Credit
14 courses · Santa Barbara City College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
VN 161 Fundamentals for Nursing Practice
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 90 (90 lecture)
- Prerequisite
- CNA 101 or CNAV NC101.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides an introduction to the nursing profession and provides the theoretical foundation for the fundamentals of vocational nursing practice. Students are introduced to the concepts of health assessment, communication, client needs, safety, infection control, ethical and legal practice, cultural and spiritual care, the nursing process, documentation, health promotion and wellness, and growth and development across the lifespan.
VN 162 Care of the Older Adult
- Units
- 1.5
- Hours
- 27 (27 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course examines the biological, psychological, and social issues associated with the aging process and prepares the student to implement the nursing process to the care of the older adult. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, safety, legal aspects, dementia, and care of the older adult in various settings.
VN 163 Pharmacology for Nurses
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 72 (72 lecture)
- Prerequisite
- Qualifying score on TEAS math exam and BMS 100 or BMS 107 and BMS 108.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides an introduction to the principles of pharmacology including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, common adverse/side effects, and contraindications. Emphasis is placed on drug classifications and nursing care related to the safe administration of medications to clients across the life span.
VN 164 Nursing Practicum I
- Units
- 6
- Hours
- 324 (324 lab)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This lab/clinical course provides an introduction to nursing practice and the role of the vocational nurse in the health care settings as a professional team member. The Fundamentals of nursing practice is applied to the care of adult and older adult clients with an emphasis on safe, quality patient-centered care.
VN 165 Medical Surgical Nursing I
- Units
- 3.5
- Hours
- 63 (63 lecture)
- Prerequisite
- BMS 100 or BMS 107 and BMS 108.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course focuses on the nursing management for the client experiencing surgery, and health alterations in the gastrointestinal, integumentary, and immune systems. Emphasis is placed on the utilization of the nursing process in the management of evidence-based and safe patient-centered care.
VN 166 Medical Surgical Nursing II
- Units
- 3.5
- Hours
- 63 (63 lecture)
- Prerequisite
- BMS 100 or BMS 107 and BMS 108.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course focuses on the nursing management for the client experiencing fluid and electrolyte imbalances, and health alterations in the renal, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Emphasis is placed on the utilization of the nursing process in the management of evidence-based and safe patient-centered care.
VN 167 Nursing Care of Children
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 36 (36 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides an integrative, family-centered approach to the nursing care of children. Emphasis is placed on normal growth and development, anticipatory guidance with wellness promotion and injury prevention, hospitalization adjustments for the pediatric client, and common pediatric disorders.
VN 168 Mental Health Nursing
- Units
- 1.5
- Hours
- 27 (27 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course prepares students to implement the nursing process in the care of clients with mental health disorders. The course explores mental health fundamentals, legal and ethical issues, common mental health disorders, Non-pharmacological therapies, psychopharmacology, and mental health emergencies.
VN 169 Nursing Practicum II
- Units
- 6
- Hours
- 315 (315 lab)
- Prerequisite
- VN 164 or
- Corequisite
- VN 164.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This laboratory and clinical course is designed to build upon the practicum basics of the first semester. The students perform more advanced skills while providing nursing care to adult clients in a variety of health care facilities with a continued emphasis on safe, quality patient-centered care. This course provides the opportunity for students to apply theoretical concepts related to the nursing care for children to clinical and laboratory experiences.
VN 170 Medical Surgical Nursing III
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 72 (72 lecture)
- Prerequisite
- BMS 100 or BMS 107 and BMS 108.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course focuses on the nursing management for the client experiencing health alterations in the cardiovascular, respiratory, and hematological systems. Emphasis is placed on the utilization of the nursing process in the management of evidence-based and safe patient-centered care.
VN 171 Medical Surgical Nursing IV
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 72 (72 lecture)
- Prerequisite
- BMS 100 or BMS 107 and BMS 108.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course focuses on the nursing management for the client experiencing health alterations in the neurosensory and musculoskeletal systems. Emphasis is placed on the utilization of the nursing process in the management of evidence-based and safe patient-centered care.
VN 172 Maternal Newborn Nursing
- Units
- 1.5
- Hours
- 27 (27 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course explores reproductive health and maternal and newborn nursing care during the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods. Emphasis is placed on the bio-psycho-socio-cultural needs of the childbearing family during the phases of pregnancy, childbirth, and the neonatal period including abnormal conditions.
VN 173 Preparation for Professional Vocational Nursing Practice
- Units
- 1.5
- Hours
- 27 (27 lecture)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course facilitates the transition of the student to the role of an LVN. Emphasis is placed on principles of leadership, management, communication, civility, team building, and change. The course prepares the student to practice legally and ethically adhering to the Vocational Nursing practice act. The employment process and career development options are presented.
VN 174 Nursing Practicum III
- Units
- 6
- Hours
- 315 (315 lab)
- Prerequisite
- VN 169.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This Clinical and laboratory course builds on experiences of the second semester as students develop leadership skills and provide comprehensive nursing care to adult clients in a variety of settings. This course also provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts related to Maternal newborn nursing care to clinical and laboratory experiences.