Nursing: 30 Unit Option

Award Type: Certificate of Achievement

The LVN “30-unit” option (Certificate of Achievement) is another alternative to becoming eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and pursue a career as a “non-graduate” registered nurse in the state of California. The student choosing this option is NOT considered a graduate of the nursing program or the college. Most other states do not recognize California's LVN “30-unit” option and will not issue RN licenses to these LVNs. Applicants to the “30-unit” option must meet with the LVN-to-RN program director for advisement. The “30-unit” option requires current licensed vocational nurse (LVN) licensure. For recent vocational nursing graduates waiting to take the National Council Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), continuation in the program is contingent upon passing the licensure examination. Upon completion of the 30-unit option, the student is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

The graduate of the Certificate of Achievement in Nursing: 30 Unit Option will:

1. Evaluate nursing care provided to patients, families, groups, populations, and communities across the lifespan from diverse backgrounds in a variety of settings to ensure that it is compassionate, age and culturally appropriate and based on a patient's preferences, values and needs.
2. Collaborate with members of the interprofessional health care team to manage and coordinate the provision of safe, quality care for patients, families, and groups.
3. Demonstrate use of best current evidence and clinical expertise when making clinical decisions in the provision of patient-centered care.
4. Use evidence-based quality improvement processes to effect change in the delivery of patient-centered care.
5. Demonstrate effective use of strategies to mitigate errors and reduce the risk of harm to patients, self and others in healthcare, home, and community settings.
6. Use evidence-based information and patient care technology to communicate relevant patient information, manage care and mitigate error in the provision of safe, quality patient-centered care.
7. Assimilate integrity and accountability into practices that uphold established regulatory, legal, and ethical principles while providing patient-centered, standard-based nursing care.
8. Use leadership, management and priority-setting skills in the provision and management of safe, quality patient-centered care.
9. Use verbal and nonverbal communication strategies with patients, families, and groups from diverse backgrounds that promote an effective exchange of information and development of therapeutic relationships.