Home > Academic > WBL > Opportunities > Programs: Health Careers

Work-Based Learning Virtual Learning Communities Integration Outreach

Health Careers & Vocational Nursing

Employment in a field of healthcare is the goal of the Health Career Programs at Cerro Coso Community College. The various programs include educational options and career ladder possibilities. Health career programs provide direct theory and clinical applications that are required for an individual to be successful in the health career industry.

In general, Health Careers Programs provide opportunities for students to focus on careers in a variety of fields. Many future healthcare workers start their education at the basic levels of nurses’ aide, medical assistant, or vocational nurse. While working in these fields and gaining experience, an individual can continue to higher levels. Employment opportunities in health care have consistently remained among the top five in trends of future industry needs. 

Lectures in the classroom provide the background theory needed for the course. Most Health Career courses offer realistic work-based labs and/or experiences. Specific procedures and techniques are practiced in the Skills Lab. The Skills Lab offers a variety of equipment, software, resources, and hands-on learning experiences. Students are encouraged to practice the assorted skills needed in the workplace. Local medical facilities or physician’s offices provide additional hands-on experiences.
 

Medical Assisting

The Medical Assisting Program focuses on front and back office training. Students learn both the administrative and the clinical aspects of being a medical assistant. Medical assistants generally work in physician's offices. 

Administrative medical assistants receive initial training to work as a front office receptionist. They can also receive training in aspects of the financial and insurance environment of a physician's office.

Clinical medical assistants are trained to work with a physician as he/she works with clients in the back office. The assistant obtains vital signs, a brief medical history, and helps the physician with minor medical procedures that are performed in the office.

Cerro Coso also offers an Externship Program for medical assistants. Once a student has successfully completed all components of Administrative and Clinical Medical Assisting, the student can petition to be placed in a physician's office for 160 hours of on-site (non paid) work experience. To provide the student with a full range of experiences, the extern generally works for 2 weeks performing front office duties and 2 weeks performing back office duties. While working in the offices, students are supervised by a preceptor who monitors their work. The students meet weekly with an instructor who is the externship coordinator. The externship coordinator and the students discuss the on-site experiences and new techniques they have encountered. In many cases the students participating in the externship program are offered employment when their externship is complete.
 

Certified Nurses Aide/Home Health Aide

Certified Nurses Aide and Home Health Aide students complete a curriculum that has been approved by the California State Department of Health Services. When the 9-week CNA course is completed, students take a mandated written and practical exam which must be passed to become certified. The HHA component is offered over two weeks after successful completion of the CNA program.

CNAs have excellent employment opportunities in long-term care facilities. Some CNAs are also employed by acute care facilities. A large majority of CNAs continue working while going to school to obtain their license in vocational nursing or registered nursing.
 

Vocational Nursing

LVNs and RNs

There are two types of recognized nurses: Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs). Both categories of nurses must successfully complete and pass rigorous state curriculum requirements and pass a standardized national exam (NCLEX) to obtain a nursing license. LVNs must work under the supervision of an RN or a physician. As the trend in healthcare has moved from acute care hospitalization to home-based and community-based organizations, many opportunities have opened up in recent years for LVNs. LVNs often continue their education in Career Ladder programs to become RNs.

The Vocational Nursing Program at Cerro Coso Community College provides the comprehensive theory knowledge and hands-on clinical experiences necessary to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse. The Program is approved by the Board of Vocational Nurses and Psychiatric Technicians.

The Cerro Coso LVN program consists of three semesters of combined theory knowledge and clinical experiences. The clinical facilities provide the students with direct patient/client experiences in medical-surgical units, clinics, home health, and specialty areas such as maternity and pediatrics.

Employment opportunities for Licensed Vocational Nurses are open in multiple healthcare fields. Many LVNs work in long-term, subacute, or rehabilitative care facilities where the patient is recovering from major physical challenges. The need is increasing for home care and geriatric care services. Employment opportunities also are present in ambulatory care clinics and acute care facilities. Nursing has consistently been a profession of responsibility, integrity, and personal growth.
 

Career Ladders

The Vocational Nursing and Health Career Programs are designed to provide opportunities for sequential education and advancement in the health care industry. Many RNs and LVNs started their careers as a medical assistant or a CNA. Careers in health fields vary according to individual interests. Please see the table below for a sampling of health career possibilities.

Find Out More

If you would like more information about careers in health care, please visit the Vocational Nursing and Health Career Program web site at: http://academic.cerrocoso.edu/health-careers/

Top

WBLC Links

:: About
:: Opportunities
:: Digital Media Arts

Related Items

:: Career Tech. Education

Programs

:: Child Development
:: Health Careers
:: Media Arts
:: Project Hope House
:: Work Experience

 
[Home | Campus Map | Contact Us | Directory | Search | Sitemap | About this website]
All Content © 2002 Cerro Coso Community College  All rights reserved. Disclaimer.

Last updated May 21, 2008