* Anatomy and Physiology I & II: These are foundational courses covering the structure and function of the human body. Expect a significant amount of memorization and lab work.
* Medical Terminology: Learning the language of medicine is crucial for understanding medical records, physician orders, and communicating effectively with healthcare professionals.
* Pharmacology: This course focuses on the properties, uses, and effects of medications. You'll learn about drug classifications, administration routes, and potential side effects.
* Fundamentals of Nursing: This is a core nursing course covering basic nursing skills such as vital signs, hygiene, and patient safety. Expect extensive lab practice.
* Maternal-Newborn Nursing: Focuses on the care of pregnant women, newborns, and their families.
* Pediatric Nursing: Covers the unique needs and care of children.
* Medical-Surgical Nursing: Covers the care of adult patients with various medical and surgical conditions. Often a large component of the LVN program.
* Geriatric Nursing: Focuses on the care of older adults.
* Mental Health Nursing: Covers the care of patients with mental health conditions. This may be a separate course or integrated into other courses.
* Nursing Skills Labs: Hands-on labs are a critical part of the curriculum, allowing you to practice the skills learned in the classroom.
* Clinical Rotations: This is where you gain real-world experience in various healthcare settings under the supervision of licensed nurses and instructors. This is usually a significant portion of the program.
* Other Potential Courses: Depending on the program, you might also take courses in nutrition, microbiology, psychology, or ethics.
Before you start: Check with your chosen community college's nursing program. They will have a specific course catalog outlining the prerequisites and required courses for their LVN program. Their website is the best source of accurate and up-to-date information. You may also need to take prerequisite courses like college-level English and math before you can apply to the LVN program itself.