Vocational Nursing
9 courses · Merced College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
VOCN-40 Foundations of Nursing
- Units
- 11
- Hours
- 5 hours lecture, 18 hours lab TBA
- Prerequisite
- ALLH-67; BIOL-16 or BIOL-50; NUTR-10; VOCN-46A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course covers theory, principles, and practice of fundamental nursing skills needed to care for adult patients. Health and its preservation is stressed. Interpersonal relationships, community resources, and prevention and treatment of disease are studied. Clinical experience is integrated with classroom theory, and is provided at affiliating hospitals, under direct supervision of Merced College nursing instructors. This is the first semester of nursing theory of a three-semester sequence. Clinical experience is integrated. (05/19)
VOCN-42 Principles and Practices of Nursing Care I
- Units
- 14
- Hours
- 8 hours lecture, 18 hours lab TBA
- Prerequisite
- VOCN-40
- Corequisite
- VOCN-47B (two-way)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course emphasizes theoretical principles and clinical experience in meeting Maslow’s basic human needs of nutrition, oxygenation, elimination, and affiliation. It involves clinical experiences in meeting the basic human needs of individuals of all ages with commonly occurring health problems. This course is part of the second semester of a three-semester program. Clinical experience is integrated. (05/19)
VOCN-44 Principles and Practices of Nursing Care II
- Units
- 14
- Hours
- 8 hours lecture, 18 hours lab TBA
- Prerequisite
- VOCN-42
- Corequisite
- VOCN-47C (two-way)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course emphasizes theoretical principles of Maslow’s basic human needs of safety, hygiene, rest, activity, comfort, and self-actualization as it relates to common and complex health problems occurring in individuals of all age groups. Pathophysiologic and psychosocial assessment and management of medical-surgical disorders are stressed. General pharmacological and nutritional considerations are included. This course is part of the third semester of a three-semester program. Clinical experience is integrated. (05/19)
VOCN-46A Applied Mathematics for Pharmacology
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture
- Prerequisite
- ENGL-C1000 (formerly ENGL-01A); Placement as determined by the college’s multiple measures assessment process or completion of a course taught at or above the level of intermediate algebra
- Transfers to
- CSU
This is an introductory pharmacology course which includes an introduction to the professional context of drug administration, and study of the metric, apothecary, and household systems of measurement. Nursing responsibility to patient safety is included. Completion of this course requires accurate interpretation of doctors’ order, reading medication bottles, calculating drug dosages, and the reason for their application. (01/19)
VOCN-46B Pharmacology for Nurses
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- VOCN-46A
- Corequisite
- VOCN40, VOCN-47A (two-way)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This is an introductory pharmacology course which uses effects and safe administration of medications. Common local and systemic drugs are studied. Nursing responsibilities and client safety are emphasized. (05/19)
VOCN-47A Nursing Guidance I
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture
- Corequisite
- VOCN-40, VOCN-46B (two-way)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course examines socialization and interpersonal communications related to vocational nursing. Course topics include verbal and non-verbal communication; communication problems in the nurse-patient relationship; the hospital as a working and learning environment; self-actualization relating to the elderly; and death and dying. (05/19)
VOCN-47B Nursing Guidance II
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture
- Prerequisite
- VOCN-40 ,VOCN-47A
- Corequisite
- VOCN-42 (two-way)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course examines the nature of stress and its influences on coping and adapting. Related topics examine include crisis and crisis intervention, and psychophysioiogical and somatopsychic responses to stress and anxiety. (05/19)
VOCN-47C Nursing Guidance III
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture
- Prerequisite
- -VOCN-42
- Corequisite
- VOCN-44 (two-way)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course examines current and evolving patterns of mental health care and the shifts from inpatient custodial care to community-based treatment for the mentally ill. This course also examines the health-illness continuum, psychopathology, neuroses and psychoses, clinical disorders and maladaptations of behavior, and psychopharmacological approaches to treatment. (05/19)
VOCN-48 Intravenous Therapy/Blood Withdrawal
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU
This short-term course is designed to prepare nurses to start and superimpose intravenous fluid and perform blood withdrawal as ordered by the physician. The course will cover psychological preparation of the patient, selection of equipment, aseptic technique, relevant anatomy and physiology, pharmacology of intravenous solutions, and administering blood components. Students will perform simulated and actual intravenous catheterization and blood withdrawals. (05/19)