional Nurse	2
NURS 161	Beginning Medical Surgical Nursing	5
NURS 251	Intermediate Medical Surgical Nursing	5
NURS 260	Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing	4
NURS 261	Complex Care and Leadership	5
Total Units		30

Challenge/Advanced Placement for Military Education and Experience

Please refer to the Military Challenge/Advanced Placement policy on the SBVC ADN Program website.

NURS 140 2 Units

Vocational to Professional Nurse

Lecture: 18 contact hours
Lab: 54 contact hours

Limitation on Enrollment: Registration is limited to students who have completed program prerequisites and have been accepted into the Nursing Program.

This course prepares Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) to transition into the Registered Nursing (RN) program. This is a first-year course that focuses on the nurse’s role in the collection of assessment data, identifying the relevance of the data collected, the analysis of patient priorities, the implementation of nursing interventions, and evaluation of patient care for diverse adult patients. This course includes role transition content, nursing process, standards of practice, and critical thinking in nursing. In the degree option, challenge examinations covering first, and second semester medical-surgical and maternity nursing content will determine eligibility for placement in the program. Application of KSAs will occur in the hospital, on-campus skills laboratory, and simulation settings.

Associate Degree Applicable

Transfers to CSU only

NURS 150 4 Units

Foundations of Nursing

Lecture: 36 contact hours
Lab: 108 contact hours

Limitation on Enrollment: Registration is limited to students who have completed program prerequisites and have been accepted into the Nursing Program.

This course focuses on the nurse’s role in the collection of assessment data, identifying the relevance of the data collected, the analysis of patient priorities, the implementation of nursing interventions, and the evaluation of patient care for diverse adults including older adults ages 65 and over by focusing on universal practices including physical assessment, safety, infection control, hygiene, body mechanics, activity/exercise, nutrition, pain management, cultural awareness, communication and documentation. Application of KSAs will occur in the hospital, on-campus skills laboratory, and simulation settings.

Associate Degree Applicable

Transfers to CSU only

NURS 151 5 Units

Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing

Lecture: 45 contact hours
Lab: 135 contact hours

Prerequisite: NURS 150

Limitation on Enrollment: Registration is limited to students who have completed program prerequisites and have been accepted into the Nursing Program.

This course is a first-year course that focuses on the nurse’s role in the collection of assessment data, identifying the relevance of the data collected, the analysis of patient priorities, the implementation of nursing interventions, and the evaluation of patient care for diverse adults including adults ages 65 and over, nursing care and administration of medication for patients with the basic healthcare needs in pulmonary, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, neurological, immunological, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and endocrine body systems, as well as patients undergoing general surgery and/or requiring wound care. Application of KSAs will occur in the hospital, on-campus skills laboratory, and simulation settings.

Associate Degree Applicable

Transfers to CSU only

NURS 160 4 Units

Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family and Newborn

Lecture: 36 contact hours
Lab: 108 contact hours

Prerequisite: NURS 150 and NURS 151

Corequisite: NURS 161

Limitation on Enrollment: Registration is limited to students who have completed program prerequisites and have been accepted into the Nursing Program.

This course is a first-year nursing course that focuses on the nurse’s role in the collection of assessment data, identifying the relevance of data collected, the analysis of patient priorities, the implementation of nursing interventions, and evaluation of patient care for childbearing families. Maternity nursing also focuses on the biophysical aspects of human reproduction, assessment and management of antepartum, postpartum, intrapartum, and newborn care and complications. Application of KSAs will occur in the hospital, on-campus skills laboratory, and simulation settings.

Associate Degree Applicable

Transfers to CSU only

NURS 161 5 Units

Beginning Medical Surgical Nursing

Lecture: 45 contact hours
Lab: 135 contact hours

Prerequisite: NURS 150 and NURS 151

Corequisite: NURS 160

Limitation on Enrollment: Registration is limited to students who have completed program prerequisites and have been accepted into the Nursing Program.

This is first-year course that focuses on the nurse’s role in the collection of assessment data, identifying the relevance of the data collected, the analysis of patient priorities, the implementation of nursing interventions, and evaluation of patient care for diverse adult patients including adults ages 65 and over with selected healthcare needs in respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, immunological, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and endocrine body systems. Application of KSAs will occur in the hospital, on-campus skills laboratory, and simulation settings.

Associate Degree Applicable

Transfers to CSU only

NURS 250 4 Units

Nursing Care of Children and their Families

Lecture: 36 contact hours
Lab: 108 contact hours

Prerequisite: NURS 160 and NURS 161

Corequisite: NURS 251

Limitation on Enrollment: Registration is limited to students who have completed program prerequisites and have been accepted into the Nursing Program.

This is a second-year course that focuses on the nurse’s role in the collection of assessment data, identifying the relevance of the data collected, the analysis of patient priorities, the implementation of nursing interventions, and evaluation of patient care for diverse pediatric populations and their families. Pediatric nursing also focuses on a family-centered approach to the nursing care of infants and children. Application of KSAs will occur in the hospital, on-campus skills laboratory, and simulation settings.

Associate Degree Applicable

Transfers to CSU only

NURS 251 5 Units

Intermediate Medical Surgical Nursing

Lecture: 45 contact hours
Lab: 135 contact hours

Prerequisite: NURS 160 and NURS 161

Corequisite: NURS 250

Limitation on Enrollment: Registration is limited to students who have completed program prerequisites and have been accepted into the Nursing Program.

This is a second-year course that focuses on the nurse’s role in the collection of assessment data, identifying the relevance of the data collected, the analysis of patient priorities, the implementation of nursing interventions, and evaluation of patient care for diverse adult patients including adults aged 65 and over with selected healthcare needs in neurological, gastrointestinal, respiratory, genitourinary, immunological, cardiovascular, and endocrine diseases. Application of KSAs will occur in the hospital, on-campus skills laboratory, and simulation settings.

Associate Degree Applicable

Transfers to CSU only

NURS 260 4 Units

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

Lecture: 36 contact hours
Lab: 108 contact hours

Prerequisite: NURS 250 and NURS 251

Corequisite: NURS 261

Limitation on Enrollment: Registration is limited to students who have completed program prerequisites and have been accepted into the Nursing Program.

This course focuses on the nurse’s role in the collection of assessment data, identifying the relevance of the data collected, the analysis of patient/client priorities, the implementation of nursing interventions, and evaluation of care for diverse patient population including children, adolescents, adults, and older adults with mental health disorders. Psychiatric nursing also focuses on neurobiological theories, risks and interventions for suicide, substance abuse, and other mental health disorders. Application of KSAs will occur in the hospital, on-campus skills laboratory, and simulation settings.

Associate Degree Applicable

Transfers to CSU only

NURS 261 5 Units

Complex Care and Leadership

Lecture: 45 contact hours
Lab: 135 contact hours

Corequisite: NURS 260

Limitation on Enrollment: Registration is limited to students who have completed program prerequisites and have been accepted into the Nursing Program.

This is a second-year nursing course that builds upon previously learned knowledge, skills and attitudes while focusing on the application of the nursing process, discrimination of data, and identification of care priorities in order to manage complex needs of adults including adults ages 65 and over, critically ill or injured adults with single or multisystem failure. Complex Care and Leadership provides learning opportunities for leadership, community outreach, and disaster nursing. Correlated clinical experiences provide the senior student opportunities to assume nursing responsibilities in complex care areas and to function as part of an inter-professional team. Application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes (K-S-A) will occur in the hospital, on-campus skills laboratory, and simulation settings. The course also reviews graduate responsibilities for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) application and professional employment/licensure responsibilities.

Associate Degree Applicable

Transfers to CSU only