Special Program Requirements

APPRENTICESHIP

See non-credit courses in printed catalog.

HEALTH SCIENCE PROGRAMS

The requirements, procedures, application dates, and program offerings for all health science programs are subject to change. Consult the health science counselor for current information.

NURSING

Procedures for Applying
Applicants will be accepted twice yearly. Admission is subject to available openings. The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program is impacted and generally has a waiting list.

Application dates are June 1-October 1; and January 1-March 1.

All applicants must submit: 1) Application to the ADN program; 2) All required official transcripts; 3) Application to the College (new students only).

November 1 and May 1 — Names of academically eligible students will be sent to health science department for processing. To be included in the November 1 applicant pool, all application materials must be submitted by October 1; to be considered for the May 1 applicant pool, all application materials must be submitted by March 1.

December 1 and June 1 — Notification of accepted candidates will be made.

Qualifying Requirements
1. One of the following must be completed before applying to the program:

a. High school graduation and GPA of 2.5; or,

b. General Education Development (GED) with a score of 45 and minimum of 12

units of college with a 2.25 GPA; or,

c. High school graduate with less than a 2.5 GPA and a minimum of 12 units of

college with a GPA of 2.25; or,

d. Equivalent consistent with Board of Registered Nursing requirement (see nursing counselor for details).

2. All of the following must be completed:

a. All official high school and college transcripts must be on file at Ventura College by October 1 or March 1 to be considered.

b. Application to the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program must be on file with the counseling office at Ventura College by October 1 or March 1 to be considered.

c. An application to the College must also be filed for the appropriate semester.

d. It is the applicant's responsibility to check with the transcript clerk in the Office of Admissions and Records to see that his/her official transcripts are on file at Ventura College.

3. All of the following must be completed before applying to the program:

a. Chemistry: high school or college chemistry course with laboratory, with a

minimum grade of C (CHEM V01A-V01AL or CHEM V10-V10L or CHEM V20-V20L at Ventura; CHEM M01A or M12, Moorpark; CHEM R100-R100L or CHEM R110 or CHEM R120, Oxnard).

b. Anatomy-Physiology: college anatomy and physiology 5 unit course with laboratory, with a minimum grade of C (either ANPH V01 or both ANAT V01 and PHSO V01 at Ventura; either ANPH M01-M01L or both ANAT M01 and PHSO M01, Moorpark; ANAT R100-R100L and PHSO R100-R100L, Oxnard).

c. Microbiology: college bacteriology/microbiology 4 or 5 unit course with laboratory with a minimum grade of C (MICR V01 at Ventura; MICR M01, Moorpark;

MICR R100-R100L, Oxnard).

d. Math: satisfactory score on Ventura College elementary algebra placement test or completion of introductory college math course with a minimum grade of C (MATH V01 or MATH V30 or both MATH V11A & V11B at Ventura; MATH M01, Moorpark; MATH R11, Oxnard).

e. CNA: current certification as a nursing assistant (CNA) in California or equivalent.

Students must be in good academic standing (not on academic probation) to be eligible for application to the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program at Ventura College. All applicants must contact the nursing counselor for specific admission information regarding the ADN program.

Admission Process
Each qualified applicant will be assigned a number by the use of random tables. The class will be selected on the basis of available openings in the order determined by the random numbers assigned each semester. Each qualified applicant, when selected, must decide either to enter the class, remove his/her name from the eligibility list or request a deferment. Applicants may defer entry one time only. Those qualified applicants who are not selected due to limited openings may retain their names (in the order assigned by random tables) on a waiting list. These applicants then have priority for admission to the next class selected. Students who choose not to enter when selected or after a deferment must reapply and receive a new random number assignment.

Students are expected to pass a physical examination consistent with the policies of the teaching hospitals or agencies to which they are assigned for clinical experience. Physical exams may be scheduled with a private physician or through the Student Health Center. The examination must demonstrate that the student is physically fit, free from communicable diseases and immune to rubella, rubeola, and varicella. Completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series is required.

All students admitted to a health science program are expected to maintain the highest personal standards of conduct consistent with the professional standards as perceived by health science faculty and professional personnel in the agencies used as extended campus sites. Any information indicating that such standards are not maintained is subject to review by members of the health science faculty and may result in a recommendation to the College for dismissal from the program.

Evidence of physical and emotional fitness upon admission and throughout the program is expected and is subject to medical opinion of the college physician and to medical opinion or policy of hospitals or agencies which are used as extended campus sites for assigned educational experience. Malpractice insurance and current certification as a CPR health care provider are additional requirements.

Associate Degree Curriculum
The associate degree program in nursing is intended to develop the necessary knowledge and skills basic to the functions of registered nurses in the direct care of clients. Many of the courses assigned to this curriculum are transfer courses and articulation is possible with the baccalaureate programs in nursing at the California State University campuses. The courses may be applied as a foundation for advanced work at the discretion of the accepting institution. Courses are taken on campus concurrently with supervised clinical experience in selected hospitals and agencies, constituting a nursing science practicum or laboratory experience. Although each course merits a letter grade, the laboratory experience is based on pass-fail and it is necessary to pass the laboratory section of the course in order to proceed in nursing. Failure in the laboratory portion of nursing courses constitutes an "F" in the course. For successful completion of the program, a minimum grade of C is mandatory in all courses required for the nursing major. The student must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 to continue in the program.

Each student is responsible for his/her own transportation to the extended campuses for laboratory experience, some of which are a distance from the College.

The nursing program is accredited by the California State Board of Registered Nursing. To be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN Examination leading to licensure as a registered nurse, the student must have fulfilled all requirements as defined by the California State Board of Registered Nursing. Students who choose not to complete the degree requirements are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensing examination after completion of content required for licensure. Please contact the ADN program director for additional information.

Transfer and Advanced Placement
The department of nursing education provides opportunities for students to receive credit for previous nursing education and/or experience toward transfer and/or advanced placement admission into the ADN Program. All transfer and advanced placement admissions are on a space available basis. Interested candidates should contact the nursing counselor for transfer/challenge requirements and applications and should meet with the ADN program director.

Graduate nurses lacking California licensure requirements may be admitted into the ADN Program on a space available basis to complete one or two needed courses as specified by the California State Board of Registered Nursing.

30-Unit Option
To be eligible for this option, a student must be a vocational nurse who is licensed to practice in California. Interested candidates should contact the nursing counselor for an individual evaluation of eligibility. Applicants must be aware that this option may not qualify a candidate for licensure in states other than California. Students pursuing this option must complete NS V31 and V41.

Continuing Education for Registered Nurses
Students who hold a California Registered Nurse license and who are presently enrolled and in good standing in Ventura College may petition, after completion of 12 units in residence at Ventura County Community College District, for 42 units of nursing science credit applicable toward an AS degree. Please contact a nursing counselor to initiate this process.

Many credit courses offered by Ventura College are acceptable as credit for continuing education. It is the nurse's responsibility to contact either the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider No. 01293) or the Board of Licensed Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technician Examiners for approval of courses.

HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The Health Information Technology (HIT) program is a two-year associate degree program which prepares students to take the national certification exam to become registered health information technicians. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in cooperation with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). As a registered health information technician, the graduate is prepared to work in the offices of a variety of health care facilities and insurance companies. This program prepares the graduate to perform technical and organizational activities with medical records, including securing, analyzing, integrating and managing health care information.

The HIT program is offered through regional cooperation with Santa Barbara City College and Moorpark College. The student will complete the general education requirements at Ventura College and will receive his/her associate degree from Ventura College. Some courses required for the major, such as anatomy, physiology, medical terminology and pharmacology will be taken at Ventura College.

Other courses required for the major are available only through distance learning from Santa Barbara City College and Moorpark College and require student enrollment at those colleges.

Admission Requirements
1. Must qualify for MATH V03 and ENGL V01A or equivalent.

2. Documentation of absence of and immunity to communicable diseases.

Admission Process
Information and program applications are available in the Counseling Office.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES: PARAMEDIC STUDIES

Procedures for Applying
In keeping with the standard in the state of California, the Ventura College Paramedic Program offers two tracks: certification as a paramedic with or without an associate degree. Applications will be accepted on an on-going basis. Admission is subject to available openings. The application deadline is available through the health science counselors or the health sciences department. All applicants must submit: 1) Application to the paramedic program; 2) All required official transcripts; 3) Application to the College (new students only).

Qualifying Requirements:
1. One of the following must be completed before applying to the program:

a. High school graduation and GPA of 2.5; or,

b. General Education Development (GED) with a score of 45 and a minimum of 12 units of college with a 2.25 GPA; or,

c. High school graduate with less than a 2.5 GPA and a minimum of 12 units of college with a GPA of 2.25.

2. All of the following must be completed:

a. All official high school and college transcripts must be on file at Ventura College.

b. Application must be made to the health sciences department with a choice of options to enroll in the associate degree paramedic program or the paramedic certification program.

c. An application must be filed for the appropriate semester.

d. It is the applicant's responsibility to check with the transcript clerk in the Office of Admissions and Records to see that his/her official transcripts are on file at Ventura College.

3. All of the following must be completed before applying to the program:

a. Anatomy/Physiology: college anatomy and physiology, 5 unit course with laboratory, with a minimum grade of C (either ANPH V01 or both ANAT V01 and PHSO V01 at Ventura; either ANPH M01-M01L or both ANAT M01 and PHSO M01, Moorpark; ANAT R100-R100L and PHSO R100-R100L, Oxnard).

b. Math: satisfactory score on Ventura College elementary algebra placement test or completion of introductory college math course with a minimum grade of C (MATH V01 or both MATH V11A & V11B or MATH V30 at Ventura; MATH M01, Moorpark; MATH R011, Oxnard).

c. English: satisfactory score on Ventura College reading/written English placement test or completion of college English composition course with a minimum grade of C (ENGL V01A or V02A at Ventura; ENGL M01A or MO1AH or M02, Moorpark; ENGL R096 or R101, Oxnard).

d. Current certification for CPR as a health care provider.

4. The student must show documentation of current EMT-I or EMT-basic certification and six months of full time experience with a primary "911" provider with emphasis on pre-hospital field care. Equivalent experience will be considered. EMT certification must remain current throughout the program.

Students must be in good academic standing (not on academic probation) to be eligible for application to the associate degree or certification program for paramedics. All applicants must contact the health sciences counselor for specific admission information regarding the paramedic programs.

Admission Process
Each qualified applicant will be assigned a number by the use of random tables. The class will be selected on the basis of available openings in the order determined by the random numbers assigned each semester. Each qualified applicant, when selected, must decide either to enter the class or remove his/her name from the eligibility list. Those qualified applicants who are not selected due to limited openings may retain their names (in the order assigned by random tables) on a waiting list.

Those applicants then have priority for admission to the next class selected. Students who choose not to enter when selected must reapply and receive a new random number assignment. Applicants may defer entry one time only.

Students are expected to pass a physical examination consistent with the policies of the teaching hospitals or agencies to which they are assigned for clinical experience. Physical exams are to be scheduled with a private physician and recorded on the department form. The examination must demonstrate that the student is physically fit, free from communicable diseases and immune to rubella, rubeola and varicella. Diptheria-tetanus vaccine within the past ten years is required. The hepatitis B vaccine series is required.

All students admitted to a health science program are expected to maintain the highest personal standards of conduct consistent with the professional standards as perceived by health science faculty and professional personnel in the agencies used as extended campus sites. Any information indicating that such standards are not maintained is subject to review by members of the health science faculty and may result in a recommendation to the Executive Vice President of Student Learning for dismissal from the program.

Evidence of physical and emotional fitness upon admission and throughout the program is expected and is subject to medical opinion of the college physician and to medical opinion or policy of hospitals or agencies which are used as extended campus sites for assigned educational experiences.

Malpractice insurance must be carried and is part of the registration fee. Hospital and internship rotations will be assigned as space is available. This may result in extension of program time-frame.

Program Options
The paramedic program is intended to develop the necessary knowledge and skills basic to the functions of paramedics in the direct care of clients. It consists of theory, basic skills, clinical experiences and a clinical preceptorship which will prepare the graduate to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians licensing examination. Students who successfully complete the Emergency Medical Services Paramedic Studies program will receive a Certificate of Achievement from Ventura College. Although each course merits a letter grade, the laboratory experience is based on pass-fail and it is necessary to pass the laboratory section of the course in order to proceed in the paramedic program. Failure in the laboratory portion of the paramedic courses constitutes an F in the course. For successful completion of the program, a minimum grade of B is mandatory in all paramedic courses. The student must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 to continue in the program.

For those students who choose the associate degree option, additional courses satisfying general education requirements are required.

The program is accredited by the California State Emergency Medical Services Agency and the Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency. To be eligible to take the examination leading to licensure as a paramedic, the student must have fulfilled all requirements as defined by the Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency and the state of California.